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Cross Point Groups Team

        

Community Group Leader Role Explained

        

Some find it a challenge to know what to do with the children within community groups. Childcare might be an option, but some find that even difficult to arrange.

Why not involve the children in community group in a way that not only gives them the same sense of family within the group as the adults with the same opportunity for spiritual growth, but that also gives them separate time for curriculum geared specifically for them. Here’s a suggestion on how your groups can accomplish this.

Kids slot

Having the children part of the food and fellowship with everyone before the discussion time is an important part of integrating the children into the community.

Once the adults move into the curriculum or discussion time, have one or two adults take the children to a different room to begin their specific curriculum, possibly the take away from FX on Sunday. Help them to implement what they learned on Sunday, incorporate a Bible verse to memorize, an art project to demonstrate their lesson, or a song to learn.

You may have different levels of participation based on varying ages within the group, or different activities for different ages, and that’s okay. A variety of activities will help get everyone involved. Having the older ones help the younger ones will be a great way to get them to participate.

After the adults and children finish the time on their own, have the children come back into the adult group to show the adults what they’ve learned. They can all recite the Bible verse or song they learned. They can show them the art project they completed and explain what lesson they learned. This reflection and interaction time with the adults is another important part of integrating the children into the community.

Kids slot coordinator

Leading a group, especially if you’re also hosting, is a great responsibility. Empower someone in your group to take on the kids slot coordinator role. This person is not the one to take the children each week but to coordinate everything for the kids slot every week. It’s important for every adult in the group to take their turn at kids slot on a rotating basis. This gives each of the adults time with the children while also allowing the adults to still be part of the group discussion most of the time.

The kids slot coordinator will:

1. Put together and maintain a rotating schedule of adults’ participation in kids slot. One adult for a small number of children or two adults for more.
2. Gather the curriculum on Sunday from each week’s FX takeaway.
3. Develop the activities (art project, song, Bible verse) that will fit the lesson for the week.
4. Bring any supplies needed for the week’s lesson/project or make sure the kids slot leader for the week knows what to bring.
5. Distribute the lesson and activities to the person assigned to kids slot for the week.
6. Be there for guidance and help direct the adults regarding kids slot as needed.

Think about how rewarding it will be to have your children actually part of your community group in a way that works for everyone. It’s a great alternative to paying a babysitter. They will grow spiritually through this experience, probably even challenge the adults to grow more, and touch your group in a such way that will bring them closer together. Give kids slot a try!

Dena Williams

Groups Coach

        

Community Group Communication from Cross Point Community Groups on Vimeo.