Ten Ways Turbo Groups Can Help Your Church
by David Stiles

Here are ten benefits that I’ve seen Turbo Groups bring to the local church:

1. Turbo Groups help pastors and ministry leaders focus their energy.
Turbo Groups are short-term, focused groups with the sole intention of creating new small group leaders. In a Turbo Group, participants receive insight, encouragement and direction for leading a small group. When I served as a pastor, Turbo Groups helped me assess the strengths of potential leaders and formulate a plan for each participant’s development as a leader.

2. Turbo Groups provide new leaders with a safe place to practice.
Turbo Groups are successful because they help new leaders practice their skills before taking on the responsibility of leading a small group. In a Turbo Group, participants take turns leading. Through practice, emerging leaders gain confidence in their skills and their ability to lead a group.

3. Turbo Groups provide emerging leaders with constructive feedback.
Another unique feature of a Turbo Groups is that they provide emerging leaders with helpful feedback about their leadership gifts. At the end of each group meeting there is a structured feedback time, led by a veteran leader, helping new leaders identify their strengths as a leader and identify areas for future growth.

4. Turbo Groups help reach non-Christians.
One of the exciting things Turbo Group participants do together is schedule an outreach event together to help fulfill the Great Commission and reach out to non-Christians. Doing ministry together not only helps to strengthen the relationships within the group, but also models a small group’s commitment of service to others.

5. Turbo Groups help leaders process their future plans for ministry.
Turbo Groups serve as an "incubator" for new ideas. In Turbo Groups, emerging leaders have an opportunity to talk about their ideas for future ministry and the areas where they feel God is calling them to lead. They also have the opportunity to hear about ministry ideas from others. Throughout their group experience, participants are prompted to reflect on where God is calling them to serve after their training is complete.

6. Turbo Groups provide fellowship with other emerging leaders.
Turbo Groups draw people together who have similar interests and similar hopes. Emerging leaders in a Turbo Group can create a network of supportive relationships that can last long after the Turbo Group is over.

7. Turbo Groups provide practical skills for new leaders.
Using the workbook, "Skills for New Leaders", participants learn practical skills for leading small groups, such as how to:

• create a group that is welcoming to others

• listen with understanding

• ask helpful questions

• keep a small group on track

These skills are essential for leaders as they seek to help and care for others in a small group.

8. Turbo Groups help Churches reinforce their commitment to people.
An invitation to a Turbo Group communicates to people that they are valuable and that their Church is willing to invest its time and resources in them. In a Turbo Group, God-given gifts are nurtured as people discover God’s direction for their lives.

9. Turbo Groups can be volunteer led.
It takes a special person to lead a Turbo Group; a person committed to developing others and willing to invest their time and energy in seeing others grow. But it does not necessarily need to be a staff pastor. Many churches have used veteran volunteer leaders to lead their Turbo Groups, leveraging the strengths of those that have the passion, the time and the gifts for developing new leaders.

10. Turbo Groups help start new small groups!
Turbo Group participants have gone on to start numerous small groups, extending the care and support of the local Church and reaching out to their community.

Final Thoughts…

I’m excited about Turbo Groups because I’ve seen them work.

I’ve seen how Turbo Groups have helped new leaders by providing them with the support, encouragement and feedback they need for small group leadership. I’ve also seen how Turbo Groups have helped pastors and ministry leaders focus their energy on the people that are necessary for developing a small group ministry.

If you would like to talk further about how Turbo Groups might benefit your church, please call me at (513) 779-4988.

I look forward to hearing from you! ™

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Ordering Info for:
Skills For New Leaders: A Turbo Group Training Program