Invite people to your online group by giving them the link to your group from our website https://elementchurch.groupvitals.com/groupFinder. Click on your particular group and share that link.

Message Discussion questions are located at www.elementchurch.info/ or you can access our curriculum by clicking here.

– Send a text or email through Group Vitals to welcome new people when they join your group.

– Meet at least once a week at a consistent time. Typically, an online group is successful in a 45-60-minute time frame for online or 1- 1.5 hours for in person. Be sure to start and stop on time.

– Help people feel welcome and that they belong. Lead them to build each other up in conversation and move things in a direction that inspires hope.

– Connect with your group members throughout the week. A simple text, message, or phone call is sometimes all it takes for someone to feel loved.

– Be sure to include these components:

• • Connecting – just ask everyone how their week is going.

  • Prayer – be sure to ask for prayer requests.

  • Spiritual – this is whatever curriculum you want to utilize.

Recommend group members to have the discussion questions downloaded prior to starting the meeting. They are available at www.elementchurch.com/resources.

Members probably don’t want to see only your forehead or neck throughout the meeting, so position your camera accordingly.

– Turn off anything making noise in the background (TV, radio, appliances).

– Put pets in a different room or have them in a place where they will be most quiet.

– Use headphones with a microphone if you have them.

– When two devices are used in the same room, it produces feedback that affects all group participants.

– If two people feel more comfortable participating with their own devices instead of sharing the same one, each should have his or her own room for doing so.

– If everyone’s microphone is turned on at the same time, the sound quality can be an issue and it can be hard to hear the person who is talking. The best policy is to mute yourself when you are not talking.

– If you are muted, make sure to nod your head and listen well so people can recognize you are following them.

– Facilitating this group, you will need to be welcoming and in charge. Make sure as the leader you jump on a few minutes early to welcome everyone.

– Redirect the conversation or mute participants as necessary. This may feel rude at times, but it is necessary to manage a good online experience for the group.

– Generally speaking, the facilitator should talk 30% of the time and listen 70% of the time.