What Do I Do When People Don't Show Up?

I've edited a very helpful article by Allen White 
for this weeks post. (See original article here)

"Where did everyone go..."

HELP: 15 People Sign Up But Only 5 Showed Up! Maybe those aren’t the specific numbers that you experienced in your group, but the reality is that it happens to every group at some point. DON'T WORRY... We're here to help!  Here are a couple of keys to riding the attendance roller coaster.

1. It’s not about you.  In the church, community is what we want, yet it’s what we resist the most. People got excited during promo month, so they signed up for your group. Between kids beginning school,sports, and work, life just got in the way. After all, the road to you-know-where is paved with good intentions.  If someone didn't show up on week 1, don't take it personally, chances are, it's not about you.

2. Keep them on your list. Keep the communication flowing. Email them along with the rest of your group with information about this week's meeting. Give them a call. The call should go something like this: “Hi, this is_______. I wanted to give you a quick call because I missed seeing you at our Life Group last week.  Do you think you're going to be able to make it this week?” If the answer is "yes," then tell them that you're looking forward to seeing them. If the answer is either "no" encourage them to come to the following week. If the answer is "actually, this group doesn't work in schedule," Then try to connect them with a different group. You can see all of our available groups here. Don't be nervous about calling, chances are that they won’t slam down the phone after saying, “I don’t want you to care about me.” Who doesn’t want that?

3. Focus on who showed up rather than who didn’t.  My second time leading a group, the attendance regularly fluctuated from 10 people one week to 3 the next.Certain weeks there were only three of us. By the numbers, my group is a disaster. Yet, there are things you can talk about with two that you can’t discuss with eight. Maybe you do the lesson. Maybe you set the lesson aside. Before you start beating yourself or your group members up over low attendance, you need to do a quick check-in with God: “What do You intend for this group meeting? It doesn’t look like what I planned. What have You planned?” His plans are better anyway. So focus on who shows up, but make sure to contact the folks who don't.

4. Remember your Life Group and your sphere or influence are not the same. Some people may never show up for your group. Or, they’ll come once or twice, then you won’t hear from them for a while. Here’s the deal: whether they attend every week or once in a blue moon, they are in your sphere of influence simply by signing up for your group. The group members who meet three out of four times a month are essentially your Life Group. Everyone else is your sphere of influence. There is a reason that God has placed these folks in your life. Keep up with them. Help them when they need help. Pray for them. This is not some clandestine plot to convince them back to the group through your kindness, but it might work. This is your opportunity to love and serve, even if you never get anything in return

In a perfect world, everyone would honor their commitment and show up for every group gathering. But, this is not a perfect world. Here’s the deal: for that no-show on your list, you just might be their only connection to the body of Christ. Their well-being, of course, is not up to you. But, there is a reason that in all of the Life groups in our community, they signed up for yours. God will show you why.