The purpose of a group should always come from you. It may be something you’re passionate about, or it might simply be that you can see a need in your community that’s not being fulfilled yet. We have a range of options and resources that might spark some ideas.

Who do you want to lead? This is really important as it will affect where you meet and what you do in your group. You might have a heart for a certain people group, such as families with young children or young professionals, and so you'll need to make decisions that make the most of that stage of life. Also, consider how many people you can realistically lead.

Once you know what type of group you want to lead and who the group is for, choosing where you meet should be a lot easier. For example, if the purpose for your group is to contribute to a local area, meeting in a home or public space in that community is a no brainer. Or, if your purpose is to meet with people who are not yet part of church life, gathering in a shared space like a pub or coffee shop might work best. Where you meet will affect the feel of the group you want run: for example, worship nights aren't perhaps feasible in a Central London bar!

Some Connect Group leaders decide to run their group for just one term, others for a year, others longer than that. The decision is really up to you, although with all our groups we recommend taking a break over the holidays (Christmas, Easter and the summer).