Drip it

This article is part of our Resource series for Grow Group facilitators at the Creek, but is posted here for everyone to profit from.

We are less than two months into meeting as Grow Groups, and believe it or not—it’s not too soon to plan for next May. If you recall, one goal of Grow Groups is that you would be strengthened in your commitment to God and other believers. We pray continually “that according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love…” (Eph. 3:16-17).

The other goal of Grow Groups is that these groups are to be a place where ongoing disciple-making is planned for and accomplished. While there is no finish line to discipling within Grow Groups, each person can make other disciples through Grow Groups.

Notice the words “planned for.” Since early to mid-2023, Pastor Jason and I have been planning for Grow Groups. In other words, the September Grow Group launch didn’t just “happen.” We consistently and persistently planned for it. For the last 18 months, we have prayed, thought, discussed, researched, written, evaluated, beta-tested, consulted, rethought, re-discussed, and so on. 

The Grow Group launch was the culmination of “planned for.”

My question is: how are you planning to make disciples in your groups? I especially like one approach our communications team implemented this past year. In early spring 2024, the Comms team initiated a “drip campaign.” A drip campaign is a marketing strategy using strategically timed communications to nurture an awareness or response. It warms up the recipient to whatever you’re communicating. The term "drip marketing" is said to come from the gardening technique of drip irrigation, where plants are fed small amounts of water over a long period of time. 

The Comms team “dripped” Grow Groups steadily over a long period of time. By August 2024, the ground beneath our congregation was squishy with Grow Group vision. People were so warmed up to Grow Groups that we saw a mind-boggling number of registrations—420 of them! To God be all the glory. 

What does this have to do with you? Keep. Your. Eyes. On. The. Goal. Always keep the long view in front of you. If you want to reach the goal of “ongoing disciple-making that is planned for and accomplished,” what must you do now to prepare for later? My answer is to continually hold the vision before your group. 

Drip it. Feed small amounts of “water” (vision) over a long period of time. Start now. Since day one of my “beta” Grow Group, I’ve told them we are not going to meet indefinitely. I tried to “drip” vision to them consistently and persistently. What vision? That they, too, could participate in “ongoing disciple-making that is planned for and accomplished.” 

How do I drip vision? Antoine de Saint-Exupery said If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood; don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. 

Facilitators, you are not wood collectors. You are ambassadors—authorized messengers or representatives of the living God. Magnify the endless immensity of God and pray He would create a longing in them to join in on His mission. 

Drip the vision, people. Drip the vision.