Connections Pastor​/Groups

CONNECTIONS PASTOR

Role Summary + Systems

1?
ROLE SUMMARY

Role

Title:

Connections Pastor
Reports To: Lead Pastor
Leads: First Contact Team, Follow-Up Team, NXT STEPS Team, HUDDLE (Small Groups) Leaders, Event Volunteers

ROLE PURPOSE

To move people from first-time guest → known → connected → growing → belonging through intentional systems, teams, and environments.

This role ensures that:

• No guest is overlooked
• No attender stays anonymous
• No willing person stays unconnected

You are the shepherd of the front door and the pathway into community
.

WHAT YOU OWN (PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES)

You build and lead the team that turns a visit into a relationship.

You are responsible for:

• Train and lead team to:
• Greet and identify first-time guests
• Help them fill out connection info
• Introduce them to 1–2 people
• Offer a small gift / next step invitation

• Ensure every guest receives:
• A personal text, email, or call within 4 days
• Warm tone, not pressure
• Clear next step (event, NXT STEPS, Sunday meet-up)

• Assign a Connection Team member to:
• Look for returning guests
• Sit with them or introduce them around
• Help them take a next step

You don’t do all this yourself. You are the Department Lead and you build and lead the team that does.

2. NXT STEPS PATHWAY (YOU LEAD THIS)

This is the clear path from first visit to regular attender and engaged member
.

NXT STEPS PATH

STEP 1 – FIRST VISIT

Goal: Feel seen and welcomed

Tools:

• First-time guest connection card
• Small gift
• Verbal invite to NXT STEPS

STEP 2 – RETURN VISIT + PERSONAL CONNECTION

Goal: Move from “crowd” to “known”

Happens When: Guest returns within 1–4 weeks

Action:

• Connection Team member meets them
• Invite to NXT STEPS GATHERING

STEP 3 – NXT STEPS GATHERING (Monthly or Bi-Monthly; perhaps multiple classes to accommodate the process)

Led by: Connections Pastor

Purpose:
Help people understand:

Covers:

• Church vision & values (101)
• Spiritual growth next steps (201)
• Serving opportunities (201)
• Small groups (HUDDLE invitation)

Outcome:
People choose a next step:

• Join a HUDDLE
• Start serving
• Commit to Ministry Partner Agreement

STEP 4 – HUDDLE (SMALL GROUP) CONNECTION

Goal: Move from attending to belonging

• Personally connect them to a group
• Follow up to ensure they actually attend

STEP 5 – SERVING TEAM CONNECTION

Goal: Move from belonging to contributing

• Help them find a serving team that fits
• Introduce them to the team leader

STEP 6 – REGULAR ATTENDER / ENGAGED MEMBER

Indicators:

• Attending consistently
• In a group
• Serving somewhere
• Known by others

You measure and track this pathway.

3. HUDDLE (SMALL GROUPS) MINISTRY

You are the shepherd of community environments outside Sunday.

You are responsible for:

• Recruiting and developing HUDDLE leaders
• Maintaining a current list of groups
• Helping people find the right group
• Coaching leaders through:
• Care issues
• Attendance dips
• Group health

WIN: Every person who wants community has a place to belong.

4. ENTRY EVENTS (6 PER YEAR)

You oversee entry-level relational environments that help people connect casually.

Events Include:

• Men’s Events (help lead)
• Family Events (help lead)
• Women’s Events (facilitate logistics & volunteers)

Your role:

• Help shape purpose of each event (connection, not just activity)
• Recruit and organize volunteer teams
• Ensure guest-friendly environment
• Capture guest info and plug them into NXT STEPS

WHAT A WIN LOOKS LIKE

• First-time guests return because they felt noticed
• New attenders quickly find a group or team
• Small groups are growing and healthy
• No one says, “I’ve been here 6 months and don’t know anyone”
• The church feels smaller as it grows