Facilitator Recommendations

1. Facilitate, don’t teach

It can be tempting as participants learn and wrestle with material to jump in with the “right answer,” but this takes away from participants’ individual discovery process, as well as their opportunity to discuss with and learn from one another. If conversation on a topic has died down, and the conclusion contradicts Pioneers’ heart, values, or understanding of mission, then ask a question that prompts participants to re-engage and view the topic from a different perspective.

Ultimately, remember the content is the teacher. Your job is to create the space for participants to fully engage with the content.

2. Build trust & go deep

One thing we’ve found important with just about any group we facilitate is creating space for the participants to develop rapport and trust with one another. This helps them feel free and safe to open up, ask questions, share their experiences, and more deeply engage in the learning process.

One simple thing you can do on the first call is start by sharing your own story. Be vulnerable and share mistakes in your thinking along the way as you came to understand God and his mission. Seek to create a safe environment where participants feel comfortable sharing what they are truly struggling with on their journey toward missions. As participants open up, don’t criticize, but respond with love and make sure other participants also engage them in a loving way.

Also, don’t be afraid to take the conversation deeper. For example, if participants say an article helped them realize they’re being held back by fear, ask what fears they are facing? Don’t keep things surface level, go deeper. After introductions, you can then segue into a bit of fun with an ice breaker or activity that encourages connection. We recommend something like Show & Tell or Two Truths & a Lie. If you want, at the start of every meeting you could ask them 1-3 fun icebreaker questions.

3. The Holy Spirit

Many students are hoping to gain direction from the group. While we hope to lend some direction through information and the opportunity to process, we want to emphasize the Holy Spirit is their true guide on this journey. Encourage them to be praying during the week as they go through the content, as true direction will come from God, not the facilitator nor the group members.

4. Prayer

Pray often. Please pray during the week for your participants. Make sure the meeting begins and ends in prayer each week. If time allows at the end of some meetings, consider adding breakouts for participants to pray for one another in smaller groups of two or three.

5. Get everyone engaged

After you catch up casually at the beginning of each call, we would like you to transition into the content discussion. One way (not the only way) you can do this is to have each person “check in” to the meeting by using either the secret sauce of learning or the table metaphor (listed below). The purpose of the check-in time is to help participants transition mentally into a time of learning, sharing, & growing. Throughout the call, please be sure that everyone is talking and contributing to the content discussion. If someone has yet to share, please ask at least once during each meeting to hear their thoughts or questions so that no one becomes a spectator.

6. Identify

Get to know your participants. Identify any students who would do well as Assistant Facilitators (or even primary facilitators!) in future groups, and invite them to consider taking on this leadership role. If they are interested, connect them with us.