Big things coming!  Whether you’ve been hosting a group for 5 weeks or 5 years, if you’re a Parkview Life Group host there are a few very important things you need to know about Cannonball:

1. Pastor Tim really appreciates all you do to help connect people at Parkview.  You are playing a very important role, an essential role.  Life-change happens best in life-on-life environments.
2. The Cannonball message series that begins this weekend (October 22-23) is going to be both exciting and challenging.  Don’t miss a single week!
3. If your group is open to new people, stop what you’re doing right now and go online and change your study to Cannonball! See below for detailed instructions on how to do that.
4. The Cannonball life group study material was mailed to everyone who regularly attends Parkview.  If some of your group members don’t attend Parkview, you’ll need to pick up extra copies for them at the exits this weekend.
5. Stop off at the Community Life Booth (Orland) or the Guest Information Desk (Lockport) to pick up your DVD and the special Cannonball Host Tip Sheet.

Here’s How to Change Your Life Group Info in the Group Finder

1. Log in right here.
2. Click the “Your Group” link
3. Click your group name (right under the heading that says, “You lead…”)
4. Click the “Dashboard” Tab above.
5. Click the “View Settings” link in the right sidebar.
6. Click the “Edit Details” link in the right sidebar.
7. Change your “description” to Cannonball (and whatever else describes your group).
8. Very Important: Scroll down to the “Custom Fields” section and click the Cannonball checkbox (and uncheck anything else that’s there).  This is what makes your group appear in the Cannonball search.
9. Very Important: Scroll further down and make sure you’ve checked “searchable” if you’re open to new people joining.
10. Very Important: Scroll all the way to the bottom and click “Save Changes.”  If you don’t save changes, nothing will be saved.  Actually, you might be saved…but not your work.

There was a special briefing and Q&A with Pastor Tim last weekend to provide some important information for Life Group Hosts.  Here are the most common questions:

• Will there be a cover letter from Pastor Tim in the packet everyone receives in the mail? Yes.
• What should we say to group members who don’t attend Parkview? Although the front half of the special packet of information is specific to our vision at Parkview, the back half is a small group study that is very much about the commitment to follow Christ.  It will be helpful for every Christ follower, and even for those considering following Christ.  Although there are references in every session to next steps and personal commitment, along with an opportunity in session four to “make a plan so you can fully dive in on Commitment weekend, November 19-20,” it’s done in a way that shouldn’t make anyone uncomfortable.
• From what we learned at the Vision Night, we know the weekend series and the Life Group study are about Parkview’s vision.  Are specific goals explained or discussed in the Life Group study? No.  The study is all about personal faith and commitment.  Pastor Tim will be casting vision, explaining the needs, and encouraging us to follow during the weekend services.
• What’s on the DVD? The DVD is a very engaging set of four interviews of Parkview members.  Each week you’ll hear the stories of how God uses ordinary people to make eternal differences.
• What’s in the study? Each of the four study sessions contains a couple main passages from the Gospels and other key passages in the Bible.  In addition to the inspiring personal stories on the DVD, this study will be a challenging opportunity to wrestle with Jesus’ teaching about faith, commitment, and sacrifice.  The scripture passages are not about money.  They are about following Jesus.
• When does the Life Group study begin? The study begins the week of October 22-23.
• How long is the study? There are four sessions in the DVD-driven study.  If you begin the week of October 22-23, you will complete the study the week before Thanksgiving (and probably take Thanksgiving week off!).
• Is there any special Life Group Host training or instruction? Yes!  Each week there will be a Leader Tips and Ideas post on the blog.  If you’re not signed up to receive those updates…you can do that right here.

Have a question you don’t see answered here? Email Me and I’ll get back to you ASAP!

If you’ve been paying attention over the last 45 days or so, you know there’s something coming…and it begins on October 22nd and 23rd.  A new message series, billed only as an “amazing…inspiring…life-changing…surprise!”

If you were at one of the recent Vision Nights or joined us this last weekend for an important Briefing and Q&A with Pastor Tim, you know a little more.

Because you all play such a vital role here at Parkview, I wanted to be sure you have all the information you need as we finish our 5 week study of WEiRD and get ready for what’s next.

Take a few minutes and watch this video of Pastor Tim’s challenge to Life Group hosts.

Can’t see the video? You can watch it right here:

There are several things you need to know:

1. Pastor Tim’s new 5 week message series begins on October 22nd and 23rd.
2. All of Parkview’s members and attendees will receive a special packet in the mail the week of October 16th.  They actually mail on Monday, October 17th.
3. The small group study that accompanies Pastor Tim’s new series is included in the packet that everyone receives (one copy per household).
4. The small group study DVD, along with a special Life Group Leader’s Guide, will be available for pick-up at the Community Life Booth (Orland) and the Guest Information Desk (Lockport) on the weekend of 10/22-23.
5. If you have group members who don’t attend Parkview, you’ll need to pick up study guides for them at the main exits when you leave services on the weekend of 10/22-23.

For more information, be sure and take a look at the frequently asked questions from Pastor Tim’s special briefing and Q&A.