Some People Who Are Social Superglue

Have you ever met someone who always seems to be right at the heart of whatever community they are part of? They seem to naturally hit it off with almost everybody. They are on the guest list for every wedding. If there’s a meeting or a group at their house, it is cram full of people. 

People like this are gatherers, or as I think of them, ‘social superglue’, and if you are able to get somebody like this in your planting team, lean heavily into their gift – they can be what transform the 0-30 stage of you church plant from a hard slog to something that seems to come naturally and effortlessly (well maybe not effortless, but way easier than in would otherwise be).

It is not always easy to find people like this for your team as they already tend to have lots of things that they are involved in, but when they do turn up it is easy to see them – just look for the people who always seem to be bringing mates to stuff and who everyone else wants to hang out with.

It can often be effective if this kind of person is  asked to actually get the group going, and then for a more established leader to be brought in alongside them a bit further on in the process. 

Sometimes a leader can feel threatened when the social dynamic of the group seems to pivot around somebody other than the primary leader, but the wise leader will make space for these people to use their gifts and will reap the benefits in a vibrant, fun and growing community in the church plant.