Crew Preparation
HOW CAN I BEST PREPARE FOR CREW?
Preparation is a crucial component of our role as crew leaders. Preparation will set the tone for your crew night and your entire crew season. Purposefully preparing for crew in both a practical and spiritual way will ensure that God has space to work and move in you and your crew members. 1 Corinthians 14:40 says “But be sure that everything is done properly and in order” (NLT).When we set out to ensure that organization is at the center of our preparation, we can be sure that we are opening up a space for the Holy Spirit to move in a mighty way. Below are a few practical and spiritual steps to think about when preparing for crew.
1. CREATE AN ORGANIZED SPACE AND AN ORGANIZED MIND.
As a crew leader (or a perfectionist at heart) you may feel the need to make sure your meeting space is perfectly cleaned and organized. No dishes in the sink, no crumbs on the floor or kids’ toys hanging around. While it is important to make sure you have a meeting space that is welcoming and organized your focus should be on preparing yourself and your mind. If it’s a choice between re-reading your notes or cleaning the kitchen right before crew, go for reading. Your crew members aren’t there to see a perfectly clean house, they are there to encounter Jesus and grow deeper in their faith. Consider highlighting three or four points from your notes to share to help facilitate the discussion. This preparation will help to set the tone of your crew. If the crew leader is showing up not prepared it will be obvious and the members will likely follow suit.
2. SET EXPECTATIONS
Because It might be someone’s first time in a crew and he/she might not know what to expect. Send out your crew’s meeting info a week before your first meeting to let your crew members know the details of your meeting location (which door to use, where to park, zoom information and instructions if meeting online, etc.). More importantly than the logistics, let your members know it’s helpful to take notes on sunday so they can come to crew with a couple of their favorite thoughts/takeaways about the message. Ask them to pray with you for the crew season and to set high expectations on how God is going to move in the season. Challenge them to really focus on their own individual growth Feel free to share Whatever your own expectations may be for this season, have your thoughts organized and ready to share with your members the first night of crew.
3. PRAY
Like everything we do, we should ensure that we are dedicated to praying over our crew. Not only prior to the start of the crew season, but every week before every meeting. Pray for miracles and strongholds to be broken in this season. Just like we want to practically set expectations for our crew, we also want to set spiritual expectations. If you are co-leading, you might find it best to meet 10 minutes before the start of your crew to pray together over your crew meeting. A crew meeting without the presence of the Holy Spirit is just a hang out session. Prayer is the most essential part of our role as crew leaders. It helps to prepare our mind and hearts to facilitate the discussion each week and to focus on where God wants to take your crew.
REMEMBER YOUR WHY
As crew leaders you are an example of how Jesus called us to be disciples and to love people. No matter how you decide to prepare, always remember your why and that you can do anything with Jesus at the center!
by danielle.