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When
people first start to attend your group,
it can be a nice touch to have a welcome
packet for them. Here are some ideas of
things to put inside!
A
lot of our group leaders put together
a folder so people have a wealth of information
which can offer some encouragement and
also introduce them to what HopeKeepers
is all about a particular church.
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"God loves the pure-hearted
and well-spoken; good leaders also
delight in their friendship."
Proverbs 22:11, The Message
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 Welcome
Packet Ideas |
Most
leaders just purchased folders at
their local office supply store for
around $.25 apiece.
Ideas
of things to put in your folder:
-
An
introductory letter from you.
-
A
list of participants and information
they are willing to share such as
phone numbers, addresses, email addresses,
spouses, ages of kids, birthdays,
good times to call, etc.
-
A
letter of welcome from your pastor
(your group may have people visit
who have never attended the church
before.
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An
itinerary of the HopeKeepers group
season (such as scheduled meetings
and fun activities)
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Information
about your church such as a brochure
or newsletter bulletin
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Informational
sheet about a lending library of books,
tapes, etc.
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A
recommended reading list
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Inspiring
quotes or scriptures
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Postcards
about Mosaic
Moments devotional book (available
from Rest Ministries for free)
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A
notepad
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A
listing of your church ministries,
who to call in case of an emergency,
etc.
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Small
items, such as stickers, a pen, notecards
to send people encouragement, a coupon
to be redeemed for “a cup of
coffee with you,” etc. See more
ideas here.
-
Feel
free to add things that are personal
to you, such as the particular poem
or devotional, a list of books that
have been helpful to you, etc.
I know I am biased, that after years
of trying to create a resource to
encourage people in the many aspects
of living with an illness, I believe
every HopeKeepers welcome packet should
include a “HopeKeepers
Magazine.” We have these
available at a bold discount for a
year supply or 10 copies for just
$15. The link for this is here.
If
you are unable to afford copies for
your welcome packets, please
e-mail me your name, address,
and the amount that you need, and
I will do my best to provide them
at no cost.
PLEASE
NOTE: our magazine will temporarily
being going digital due to costs associated
with printing and postage. Stay tuned!
Many
times people attend HopeKeepers groups
and may not actually connect with
Rest Ministries. This is our way of
inviting them to visit our web site,
and learn more about all that we offer,
including many articles, free online
daily devotionals, and even support
for spouses and of those who live
with chronic illness.
Lisa
Copen
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on any page to tell your friends! 
