Every LifeGroup Leader in our church has said yes to the calling God has invited them to step into. They didn’t just sign up for a task or an obligation. They stepped into a calling and Jesus’ invitation to love our neighbors as ourselves.
As a LifeGroups Coach, you get to help leaders walk out their calling with confidence by connecting consistently and caring genuinely for each person you lead. We know this happens organically when you see each other on the weekend, but we also know it can be challenging when you have different weekend schedules. Maybe you serve or attend opposite services or at times when your paths don’t often cross.
This is where Span of Care can help you intentionally build relationships with the LifeGroup Leaders under your care.
What Is Span of Care?
Span of Care is a process used at every Life.Church location to support what you’re already doing for volunteers—checking in, praying together, and celebrating wins. We know that God does the transforming work, and He often uses ordinary faithfulness to do it: a call, a text, or a five-minute conversation.
Span of Care helps you stay faithful to that rhythm.
How Do I Use Span of Care as a LifeGroups Coach?
The Life.Church app makes this rhythm easy to manage. Here’s how it works.
- Receive an Email Notification and Life.Church App Alert
When it’s time to check in on a LifeGroup Leader, you’ll receive an email and Life.Church app notification. This lets you know that it’s time to connect with a volunteer, preferably in person.
- Ask How Their Group Is Going and How You Can Best Support Them
Keep your communication personal and genuine. You might ask how their LifeGroup is going, if they’re experiencing any tensions, and how you can serve them. They might have big wins to share, like adding new people or experiencing more vulnerability in conversations. Celebrate those accomplishments together.
They might also be navigating situations that feel awkward, frustrating, or challenging. In those moments, listen with empathy and respond with practical help.
- Leverage Relevant Resources
You can find a library of resources at life.church/lifegroups/resources, including content for LifeGroups and articles to help leaders grow. You can also explore leaders.life.church and use the search feature to find articles on specific topics, like dealing with difficult people, discussing politics, celebrating the holidays, and more.
- Pray for the Leader and Their Group
Before you finish your conversation, regardless of whether it’s in person, over text, or on a phone call, always make sure you end in prayer. Be intentional to ask the leader how you can be praying for them—not just with their LifeGroup, but also in their personal life. Then, remind them that you’re here to help and support them however you can.
- Complete the Span of Care Card
Once you’ve connected with your LifeGroup Leader, you’ll return to the Life.Church app to complete your Span of Care card.
You’ll choose “Contacted” if you connected with the volunteer, or you’ll choose “Reached Out (No Response)” if you attempted to connect but didn’t hear back. These are the only two Activity options you’ll need to use in Span of Care.
Add notes to capture how you followed up and any helpful context for future care, then tap “Add.”
After following up, be sure to click “Complete Step” to make it official. When appropriate, you can also connect directly with your Community Team about pastoral needs a leader might be experiencing.
Remember, your role as a LifeGroups Coach is to connect consistently and care genuinely for each person you lead. And Span of Care is the process that helps us be intentional about prioritizing these rhythms.
