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Using Icebreakers In Your Church - Articles | Preachit.org

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Using Icebreakers In Your Church

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What are Icebreakers?

As the name implies, an icebreaker session is designed to “break the ice” at an event or meeting. It is a technique that is best used with people who do not yet know one another very well. Ice breakers ease people through those uncomfortable moments that come with getting to know strangers.

Most people know us by our profession. We are known as a teacher, carpenter, doctor,                     housewife, etc. Some may know us from church, but they don’t really know us in a meaningful way. Whether your group has known each other a long time, or has just recently gotten together, icebreaker sessions allow a group to get to know one another more intimately. A great icebreaker stirs us to talk about our hobbies, personal experiences or even our family backgrounds. A group that’s more in tune with each other makes better decisions. They feel a sense of trust and are able to work together more productively.

How to Use Icebreakers.

There are right ways and wrong ways to use icebreakers. When used correctly, an icebreaker session can lead to a very successful and enjoyable event. However, a bad icebreaker session can become a disaster very quickly. A bad icebreaker session can end up being an embarrassment to some and a joke to others. Here are some great tips to make sure you are using icebreakers properly:

1.      To begin your icebreaker session, make sure you think through it logically.

·         What are the objectives I am trying to meet?

·         Who will be in my audience?

·         Will this be comfortable for everyone involved?

2.      Next, consider what the ‘ice’ is. An icebreaker breaks ice, what is the ‘ice’ that needs to be broken in your group?

·         The ‘ice’ may simply be the fact that people have not yet met.

·         If you are bringing people of different cultures and backgrounds together,  the ‘ice’ may address people’s perception of one another.

·         If you are trying to bring sinners and the saved together, the ‘ice’ may address a topic that Jesus taught on.

·         If you are bringing young people together in a youth meeting, the ‘ice’ may be a humorous topic about something that happened in their life.

Remember, this is the icebreaker, you are only breaking ice during this time. You don’t have to meet your objective during the icebreaker time, it is simply designed to get you started in the right direction.

3.      Consider what your ultimate objective is.

·         What kind of groups is this?

·         Are you just in it to build relationships and friendships?

·         Are you trying to share the Gospel?

·         Are you moving them further in ministry?

For instance, the objective or our Cell Group Ministry is: “To grow in relationship with one another, to grow in number and multiply, and together, grow in relationship with God.”

If you know what your objectives are, you can design your icebreaker around your objective. The icebreaker should always make it easier to reach your objective. If the icebreaker does not help you reach your objective, it is probably not the right icebreaker.

4.      As a final check, ask yourself these three questions:

·         Will this icebreaker make people open up and feel more comfortable?

·         Will this icebreaker level the playing field?

·         Will this icebreaker create excitement and anticipation for the meeting?

If your answer was yes to all three, you have the right icebreaker, and your meeting will probably be a success. If you answered no to any of these questions, find another icebreaker.

Icebreaker questions aren’t just a great tool, they’re also quite a bit of fun. We hope you’ll enjoy using them in your next group function or meeting as much as we’ve enjoyed compiling them.

Use them at your next:

·         Church Meeting

·         Small group meeting

·         Church plant meeting

·         Fundraiser meeting

·         Missions trip meeting

·         Annual General Meeting (AGM)

·         Church job interview

·         Youth Group Meeting

Church Meeting Icebreakers