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Certainly communication and things like childcare and food can help but I also found that less large group/classroom training in this busy culture of ours helps too. How about two trainings a year where you call the leaders to the church, like September and January and then use other things inbetween, like on line training, newsletters, CD's and coaches huddles in someones living room when you only have to co-ordinate 5 people's schedules instead of all the leaders in your ministry. The other thing worth mentioning is to be careful that your large group/classroom trainining is worth coming to. Don't simply read out of a manual or off the power point, be sure to have lots of interactive things planned and information and discussions they couldn't get elsewhere and would miss out on if they didn't come. In other words, if you're going to bring the leaders togther, make it really really beneficial! Remind them it's critical for them to be connected to your churches vision in this way too.

I think John has a point on the communication thing, I would call all of your leaders individually and tell them about the meeting and get some feedback from them on whether or not they will be attending, then I would send them a follow-up email reminding them of the meeting. Maybe there are obstacles in the way of your leaders attending. Try providing your leaders with a meal and child care during your meeting. This can become an appreciation dinner as well as a training session.

I thought about that and it is happening in my church. The way I explain it is to give the people an eternal perspective today. What ever we do is for eternalty. I share with them the benefits we recieve and the glory God gets by our commitments. I go into details to give them evidences of how God works to accomplish his will. Then the rest I let the Spirit of God directs and convicts the people of God.

I guess that's the question that could be asked across all ministries. How do we get people to committ? Surley one of the answsers must be from a movement of the Spirit. Only God's Spirit can move and motivate people into action. Trying to put on something will end up in disarsted if God has not inspired it. Having said that and to answe the question Was the pastors/ Leaders behind it, If Moses didn't lead by example what would have happened. Was it widly pubilsised by visiting and inviting personally. Make sure there are things that are not put on that compete with this. Do they know that it is a requirment of all small group leaders to attend. It seems we are scared to ask volenteers to committ, However would we get away with non attendance at work, No way. Why then do we give God second best, whats left over. ill stop before this becomes sundays message. John