Living Hope – Equipping Track

Leading the Welcome Time (Icebreaker)

"Share with God's people who are in need. Practise hospitality."

Romans 12:13

Who Leads this Section?

Any member of the cell group may be asked to lead this section. The Cell Leader or an Apprentice will provide an appropriate icebreaker to use.

Purpose

The purpose of the Welcome stage is to put everyone at ease with each other and to enable everyone to begin to contribute to the group. An icebreaker is a non-threatening question designed to help members of a group take the first step to enter into each other's lives after being absent from one another for several days.

The main thing to remember is not to ask questions that penetrate too deeply when people don't know each other very well. Keep the activity non-threatening. (Shepherd's Guidebook, p.185)

Normally, the icebreaker should last no more than 10-15 minutes, though a new group may take twice as long for the first week or two as people begin to get to know one another.

How to Lead an Icebreaker

As the leader, you state the question and then answer it yourself. Your answer will set the tone for the rest of the group. If you are brief, others will be brief. If you are longwinded, others will be too. Aim to spend no more than one minute per person. Unlike discussion questions, it is best for icebreaker questions to be answered by progressing in order around the circle. Some care should be taken to select an icebreaker question that everyone will be able to say something about – the aim is for everyone to share.

Watch for crisis needs during an icebreaker. It is not unusual for someone to signal they have a real hurt or problem during an icebreaker: ‘I heard this week that my mother has cancer.' Obviously, you must return to minister to this need – but do not stop the circle of sharing. Say, ‘we've got to come back to you and share more about that, Susan. Thanks for telling us.' Then continue. This gives Susan a chance to form her comments, which may otherwise just ‘spill out' beyond what she feels comfortable sharing with the cell group. (Cell Leader Intern Guidebook, p.39)

The ‘Quaker Questions'

The ‘Quaker Questions' are a classic icebreaker, very useful when a new group is formed, and when a newcomer is visiting the group for the first time:

• Where did you live between the ages of 7 and 12, and how many brothers and sisters did you have?
• What kind of transportation did your family use?
• Who was the person you felt closest to?
• When did God become more than a word to you?

(The Shepherd's Guidebook, pages 185-6.)

Lists of icebreakers

A list of icebreakers is available on the Introductory Materials page of this website.

Principles for Creating your Own Icebreakers

Once you've got some experience of using icebreakers you can develop your own. Here are some principles to bear in mind:

Icebreakers:

• Can be questions or instructions that ask for a specific response.
• Should be non-threatening.
• Should not be too deep or personal.
• Should aim to bring out basic information only.
• Should be kept simple.
• Should be appropriate for your group.
• Most should be appropriate for a visitor.
• Should lead to brief answers only.
• Should aim to help everyone share something.
• Are just to get a group started. Spiritual content comes later.

Longer ones should be used with new groups, short ones with established groups.

If you need help, there are whole books of icebreakers available!

E8.4 Leading the Welcome Time - Version 4 – Mar 11