4 Predictable (and Unforgivable) Reasons for Adding New Members to Existing Groups

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Can I ask about an important strategic decision? What makes the most sense to you? Adding new members to existing groups? Or launching new groups?

Do you understand the strategic nature of the question?

In my experience, this decision is one of a very short list of foundational decisions that determine effectiveness at building a thriving small group ministry.

That's right! Your decision to prioritize the launch of new groups (and by definition de-prioritize something else) is a decision that determines effectiveness at building a thriving small group ministry.

Is that true? Why is that true? Prioritizing the launch of new groups determines effectiveness at building a thriving small group ministry because new groups (and new leaders) lead to more groups, more new leaders, and more people connected.

New groups (and new leaders) lead to more groups, more new leaders, and more people connected. Click To Tweet

Believe me? I hope you've already made the commitment to prioritize the launch of new groups.

But, making the commitment to prioritize the launch of new groups always comes with another decision.

The decision that comes with it? The corresponding decision is to eliminate sending prospective new members to existing groups.

Choosing to prioritize the launch of new groups comes with the decision to eliminate sending prospective new members to existing groups. Click To Tweet

And that begs the next question...

And some of you, right now, are asking, "Why?!! Why does the first decision come with the second decision? Why can't I do both?"

Here's why. Every time you add prospective new members to an existing group you slow down the process funneling prospective new members to the next launch of new groups.

Every time you add prospective new members to an existing group you slow down the process funneling prospective new members to the next launch of new groups. Click To Tweet

Are you tracking? Are you with me?

Then, why is adding new members to existing groups (at the expense of the process funneling prospective new members to the launch of new groups) so common? Why are so many small group ministries kept from thriving by this strategic flaw?

4 Predictable (and Unforgivable) Reasons for Adding New Members to Existing Groups

There are four predictable (and unforgivable) reasons commonly given for adding new members to existing groups (instead of prioritizing the launch of new groups).

1. The needs of existing group leaders are prioritized ahead of new groups.

In the misguided attempt to be supportive of existing group leaders, their plea for "sending me another couple or two" is met.

Hasn't this happened to every small group pastor who ever walked the face of the earth? You've heard this request: "Hey the Smiths moved away and Bob Jones' work schedule changed. Can you send me two new couples so our group is back to 12?"

Solution: Train your existing leaders to "fish for themselves."* See also, Top 10 Ways to Find New Members for Your Group.

2. Can't expect unconnected people to wait until our next group launch.

Unless and until you've developed a year-round strategy for connecting unconnected people, you will always struggle with this predictable reason for adding new members to existing groups.

Even with a year-round strategy you will be tempted to immediately meet the requests of unconnected people ready to connect (even though genuine connection is much more likely when everyone in the group is new and connecting new members with existing groups with established relationships rarely leads to genuine connection).

Solution: Develop a year-round strategy and the discipline to point unconnected people to the next connection opportunity. See also, How To Build an Annual GroupLife Calendar.

3. Can't qualify and train new leaders fast enough to connect those who have signed up.

The qualification and training process for new leaders is often the biggest delay in the launch of new groups. If you're not producing new leaders fast enough to connect those who have signed up to join a group, there is a problem with your leader identification and qualification process.

And this is a serious issue. The inability to produce new leaders fast enough to meet the demand you can actually see is a tip of the iceberg issue. There are almost always way more unconnected people who haven't yet responded to the invitation to connect.

If you're not producing new leaders fast enough to connect those who have signed up to join a group, there is a problem with your leader identification and qualification process. Click To Tweet

Solution: Spend the necessary time to evaluate your leader identification and qualification process. Is the process itself an unnecessary barrier to producing enough new leaders to meet the demand you can actually see? See also, 5 Simple Things You Can Do TODAY That Lead to More Groups This Fall

4. Apprentice leaders aren't ready to leave their group to launch a new group.

When your new leader supply system is based on the development of apprentice leaders "ready" to start their own group, you are in a perilous predicament. Weekend worship attendance experiencing even slight growth is an early warning indicator that the apprentice leader development strategy will probably not meet demand. When weekend worship attendance is flat or in decline, your apprentice leader development strategy may develop new leaders fast enough to meet apparent demand (but only when you're actually producing apprentices who intend to launch new groups).

Solution: Evaluate your apprentice development system and verify for legitimacy and launch expectancy. See also, True or False: Leaders with Apprentices Leads to More Groups

*Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

And that begs the next question...

4 Predictable (and Unforgivable) Reasons for Adding New Members to Existing Groups

1. The needs of existing group leaders are prioritized ahead of new groups.

2. Can't expect unconnected people to wait until our next group launch.

3. Can't qualify and train new leaders fast enough to connect those who have signed up.

4. Apprentice leaders aren't ready to leave their group to launch a new group.

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