You know how sometimes there really is an elephant in the room and no one wants to talk about it?

Or if certain people are in the room a kind of code is used to disguise the real topic?

Depending on who's in the room, the subject of starting new groups can be like that.

Don't believe me? Try having conversations (or even casting vision) about the need for new groups:

• In front of the leaders of groups that aren't full.
• In front of certain members of groups that everyone knows ought to be leading a group.
• When space is at a premium and the new groups will need to be off-campus.
• When two or three unconnected generations have already voted with their feet...but the leaders of the status quo want equal time when it comes to promotion.
• Etc.

Sound familiar? What should you do? You might need to begin to lead by acknowledging the truth about the need to start new groups.

5 blatantly obvious truths:

1. There is a very good reason you need to start new groups.

The most important reason for starting new groups is that you don't have enough groups to connect the unconnected people in your congregation and crowd. Simple logic will tell you that.

Note: An easy calculation is to take number of unconnected people in your average weekend adult worship attendance divided by 10 to determine the minimum number of new groups you need today.

I find this Andy Stanley line very helpful: "Your ministry is perfectly designed to produce the results you are currently experiencing."

That means if you've not already connected 100% of your average weekend adult worship attendance in groups, your current strategy is either ineffective or incomplete.

The most important reason for starting new groups is that you don't have enough groups to connect the unconnected people in your congregation and crowd. Simple logic will tell you that. Click To Tweet

See also, Ten Ideas That Have Shaped My Philosophy of Ministry.

2. New groups offer distinct advantages (over those of existing groups)

This may not be a mystery to you, but it might not be intuitive for your existing leaders.

Three of the advantages that new groups bring are:

• Eliminating the degree of difficulty connecting into longstanding cliques
• The opportunity to engage a new wave of leaders, and
• The opportunity to easily bring a friend.

Three of the advantages that new groups bring are (1) eliminating the degree of difficulty connecting into longstanding cliques, (2) the opportunity to engage a new wave of leaders, and (3) the opportunity to easily bring a friend. Click To Tweet

See also, Top 5 Advantages of New Groups.

3. You already have all the leaders you need to take the next step.

Whether you have a congregation of 100 or 1000, you already have men and women who have been prepared by God for such a time as this.

This is an assumption that should be built into the way you think about adequately caring for your congregation and crowd. In over 35 years of ministry I have not found a single church where this is not true.

Whether you have a congregation of 100 or 1000, you already have men and women who have been prepared by God for such a time as this.This is an assumption that should be built into the way you think about adequately caring for your… Click To Tweet

Praying the Matthew 9 prayer that God will send workers? He already has! You just need to give them a chance!

See also, 10 Powerful Benefits of a Thriving Small Group Ministry.

4. You already have nearly unlimited space to start new groups.

Nearly everyone knows that constraints actually produce novel solutions.

Running out of room on campus? Perfect.

All your existing off-campus groups are full? Even better.

"People think of creativity as this sort of unbridled thing, but engineers thrive on constraints. They love to think their way out of that little box: 'We know you said it was impossible, but we're going to do this, this, and that to get us there.'"

People think of creativity as this sort of unbridled thing, but engineers thrive on constraints. They love to think their way out of that little box. We know you said it was impossible, but we're going to do this, this, and that to get… Click To Tweet

See also, Marissa Mayer's 9 Principles of Innovation and Creativity Loves Constraint.

5. The lack of commitment on the part of unconnected people is not the underlying issue.

Imagine a business (i.e., Ford Motor Co.) bemoaning their customer's lack of commitment (or the failure to know better) as the reason for the business's failure. It does happen (I'm sure the buggy whip manufacturers of the early 1900s were included), but do you really want to be part of that club?

The better assumption we must have is that unconnected people will say yes to things they need or desire. When we make a compelling case that being connected meets their need or satisfies their desire they will say yes to connecting.

The better assumption we must have is that unconnected people will say yes to things they need or desire. When we make a compelling case that being connected meets their need or satisfies their desire they will say yes to connecting. Click To Tweet

See also, Preoccupied with the Needs and Interests of the Right People and Responding to Yesterday vs Reminiscing about the Future.

What do you think? Have a question? Want to argue?  You can click here to jump into the conversation.

photo credit: CrankyPK