Let me put a different spin on this, if I may. First, I think that some in the holistic small group world (BTW, many of them are not even using the term “cell” anymore) are at least rethinking the whole apprentice approach. Instead, as I lay out in my new book, The Pocket Guide to Burnout-Free Small Group Leadership, which Randall asked me to write for Touch on this subject, groups are moving to a Core Team approach, a much more natural, organic process.

The idea is to bring the new people on the fringe into a healthy, growing small group where they will be discipled, shepherded, cared for, etc., but where the whole healthy dynamic of the group moves them to send core team members along with others to form new groups naturally.

In our church and in others I’m talking to who have adopted this approach, I’m finding that if the group is healthy, they do continue to reach out to these new people effectively, they grow, and then they naturally start new groups. That’s when these formerly fringe folks begin team-leading as a part of a core team. This can happen rather quickly in some cases. But alll along they have the opportunity to invite their frinds into the group.

Wish I could share more about it here, but I will say that one huge part of the group being healthy and able to accomplish this is the sharing of ownership and leadership within the group.

Would be glad to discuss this with anyone who wnats to know more.