My friend Doug Cowburn has an interesting series going on Small Group Myths over at SkintightTranfsormation.  Check it out.  What do you think?

You say you want to be a church of small groups.  You say you want to be a church where nobody stands alone.  You say you want to connect 150% of your weekend adult worship attendance.  All good, pithy, mantras.  But what are you really doing to make that happen?  How serious are you about doing what you’re talking about?

That is a tough one, isn’t it?  After all…it’s one thing to say it.  It’s another thing to actually put it on the front burner and become preoccupied with making it happen.  But guess what.  If you want connecting 150% of your weekend adult worship attendance to actually happen, it must become a consuming preoccupation.

So…do you really want to go there?  You know that business as usual won’t do it, right?  After all, the truth is that “your ministry is perfectly designed to give you the results you’re currently getting.”  If you want different results you’re going to have to do different things.  Do you really want to connect 150%?  If you do, here are a few keys to moving onto the right trajectory:

1. Do the hard work of assessing where you really are.  Don’t guestimate.  This isn’t a time for “ministerially speaking” or optimism based on high-water marks of the last church-wide campaign.  Instead, gather accurate information about the number of active groups you have along with the number of active participants.  Be careful about who you count.  You will need to decide what you’ll count as a group and what you’ll call “active.”  My recommendation is that you set aggressive standards.  In other words, groups that meet once a month or once a quarter don’t count.  In addition, you may decide that you’re only going to count groups that meet off-campus or for something more than teaching/information-based content.  Just be consistent.
2. Next, determine the total number of adults who are part of your congregation.  The temptation is to take your average adult weekend worship attendance.  That is a place to start, but realize that the average adult in your congregation probably isn’t there every week.  That is very significant because it means if you average 200 adults every Sunday, but the average adult only attends twice a month, then you really have 400 individual adults over the course of the month.  For that reason, you’ll really need to take a number like the adult worship attendance for last Easter or Christmas Eve and use that to represent all of the adults in your congregation.
3. Can you see the equation looming?  Take the total number of adults and subtract the number already active in a group (as defined in #1).  Now you know how many unconnected adults you have.
4. Last, take the number of unconnected adults and divide by 10.  That will give you a sense of the number of new groups it will take to connect everyone.

Pretty daunting?  It should be.  It will take preoccupation to get there.  You can do it, but you won’t drift into 150% connection.  It will take a consuming preoccupation and it will take more than intent.  It will also require a path.  More on that later.

So far you’ve got the beginnings of an understanding of where your church is right now.  You know your percentage connected and that’s important, but it’s only the beginning.  What else do you need to know?  Next up is a list of diagnostic questions that will uncover a deeper layer of what’s true about where your congregation is right now.

1. Does your senior pastor own the idea of connecting 150%?  Does your staff?  Do your deacons or elders?
2. How clear is it that your aim is that adult needs to be in a group?  Are you blatant and consistent in your messaging?  Do you say the same things no matter who you are talking to?
3. How easy is the next step for an adult in your congregation?  Can they join a group without jumping through a lot of hoops?  Can they get involved without waiting for open enrollment?  Can they do it 24/7?
4. How obvious is the next step for an unconnected adult in your congregation?  Do they see “find a small group” on the home page of your website?  Or do they have to know to click on “Grow” and then “Discipleship Options” and then “Life Groups” and then finally see where they can fill in a form?
5. How well designed is your process?  When an unconnected adult takes an initial step and joins a 40 Days group, do you have a step in your process that will help them find a new group if the group doesn’t continue?

How serious are you about connecting 150%?  If you really want to go there, it will take a consuming preoccupation.  Want to go there but need help?  Take advantage of Getting To There, a free, 30 day path designed to help you take the right next steps.

Have you begun testing the waters of video conferencing yet?  Maybe you’re light years into it and have it all figured out…but if you don’t, can I steer you toward a couple things? Maybe three?

In my consulting work, I’m beginning to use video chat to make it better than a conference call.  To do that, you’ll need a camera.  I’m going with the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 and the Logitech ClearChat Comfort USB Headset.  You can read more (and even order your own right here.

Where am I going to use them?  How am I going to use them?  Although Skype has been around for several years, there are some other great, easy solutions for video chat.

Google’s new video chat is one that you definitely need to check out.  Free.  Easy to use.

Another great option is TokBox. Whether you’ve got a team that’s scattered (think coaches or community leaders) or you’re part of a national coaching network like the Small Group Fraternity, TokBox gives you the ability to host a Brady Bunch-like display that will allow your team to see each other.  Best part?  It’s free.

Regardless of the strategy you use to invite unconnected people to join a small group or to consider hosting a group in their home, learning how to effectively ask people to take a next step is essential.  Done poorly, you’ll get a weak response.  Done well, you’ll get a great response.  Here are the four steps to a great response:

1. Incorporate the ask into your pastor’s sermon.  This is much more effective than an announcement.  Obviously, some sermon topics will lend themselves more naturally to integrating the ask into the message itself.  This is worth a careful discussion.  Looking for a scripture passage that includes the idea of community makes it easier.  For example, Matthew 9:36 let’s us in on Jesus’ heart for unconnected people (sheep without a shepherd).
2. Use an insert in the bulletin to gather responses.  While talking about Jesus’ heart for unconnected people, ask your people to “take out the insert in your bulletin.  It looks like this.”  Hold it up and say, “While you’re taking that out, I want you to listen to the story of Bob and Jane.”
3. Using a 2 to 3 minute live or videotaped testimony about the importance of being in a group or how God used the host of a new group gives your ask a huge advantage.  I’ve written about how to develop video testimony that recruits hosts
4. Provide an easy way to respond immediately.  Asking them to go to the website to sign up or call the church office doesn’t strike while the iron is hot.  The best response opportunity is to take the offering later in the service and put the inserts in the plate as it comes by.  Next best, station ushers at the exits and collect as people leave.  Last, have people turn them in to a table in the lobby (this is much less effective).
5. Now that you have the keys, here’s how I do what I call “The Dance.”  Pay attention to the language and the sequence here: “Doing Life together is so important.  If you’re ready to put your toe in the water and try a life group, I want to invite you join us at the Small Group Connection on January 21st.  In your bulletin this morning is an insert.  It looks like this (hold one up).  While you’re taking out the sign-up form, I want you to welcome Bob and Jane Smith.  The Smith’s joined a group last year about this time and I’ve asked them to share a little bit of their story (2 to 3 minutes, answering the questions I mention in how to develop a life group testimony).”The pastor then says, “Let’s thank Bob and Jane for sharing their story.  We want to invite you to join us at the Connection on January 21st!  If you’ll fill out the sign-up form you can place it in the offering at the end of the service.”  Important Note: If you’re recruiting hosts, simply substitute the following lines: “If you have a heart for unconnected people you could be a host.  In your bulletin this morning is an insert.  It looks like this (hold one up).  While you’re taking out the sign-up form, I want you to welcome Bob and Jane Smith.  The Smith’s hosted a group last year about this time and I’ve asked them to share a little bit of their story (2 to 3 minutes, answering the questions I mention in how to develop a life group testimony).”The pastor then says, “Let’s thank Bob and Jane for sharing their story.  Is that what God is leading you to do?  If you’ll fill out the sign-up form you can place it in the offering at the end of the service.”

Does that make sense?  See how the four key ingredients are integrated right into the message?  If you’re recruiting hosts, it would just take a little tweak.  Same dance.  Like any dance, the graceful integration of several steps leads to a smooth and pleasing outcome.  I hope your dance moves become smoother and more effective.

I recently got an email from Peter that asked, “What are the essential ingredients to making a great life group and how do I get them?”

That is a great question!  Let’s take an initial stab…and then open up shop for comments (or further questions) that you might have.

The essential ingredients to making a great life group are both simple and challenging.  You’ll find most of what you’re looking for in the values listed on the Purpose Driven Group Agreement.  A group that integrates these 8 values will have the basis for a very rich experience.  Take a look:

1. Group attendance is prioritized.  Seems obvious, but this is very important.  Group members need to be committed to putting group meetings ahead of other opportunities.
2. A safe environment is one where members can be heard and feel loved.  Easy?  No.  Learning to listen and ask follow up questions without offering pat answers or snap judgments is very difficult.  Short of a safe environment you cannot expect to cultivate the kind of group experience that actually produces life-change.
3. Confidentiality is an essential ingredient.  What is shared in the group, stays in the group.  Nothing kills an experience like the knowledge that we’re not all in this together.
4. Spiritual health is made possible through a kind of shared accountability and support.  It’s not a solo operation.  I need you and you need me.  Together we can be healthy.
5. Determining in advance that your group will be a welcoming place for new people is important.  Maintaining that potential (beyond lip service) is difficult but essential.  Without this element a group can easily become stale.
6. Developing a sense of shared ownership allows each member to play a part.  It is both more work and less work.  More work in that the leader must proactively engage a contribution from everyone.  Less work in that with the help of everyone the leader can focus on leading.
7. Rotating the facilitation responsibility among group members allows for the development of confidence and the identification of additional leaders.  Brett Eastman calls it, “The crock pot of leadership development.”  Side note: This is also one of the major predictors of groups that survive when the leader moves away or otherwise stops leading.
8. Sub-grouping for spiritual growth.  Whether you take the step of accountability partners, or simply sub-group into groups of 3 or 4, this will encourage deeper sharing, more meaningful prayer and a greater sense of connection.  Having 10 to 12 regular participants is great but it is too large for everyone to share their experience in a meaningful way.

While there are other aspects that are important (for example, how often you meet, focusing on transformation as opposed to information, and how you handle conflict), I really think these are the most essential ingredients of a meaningful small group.  How do I begin to implement them?  Intentionally moving in this direction.  Starting with an agreement is a great first step.  Tracking progress and actually measuring alignment with these values is also very important.

Thoughts?  Use the comments and lets talk about it!

Already jazzed about four locations in 2009! 

• February 19-21, Lake Forest, CA
• March 26-28, The Woodlands, TX
• April 23-25, Norcross, GA
• May 14-16, Cincinnati, OH

You can find out more or register right here.  I'll have more on my breakouts when the details become available.  For now, put down the dates and join me at a location near you!

Can't make one of these locations?  I'll also be here.

One of the most commonly accepted truths of the small group movement is that every leader should have an apprentice.  Many churches have practiced the idea that before you could start a new group you had to have a leader and an apprentice.  Many churches measure the percentage of their groups that have an apprentice in place.

The "how important is it to have an apprentice?" question is asked very frequently,  But…misses the question before the question.

What's the question before the question?  Here it is: "How will you identify and develop enough leaders to provide a way for everyone in your congregation to connect in community?"  (OK, I know that's two questions.  Just work with me!)

Ever wrestled with those questions? They must be asked first, because they determine how much stock you'll put in the apprentice idea.  Let's tackle them one at a time.

First, how will you identify enough leaders to provide a way for everyone in your congregation to connect in community?  That begs a prior discussion.  Before you can know how to identify enough leaders, you'll need to know how many Unconnected Adults you have.  How do you find that out?  Here are the questions:

• How many adults are part of your congregation?  Careful!  It's not enough to know your average adult attendance.  You need to know how many adults attend your church (usually over the course of a month).  That may take a little work, but it will be worth thinking through.  As a shortcut, you might use your Easter or Christmas Eve adult numbers.  In many churches that is a pretty accurate representation of the number of adults that attend your church.  This is "Total Adults."
• How many are already connected?  How many adults are in your groups?  Real numbers.  This is "Already Connected."

Once you know those two numbers you can do the math.  Here's the equation:

Total Adults – Already Connected = Unconnected Adults.

What did you come up with?  Now divide it by ten.  That's approximately Enough Leaders to take care of the number of adults who are currently attending. 

Tracking?  How big is that gap?  The one between the number of leaders you have and the number of leaders you need?

Here's the next questions: "Can the apprenticing idea resolve that gap?  Can it resolve the gap in time?"

How Important Is It to Have an Apprentice (Part Two)

One size rarely fits all.  Oh, you might be able to force your foot into the shoe or fit your body into the t-shirt…but one size rarely fits all.  And it’s the same with small group launching strategies.  What works well in the fall might not work as well in January.  What works off of a special day like Mother’s Day may be a real bomb off of Father’s Day.  That’s why you need to develop a year-round strategy if you want to launch groups year-round.  Here are some key principles:

1. Plan your approach with the whole year in mind.  Viewing the year as a whole will help you balance your approach to keep it fresh.  As much as you’ve become a fan of the HOST idea, you will quickly nauseate your congregation if you use that strategy every time.  Ok, nauseate is pretty strong.  But you will definitely get a diminished return if you use it too often.  What’s the antidote?  Use a variety of strategies to launch groups.
2. Keep in mind that the impact potential of every season is directly affected by what precedes it and what follows it.  This is often missed but is very important to understand.  For example, what makes fall the best time to use the HOST strategy is that summer precedes it.  Easy to use August to recruit HOSTs, September to promote the church-wide series and then launch late in the month.  What about January?  When will you recruit HOSTs?  Not in December.
3. Keep in mind that the two best times to launch waves of new groups are late September/early October and late January/early February.  What about Easter?  Easter can work, but it usually so late in the spring that it doesn’t give new groups enough time to firmly establish new connective tissue before summer.
4. Keep in mind that each season of the year has its own distinctive qualities.  For example, fall will bring new attendees who are new to the area.  They’re often looking for a church like the one they left behind.  Other times the summer has convinced them that THIS is the year they need to get their kids into a church.  They’re unconnected.  Ripe for an opportunity to get involved in a church-wide study.  On the other hand, the first of the year brings people who’ve just resolved to get involved in a church.  A very different motivation.  They’re not new to the area.  Just to the idea of attending.  That motivation provides an opportunity to use a small group connection with a study that appeals to people looking for a fresh start. Each season presents an opportunity to design an approach that definite distinctive qualities.
5. You will not catch every kind of fish with the same bait.  If you want to catch ‘em all, you’ll have to use a variety of baits.  Some will respond to a church-wide campaign.  Others a well-timed connection event.  Still more to a topical approach that targets a need and then offers a bridge to a next step.

Ready to get started?  The first step is to look at the year as a whole and plan with the specific needs and opportunities of each season in mind.  Right now is the time to plan for the first of the year.  January and February offer a chance to provide easy and obvious next steps for New Year’s resolutions.  Why not put a team together and begin to plan your small group strategy for 2009?

How’s that for an awkward headline?  Familiar with Central Christian Church in Las Vegas?  We’ve mentioned a couple of their church-wide campaigns here.  They’re definitely onto some good ideas from a group standpoint.  Tripped across a relatively new blog by Tracey Smith, one of Central’s small group pastors.  Small Group Pastors might be an interesting one to watch…or even to jump in on!

And the Oscar for Creative Use of a Star Wars theme goes to…Fusion Church

Yoda Groups from Fusion Church on Vimeo.

Thanks to Monday Morning Insight for the link!