5 Things I Used to Believe about Small Group Ministry

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Don't hate me, but there are at least 5 things I used to believe about small group ministry...that I no longer believe are true. Actually, I no longer believe they are the best way to do what needs to be done.

5 things I used to believe...and what I've found to be a better solution:

Then: The best way to multiply small group leaders is to recruit and develop an apprentice (who would be ready to birth a new group in 18 to 24 meetings). 

Now: Apprenticing is a very important practice and ought to be part of every leadership development plan. At the same time, the idea that it is the best way to multiply small group leaders is a beautiful sentiment that almost never works in the real world. The best way to identify, recruit and develop leaders is with a well planned and well executed church-wide campaign. The second best way is to use a connecting event that identifies leaders (like a small group connection).

The idea that it is the BEST way to multiply small group leaders is a beautiful sentiment that almost never works in the real world. Share on X

See also, Five GroupLife Dots You May Not Be Connecting and How Important Is It to Have An Apprentice?

Then: The best way to multiply small groups is birthing new groups out of healthy and growing groups (every 18 to 24 months).

Now: Growing and birthing new groups every 18 to 24 months only works on paper (with very few exceptions). What does work is a church-wide campaign or small group connecting event that emphasizes a short-term commitment (six weeks) on a topic that appeals to unconnected people.

Growing and birthing new groups every 18 to 24 months only works on paper (with very few exceptions). Share on X

See also, What's the Best Way to Launch New Groups?

Then: The best way to envision, equip and encourage small group leaders is with a monthly centralized meeting.

Now: The era of centralized meetings has left the building. While periodic centralized meetings can provide the much needed sense of a movement and an experience that can't be duplicated when downloadable or streamed, the pace of life along with available technology to deliver training and encouragement anytime and anywhere cannot be ignored. The best solution is a combination of periodic centralized and frequent decentralized opportunities for envisioning, equipping and encouraging.

The era of centralized meetings has left the building. Share on X

See also, Envision, Equip and Encourage Your Leaders with This 25 Year Old Idea and Breaking: Add This Host Orientation Idea to Your Bag of Tricks.

Then: The best way to protect the flock is to require small group leaders to be church members.

Now: "Protecting the flock" is most frequently a euphemism for never taking a risk. At the same time efforts were made to protect the flock, untold numbers of unconnected people were allowed to slip away when "one tough thing" was one tough thing too many. Since there are no problem-free solutions, the preferred solution is the one that connects the largest number of unconnected people and at the same time, works to mitigate the risks.

Protecting the flock is most frequently a euphemism for never taking a risk. Share on X

See also, Leader Qualification: Raising the Bar, Lowering the Bar or Open Bar? and Customized Leader Requirements and Benefits.

Then: The best way to help groups maintain their vitality was to train leaders to fill the open chair.

Now: Groups that have been meeting longer than about three months begin to form an almost impenetrable membrane and become increasing more difficult for anyone but the most brazen and extroverted to connect with. If you want to connect the largest number of unconnected people, it is far more effective to focus on launching new small groups.

Groups that have been meeting longer than about three months begin to form an almost impenetrable membrane and become increasing more difficult for anyone but the most brazen and extroverted to connect with. Share on X

See also, Design Your Connection Strategy with Unconnected People in Mind and FAQ: How Can We Help Groups That Are Struggling Learn to Add New Members?

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

Image by Trina Alexander

8 Comments

  1. Jared Nassiff on November 14, 2013 at 6:11 am

    Insightful and helpful blog. Could you expand a bit on number 4? Is there an example that would illustrate this point further?



  2. markchowell on November 14, 2013 at 6:22 am

    Great question Jared! Thanks for jumping in here. Many churches require church membership as a prerequisite to small group leadership. And I will admit, it might seem like an obvious prerequisite step and is most often motivated by a desire to protect the flock or restrict who can lead to “qualified” people. But what I’ve discovered over the years is that requiring church membership as a prerequisite really only limits the number of people who can say “yes” to beginning the journey. Far better to make it easy to say “yes” and nearly automatic to step on the conveyor belt that moves leader candidates toward full development. See also, Steve Gladen on Saddleback’s Leadership Pathway: http://www.markhowelllive.com/steve-gladen-on-saddlebacks-leadership-pathway/

    Hope that helps!

    mark



  3. Jared Nassiff on November 14, 2013 at 7:59 am

    Yes this is very helpful, thank you. This would have been an asset for a ‘church membership debate’ short-essay assignment we had to complete for a master’s course not long ago. I understand the benefits of eliminated the church membership as a pre-requisite; however, in your opinion, does the membership ever become a requisite. For example, using the “small group leader pathway” from Gladen (which is good stuff), is there a certain timeframe or moment in the process in which a church membership eventually becomes a necessity? If no, I could see potential issues with other church members arise; if yes, would there be potential issues from hopeful small group leaders who are simply against placing a membership? I ask because this could be beneficial material for our church as we attempt to transform into a sustainable small group structure.
    Thanks Mark,
    jared



  4. Crissy Carroll on November 14, 2013 at 9:06 am

    Well that’s a relief! We’ve been trying almost all of these techniques (except 3 & 4) for years in our church to no avail! I’ve felt like I was banging my head against the wall trying techniques that are we were told would work.



  5. markchowell on November 14, 2013 at 9:32 am

    Every church has to navigate that discussion on their own. The key to Saddleback’s leadership pathway is that it is theirs. They’ve designed it to suit their system. You will need to do the same.

    mark



  6. markchowell on November 14, 2013 at 10:16 am

    Thanks for jumping in here, Crissy! You’ll have to make up your own mind, but I’ve found Andy to be right when he says, “Your ministry is perfectly designed to produce the results you’re currently experiencing.” There is a reason these techniques do not have the results we hope for.

    mark



  7. Mark Lenz on December 28, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    Good stuff! Your insights have challenged many of my long-hold convictions about small groups.



  8. markchowell on December 28, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    Keep thinking Mark!

    mark