Launching Small Group Ministry Source: Carl George and Bill Donahue

The Original Small Group  Jesus and the 12  “Building a community to reach a community” Not only gathering to build community, to invite people into community The purpose of small groups is to gather, develop/transform, and serve others (in and beyond the group)

What does your church’s small groups ministry look like?  1. No groups  2. Groups as a “program”  3. Groups as a core value Permeates every aspect of every part of church life

“With” or “Of” Small Groups?  A Church “With” Groups Helps people find place in the church Get in a group through a placement system Joining a group is optional Led by reactive shepherd Meetings structured by program, curriculum Low monitoring of groups Evangelism is possible in group  A Church “Of” Groups Helps people build community Groups invite people Essential to growth Led by proactive shepherd Meetings structured by strategy High monitoring of groups Evangelism is group mandated

How to select a point leader  “Who has empty space on plate?”  “Divide and conquer” (each staffer take a little piece)  Or: by call and giftedness

A Better Way A). Who has characteristics desired? Spiritual gift of leadership, administration Passion Experience (have they built anything?) Often not a paid staffer B). What is their role? Banner-waver Team-builder

How to choose a structure  1. Define “span of care” No more than 1 leader to 12 participants  2. Identify ministry roles What will shepherd/coach do? Staff roles?  3. Move toward ministry alignment How does this fit in with the core values of the church? Vs. federation of “silos”

How to Identify Group Leaders  Affections – what do they love?  Reputation – what do others say about them?  Experience – do they have leadership track record in other settings?

How to Launch some Groups  1. Model group You have a leader and build a group around that leader  2. Turbo group You have a number of leaders and you put them together in a sample group to launch several groups Make the expectation for participation an exit after set time

Assessing and Refining Groups  Are they … Gathering? Creating community Building FDFXs? Producing Disciples Deploying servants?

Phases in Development  Discovering candidates  Orienting to role  Coaching and debriefing leaders  Training coaches

Developing Apprentices  A pre-leadership place where you can learn To be and to have apprentices Creating apprenticeship tradition in your church culture  Use tool (ie. Find X Survey)

Pre-apprentice Behaviors  Betray above-average interest in the group  Offer assignments Ie. Start group if 5 minutes late  Offer core commitments Carl George “9 Commitments” #2-5 are “leader-maker” dimensions or

1. Connect  “I will be available for debriefing interviews with the church staff” Legitimates authority of church leader Deputizes beyond personal charisma Sets boundaries and expectations through a covenant

2. Recruit  “I will recruit my replacement(s)/apprentices before we begin meeting with the group, and I will help them develop the ability to lead.” Makes me part of leadership development tradition/culture of replicating myself via modeling

3. Invite  “I will reach out between meetings, cultivating both old and new contacts.” The between-meeting job of keeping group energy and focus

4. Prepare  “I will prepare my mind and heart for our meetings and include our apprentice in the process.”

5. Meet  “I will conduct meetings that encourage believers and accept seekers.” Beyond “duty” and into encouragement

6. Bring  “I will bring group members to worship for the church’s weekend services.”

7. Serve  “I will serve others with my gifts, knowledge, time, energy, and money, conscious that my greatest influence may occur by example.”

8. Win  “I will make time to build acquaintances with unbelievers, serving them at their points of struggle.”

9. Seek  “I will meet regularly with God in private prayer.” Teaches by example that life with God is the highest value

Coaching Roles  1. Develop leaders  2. Provide pastoral care  3. Support and expand ministry In huddles (modeling community), group visits (affirming on site and making observations) and one-on- one visits with the group leader

Debriefing Leaders  One-on-one monthly meetings  Structured by prepared questions Carl George handout read verbatim Offers excuse to surface tough issues  Done with an eye toward developing coaches (sideline) out of group leaders (on field)

3-2-1 Coach Development  3 chairs, 3 calls, 3 people present Coach/apprentice coach/group leader  2 debriefing interviews, 2 hours (1 hour each) Coach does first one, apprentice #2  1 reflection, coach to coach “how did your interview just now go?”

Conclusions  To move from a church “with” small groups to a church “of” small groups, we have to make build a culture of: Being purpose-driven Apprenticing, coaching and leadership development Assessment and CQI

Launching Small Group Ministry Dr. John P. Chandler Copy Right John P. Chandler, 2001