Launching Small Group Ministry
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Transcript Launching Small Group Ministry
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?
Building FDFXs?
Creating community
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
800-936-2568 or www.metachurch.com
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-onone 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
www.rasnet.org
Copy Right John P. Chandler, 2001