Sep

2

Dealing with Small Group Challenges

September 2, 2007 |

CTs Outreach site has an interesting article called Fix My Small Group! by Keri Wyatt Kent. She addresses six problems that are common to small groups, including lack of authentic fellowship, lack of structure, lack of solid leadership, lack of commitment, lack of outreach, and lack of open groups. She offers some good pointers to address problems I hear repeatedly. I especially appreciate her comment that the commitment to small groups needs to be modeled by the senior pastor.

If your senior pastor isn’t in a small group and promoting membership in a group, then it will be hard to develop a strong small groups ministry. On the other hand, if the senior pastor is in a group and talks about it, it normalizes group membership and will motivate at least some people to give it a try.

What she doesn’t address is how we motivate real-life people to find time for groups in the midst of increasingly busy schedules. We need to be far more creative in finding ways encourage involvement and even in the types of groups we develop. And turn off the TV!


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. Mary Doherty on September 6, 2007 6:33 pm

    The tricky part about busy people with busy schedules these days is that it’s the norm, not the unique position. So it comes down to make a group a priority and desiring connection, and we can’t make that happen for someone. We can offer a wide range of groups from preschool mom’s park day group, biking on Saturdays with fellowship afterwards, surfing, weightlifting and the list goes on. These can be a way to reach people with limited time combining activites they want or need to do, like working out, surfing, fishing, with like minded brothers and sisters, that they can reach out to when the need arises. Until it becomes compelling for them, they won’t come or commit the time.

  2. patsikora on September 6, 2007 10:05 pm

    I think you’re right. One key to involvement is to create groups to meet a variety of needs and interests, and to add a small group component to the ways people get together anyway, whether those are church activities or social activities. We need to be more creative and more proactive in developing community opportunities.

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