For some individuals, joining a small group may be a huge
commitment. While some may be new believers who have just been plugged in to
your group, others may have waited years before finally trying out “the small
group thing.” For folks who are experiencing the small group experience for the
first time, your efforts of communicating with them could significantly impact
their understanding of how small groups operate and function. By consistently
staying in touch with your members during the lifespan of your group, you can
help them get the most out of the group while at the same time setting yourself
(and even your future small groups) up for success.
Before the Small Group
Before the start of your group, effective communication with
your group members will accomplish 3 things: first, it will cover various
administrative details, such as group expectations, content overview, group
calendar, and other small details; second, it will help establish your
preferred method of contact, should they have any questions; and third, it will
communicate your willingness to personally connect with each of your group
members. By reaching out directly to each person that expresses interest in
your group, the small group experience starts with relationship right from the
start. By the time of your first meeting, you will have already gotten to know
your group members a little and possibly even built a little rapport with them.
During the Small Group
In today’s age we’re all busy. With such busyness comes the
chance that a group member may get distracted or forget that your group is
meeting (especially if your group meets less frequently). Staying in touch with
your members will benefit the group in a few ways: first, it will allow for the
group to feel more connected during the week (especially through group texts
and/or group emails); second, it will increase the likelihood that an
individual will remember to attend the group’s meeting that week; and third, it
will establish a dependable system through which group members will expect to
receive updates from you (possibly lessening the number of simple information-based
questions that are sent your way throughout the week). To help create a cadence, weekly emails can be used to communicate important administrative
information pertaining to the group (i.e. calendar changes, content
development, handouts, etc.). Group texts can be used as well and can be
reserved more so for weekly devotionals, prayer requests, funny messages, or
other pieces of information that need to be shared quickly. If the schedule
permits, connecting individually with each member throughout the span of the
group can help increase the level of connection between you and your members
and offer more checkpoints for accountability as you mentor them.
After the Small Group
When the group completes is goals or is no longer working towards completing its goals (See
our post on group formation here), then it is helpful for a group to officially end when it is the right time. Yet even
when a group is ending, it is important for its members to take the time to
celebrate and officially end the group. To assist, the group leader can arrange
for a mixer, a meal, or a fun event that brings everyone together to reflect on
the successes of the group. During this final gathering (and perhaps even the
weeks that follow), it is an opportune time for you to promote the next steps
that may be available for your group members (whether it be joining your next
small group or a different group that better suits their current spiritual
season). If your small group ministry is large enough, entertain the idea of
sending out a church-wide survey to all participating small group members to
gather feedback and discover what elements of the small group ministry can be
improved upon. In the end, the goal is to help build a mindset within the
culture of the church that spiritual growth occurs not only on Sundays, but
also Monday-Saturday, 52 weeks a year.
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