Start & Grow Small Groups

Goal: The objective of this consulting relationship is to see participating churches successfully establish a small group network ministry. This includes an agreed-upon percentage of members involved, as well as a defined percentage of unchurched people involved. An important means by which this will be accomplished is through identifying and training a small groups task force in the church who will oversee the growth of the small group activities during and after the consultation relationship.

Process: Prior to the first on-site visit, the pastor is responsible for recruiting a team of 5 - 7 people who are willing to serve on a task force that will be responsible for overseeing the planning and implementing small groups strategy in the church.

This consulting relationship occurs over a 16-month period and is defined by four on-site visits. Each visit is tailored to reflect the needs and priorities of the sponsoring church, but will normally include the following:

Visit #1 (one day)

The first visit includes 1/2 day of individual planning and consulting with church staff, and 1/2 day of leadership orientation and training on the topic of small groups. The church is responsible for recruiting a group of at least five lay persons (plus interested staff) for the 1/2 day leadership training session.

• Vision-casting for a small groups ministry in the church
• Biblical foundation for small groups
• Reviewing the small group history of the church
• Establishing goals and timelines for small groups in the church
• Small group basics (different types, purposes, lifecycles, goals, etc.)

Visit #2 (two days) (2 - 3 months following the first visit)

• The first day of this two-day on-site visit is spent with the appointed Small Groups task force mentoring these persons in key ingredients of a successful small groups ministry.
• Prospective small group leaders, staff, small groups task force, and other lay leaders spend the second day with the consultant reviewing small group principles and strategy to be applied to their particular situation.

Visit #3 (one day) (5 - 6 months following the second visit)

• Continued consulting with the small groups task force (supporting and training small group leaders, planning corporate small group events, curriculum selection, etc.)
• Continued consulting with church staff (timelines, small group goals, evaluation of progress, etc.)
• Small group leaders training

Visit #4 (one day) (5 - 6 months following the third visit)

• Small group leader training
• Continued consulting with church staff
• Continued consulting with small groups task force
• Two hours in the evening are devoted to continuing church training in small groups with all lay persons who have an interest in the church’s small groups ministry

Upon the completion of the final consultant visit, a one year strategy will have been defined which will continue the momentum established over the consultant relationship, and include a plan and corresponding timeline for additional groups and small group leadership training.

Each consultant visit includes presentation of research and proven guidelines for developing a small group ministry, as well as individual assessment of the sponsoring church’s particular situation.

A component of all "Special Topic Consultations" is free telephone consultation for one year surround the visit/s.

Cost: This Special Topic Consultation for developing a small group ministry is available only as a package of four (4) on-site consultations. Total cost is $2100, plus travel & accommodations for one person from Los Angeles, California.