Small Groups
Rake-A-Thon
October 15, 1:00-4:00pm, Register
Small Group serving opportunity.
Our small-group strategy intentionally deepens the five biblical purposes of fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship into every group. We are far more concerned about healthy groups than the number of groups.
Good Enough, not Perfection
Our small-group ministry strives to be effective, not perfect. We've made our biggest strides by pulling the trigger on ideas at the right moment, not by over-thinking every possible scenario that could go wrong. I love the passage of Scripture found in Ecclesiastes 11:4: "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done" (NLT). We don't make excellence an idol, and we are not idle because we're waiting for perfection! God wants us to be good stewards of our resources, not good stoppers of every idea.
Relational, not Multiplying
Small groups need a simple mission. Too often small-group "theory" dictates that groups should be constantly multiplying. These strategies often place too much pressure on an average leader to be a "church strategist" instead of a relationship builder. We help small group leaders relax and use their natural desire to serve in ways that help their group grow closer.
Growth by Campaigns, not Disrupting Community
Small-group ministries live in a constant tension between fellowship and evangelism. Do the people in our small groups continue to grow closer together, or do we ask them to leave those groups so that we can grow the number of groups? What do we do about the people who have just recently joined a group? How long should a group stay together? These are all questions that get considered in every small-group ministry, often proving that there is no light without fire. It is, after all, a delicate balance.
Leadership Potential, not Proven Leaders
Our strategy is designed to first get people into serving and then build them into leaders. If you wait for perfect people to lead your small groups, you'll be waiting until Christ's return. But you don't need "all-star, super-trained" small-group leaders to create a successful small-group ministry! All you need is people who are willing and obedient. Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called. So you can relax and heave a great sigh of relief. We get people involved early in leading groups—and then help them get to where they need to be. It seems that's the model that Jesus showed us when he picked 12 ordinary men. His first requirement was "follow me."
Our goal is to see people passionately devoted to God and helping others embrace this passion.