Last night was a small crowd but a powerful experience. There was pressure to cancel last night’s high school gathering because most of the teens would be out trick-o-treating. I went back and forth a little torn whether or not to cancel. In the end I decided that even if there was only one kid who would show up it would be worth it to still have program. It was worth it.
Small sometimes gets a bad rap in youth ministry. The pressure to have large numbers, and big turnouts can drive a youth minister crazy. While the physical growth of your ministry is essential it’s important not to forget what small can do for you. Small will help you:
- Stay Focused: While large events and programs have their benefits, it’s easy to get caught up in the madness. By trying to go big each time you can lose focus of your values, mission and vision. Look at certain seasons of your ministry and ask yourself the question, “Can we scale back here?” Take away some of the chaos, dial it down and look at what’s most essential.
- Be More Intentional: The reason small groups are key, especially in a large ministry, is because they enable adults to give teenagers intentional discipleship. No more lost in the crowd, just sitting face to face with teenagers letting them know you care. Small groups helps you connect teens in a healthy ratio with adults who will walk with them in their faith journey.
- Build Momentum: If you want to change a paradigm, it takes a lot of courage. It also means taking small steps to build the momentum. If you want small groups in your ministry start with a test group. Instead of planning out an entire year, just commit to a season. While small steps require patience it leads to big gain.
Do not be afraid of small because it gives you so much. Small turnouts can be big opportunities to pour into specific teens. Small groups allow you to build long lasting relationships. While you strive to go big, to grow your ministry do not forget the power of small.
How do you stay small in your ministry?