The Benefits Of Decentralizing Your Ministry

This past fall, we made a significant change to our ministry. We dissolved the large group program I had spent the last three years building and focused on a small group model. Not only did we dissolve our weekly large group gathering, but we also decentralized the ministry. Small groups no longer met on one night. We assigned leaders to different nights throughout the week and gave them a choice to meet in-person or go virtually.

Why did we make a move? Despite the energy that comes from a large group gathering, we felt as if we were losing the intimacy of authentic relationships. There was so much movement that it was hard to settle down, become vulnerable, and really dive into faith impacting conversations. We did not try this earlier because the messiness was to make the transition; however, the pandemic helped. With limitations on large group gatherings, we decided that now was the time to make the shift, and I’m glad we did.

While we’re only a few months into a decentralized small group model, here are the benefits we’ve seen:

INCREASED OWNERSHIP FROM THE VOLUNTEERS

Our volunteers already bought into the vision, but their level of commitment has exponentially increased. Because our groups meet on multiple nights in various venues, the communication of logistics no longer falls solely on my shoulders. By decentralizing the small groups, they are no longer dependent on me to set-up the gathering and communicate to parents.

It also permits our leaders to get creative. They can design their own little game for the group or icebreaker to get the conversation flowing. Some leaders change the format from sitting in circles to going for a hike because leaders are encouraged to own responsibility; they are more likely to get to know the teens and the parents better.

CONVERSATIONS GO DEEPER SOONER

One of the issues with doing a combination large and small group model is the amount of time you spend trying to do everything. Game, talk, music, and then small groups within 90 minutes to 2 hours is challenging. By focusing on a small group, there is less time lost in transition.

Teens gather, the leader prays with them, checks in on their weeks, and then dives into the topic. Our groups only need to meet an hour (45 minutes online) to really tackle the subject. Leaders are not feeling rushed because my talk went too long. Teens are not distracted by what the other groups are doing. The relationships form quickly because there are fewer people to get to know. Trust forms quicker in smaller circles. 

MORE BUY-IN FROM THE PARENTS

When you run a large ministry, most of your interactions with parents are to remind them about logistics (e.g., handing in forms, making the retreat) or to address a serious issue (e.g., teens who are hurting). You might have a newsletter, but all that does is communicate information. If you want parents to buy into your ministry, they need to know that you understand what is happening in their lives.

When you only have to accompany five or six teenagers, it’s easier to personally and authentically interact with parents. Picking up the phone to make a few phone calls, meet up for coffee, and get to know mom and dad is far more simple. With fewer distractions and more ownership, we’ve seen our leaders interact with parents on a deeper level. At the same time, we’re seeing parents engage further in the parish because they see that the church is doing more than just running programs. Parents start to see that your ministry (and hopefully others) are investing in their lives.

Moving from a large group model to a small group format takes some work, but it is worth the effort. In addition to an increase in ownership from leaders, deeper conversations, and engaged parents, you’ll see life change. To start the transition, you need to:

• Invite a team of people to come together to figure out the logistics.
• Decide on a timeline and strategy to communicate the changes.
• BETA test, and start small.

You might feel like you are taking a step back by readjusting your ministry, but momentum will come back with your persistence. If you need assistance with building small groups from scratch or growing a team of dynamic volunteers, then check out our MYM Huddle Courses. Each of our courses offers practical wisdom and exercises to help you and your team make the changes you need to grow a healthy ministry. To get started, click the button below.

What questions do you have when it comes to building a small group model for your ministry?