Why Small Groups Need To Be A Part Of Your Ministry

Events for youth can be fun; however, they can also be completely exhausting.  You put in a lot of work recruiting volunteers, advertising to the community and putting together logistics.  Despite the results you can be left wondering, “Is this worth it?”

If you want your youth ministry to grow at a healthy pace then you need to invest in small groups.  The reason small groups are important to the success of your youth ministry is because:

TEENAGERS ARE LOOKING FOR AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Teenagers want to be known and loved.  It gives them the ability to connect with real people and have real conversations.  Social media only gives them a taste of a relationship.  Providing small groups introduces them to something bigger.

Small groups offer the ability to be vulnerable and intimate with others.  It’s the chance to form relationships that are authentic and loving because they are based in Christ.

THE STRUCTURE IS SUSTAINABLE NO MATTER THE SIZE

Again, despite the results of an event you could be left exhausted and depleted.  Larger events use a huge amount of resources and leave you and your ministry stretched thin.

Small groups are scalable because it allows you to maintain a healthy adult to teen ratio.  More adults mean your capacity and impact is expanded.

IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH PARENTS

As your ministry grows so do your responsibilities.  Small group leaders will give you the ability to do what you need to do while they care for the parents and teens.

Small group leaders will be able to respond to parents quicker than you.  If there is a time when a teen won’t talk to their parent a small group leader is a realistic option.  They’ll be able to work with parents in the discipleship of their teen.

HOW TO FORM SMALL GROUPS

To get your groups started you need to be intentional with your approach.  That means:

FORMING A CORE TEAM

You should not tackle small groups on your own.  Your first step should be surrounding you with men and women who can help you:

• Discover your target audience.

• Set goals and create a vision.

• Recruit leaders. 

• Advocate and advertise small groups to parents and teens.

With a core team, you will have people to encourage and challenge you to keep on going.

START WITH A TEST GROUP

The temptation is to go big right away with your small group program.  Even if you have a solid team and a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the program make sure you start with a Beta test.  This will give you the opportunity to:

• Find the best format.

• Test out curriculum and content.

• Analyze best practices.

• Address limitations and obstacles with little consequence.

Put together a test group by identifying a limited season (i.e. 6 – 8 weeks) and invite people to be a part of the process.

SLOWLY BUILD THE PROGRAM

To build a dynamic small group program doesn’t happen in one day.  It’s essential to have patience and persistence when it comes to growing your groups.

That might mean limiting how many teens can participate at first.  Take breaks between seasons to analyze and evaluate your progress.  Starting slowly will help you address problems with more focus.

Building small groups is a process, but it’s worth it.  It’s the pathway for life change because teens will receive more attention, and have more opportunity to share what’s happening in their lives.

If you are interested in building a small group program at your parish you’ll definitely want to check out MYM 1 on 1 Coaching.  To learn more click the button below: