September 19, 2024
Churches with successful Sunday School and small-group ministries seem have a good understanding of the following six key areas. These churches are consistently working to evaluate and adjust in these areas to ensure success.
First, group leaders have a solid grasp of the purpose of their Sunday School or small group. Often, small group and Sunday School leaders have an incomplete understanding of the purpose of their group. As a result, they may emphasize one or more of the group purposes while neglecting the other(s). Group leaders may also have no understanding of the group purpose, and as a result will determine their own purposes for the group. As those responsible for the groups ministry in our churches, it is important that we clearly communicate the purposes of the ministry and then hold the group leaders accountable to those purposes.
Second, group leaders must understand the need to expand the organization with new leaders. One of the irreducible minimums to a healthy and growing groups ministry is the discovery and development of new leaders. As a rule, Sunday School organizations should strive to have 1 leader for every 5 members enrolled. The ratios vary by age group but should average out to 1 to 5. This includes positions such as teachers, class administrators, care group leaders, prayer and evangelism leaders and others. Small-group ministries will also need a plurality of leaders in their groups to help with the established purposes of the groups. Multiple leaders share the responsibility of leadership and allow people to use their gifts and talents to grow the group and the groups ministry.
Third, group leaders must grasp the vital importance of ongoing leadership training. There is no such thing as a championship team that does not train and practice well. The same is true for our group ministries. Sunday School and small-group leaders should be properly recruited and trained for their specific tasks and roles. After their initial training, they should also be provided with ongoing accountability, additional training opportunities, and support as they exercise their leadership. Regular training can be monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, or annually. Studies indicate that churches that properly train leaders and then provide on-going training are much more likely to have healthy and growing group ministries.
Fourth, groups that have an evangelistic purpose must emphasize the importance of outreach and care to their group leadership. Groups have a natural tendency to become inwardly focused. Sunday Schools and some small groups are designed to reach new people and should work to maintain an outward focus. This includes maintaining a prospect list with names and information of prospective group members so that the group can intentionally plan ways to connect, invite and reach new people. The group should work to remain intentional in being evangelistic and providing care and ministry to these people to the extent that they are willing to receive it.
A fifth key is ensuring that group leadership understands the importance of properly provided and prepared space. It may sound silly to some, but the importance of providing clean, comfortable, and adequate meeting space should not be overlooked. Sunday School classrooms and small group gathering areas must provide adequate space for people to be comfortable and engaged in the group. Depending on the age of the group, space recommendations vary. As a rule of thumb, adults and students need 12-17 square feet per person. Children need 25 sq. ft. and preschoolers 35 sq. ft. per person. Especially when it comes to adults and students, the more crowded the space becomes the less likely you can sustain active attendance within the group among its members. Apply the 80% rule to your space: When you are 80% of your capacity, you are full, and it is time to launch a new group or to find a bigger room/space. Plan ahead and don’t wait till you reach 80% to begin to think about forming a new group or moving to a larger space.
Key number six is really an additional thought to number five. Your leadership must understand and buy into the importance of starting new classes and groups. The reality is that you can’t always find a bigger room and you don’t need to. If you allow a group or class to continue to get bigger and bigger you begin to lose the intimacy and community in the group. It’s no longer a group, but a crowd. Starting new classes and new groups is another of the irreducible minimums to healthy and growing groups ministries. New groups provide more space for new people and new growth and typically, newer groups grow faster than existing groups. A new Sunday School class ors mall group that is properly birthed and organized will typically add 8-10 new people to the entire organization over the next 12 - 18 months.
There are certainly other great practices to maintaining healthy group ministries in your church, but these six are vital to any church that wants to grow healthy groups that consistently reach and disciple others. Healthy groups in your church make your church “sticky.” They create a connection that will help people to stay longer, grow deeper and serve better.
___
Matthew Gibbs is the East Central Discipleship Consultant for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.
