Small Groups are Worth it/Extreme Calling...A Response

Having walked in their shoes, I always feel for the small church youth worker when I read articles. A lot of the time the best intentioned, really great insight about our vocation can seem overwhelming. For those with smaller youth ministries the extremes can feel even more extreme.

“Of course small groups are worth it,” we think. “Yes, we want all those outcomes.”

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In fact, we have a hard time finding leaders. Some of us are the only adult regularly involved in student’s lives. Yes, we know it’s not healthy; it doesn’t change that’s our reality. Our large groups could fit the definition of small group, so do we really need to add another night, in another location? Maybe.

Go informal! Don’t abandon the goal of more deeply relational, personally connected times with students and adults together, adapt it. Here are some ideas:

Find Pauls for your Timothys. Is there an existing adult small group, men’s or women’s ministry structure? Explore creating space in those for students to become part of intergenerational community. Identify adults who would connect regularly with a student or two weekly to pray for one another. Or, flip the script and ask students to identify an adult to ask to meet together for prayer or a short bible study weekly.

Find leaders by mutual interest. Are there adults in your church with special skills? Artists, writers, carpenters, auto-repair, outdoor activities? Explore inviting them to lead a short-term learning group around their craft; vary them by season and your context. Offer a simple devotional and a bit of discussion guidance for them to talk about while they create, learn, or play together.

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If the goal is to create community in the small church environment--especially one that doesn’t all depend on you--take a look at what already exists. Be creative about adapting environments to build leadership and mutual ministry relationships. It will initially fall on you to get the ball rolling, but those connections will become catalysts for more.