I smiled a few weeks ago as I read a framed quote on a pastor's desk, "ministry is hard work—get over it." I am always a bit leery when someone wants to make simple the difficult task of fostering community in the body of Christ. While this happens in many areas of ministry, one of the most critical areas of small group development that people often over simplify is health assessment.
Questions abound as to how and where to begin, what areas to focus on, and so on. Despite the challenges of review, we know all too well that failure to make a regular assessment of our ministry will leave leadership pondering where our strengths and weaknesses lie and what, if anything, we should be doing about it. With that in mind, let me suggest three guiding principles that will help you keep your thumb on the pulse of your ministry's vitality. We can establish a clear roadmap for next-level leadership by following a few basic principles.
First, clearly define the areas needing assessment.
Ask this question, "What are the foundational elements of our small group ministry?" Stated in the negative, "What foundational elements do we ignore?" This is the simple idea of beginning with the end in mind. If the small group point leader is not clear on where the ministry is going, it is doubtful the senior leaders are all heading in the same direction. Mixed signals about direction will, in turn, create confusion among emerging leaders. Once established, however, these foundational elements provide the focal points for assessment. The good news is that there has been some great thinking centered around this topic. Tapping into this think tank can save you literally years of trial and error.
PRACTICE TIP: Most practitioners agree there are a handful of key strategic elements that will make or break a small group ministry. I like to think of them as the "block and tackle" basics of all healthy ministries. While setting out the elements of a successful small group ministry is beyond the scope of this article, let me offer my favorite treatment on the subject: The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry by Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson. The title advises that there are seven foundational principles that cannot be violated if you want to build a prevailing small group ministry. This is a must read for everyone in small group leadership.
Second, determine the voices you want speaking in the assessment.
It is imperative that you hear from every key group within your church. In assessment lingo, we call these "rater groups." What value does the Senior Pastor place on small groups as part of the spiritual formation process? How do the officers in your church assess the value, purpose, and progress of the small group ministry? Has the vision trickled down to the small group leaders? It is only after hearing from all parties concerned that you will have a true assessment. Categorize these leader groups and give them a voice by listening to them. You can do this through survey, focus groups or discussions during leadership meetings.
PRACTICE TIP: In an effort to assist the local church, Watermark International is developing a 360-degree assessment tool based on the Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry. This web-based instrument should serve as an indispensable tool for the kingdom in general and for the local small group specifically. If you would like to know more about this tool and its upcoming availability, you can send a note to watermark@triad.rr.com.
Third, develop and commit to a plan of action based on the results of the assessment.
Your assessment will only be helpful to the extent you are able to translate a diagnosis into a prescription and then follow through. I find that thinking categorically about the assessment is helpful. For example: (1) what developmental areas of our small group ministry meet expectations; (2) which ones need improvement; and (3) which areas can we agree are unacceptable? In this way, you can celebrate the success with your team and church leadership while establishing a clear plan of action necessary to raise the bar on the weak or neglected areas. The state of your ministry will then determine if you are equipped to navigate the challenges of further development or if it might be wise to collect wisdom from other practitioners or to bring in an outside consultant.
PRACTICE TIP: Let me mention one other outstanding opportunity that you may want to consider. Each year, Bill Donahue, Russ Robinson, and Greg Bowman offer 1-2 day Advanced Leader Training that allows your team to focus exclusively on the big picture of small group development. The workshop setting offers the added benefit of interacting with other teams that are facing many of the same issues you do, as well as the guidance offered under the watchful eyes of seasoned trainers and coaches. I participated in this training some years ago, and it accelerated our development exponentially. This training will be offered for the first time in conjunction with the Watermark assessment tool mentioned above. You can learn more about this training event offered as a pre-conference workshop next April (2005) at the Southeastern Small Group Conference Website: www.sgconference.com.
