All church small group campaigns are like fireworks—they can be powerful and inspiring, but if you are not prepared for the long haul, they have the potential to blow your hands off! Coordinating weekend services with small group curriculum can be a great way to deepen and develop a small group ministry.
Ada Bible Church, a church of over 3,000 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has run through three cycles of campaigns. Each one was unique in its theme, its timing and its outcome.
In the late fall of 2003 we (along with half of America) explored our "Purpose" for forty days. We doubled our adult small group membership and increased our weekend attendance. At the end of it, we lost a few groups, retained at least 75%, and became addicted to catalytic growth. By late February 2004, we were launching more groups around the "Passion of the Christ," which Mel Gibson was so kind to supply for us. Fewer groups participated and even less survived after The Passion. In mid-September of 2004, we explored a home-made campaign, "Identity Shift," in which we deepened an understanding of four themes in Romans.
We have learned, and continue to learn, how to improve the campaign strategy for growing our small group ministry. One area we are still staggering our way through is how to execute a seamless transition out of a campaign. We have been able to identify four keys to a smooth transition out of a campaign.
#1 Conduct a thorough debriefing mid-term in the campaign.
If you have a campaign that runs six weeks, you need to interact with those leaders at the 3 to 4 week mark. Depending on the size or your ministry and if you have coaches, this debriefing can be done in a leaders' huddle or over coffee. It is important to give leaders a chance to share what God is doing in their groups. We usually promise that God will do remarkable things in the lives of our people if they get on board. How often do we give them the chance to talk about those remarkable things?
A mid-term debrief also allows for problem solving. Some people will be confused by the material and how it fits together, and some will wonder what to do with the challenging people in their new groups. This is the time to talk about what comes next. If the group is new, the mid-term meeting is the time to introduce options for the group and to begin the new leader affirmation process.
#2 Affirm new groups and leaders.
One of the greatest assets of a small group campaign is that people can test-drive a small group. In a non-threatening way, people who have never been in a group get a taste of community. It is important to acknowledge the shift from the campaign to normal small group life. When a group decides to go on we follow these four steps:
First, congratulate the leader and the group on becoming an official small group. It helps to call groups that start during a campaign "Forty Days Groups" or something related to the campaign title. This distinguishes a short-term group from a continuing group. Mark the change with an e-mail, note, or call. Second, invite/insist they join the leadership development track. For your church this might be a series of classes, for others it might be more personalized. Third, invite the leader to a huddle and connect them with a coach. You might have done this during the campaign, but at Ada we tend to finalize this after the dust settles. Finally, move the new leader into the membership process. Your church may require this step already, but we have had to be flexible on non-members leading.
#3 Help some groups conclude graciously
It is acceptable that some groups do not continue after the campaign. To help a group conclude graciously, we encourage the leader to thank the people for their participation. Being part of a group for six weeks was a risk and a sacrifice. Also, celebrate the good things that emerged from the group, such as getting to know new people and learning about the Christian life. Finally, make sure people who want to be in a group know the process for joining a new group.
#4 Provide on-demand curriculum
There is no shortage of curriculum options for small groups, and all those options can be overwhelming. As groups reach week four, we send out a short letter highlighting our three suggestions for the next study. Groups may choose a different option but many leaders appreciate our work in finding great resources for them. We use a system we call "structured freedom" in which we strongly push a topic twice a year, and we make modest suggestions two other times. However, we empower our leaders to choose material that is best for their groups.
In conclusion
Successfully transitioning out of a campaign is as challenging as launching one. Churches that wait until the campaign is over to plan the next step will lose momentum and spend valuable leadership equity. Keep these four keys nearby and you will keep your hands!
