Posted by: Frank Chiapperino in group ministry on
Nov 26, 2007
Small Groups in the context of church ministry will always exist. However, how churches and Christians express group life will always be in a state of change. Culture, church administration, leadership, and other factors will constantly maintain an influence how we express our faith and spur each other on in spiritual growth and discipleship. Bill Donahue recently posted his thoughts on the topic:
It is no secret that there are multiple movements taking place across the kingdom landscape. Only time will tell which ones survive and thrive. One thing is for certain, however; communal life is central to almost all of the current emerging expressions of church life. More intentional than the previous generation, the rising cadre of church leaders consists largely of communal architects, shaping the church into smaller communities for greater missional impact and presence. Not since Wesley's little bands of the 1700s, the haystack prayer gatherings of 1806 and beyond (starting from a small group of 5 and launching prayer groups still today), and the Jesus Movement of the 1960s have we seen such a church-wide emphasis on community.
The small group movement that burst onto the scene in para-church groups in the 1950s-70s began to find a home in the church in the 80s-90s. Meta-church models, cell churches, mini-churches, discipleship groups, recovery ministries, and evangelistic groups emerged. As a result, churches began to embrace group life as important for growth, but still treated this form of community as a program: "We do groups." The last 10 years has seen a move beyond that narrower focus-where groups are still essential to spiritual growth, but where they are connected to larger mid-sized communal gatherings.
As leaders we need to be aware of change in our culture and more specifically to the needs of our individual communities. One of the biggest mistakes we can make is forcing a change in our ministry context simply because it is what is working somewhere else. China will experience something different than what happened in Korea and New York will have a different experience than Chicago. I believe the best we can do is learn from what is happening elsewhere in our country and the world at large. Here is my approach as a ministry leader when I try to use other ministries to help us grow or solve problems:
There is never a "one size fits all" solution to understanding your future or addressing challenges in your ministry.
This time of year leading a small group can get challenging. The holidays begin creeping up on you and your small group members begin to travel. Consistent attendance begins to dive, we get discouraged, and we begin to cancel our group gatherings when only a few people are going to show up.
I want to encourage you, DO NOT TO CANCEL. As leaders we need to begin viewing a small turn out as an opportunity for an increase in intimacy. Just last week I was getting a little discouraged as 10 of our 14 group members were going to be out of town or unavailable. Luckily before I got too bummed out, I was told by the other couple, "let still get together, take our kids to the play ground at Chic-fil-a and eat a quick cheap meal!" We had a great time, our kids had a blast, and it was an opportunity to reconnect with them. It was so refreshing to have some extended time with a family that we love to spend time with. It was so refreshing.
DON'T CANCEL YOUR GROUP!!!
Posted by: Frank Chiapperino in Untagged on
Nov 06, 2007
Our senior pastor asked me to pass on the following message to everyone I know that can help. You can help out by taking a simple survey. Read the following:
Hey, I was wondering if you would be willing to help me do something really cool for Aids orphans in Africa. This isn't some nutty spam thing.I am in the process of developing a strategic partnership to launch a school/Aids clinic/church plant in Nairobi Kenya.
As an author, one of the ways I want to help fund this is through a book that I write that is packaged into an all-church campaign, much like what other author's have done.
Here's where I need your help. I've created a survey to help me determine what topics/issues would be most helpful to pastors who might want to do an all-church campaign in their church.
Could you take this quick survey? I would really value your input.
Also, would you mind putting a note about this in your blog (or emailing other pastors) and encouraging them to take the survey? I will post the results to this survey on my blog on December 15th. I think the info. we gather could be really helpful to dynamic church leaders out there.
Here's the survey link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Cn3ERIeQFZpudTx9cZzEXw_3d_3d
I really appreciate this!
Brian Jones
Posted by: Frank Chiapperino in life change on
Nov 01, 2007
Our church is getting ready to go into a sermon series called Switch and our small groups are going to participate by using a curriculum we write to match the sermons each Sunday.
If there's one word that describes the ministry of Jesus it would be the word change. Jesus never left people quite the same way that he found them. He left some people healthier, some more hopeful, some forgiven of their sin, and some renewed. To be honest, he left some people like Judas or the rich young ruler, frustrated and bitter; but that was their own choice. Jesus never left people quite the same way he found them. For four weeks we will study and celebrate the way Jesus is still changing lives today.
Small groups are often a part of life change in our churches and if you would like to share your switch story with us we would love to hear it! You can share your story by CLICKING HERE.
