What Is the Future for Small Groups?© by John W. Ellas 1
Church Growth Magazine 13 (January - March, 1998): 6 - 7.

Participation levels in small groups are getting smaller rather than larger according to George Barna's research: "Small groups, those that meet regularly for Bible study, prayer or Christian fellowship, but are not a church service, Sunday school class or 12-step group have continued to decline in number." 1 From a high of 25% membership participation in 1992, numbers dropped to 12% participation by 1994.

This is no small development, and it needs serious attention. Numerous congregations are placing high expectations, time, and resources into small groups. For many churches, it has become a major ministry strategy to generate both spiritual and numerical growth. If there are reasons for its ineffectiveness and decreasing participation, it is imperative that we understand and address the conditions.

Barna's Observations

Barna believes that the small group participants had high expectations that were not met, and that led them to abandon participation in small groups. He offers six significant deficiencies in the ministry:

1. Bad teaching. Because group leaders were improperly prepared, sessions became times of shared ignorance rather than an experience of growth and insight.

2. Lack of leadership. Barna gives a long list of failures on the part of group leaders, but the key was their failure to exercise leadership responsibilities.

3. Disconnection from the church. For groups to have a positive experience, they need to feel that their efforts are part of the church's mission. Dysfunctional groups developed when they became isolated or indifferent to the church.

4. Confusion of purpose. Because they did not have a clear understanding of their purpose, groups tended to attempt a lot of activities. Unfortunately, none was done well.

5. Child care. The greatest interest in small groups is shown by young adult couples who often have young children. Child-care needs that went unaddressed resulted in inconsistent participation by this age segment.

6. Unwieldy size. Many groups averaged 15 to 20 people. This is too large to facilitate good group dynamics and meaningful interpersonal relationships.

Barna concludes that the small groups failed to provide the expected benefits. Participants did not consider them to have enough value to warrant continued involvement.

From personal study and experience, it is easy for me to feel comfortable with Barna's observations and conclusions. However, he does not take this analysis far enough to reach the root of the problem. His six reasons leave us with many questions.

Why were the leaders unprepared and not exercising leadership? Why were the groups allowed to function without a clear purpose and become too large in size? Maybe a better question is: Who is responsible for the observed condition?

Root of the Problem

The source of the concern does not lie with participants or group leaders. Rather, the root of the problem lies with unprepared or inadequately trained ministers. There are several myths about small groups that perpetuate the problem.

To the contrary, small groups are the most complex ministry in a church. They are involved with facilitating interpersonal relationships, assisting members in applying biblical truths to their lives, and with some groups reaching out to the unchurched. Each of these activities require major leadership skills.

For success, small group ministries require well-prepared and time-intensive leadership. Rarely will volunteer members have the time or training to lead an effective small group program. The most successful ministries are led by trained, full-time staff. While Barna saw many of the problems contributing to the shrinking of small group participation, he did not get to the root of the problem -- leaders of the small group ministry. Where you find well-trained ministry leaders, you will also find prepared small group leaders and satisfied participants.

A Bright Future

Fortunately, Barna recognized that small groups can experience success. "This decline does not indicate that small groups cannot be successful as a means to growing a church, but simply that the way many churches have attempted to create a viable small group ministry has been unsuccessful." 2

For the past ten years, I have actively encouraged church leaders to consider the value of small home groups and also provided to them training through graduate level courses and congregational workshops. An interesting development has been the opportunity to diagnose existing small group programs. This has provided an on-campus view of the characteristics of healthy and struggling group ministries. There is a clear difference in how each type ministry is led. I will address the positive side of the coin -- four characteristics of healthy small group ministries.

1. Trained ministry leaders with vision. The small group ministry will not grow beyond the ministry leadership. Each ministry, over time, will reflect the knowledge level and vision of the program director. Different types of small groups are available and the leader must understand the differences and how a group functions to reach its desired goals. Effective small group ministry leaders have a clear vision of the ministry's goals, the appropriate type of groups needed, and can articulate the vision clearly to the group leaders.

2. Quality training for group leaders. With a diversity of group types comes a diversity of group goals such as spiritual growth, assimilation of new members, and evangelistic outreach. Each group type has goals that require a specific set of skills. All group leaders need the quality skill training that ensures that the entire group has a good experience in their group activities. Just as group ministries will not grow beyond the ministry leader, neither will groups grow beyond their group leader.

3. Ongoing group leader support. Regular support is needed to maintain the energy and commitment level of leaders necessary to sustain a ministry for the long-haul. Healthy group ministries will have at least a monthly and sometimes a weekly gathering of all group leaders. This is an important time for encouraging leaders, casting vision, furthering skill development, peer support, and prayer. Again, this requires well-trained and prepared ministry leaders to exercise visionary leadership.

4. Regular evaluations and accountability. Effective group leaders are eager learners. Participant evaluations of their group leader provide an opportunity for learning and an incentive for improving leadership skills. It is frequently a time when participants express their appreciation for the leader's work. In addition, evaluations allow the ministry leader to quickly address the kind of issues that Barna observed before they became destructive to group life.

Small group ministry is complex and requires well-trained and time-intensive leadership, but it also provides a broad range of need-meeting ministry. If overseen and led well, it can be a wonderful avenue for both spiritual and numerical growth. Our Lord knew the value of small groups. He chose the small group format to train the first twelve leaders of the church.

FOOTNOTES:

1 George Barna, Virtual America. (Venture, CA: Regal Books, 1994), pp.52-55.

2 Ibid.

1 John W. Ellas is editor of Church Growth Magazine since 1994. He has written Church Growth Through Groups, Clear Choices for Churches, and Measuring Church Growth. Ellas has completed a number of "Church Growth Diagnostic Evaluation" in helping churches grow. This editorial introduction was published in Church Growth Magazine 13 (January - March, 1998): 6 - 7.