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Advice for Dividing Small Groups

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By Doug Fields
9/10/2007

I'm always afraid to answer small group questions with a "this is how you do it" answer. Why? Because all small groups are unique and I'm not convinced there is "a" way to do it—there are several ways. Here are some of my thoughts:
  1. Breaking students into small groups is never easy.
  2. Breaking students into smaller groups when groups grow is never easy
    s students in their small group grow spiritually, they will most likely reach out to their [lost] friends and invite them to join a small group.
  3. You can lessen the pain when you use the term "launch" instead of "split" (i.e. "we'll be launching a new group out of this group because great things are happening in here."). Launch can be positive. Split can be negative.
  4. Let small groups know from the beginning that "launching" new groups is an exciting thing. Tell them it's a real possibility when the size of the group reaches ___ number of students (___ = whatever you decide on).
  5. There will be a natural decline in intimacy when students start a new group--that's normal. But, if the groups just started 2 weeks ago, most likely your groups haven't begun to scratch the surface of intimacy. The sooner the better is the time to launch the new groups.
  6. If your groups are "open groups" (meaning students can be added as they arrive) you'll always face this "problem" (what a great problem to have). As students in their small group grow spiritually, they will most likely reach out to their [lost] friends and invite them to join a small group. The only that I know to keep the numbers small and not disrupt the small groups is to change your philosophy to a "closed group" (meaning that once a group starts, it stays that number until the quarter/semester/school year is over (whatever you decide on)...and when a new student come, the student begins in a group that isn't "full". There are pros and cons to every youth ministry strategy.
  7. Don't really have anything else to write here for #7...it's getting late (it's midnight) but it seemed like have 7 points would be a cool thing. Not sure if any of this is helpful...Oh, here's a thought; term your changes "experiments" and be willing to allow them to fail (who cares if something goes wrong--if it was an "experiment"). Learn from your experiments and begin to develop principles for small groups that you're passionate about and/or ones that work for your particular youth ministry setting.


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Our church is in a unique place in this regard - We designed our Jr/Sr High ministries around them, and hence, it's the norm. We meet 3 out of 4 nights a month as small groups, then one as a large group, and 2x/yr have 4 day camps (winter/summer). Basically, kids come up from children's ministry getting promoted to 6th grade where 4-6 new groups of kids with in tact adult leadership are ready to receive them. Typically, we have as many as 100 new fifth graders come up each year, 75 or so active, 1/2 boys, 1/2 girls and we have 2-3 boys or girls groups each. The leaders do their best to stay with the kids from that point for the next 3 years until the move up to HS. Some leaders even follow them up for the next 4ys, then start all over again. I've been at it with our YM for 13 years, and now am dedicated to the promotion process for 5th to 6th grade, getting to know them the last 1/2 of their 5th grade year and moving up with them to JH, and will return to the new 5th graders after that a year later. God has blessed this model, and we've seen many, many lives transformed as a result. It has been so successful, recuriutment is not that difficult as it is the premeir ministry in the church, yes, youth ministry! Currently, we have around 80-90 adults who show up each week to do this ministry on friday nights to JH kids, and another 30-49 who do HS ministry in a home-group like setting for HS. Yes, some do both, but we're blessed with Godly leaders who want to serve in this manner. We totally have room to grow, but for now, its a good thing! Russ

Russ Park 6:07:37pm on 7/31/2008

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Small groups allow leader to rise from kids who usually get passed over either due to low self esteem or strong personalities pushing their way to the top. The more you are able to break into more groups the more leaders you will be training.

Kelly Fitzpatrick 3:07:17pm on 7/09/2008

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Having just gone through the process of breaking our Jr. High girls into small groups the phrase "Breaking students into small groups is never easy" needs to be shouted of a cliff somewhere where the echoes can be heard for a while.

Jon 9:10:43am on 10/15/2007

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