Small Group Retention Strategies – How to Keep the Groups You Start

So what has helped Saddleback Churches small groups sustain over these past 25 years to increase from 260 adult small groups to more than 4,500 adult small groups? Some of it is learning in the moment and some is trail and error, but most of it is by God’s grace! As a small group pastor for over 25 years now, (hurts to even say that!) what I have learned is that it is easier to start groups than sustain them. Every year we face the same situation, how do we hold onto all that God creates? (This is a great problem to have!) Just like you, we use many opportunities to start small groups throughout the year, but none is more challenging than small group retention strategies.

Regardless of how you start groups, retention is the key.

The New Year is often a time when we all start groups. But like many new years resolutions that fall away in March, if you are not prepared and supported, all those small groups you started will fade away like so many New Years Resolutions. So how do you hold on, retain and sustain the groups you start?

RELATED: Are Unhealthy Small Groups Dividing Your Church?

Small Group Retention Strategies

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you think small group retention strategies!

1. What’s the end in mind? If you don’t know where you are going with your groups both in strategy and vision, you are dead before you start. You, your infrastructure and your small groups need to know where they are headed to want to even stay in the game. Take a look at this article to make sure your game plan is set.
2. Be clear on what’s next! A principle of leadership is that you always want to help people make their next step in the current step. There is no doubt that a major piece to help groups sustain is for them to know and agree to their next curriculum before they finish the current curriculum. Your job as the small group point person at your church is to give them next step curriculums, but not give them too many choices. Too many choices paralyzes the new leader. We make sure we give new groups two options and existing groups two options. If you don’t give them suggestions, your groups will go on the internet to find options—can you say, “Disaster waiting to happen?!?” The leadership principle here is that the Shepherd picks the next pasture, not the sheep, nor do they want to! They love your suggestions!
3. Who’s your wingman? If you are going to start a business, you develop your “C” Team around you. In this example you would be the CEO. You would then, based on your business, develop “c” people like a COO, CFO, CIO, CTO, CSO, etc. I know too many small group point people who are running a business called a Small Group Ministry and they don’t have a team around them. It does not matter if the team is paid or volunteer, you need a team! So often “if” they have a team it is only a CIO (Chief Infrastructure Officer—your coaches or Community Leaders). Infrastructure is important, but for this point I am talking about a team that supports you and is sold out to your vision and mission. They will bring a different perspective to helping with your strategy.