Making Connections
Adam came into our children’s ministry two years ago, and he was probably the shyest boy I’d ever met. His family had just gone through a rough divorce, and he was coming to church every other week when he visited his dad. Adam was very uncomfortable coming into our ministry, so much so that at times he would stand in the hallway in tears until I could explain to him exactly how the morning would go.
At the same time that Adam came to us, we were making a transition to a large group/small group model. We hooked Adam into one of our small groups, and within three months he began to connect to his group, his shepherd, and the other 60 kids attending that hour. After a couple of months of Adam plugging into his small group, his dad came to me after church and asked what we were doing with the kids because, for the first time ever, Adam had begun to ask his dad and his shepherd to pray for him and his family.
That was a huge step for Adam. Just two weeks later, I walked into the room, and Adam was on stage in front of everyone, talking on a microphone, and leading a review game.
For Adam, and many others like him, the small group model allows them to become connected to a specific, consistent group that leads to significant ministry in their lives. I’m convinced that we need to focus in on building relationships with our kids, find out what’s going on in their lives, and minister to their needs. This can be effectively done by using small groups in our ministries.
“We are still making this transition, but I’m sold on this model and its effectiveness in connecting kids into our ministry, leading them to a relationship with Christ, and allowing them to build healthy relationships with others. We have many ‘Adams’ come through our doors, and it’s our vision that we not lose them out the back door. For this we’ve chosen a small group format as a tool to connect these kids to the church,” Buchanan says.
Making The Transition
Several years ago while serving as pastor of Christian education and family ministries at Eastside Foursquare Church in Kirkland, Washington, Sharyn Spradlin started a small group ministry for her kids.
“Small groups as a foundation for ministry to kids has provided several benefits,” says Sharyn. “The intimate setting of the small groups and the interpersonal relationships they create allow kids to feel safe, accepted, and have a general sense of well-being.”
In a small group ministry, lives are changed. Sharyn found that it’s in the context of meaningful relationships that authentic life-change happens. And that’s where Christian growth and faith development flourish.
Starting a small group ministry requires careful planning. When Sharyn started small groups in her church, it took time and patience.
“At the beginning of this journey, we were treading on new territory,” says Sharyn. “After months of vision-casting, planning, and training, we began to take our first steps.”
Start your small group ministry with these steps.
1. Pray. Pray for God’s guidance in setting up the ministry and that God will raise up leaders for specific groups of kids that he intends to be together. Enlist prayer support. If you have 15 kids and three leaders, ask six people to be prayer partners and commit to pray daily for three people by name. If you have more kids and leaders, enlist the help of more prayer partners.
2. Cast the vision. Start with a clear vision of God’s direction and leadership. A football coach would never enter the big game without a plan of action specifically detailed in the play book. You, too, need a play book. Prayerfully discern God’s path for your group, write a mission statement and goals, and make a list of anticipated problems and their potential solutions.
3. Enlist solid leaders. There are people who’d never stand up and teach Sunday school, but they’d be great small group leaders. Look for people who love children and are able to connect with them. Watch how potential leaders interact with kids. Do they make eye contact and get down on a child’s level so they don’t tower above a child? Are they drawn to kids and kids to them? These are the people you’re looking for.
