Q: What have been your biggest questions since you began your role and how would you say they’ve been answered?
A: How can I ever get ahead when ministry never stops?
Response: I’ve learned to invest my time in strategically developing and discipling coaches, leaders, and equippers so more ministry can take place without me.
A: How can I incorporate a discipleship culture into our groups structure?
Response: Place incredible coaches and leaders and invest in a successive discipleship model so those engaged in our Groups culture at every level are being grown and discipled. I’ve also incorporated new discipleship equipping tools to help our leaders disciple better.
A: How can I develop a sense of cohesiveness between the Groups ministry and leadership—thus eliminating a ministry silo, and driving vision/unity?
Response: Redefining and aligning our Groups Ministry with our Radiant values and mission statement has been a very successful shift. Our mission statement is to create radiant disciples of Jesus, and are values are Word Centered, Spirit Empowered, Kingdom Focused, Family Oriented, and Mission Motivated. Because of this, I made our groups discipleship vehicles culture and that each of our values are being lived out in each group.
A: What are ways our groups can help our church attendees take what they’ve learned this weekend to the next level?
Response: Since, by their very nature, groups help bring the weekend into the week—I decided to implement that with our message-based curriculum. This creates an intentionality for participants to take what they’ve learned each weekend, discuss it deeper, and bring it to a place of application with accountability.
Q: What is your current biggest struggle?
A: TIME! My current biggest focus is reengagement.
Q: Would you describe yourself as more of a processes person, or strategy/ideas person, or something else?
A: Tough question. Because of my background, I really am both—split straight down the middle. So, I try to leave our processes to my incredible admin/coordinator team and focus on strategy and ideas. Our processes are in great hands with them!
Q: Are you currently in a small group, and if so, what makes your small group unique?
A: I am. My husband and I lead a group for married couples. We study our message-based curriculum and take our weekend messages to a deeper place of discussion and application. We didn’t plan it this way, but it is a multi-generational group, and every couple represents a different decade. It is refreshing and fun to have different perspectives, zeal, and wisdom!
Q: In your time in your role, what are you most proud of?
A: The deep and wide growth/discipleship model that has been built.
Q: If you could offer someone starting day one as a small group point person, 1 piece of advice, what would it be?
A: Can I give two?
1. Align your ministry with your church’s mission and values.
2. Invest, invest, invest.
This article originally appeared at the Small Group Network website, and is used by permission.
