One of my dear friends, Bill Search has been gracious enough to allow me to interview him. Most of you will know Bill from his years in small group ministry. He spearheaded small groups at one of the premiere churches in the country,Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Or, you may know Bill as the author of Simple Small Groups, a fantastic groups book he wrote some time ago. Last year Bill accepted God’s call to the Senior Pastor position at Rolling Hills Church, a mega-church in El Dorado Hills, California.
I asked Bill if I could interview him concerning the roll of the senior pastor in groups ministry as well as giving us insights as to how the senior pastor and the small groups pastor relate to one another.
Here goes…
Rick: Bill, would you give us a quick rundown of your ministry history?
Bill: I’ve served three churches ranging from 1000 to 20,000. During my 15 years of ministry I’ve worn many hats: campus/venue pastor, teaching pastor, young couples pastor, Sunday School pastor, small groups pastor, men’s pastor, singles pastor, college pastor – I was even women’s pastor of a day – and now I serve as senior pastor.
Rick: Many say that the senior pastor is the most important person in any small group ministry. Do you agree? If so, why? If not, why?
Bill: I believe the senior pastor is a key person in the ministry. But without a gifted small groups point person it’s just a bunch of ideology. Someone has to organize it, identify and develop leaders, and keep track of what’s going on. I can’t do that. The job of the senior pastor is to set direction and root the groups ministry into the work of God demonstrated in the Bible.
Rick: Many small group pastors are in a precarious situation and are working with a senior pastor who has concluded that the small groups pastor was hired to make groups work and that they, the senior pastor, has no responsibility when it comes to the group ministry. If you were talking with one of these senior pastors, senior pastor to senior pastor, what would you say to that senior pastor?
Bill: I would challenge any senior pastor to simply read their Bible and ask, “What system is God using to develop His people?” God’s plan A is other people. Jethro talked to Moses about a system of support and care in Exodus, Jesus modeled small group dynamics with his 12 disciples, the Jerusalem church showed it in Acts 2, and Paul demonstrated it and taught it throughout his writings. God used little groups of people to accomplish amazing things. If you aren’t going to use small groups what will you use? Simply gathering a bunch of people in a room and preaching at them won’t accomplish the goal.
Rick: What are the primary responsibilities of a senior pastor when it comes to the groups ministry?
Bill:
1. Teach it from the platform – root it in scripture.
2. Use small group examples and stories in often – this “normalizes” the experience for your church culture
3. Encourage your small group staff – their job is much harder than you think
4. Provided books, resources, and conferences for small group staff so they stay fresh
Rick: What are some of the reasons you think some senior pastors are unwilling to or believe they are unable to do their part in making the small group ministry effective?
