Bill Donahue

Dear Church Leader,

We are always looking for leaders; people are rarely looking to lead.

We regularly start new groups for people; people are wary of commitments to the unknown.

We want strategies that work for the ministry; people want experiences that work in their lives.

So…is there any way that the desires of people and the direction of the ministry can come together? We found some help in a strategy we learned from reading Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups, a book by Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas.

Though not an “entirely new approach to small groups” as the subtitle suggests, it certainly is new for many churches, including a new strategy for Willow. For many years I had seen the use of short-term, focused groups in churches I had visited during my worldwide travels with the Willow Creek Association. And Willow Creek Church had been using such an approach in some specific areas for over a decade —in support and recovery ministries, task-groups and some church-wide group experiences we built around books of the Bible.

But we had never considered “mainstreaming” short-term groups as a regular part of the church-wide Group Life strategy. Thanks to Searcy and Thomas, we caught a renewed vision for this approach. What if we launched groups a few times a year (much like The Rock Church in San Diego) for an 8-12 week experience? And what if it was “OK” if these groups had an ending? And what if it was not required that they “sign on” again beyond this? Would we really feel good about a short-term group that never went beyond that?

In January of 2009 we designed our own experiment, Groups for a Season (G4AS), and launched the groups in February. More than100 leaders signed up to lead. But with such short notice—and such a robust response from leaders—we only populated about 60-70 groups. Using a pilot approach, we only launched groups for men, women, and couples. We used a 12-week period of time for groups to complete an eight-session curriculum, allowing time for breaks, travel and for groups that did not meet weekly. We used a different curriculum for each kind of group.

We were thrilled with the results. More than 600 people participated in groups. More than 85% determined to continue as a small group. Almost no groups flamed out. It was so successful we’re running another G4AS this fall. Here is what we learned and what I have heard from other churches using similar approaches.

1. Leader recruitment is easier. Because of the short-term, focused material, and specified training, potential leaders stepped up to become actual leaders. Fear-based questions like, “Can I lead a group? What if it does not go well? What if the curriculum does not work?” were easily answered by the short-term nature.
   
   
2. Training is more focused. When I trained leaders we used a DVD with three sessions. Session 1 was just for the leader and included vision, clarity about direction and purpose, encouragement, tools they could use, where to get help, and an overview of G4AS. Session 2 was shown to their group at the first meeting. In that way, I could help the leader cast vision, connect the groups to Willow’s overall desire to see people grow, give them an overview, challenge them to dive in for a few weeks and not hold back, and set some expectations for group life. Session 3 was shown at their last meeting. I invited them to process the experience as a group, provided next steps for spiritual growth (including continuing as a group or trying another G4AS) and encouraged them to end well.
   
   
3. Risk is reduced. Both leader and member have an opportunity to experience a group without thinking this is a ten-year commitment. I used to think this was bad. I believe in community and wanted people to learn to love each other even when it was uncomfortable. I still believe that, but a well-designed, well-led, short-term, focused group experience can open the door to deeper community and create an environment where people can learn to be a group.
   
   
4. Intensity increases. Because this were only eight sessions, I challenged leaders and members to dive in, participate fully, open their hearts, speak the truth, and make the most of it. Think about it. If you have $100 to spend at the store, and three weeks to spend it, you will take all that time. But if I say, “I am giving you $100 to spend next Saturday from 10-11a.m.—after that, the money is no good,” then you will be more likely to visit the store ahead of time, plan out what you will buy and in what order, just to get the most bang for your buck. That is the feel we wanted these groups to have.
   
   
5. Clarity is Essential. Make sure every group knows why it is meeting, what is expected, how to get going and what defines success. For us, success was a meaningful engagement with truth, God and one another, trusting the Holy Spirit to work and then evaluating the results with a view toward improvement.
   

This fall we hope for similar or better results. G4AS is a great way to surface new leaders, provide people a great group-learning experience, and allow breaks that make sense for the inherent rhythms of life. We expect to launch G4AS three times a year in the fall, winter, and spring. The fall session will be eight to nine weeks. There is no cookie cutter approach. Just make sure it is long enough to accommodate at least six meetings, and short enough to provide leaders and members an ending point. Such endings allow for a break in the flow, a chance to recommit or add new people, change or add a leader or apprentice leader, and try new kinds of curriculum for spiritual formation.

We still launch groups that are long-term but now G4AS provides an inroad for those unable to make such a commitment, or fearful of what “being in a group” really means. Thanks to Searcy and Thomas for a great resource. We look forward to more groups and more learning this fall.

In Christ,

Bill Donahue
Pastor of Small Group Leader Development
Willow Creek Community Church

>> CLICK HERE to download a free chapter excerpt from Activate.