This is Kerrick Thomas – Executive Pastor at The Journey Church and co-author of “Activate” with Nelson.  Nelson asked me to address a common small group question today on the blog.

The question is “How can we minister to youth through the Small Groups System?”

When it comes to youth and semester-based Activate small groups I’ve seen it work effectively in two ways:

1 – Run the youth small groups like the adult small groups.  

Have them age-based – but let the youth sign up for them on Sundays and on-line just like the adults do.

2 – What I’ve a lot of churches do – because most suburban or rural churches do continue to have a Wednesday night or Sunday night big youth event – is still have the large event for the youth and have a beginning worship/group time.  

Then after that, break into different age specific small groups that might have different topics.

One church has a large Sunday night youth event – and then has small groups at different homes throughout the week.

So – you do have some options.

***Whatever you decide – it’s important to connect being a part of the small groups and youth events to attendance in your church.

That’s why having a Small Group Covenant is so important.  Because the semester-based groups only last 10-12 weeks – it’s important to ask those who are in the group to sign a covenant saying they will take the commitment seriously.

Part of that commitment is that they will attend services over the length of the group.  It doesn’t mean that they are there every week.  But if it helps a kid who is disconnected from church to at least check out the church over the course of the life of the group – that’s a good thing.

Then if you ask your small groups to serve at least once or twice over the course of the semester at a Sunday service, you help get those kids connected into the church instead of just the small group or the youth event.

I hope these ideas help!

God bless…

Kerrick

P.S. If you’re ready to activate your Small Groups, involve more than 100% of your church in groups, and see radical life change, check out The Small Groups Intensive.

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.