Here’s a recent small groups question that I received.  I asked Adam Bishop, Small Groups Pastor at The Journey, to share his answer here:

Q: Hey, our church has decided to move to the semester-based small groups system that you guys use.

It really has us excited about small groups again and we’re trying to get ahead on our planning right now. That’s why I’m writing, because I have a question.  Based on the Activate idea of small and large attendance numbers, we’re hoping for about 200 people to sign up for groups.

So, how do I determine how many groups I need each semester?

A: Thanks for your question.  Setting your Groups Goal each semester is a responsibility that must be thought through with plenty of prayer and planning!

I want you to know that Kerrick Thomas and I spend time each month in our Small Group Tele-Coaching Network addressing questions like this along with other strategies for implementing and leading the Activate Small Groups System at the local church level.

Our next 8 month network kicks off in November! Just let me know if you are interested and I will send you the link for the application.

In response to your question… Here is the flow that we follow at The Journey:

1) Make sure your Sign Ups Goal surpasses your average Sunday attendance goal.

This is because the number of people who will attend your church over the course of your Small Group Semester will be much larger than the number of people who attend your church on any given Sunday.

You want everyone who comes through the doors during your promotion or sign-up month to sign up for a group.

2) Calculate the range for the number of Groups needed for the semester

We choose 12-15 to calculate the range of how many groups we need because we believe that 12 to 15 people is the ideal size for a Group.

So to your example…

Sign-up Goal: 200

Range of Groups Needed: 13 to 17

Median Goal: 15 Groups

3) Allow 20 sign-ups per Group.

This is vitally important to the health of your Groups. Remember, not everyone who signs up for the group will be able to attend due to changes in schedules and unforeseen circumstances. Allowing 20 sign-ups per group will ensure that 12 to 15 show up each week for the Group.

Allowing 20 sign-ups per group also fits well with your Groups Goal in 3 ways:

· First, it keeps you from committing the cardinal sin of groups which is to never have too few groups!

So if you confirm 13 groups on the low end of your range you will still have enough room to meet your Sign-up Goal of 200.

13 x 20 = 260

· Second, it allows you to be prepared if God moves and brings more people to your church and your groups than you had anticipated

Let’s say you confirm 17 groups on the high end of your range and God moves and brings more people to your church than you had anticipated. Your range has allowed you to be prepared for this!

17 x 20 = 340

· Third, knowing that you are covered on the low end and high end, most of the time the middle number of the range is where you will need to be.

15 x 20 = 300

Rarely does it work out where all of your groups will receive the same sign-ups so with 15 Groups that cover a good range of days and topics your sign-ups should break down evenly anywhere from 15 to 20 sign-ups per group which will allow you to meet your Sign-Ups Goal of 200!

4) Minimum Sign-Ups per Group

Once the semester begins, if a group has less than 5 sign-ups it is best to combine this group with another one. You must exhibit care and encouragement when you do this. If this happens remind the leader that people sign up for location, topic, and day….not the leader. Encourage them so they will want to lead again.

If the Group is between 6-9 sign-ups I will contact the leaders and ask how the group is going. Most of the time the leaders will want to continue and feel that they can get at least 5 more people to join the group through the invites of those who are attending. This usually happens and the group goes well.

We also continue to run sign-ups 2 to 3 weeks into the semester. We will only list the groups online and in our catalog that are lower in sign-ups to help them fill up within the first 2 to 3 weeks of the semester.

Great job with your groups and continue to plan ahead!

Thanks,

Adam

P.S. For more information or to Apply Now for Small Groups Pastor Tele-Coaching, CLICK HERE.

© 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.