Small Groups and Childcare – What to Do?

Since my small groups book Activate came out, I’ve gotten lots of questions about small groups and one of the most common is about childcare:

How should we handle childcare for our small groups?

I’ve written about this several times in the past – and the short answer is… you shouldn’t handle it! You should allow parents with children to handle it.

Here’s why: it’s a question of values – if people value groups enough (and the spiritual growth they experience and observe in those groups), they’ll solve their own childcare problem.

Quick example – if one of the couples in your church who “can’t” join a group because of the lack of childcare were to win an all expense paid vacation to their favorite resort but no children were allowed, I can assure you that they would figure out a solution!

Why? Because they value the resort gift enough, they will figure out childcare.

So, rather than getting elbow-deep in trying to figure out everyone’s childcare, you have to help your people value their small group so much that they’ll figure it out.

BTW – here’s some of what I’ve written on this topic in the past:

http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/blog/?s=small+groups+childcare

P.S. For the most comprehensive resource available to build your church’s Small Groups system, check out The Small Groups Intensive.

 

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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.

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