Too Much of a Good Thing
Darryl's group has an abundance of members going into the fall.
| Topics: | Attendance, Facilities, Growth, numerical, Multiplication |
| Filters: | Group Leader, Host, Lead |
| Purpose: | Discipleship |
| Date Added: | July 27, 2009 |
It's August, and Darryl is finalizing plans for a September re-start of his small group. Happily, he has already received word that each of his group members from the spring will be returning—a total of 10 people, including Darryl. Even better, the spouses of three current members have agreed to begin attending the group, and two other members have close friends that are interested in joining as well.
This is great news, of course, but it presents a bit of a problem for Darryl. His house is small, and the group was already getting cramped with just 10 people coming. Darryl doesn't think it will work to add an additional 5 in September—there just isn't enough room.
Darryl's church believes in multiplication, but Darryl is a bit hesitant to birth a new group for several reasons. First, he has never had an apprentice, and he doesn't know if anyone could step up to lead the new group. Second, the presence of five new people would make it difficult to divide the group in a satisfactory way. What if the newcomers don't connect with the group they are placed in? What if they don't become regular attenders? Darryl does not want to create two unhealthy groups at the expense of a healthy one.
So, what should Darryl do?
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I've had this happen. I emailed returning members saying, "Looks like we'll have nn people this year. My house fits xx comfortably. Could any of you host? Please let me know by xx/xx/xx." I've always gotten at least one host, and they're happy to be of service.
Practice Luke 10. Something I've learned from the House Church movement: Have the new people form their own group. Look for the "person of peace" among them who has a heart for the group (a Cornelius, a Woman at the Well) and let that person host it. Mentor the new leader, but don't you lead the group. Plan on eventually leaving it. For more on Luke 10 principles go to www.simplechurch.com or www.simplychurch.com, among others. One helpful book is "An Army of Ordinary People" by Felicity Dale.
1st - pray, seek the Lord's face. 2nd - ask the Lord to raise up new leaders toward multplication & work in the hearts of the group to latch on to God's vision of multipying disciples, thus moving toward being disciples who make disciples themselves. 3rd call the group to prayer. Cast the vision of life on life discipleship & joining with the Lord, being used by our great & awesome God to mentor & be mentored through life on life interaction in small groups and LTG's.
Pray and ask God.
Daryl should lead the new group and entrust the existing group to someone the group will trust and submit themselves to. He must entrust the new leader to the miraculous power of our Lord Jesus Christ to develop this new leader.
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