effective small group ministry

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• effective small group ministry
• australia youth conference
• by edmund yeoh
• february 2006

2
Complex simplicity
The goal of strategy is the simplicity that lies
on the far side of complexity. For the answer to
be simple, the thinking must be complex.
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Ellen Whites endorsement of small group ministry

• Members can invite friends and neighbours to
  their home then ask the minister to meet with
  them The interest continues to grow, and those
  who embrace the truth go right to work for their
  friends, inviting them to come out to hear. More
  than this, they invite their neighbours and
  friends to come to their house. They then secure
  one of our ministers to give a bible reading.
  These meetings are made very interesting.
• 16MR 45

• Hold bible readings for families and their
  neighbours There is need of a different kind of
  labour in our churches from what they have had.
  Those ministers who are inclined merely to
  preach, and not to visit and put forth personal
  effort, need to break up this habit by working
  earnestly in families. Let families invite in
  their neighbours, and then let the minister hold
  bible readings with them, and become acquainted
  with them. There needs to be less preaching and
  more pastoral work done in our churches. Those
  who have no aptitude for this kind of labour,
  should educate themselves, and come more into
  harmony with Christs manner of working.
• HM Nov 1 1890

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Ellen Whites endorsement of organisation

• The divine purpose As our numbers increased, it
  was evident that without some form of
  organisation there would be great confusion, and
  the work would not be carried forward
  successfully. To provide for the support of the
  ministry, for carrying the work in new fields,
  for protecting both the churches and the ministry
  from unworthy members, for holding church
  property, for the publication of the truth
  through the press, and for many other objects,
  organisation was indispensable
• Testimonies to Ministers p26

• Lords business demands order The Lord is not
  pleased with the present lack of order and
  accuracy among those who do business in
  connection with His work.
• Gospel Workers p460

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What is small group ministry?
Cell
Spaghetti
Matrix

• Characteristics
• Highly independent small bible study groups

• Characteristics
• Interdependent small bible study groups
• Cross functional ministries
• Vague objectives
• Unclear structure

• Characteristics
• Interdependent small bible study groups
• Cross functional ministries
• Clear objectives
• Clear structure

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Context

• Small group ministry is a means to an end, not
  the end itself
• Gateway Adventist Centre started small group
  ministry in early 2000 and has evolved ever since
• The purpose of this workshop is to equip you to
  drive growth effectively in your church using
  small group ministry

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Evolution of Small Group Ministry at Gateway
Pre-2000
2000
2001
2002
2003
2005
2006

• Combined Friday night Youth service

• Introduction of breakout groups

• Transition to geographical groups

• Young Adult group launched Chinese group launched

• Gateway church plant using city based groups

• 7 groups with up to 100 people slowing growth

• Evolution to Matrix based structure with new
  network groups

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Breakout exercise

• Describe the role of small group ministry at your
  church today
• Describe what you want to get out of this workshop

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DNA of Small Group Ministry
Workshop 1
1. Purpose
Workshop 5
Workshop 2
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
Workshop 4
The panel interviewing Gateways small group
leaders
5. Staff
Workshop 3
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DNA of Small Group Ministry
1. Purpose
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
5. Staff
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The growth problem Plateau effect
people in church
Time
12
The growth problem Decline effect
people in church
Time
13
Small Group Ministries have traditionally been
used to stop growth leakages by nurturing members
(1 of 2)
Example Church with growth exceeding decline
overall net increase
Cumulative
14
Small Group Ministries have traditionally been
used to stop growth leakages by nurturing members
(2 of 2)
Example Church with growth without decline
significantly higher increase
Cumulative
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The Swiss Watch
FIND
WIN
KEEP
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10 common issues

• Low performance pressure

• Need a revival lights are on but no one home

• Blurred vision and values

• Goals and values are not well understood or wrong

• Uncoordinated leadership

• Leadership is not aligned or consistent about
  priorities

• Ineffective decision making

• Decision roles unclear process overly complex
  and bureaucratic

• Misaligned structure

• Structure does not enable vision or right
  decision making

• Talent deficiency

• Not enough of the right people or people not in
  the right jobs

• Inadequate measures

• Measures dont drive vision

• Execution blockage

• Decisions get made but somehow dont get
  implemented

• Customer ignorance

• Unclear on who the customers are

• Obesity

• Lack of agility

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Breakout exercise

• What are relevant issues in your church that is
  limiting the full potential of growth?
• Is there a role for small groups in your church?

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DNA of Small Group Ministry
1. Purpose
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
5. Staff
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Selectively open to who your customers are

• Jesus was selective on who He reached out to (Mat
  10 1, 5, 6)
• But accepted anyone who reached out to Him (Mat
  15 21-28)

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Customer focus Reach people where they are

• Christ ministered to peoples needs before
  inviting them to follow Him Christs method
  alone will give true success in reaching the
  people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who
  desired their good. He showed His sympathy for
  them, ministered to their needs, and won their
  confidence. Then He bade them, Follow Me
• MH 143

• Devise methods to reach the people where they are
  Let every worker in the Masters vineyard,
  study, plan, devise methods, to reach the people
  where they are. We must do something out of the
  common course of things.
• Ev 122

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Customer segmentation 2 dimensional example (1
of 2)
Culture-based segmentation
Aussie
Asian
European
African

Children




Youth




Age-based segmentation
Young professionals




Family




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Customer segmentation 2 dimensional example (2
of 2)
Spiritual-based segmentation
Seeker
Newly baptised
Developing leader/ leader
Dormant/ inactive

Children




Youth




Age-based segmentation
Young professionals




Family




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Matrix based small group ministry - Example
Network groups
Local Professionals
Mainland Chinese
Indonesians
Family
South East Asians
Melb Uni Students

City






Carlton






Nth Melb






Southbank






Cell groups






South Melb






South Eastern






Chinese
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Breakout exercise

• Who are your customers in your church?
• For each customer segment
• What are the distinctive characteristics of your
  customers?
• What are the challenges in finding your
  customers?
• What are the challenges in winning your
  customers?
• What are the challenges in keeping your customers?

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DNA of Small Group Ministry
1. Purpose
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
5. Staff
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Products/ services in small group ministry
Spiritual products
Non-spiritual products
Talent development

Who

• Internal/ external customers

• Internal/ external customers

• Internal customers

Examples

• Bible study
• Topics/ series
• Language levels
• Interactive vs presentation
• Praises in songs
• Instrumental
• Voice
• Prayer
• Retreats

• Social meals
• Sports/ games
• Health
• Cooking classes
• Community service
• Retreats
• Career
• Celebrations. Eg. Birthdays
• Student services
• Language courses

• Operational leadership make small group happen
• Spiritual leadership teaching
• Relational leadership look after members and
  find new ones

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Breakout exercise

• What are the products/ services you would run to
  find your customer segment
• How do you win them once you have found them?

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DNA of Small Group Ministry
1. Purpose
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
5. Staff
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Different types of Small Groups within a church
Cell
Spaghetti
Matrix

• Characteristics
• Highly independent small bible study groups

• Characteristics
• Interdependent small bible study groups
• Cross functional ministries
• Vague objectives
• Unclear structure

• Characteristics
• Interdependent small bible study groups
• Cross functional ministries
• Clear objectives
• Clear structure

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Small Group Ministry needs to work like a Swiss
watch at church - Example
Customer segments
External customers
Internal customers
Aussie Professionals
Family
Newly baptised
Leaders

Worship
Keep
Find
Sabbath School
Keep
Win
Ministries
Small Group Ministry
Find
Evangelism
Win
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Most churches have ministries that need some fine
tuning - Example
Customer segments
External customers
Internal customers
Aussie Professionals
Family
Newly baptised
Leaders

Worship
Keep
Find
Sabbath School
Keep
Ministries
Small Group Ministry
Keep
Evangelism
Find/ win
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Breakout exercise

• How does your small group ministry fit into the
  other ministries at your church?

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DNA of Small Group Ministry
1. Purpose
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
5. Staff
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Leadership development roadmap

Seeker
Newly baptised
Developing leader
Leader
Alumni
Skills

• Bible

• Bible
• Teaching
• Organisational (small group level)

• Bible
• Teaching
• Organisational (small group level)
• Accountability
• Customer
• People management

• Bible
• Teaching
• Organisational (broader group level)
• Accountability
• Customer
• People management
• Persuasion
• Strategic
• Fire fighting

• Strategic

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Rally the members Ignite their passion

• Present your plans to the church in such a manner
  as to win members interest and cooperation
  There is need of Nehemiahs in the church today,
  not men who can pray and preach only, but men
  whose prayers and sermons are braced with firm
  and eager purpose. The course pursued by this
  Hebrew patriot in the accomplishment of his plans
  is one that should still be adopted by minsters
  and leading men. When they have laid their plans,
  they should present them to the church in such a
  manner as to win their interest and cooperation.
  Let the people understand the plans and share in
  the work, and they will have a personal interest
  in its prosperity.
• 3BC 1137

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Empower your leaders, not dictate

• Individual methods of labour The leaders among
  Gods people are to guard against the danger of
  condemning the methods of individual workers who
  are led by the Lord to do a special work that but
  few are fitted to do. Let brethren in
  responsibility be slow to criticise movements
  that are not in perfect harmony with their
  methods of labour. Let them never suppose that
  every plan should reflect their own personality.
  Let them not fear to trust anothers methods for
  by withholding their confidence from a brother
  labourer who, with humility and consecrated zeal,
  is doing a special work in Gods appointed way,
  they are retarding the advancement of the Lords
  cause.
• Testimonies Vol 9 p259

Place responsibility on others Leading men
should place responsibilities upon others, and
allow them to plan and devise and execute, so
that they may obtain an experience. Give them a
word of counsel when necessary, but do not take
away the work because you think the brethren are
making mistakes. May God pity the cause when one
mans mind and one mans plan is followed without
question. All our workers must have room to
exercise their own judgement and
discretion. Testimonies to Ministers pp302-03
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Coaching on the job
Recognise talent Those who are placed in
responsible positions should feel it their duty
to recognise talent. They should learn how to use
men, and how to advise them. If mistakes are
made, they should not withdraw themselves,
thinking it easier to do the work themselves than
to educate others. ChL p57
Helping the inexperienced To those upon whom
God has bestowed many talents, I am instructed to
say Help the inexperienced discourage them not.
Take them into your confidence give them
fatherly counsel, teaching them as you would
teach students in a school. Watch not for their
mistakes, but recognise their undeveloped
talents, and train them to make a right use of
these powers. Instruct them with all patience,
encouraging them to go forward and to do an
important work. Instead of keeping them engaged
in doing things of minor importance, give them an
opportunity to obtain an experience by which they
may develop into trustworthy workers. ChL p55
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Breakout exercise

• What are the resourcing challenges in your small
  group ministry/ church?
• How do you address the resourcing challenges?

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DNA of Small Group Ministry
1. Purpose
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
5. Staff
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Operational management

• Placeholder

Key skills
Key principles

• Planning
• Execution
• People management
• Discernment/ decision making
• Reporting/ upward communication

• Communication
• Bible based
• Christ dependent
• Accountability
• Flexibility
• Creativity/ innovation
• Quick
• Autonomy is a function of experience

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DNA of Small Group Ministry
1. Purpose
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
5. Staff
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3D customer growth
CUSTOMER FOCUS
Design
Deliver
Do it again and again

• Design purpose for new group/ ministry/ cross
  functional support
• Design new customer groups to find
• Design new products and services
• Design implications on dependences and broader
  structure
• Identify leaders with a passion to deliver

• Deliver through good operational management
• Christ dependent
• Bible based
• Accountability
• Communication

• Do it again and again with continuous strategic
  review

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3D customer growth
Design
1. Purpose
Do it again and again
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
Deliver
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
5. Staff
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DNA of Small Group Ministry
1. Purpose
2. Customers
7. Strategic management
3. Products/ services
4. Structure/ dependencies
6. Operational management
5. Staff