our church has a really big "small group" of 30 something adults with children. This group needs to re-organize into more manageable-sized groups, even though they like doing activities together as a big small group. This Sunday, they are hosting a lunch after church service and inviting anyone who would like to join. There are sign up sheets for different topics/interests but the options are wide-open. They will be writing their own interests down when they sign up. I am the Small Group Coordinator and will be there to mingle and guide some questions/decisions. I have not actively been involved with this group until now...so I feel like I am watching from the sidelines, ready to answer questions, etc. This big group has been meeting on their own for a few years now. There has been no active Small Group Coordinator until this fall. In the past this position entailed mostly keeping records of who was in what group.
What are the best guidelines for this present situation? These families will make alot of their own decisions about what they would like for topics and with whom. I would like a few guidelines to suggest for positive outcomes. Is there a Small Group Coach for our area, Southern Alberta?
Ps. I have been trained and led groups with Coffee Break in the 80's and 90's; taken a course on Adult Education/Small groups at Regent College in the 90's ; and served as a Church Education Consultant for LIFE materials with CRC Publications also.
Posted in: Small Groups Make a Big Impact at Church
Hi Small group experts,
our church has a really big "small group" of 30 something adults with children. This group needs to re-organize into more manageable-sized groups, even though they like doing activities together as a big small group. This Sunday, they are hosting a lunch after church service and inviting anyone who would like to join. There are sign up sheets for different topics/interests but the options are wide-open. They will be writing their own interests down when they sign up. I am the Small Group Coordinator and will be there to mingle and guide some questions/decisions. I have not actively been involved with this group until now...so I feel like I am watching from the sidelines, ready to answer questions, etc. This big group has been meeting on their own for a few years now. There has been no active Small Group Coordinator until this fall. In the past this position entailed mostly keeping records of who was in what group.
What are the best guidelines for this present situation? These families will make alot of their own decisions about what they would like for topics and with whom. I would like a few guidelines to suggest for positive outcomes. Is there a Small Group Coach for our area, Southern Alberta?
Ps. I have been trained and led groups with Coffee Break in the 80's and 90's; taken a course on Adult Education/Small groups at Regent College in the 90's ; and served as a Church Education Consultant for LIFE materials with CRC Publications also.
Thanks alot,
Anne deWalle
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada