I believe that our Student Led small groups have been the main reason for our recent sustained growth in our program. Here are five reasons I believe you should consider student led small groups.
1. Youth Help to Make Everyone Feel Welcome – When our program was 15 kids, it was easy to know everyone and personally make sure they feel welcome. Now that we are 4-5 times that size, it is impossible for one person to connect with every youth. Our small group leaders are that connection point. Each group has between 10 and 15 youth in it. I know that each week, every youth that comes in will be welcomed, talked to, and made to feel at home, not by me, but by their small group leader.
2. Youth Are Learning To Lead – By giving youth the responsibility of being small group leaders, we are giving them the chance to put their gifts into practice, now. My small group leaders are learning not only how to lead a group, but what it means to foster community by staying connected during the week, how to deal with difficult situations that may arise, how to facilitate a discussion and how to be an example to others.
3. Youth are Cared For by their Small Group Leader – I logged on to instagram the other day to see one of my student leaders had posted a photo of someone in her small group. She commented something like “Happy Birthday. It is a blessing to have you in my small group.” My student leaders do a great job caring for, and connecting with those in their small group.
4. Youth Have Something To Look Forward To – Someone told me one time that you need to have something special for your older youth, that your younger youth can look forward to. What better incentive than the opportunity to lead. The youngest student leaders I have now are 8th graders. They lead my 6th grade girls group. But I have 7th graders already asking when they can be small group leaders. They are looking forward to having the opportunity to become leaders in our group.
5. Youth are an Example For My Adults – Often when I ask an adult about leading a small group the answer is they do not feel qualified, or don’t know enough about the bible. I can often tell them over and over that they will be fine, but to no avail. Now, instead of asking them to lead, I ask them to sit in with one of my student led groups. My adults take care of any problems or issues so my student leaders can focus on teaching and facilitating discussion. One week one of my adults came up at the end and said that she was scared at first, but when she saw how everything worked, how the material was laid out and how easy it really was, that she could probably lead a small group.
6. I am Multiplied – I have always wanted to be in two places at once. With student led small groups I sort of am. I spend time pouring into and teaching my team of student leaders, in turn they go and teach their small groups. When I teach eight individuals, a group of around sixty per night are being taught, cared for, and loved.
Yes, that was 6. Figured I’d give you a bonus. So what do you think?
Do you use small groups in your ministry?
How do you do them?
Photo used by creative commons from http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttongirl/
I know this post is old, but just came across it. We are getting ready to start student led small groups, as I think it is vital. Wondering if you have found a specific small group curriculum that works well for this, or have you just created your own? Any would be appreciated! Thanks!
Josh, thanks for the comment. We have used a few different resources over the past few years. I have written some of our own stuff. We have used some of the small group material from download youth ministry, Simply Youth Ministry’s Live Curriculum and we have written some of our own. I hope this helps.
sweet, thanks for the info!