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By Eric Heard, Small Groups Pastor

 

Anyone who has been a Small Group Pastor for any amount of time recognizes very quickly that there are complexities that come with overseeing a Small Groups. Here are the top ones we have had to grapple with at Mariners Church.

 

Life’s Tragedies

 To say that life gets messy at times is an understatement and life in small groups is no different. Thinking back over this past year I recollect individuals and the small groups at our church having to weather the storms of financial bankruptcy, battles with cancer, death of a loved one, suicide, divorce, adultery, just to name a few. These life experiences can either galvanize a group or blow it apart. The key issue when these things challenges come into play is whether or not the small group leader has the resources to minister during the time of crisis. At Mariners Church we try to make sure the small group leaders know who is available for them to go to and get the help they need

Curriculum Choices

Fortunately and unfortunately there are a plethora of choices of curriculum that a small group leader has as they walk into a Christian bookstore. Fortunate in that they have a choice, unfortunate in that a lot of curriculums won’t work for certain small groups. At Mariners we use mainly the “Liquid” method that is applicable to whatever type of group you might have. We also suggest other curriculums that tend not to do the thinking for the participant and focus on study of the Word of God.

Conflicts within the Group

It is the nature of human beings to have conflicts both personality and genuine offenses from one member to the other. Either way, when there is conflict in the group and the small group leader cannot step into and solve the issue then someone on our small group team (Pastor, Director, or Coordinator) needs to step in and help mediate the situation. In some cases we have had to literally remove someone from a group because the group is more valuable then one person. In such cases we have usually been successful in helping that person get into another group where they fit and can grow wit the group members.

 

Complexities happen in small group and handling them is just a part of the ministry. Making resources available to your small group leaders when the challenges come is not an option, it is absolutely necessary!

 

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