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Wanted to give an early heads up to those few who follow me faithfully on here (thanks, mom).

This fall we’re going re-vamp our Family Group ministry slightly by offering semester-based small groups.  They’ll begin soon after school starts back and run about 12 weeks, with most ending some time before Thanksgiving.  Then, after Christmas we’ll do it all over again.  Groups that want to stay together will be able to, and current groups won’t be affected.  We feel this is the right decision for several reasons:

• It’s a smaller commitment for group members. Some people are intimidated by the thought of a 12 to 18-month commitment, and understandably so.  A lot can happen over the course of a year and a half.  I mean, in the last 18 months 3 of the 5 couples in our current group have added kids to their families.  It’s so hard to say where you’re going to be in 18 months – it’ll be easier to get a commitment if it’s shorter.
• It’s a smaller commitment for group leaders. It’ll be easier to take a break from leading a group if you know you’re only sitting out for 12 weeks.  And it should be easier to find new group leaders if we’re only asking them to “test-lead” for 12 weeks.
• We already do some shorter-term groups. This will enable us to fold Starting Point and Financial Peace University into our overall groups strategy.  Which should position us to offer them more consistently.
• We need more on-ramps and off ramps. This will enable us to offer people multiple chances to join a group, to switch groups, or to get out of a group when it’s time for a change.  Which will lead to more people participating in a group.  And we believe if it’s easier to connect into a group, there’s a greater chance people will stick around.  Which means we have a better chance of helping them experience truth and relationships the way God intended.
• It follows a natural rhythm. There’s a natural rhythm in the life of a church.  Most people (especially those with younger children) are more committed when school starts back after summer break, and again after Christmas break.  And many families back off on their commitments during the holidays and during the summer.  We already schedule most of our church calendar (sermon series, activities) around this rhythm.  This strategy will enable us to bring groups in line with this philosophy.
• It’ll give us some down time to re-evaluate what we’re doing. As any farmer will tell you, you get better crops when you let the field lie fallow from time to time.  Even the Old Testament teaches this principle.  We feel that the margin we’re creating will enable us to better track what’s happening.  And it’ll better prepare our group members to reengage when they’re naturally looking to anyway.

A few notes: If you’re already in a group, don’t worry – your group will continue as normal.  This is just something we’re trying with the new groups we’re starting this fall.  But the truth is, if it works like we think it will we’ll eventually transition all groups into a semester-based format.  For those of you who enjoy the long-term relationships you build in group, take heart.  If you wind up in a group that really gels, you’ll be able to carry it over again and again across several semesters.  And if the thought of going all summer without a group sends you into withdrawals, talk them into meeting over the summer.  In fact, we may decide to add a summer semester at some point, but for now we’ll try the two.

So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.  Our group leaders are excited about it.  Our staff and leadership are excited.

By the way, I won’t be announcing this officially until the end of summer.  So you can consider this just another benefit of tuning in here – you got to hear it first…