Is your small group ministry healthy?

How can you tell if your small group ministry is healthy? Is there a set of symptoms or indicators of health?

I think there is. Just like a doctor can look at your blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse to determine the health of your heart, there are a few important symptoms that can indicate small group ministry health. Here are 5 that I think are important.

5 symptoms of a healthy small group ministry

1. An increasing total number of groups.

Healthy small group ministries increase the total number of groups on an annual basis. When the total number of groups remains the same (or decreases) year over year it is an indication that you are simply satisfying the usual suspects. It also indicates that you are not opening up enough new seats to connect unconnected people. Taking a snapshot at a set time twice a year will tell you whether you are sustaining the new groups you launch.

Healthy small group ministries increase the total number of groups on an annual basis. When the total number of groups remains the same (or decreases) year over year it is an indication that you are simply satisfying the usual suspects. Click To Tweet

See also, Critical Decision: Add Members to Existing Groups vs Start New Groups.

2 An increasing total number of adults in groups.

Healthy small group ministries increase the total number of adults in groups on an annual basis. Every new group member is a lead indicator that makes the preferred future more likely.

Healthy small group ministries increase the total number of adults in groups on an annual basis. Every new group member is a lead indicator that makes the preferred future more likely. Click To Tweet

Tracking the total number of groups is an important measure of health. Tracking the total number of adults in groups is well worth the time and energy required to take an accurate snapshot.

3. An increasing percentage connected.

Your percentage connected (number of adults in groups divided by the average number of adults in worship) is an important indicator to watch. If you believe that the optimal environment for life-change is a circle, your percentage connected is ultimately what determines whether you're gaining ground or losing ground.

If you believe that the optimal environment for life-change is a circle, your percentage connected is ultimately what determines whether you're gaining ground or losing ground. Click To Tweet

For example, if your average adult attendance in worship climbs by 10%, your percentage connected needs to increase by a number greater than 10% to gain ground. See also, What Percentage of Your Adults are Actually Connected?

4. A decreasing average age of groups.

If you are starting new groups (and sustaining the new groups you launch) on a regular basis, the average age of your groups (when did your group begin meeting?) should be decreasing.

If the average age of your groups is increasing or remaining the same, it is an indication that you are not succeeding at launching enough new groups (and sometimes allowing zombie groups to die).

If the average age of your groups is increasing or remaining the same, it is an indication that you are not succeeding at launching enough new groups (and sometimes allowing zombie groups to die). Click To Tweet

See also, Can You Tell If Your Group Might be a Zombie?

5. An increasing percentage of group leaders actively connecting with a coach.

If whatever you want to happen in the lives of group members has to happen first in the lives of your leaders, increasing the percentage of your group leaders who are actively being discipled and developed by a coach is essential.

If whatever you want to happen in the lives of group members has to happen first in the lives of your leaders, increasing the percentage of your group leaders who are actively being discipled and developed by a coach is essential. Click To Tweet

This is a very serious indicator if you want to make disciples. If this percentage is not increasing, you can be sure that your small group ministry will not be healthy. See also, Life-Change at the Member Level.

Need further help?

My 4 session online video course may be just what you need. How to Diagnose Your Small Group Ministry is used by many small group ministries to keep track of the health of their ministry. You can find out more right here.

Image by Yann