One of the best ways that we’ve been told (and I have experienced) new growth can happen in small groups is by making new units. But wow, it is painful!  Why?

1.  It is the birth of a new group.  Anything containing the word birth probably has a painful element to it!

2.  If you are like me, you are working hard to press into relationships in small groups and not religion.  Growing relationships with Christ, and growing relationships with other believers.  Then, we are effectively breaking those to create new ones.  Ouch!

So what am I doing to stay committed to creating new groups and nurture healthy relationships:

1.  I am continually looking for new leaders. In a strange paradox, if I do not activate idle leaders, that is also painful in and for the group, even if it is in a passive way.

2.  Also, though there is not an exact number, each group will have its ceiling of members it can actively minister to, relate with.  Once you pass that, it is also painful. The group will firm up like jell-o and no new members will be able to move in.  Therefore I am keeping this in mind to help me stay committed to new units.

3.  I am looking for new leaders who are willing to “go it alone.” Split, and divide are not friendly elements to creating new units.  So the more leaders are apt to take an empty room and create from scratch, the better.

4.  With that said, if people do move, I also am encouraging the leaders in the new and former group to focus in on one or two couples/people to go to the new unit and that is all. Helps me to stay away from the fun words of split and divide.

5.  COMMUNICATE.  One chink in my armor has been not communicating quickly and clearly and frequently enough about this being in the DNA of our small groups.  I must talk about this all the time.  Though it will not relieve all the pain, I must talk with the leaders clearly about the upcoming new unit in their future.

So, I am committed to the painful process of birthing new units in our Sunday School small group ministry.

What steps are you using that make this process smooth?