1. Leading Student Small Groups

2. 1. Our Goal 2. The 5-Jobs of Leading Student Small Groups 3
1. Our Goal 2. The 5-Jobs of Leading Student Small Groups 3. Examples in Action 4. Application to Your Church Youth Ministry

3. Our Goal: Deeply Committed Christians
Students & Adult Volunteers

4. What Success Looks Like: Students
Students know God and have accepted Jesus
Students have well-developed Wesleyan disciplines
Students have 4-7 year track record of shared activities, learning, service and growth
Group is part of an engaged community of students, parents and staff
Students are full enabled and prepared to lead others
Deeply Committed Christians
Ready for College…..and Life!

5. What Success Looks Like: Leaders
Your leaders know God and are modeling Jesus
Your leaders are passionate about working with youth
Your leaders practice the 5-jobs of leading student small groups
Deeply Committed Christian Leaders
Fully Equipped and Engaged!

6. The 5-Jobs of Leading Small Groups

7. The 5-Jobs of Leading Small Groups
Job #1: Set the vision and long-term goals
Job #2: Practice the Wesleyan disciplines
Job #3: Connect individually and build the team
Job #4: Build the support base
Job #5: Build up student leaders

8. Vision: Deeply Committed Christians Ready for College…..and Life!
Long-Term Goals
Personal relationship with Jesus Christ
Practice Wesleyan disciplines: weekly and for life
Build Fellowship: one (1) off-site per semester
Serve: one (1) service project per semester
Take on leadership roles in youth ministry
Hang together as a class through HS graduations and celebrate with an International Mission Trip together

9. Sample Wallet Card: Front Side
(Church/Youth Group Logo)
Our Vision:
Deeply Committed Christians Ready for College…..and Life!

10. Sample Wallet Card: Back
The 5-Jobs of Leading Small Groups
Set the vision and long-term goals
Practice the Wesleyan disciplines
Connect individually and build the team
Build the support base
Build up student leaders

11. Small Church (1 Small Group) Large Church (2+ Small Groups)
Job # 1 Set the vision for your leaders
Small Church
(1 Small Group)
Large Church
(2+ Small Groups)
Set Vision and Goals:
With students & parents
Relentlessly Repeat Vision:
Weekly with students
2-4X each semester with parents
Repeat in Every Communication
With volunteer leaders
Weekly with leaders
In all parent communictations
Train by Sharing Leaders’ Success Stories

12. The 5-Jobs of Leading Small Groups
Job #1: Set the vision and long-term goals
Job #2: Practice the Wesleyan disciplines
Job #3: Connect individually and build the team
Job #4: Build the support base
Job #5: Build up student leaders

13. Job #2: Practice Wesleyan Discipline
Weekly In
Pre-Shift
Meetings
Weekly In
Class
Through
The
Year

14. Weekly “Pre-Shift” Meeting Agenda
Welcome/”State of our State”/Calendar Summary
Reminder: Wesleyan Disciplines
This Week’s Lesson Plan – key points
This Week’s Training Moment
Vision and Our 5-Jobs of Leading Small Groups
Pick 1 Job and train with examples & suggestions
Joys & Concerns
Closing Prayer

15. Weekly Class Schedule:
Discipline Activity Time
Worship Weekly Song/CD :05
Prayer Opening Prayer :10
Fellowship Opening Question :20
& Housekeeping
Discipleship Weekly Lesson :50
Tithing Weekly Collection :52
Service Joys & Concerns :58
Prayer Closing Prayer :60

20. Small Church (1 Small Group) Large Church (2+ Small Groups)
Practice Disciplines in Every Meeting
Set Calendar Plan Together
Revisit Class Structure and Calendar Plan Weekly!
Set expectations w/leaders
Set expectation w/leaders
Train by Sharing Leaders’ Success Stories!

21. The 5-Jobs of Leading Small Groups
Job #1: Set the vision and long-term goals
Job #2: Practice the Wesleyan disciplines
Job #3: Connect individually and build the team
Job #4: Build the support base
Job #5: Build up student leaders

22. Job #3 Connect with Student
1. Lead with “opening up” questions 2. Develop extended conversations with each student Personal interest, activities, strengths/weaknesses Faith Journey/Needs/Next Steps 3. Follow-up your extended conversations consistently 4. Love, pray and support each student individually Each and every student encounter is a chance for positive reinforcement….be deliberate!

23. Job #3 Build the Team
Enroll your small group in an upfront process: Set an identity Set the vision: deeply committed Christians ready for college…and life! Set one, multi-year, larger-than-life goal Set annual goals Establish the key benefits of making it happen Plan annual calendar together Create facebook page together Re-summarize in every meeting, every , every facebook, every text.

24. COR Sample Small Group Names
Job #3 Build the Team
COR Sample Small Group Names
Team Ichthus Christianity In our Culture
God Squad COR P.O.W.E.R.
The Men’s Room Sisters of the Spirit
The Real Deal Princesses of God
Body Building The Fruits That Fell Off
EquiopoJesus Girls of Grace

25. Job #3 Applied in Your Church
Small Church
(1 Small Group)
Large Church
(2+ Small Groups)
Connect with each student via
extended conversations
Build team identity, goals, calendar plan, and communication venues (facebook, , and text)
Revisit Weekly!
Set expectations w/leaders
Set expectation w/leaders
Train by Sharing Leaders’ Success Stories!

26. The 5-Jobs of Leading Small Groups
Job #1: Set the vision and long-term goals
Job #2: Practice the Wesleyan disciplines
Job #3: Connect individually and build the team
Job #4: Build the support base
Job #5: Build up student leaders

27. Effective Small Group Leadership is NEVER Just About the Small Group
Job # 4 Building the Support Base
Effective Small Group Leadership is NEVER Just About the Small Group

28. Job # 4 Building the Support Base
Effective Small Group Leadership:
Enrolls and engages the students
Enrolls and engages their parents
Enrolls and engages the Youth Ministry/church staff & resources

29. reinforce your team’s vision and long-term goal(s)
Job # 4 Build the Support Base
Call each students’ parents individually
Introduce yourself and your small group
Review group goals and ask for support
Ask “opening up” questions about themselves
Take notes
Follow-up with regular s & calls at key program milestones
Pre-sell Youth Ministry programs & events
Always, always, always
reinforce your team’s vision and long-term goal(s)

30. Growth/Expansion Opportunities for Your Students
Job # 4 Enroll Church Staff/Resources
Pro-actively share your vision, goals, and plans
Seek input and resources…avoid the twin sins of being insular and self-limiting
Identify synergies – leverage your small group in the larger youth group context
Work to Develop
Growth/Expansion Opportunities for Your Students

31. Job # 4 Applied in Your Church
Small Church
(1 Small Group)
Large Church
(2+ Small Groups)
Lead from the pulpit
Execute 5 Jobs consistently
Promote continuously
Call & engage each parent
2-4 “touch points” per semester
Revisit Weekly!
Remind 5 jobs consistently
Set expectations w/leaders
Intervene non-starters
Train by Sharing Leaders’ Success Stories!

32. The 5-Jobs of Leading Small Groups
Job #1: Set the vision and long-term goals
Job #2: Practice the Wesleyan disciplines
Job #3: Connect individually and build the team
Job #4: Build the support base
Job #5: Build up student leaders

33. Bring Out the Leadership Potential in Every Student
Job #5 Develop Student Leaders
Engage students in small group/youth group leadership roles
Deliberately invest in each students’ development
Create room for he/she to practice & model leadership
Proactively ID opportunities and challenge your students to take on leadership roles
Bring Out the Leadership Potential in Every Student

34. Small Church (1 Small Group) Large Church (2+ Small Groups)
Job #5 Applied in Your Church
Small Church
(1 Small Group)
Large Church
(2+ Small Groups)
Engage students in leadership roles
Create leadership roles
Create leadership moments
Let students take them on
Coach & reinforce
Revisit at key milestones!
Enroll adult leaders in identifying/enrolling students
Create multiple leadership tracks
Set expectations w/leaders
Monitor small group output
Intervene with non-starters
Train by sharing Leaders’ success stories!

35. The 5-Jobs of Leading Small Groups
Job #1: Set the vision and long-term goals
Job #2: Practice the Wesleyan disciplines
Job #3: Connect individually and build the team
Job #4: Build the support base
Job #5: Build up student leaders

36. Deeply Committed Christian Leaders Fully Equipped and Engaged!
Summary:
What Success Looks Like: Leaders
Your leaders know God and are modeling Jesus
Your leaders are passionate about working with youth
Your leaders practice the 5-jobs of leading student small groups
Deeply Committed Christian Leaders
Fully Equipped and Engaged!

37. Deeply Committed Christians Ready for College…..and Life!
Summary: What Success Looks Like: Students
Students know God and have accepted Jesus
Students have well-developed Wesleyan disciplines
Students have 4-7 year track record of shared activities, learning, service and growth
Group is part of an engaged community of students, parents and staff
Students are full enabled and prepared to lead others
Deeply Committed Christians
Ready for College…..and Life!

38. God bless you and your youth ministry!!!