This weekend is our last for a traditional Sunday School class. Starting in August, our church will be organized around the small group model. I’m going to purchase the book “Go Big for Small Groups” by Bill Easum and John Atkinson. I see no reason for reinventing the wheel and have been reading small group advice by Andy Stanley’s small group pastor, Dr. Henry Cloud, and now this book has come across my radar as I finished it’s earlier companion work, “Go Big”.
The truth is, our morning small groups (as I called them!) were NOT growing. The only families that attended were the ones who were at church to practice with the worship team and it took a tremendous amount of man hours for my volunteers to staff a program for just a few people. Better I thought to utilize those hours and build a terrific Sunday morning worship experience for everyone while offering a K-5 children’s worship program during our regular morning worship time. Of course, I’ve lost a family over it. They feel we are just cutting too much with the removal a few years ago of our old Wednesday night service. They thought small groups should just replace that and that we should keep the Sunday School hour but the fact is, it wasn’t working and was a financial and emotional drain on our church. June 24th is our first day operating without a Sunday School. We plan to have a few church events like a picnic in the park, and movie night out while we wait for the official launch of these groups in August. I would appreciate your prayers for us during this time of preparation.
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June 13, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Gary B Cunningham
You have our prayers and God will reward you with great things. I am a big fan of Pastor John Atkinson and very proud to be one of the leaders of a men’s group at Bay Area. He is the most authentic guy I have every met. Just be faithful and stay commited because you will stumble. I started a men’s group back in September and believe me I have wanted to give up a few times. Pastor John reminds me to show up and God will move on his time. Two weeks ago I was expecting no one at group and had 5 new men show up. Stay strong.
June 17, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Brian
I’m not a pastor. I do lead a ’small group’. I have recently be wrestling with the idea behind small group leadership. Oh how important, impactful, and crucial is a leaders role. A good leader commons legends of followers. WHERE they lead will determine the value of their leadership.
I recently came across “Making Small Groups Work” - Cloud and Townsend. I have only cracked the book but see an incredible breakdown of subjects that cultivate a piece by piece look at forming, leading, running, and praying over small groups. Just another resource for you possibly.
Lastly, I appreciate all your writings. Hearing of your efforting, struggles, it all brings the Kingdom into perspective. A life lived for Christ is ultimately so different, yet ultimately so much sweeter, than a life without Him.
I say an all-inclusive prayer to Jesus for your ministry and the good work He has started there.
June 19, 2007 at 2:42 pm
John Atkinson
Hey man thanks for the kind words about my book. My email and phone are at your disposal if there is ever anything I can do to help you along this journey. I sure don’t have all the answers by any means but I’ve at least learned a couple of things from all the mistakes I’ve made, and I’m more than willing to share them with anyone who asks.