Growing Pains
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.” Malachi 3:10
Christ Journey’s initial cell group has grown more quickly than expected. What a wonderful problem to have! It began as a core team of about 10 and has grown to almost 30. According to small group guru, Ralph Neighbour, a group should multiply once it reaches 15, in order to retain intimacy and to allow room for more growth. However, Neighbour also recommends multiplying after 6-9 months, rather than just the three that Christ Journey has been gathering. It is time for this initial group to multiply into two if not more cells—both because of its size and because the DNA of multiplication needs to be in place before the Sunday worship launch occurs in September. The question is, how should this look? How should the logistics of multiplication pan out? It is a huge blessing to be here with Christ Journey as they figure this out, because these questions will come up soon after Team Olomouc begins its work in the Czech Republic. Christ Journey has several options:
Option 1: two groups of 15. The benefit, strength in numbers. The downside, multiplication would need to occur again very soon and intimacy would be difficult to achieve, or if achieved, to maintain for long.
Option 2: three groups of 10. This would leave more room for growth and allow for more intimacy. But, again, how would this look? How do we decide which people are in which group? By region? Put the families from Cleburne in one group and the Burleson families in two other groups?
Option 3: two or three groups, plus another one or two which start from scratch (i.e. with only one family which would invite unchurched neighbors and friends to join them). At least two families are able and probably willing to do this. Would this spread the church too thin? Should perhaps at least one other family partner with the ‘cell group planters’ to help and to learn?
Another question is where Chris and Heidi fit into these groups. Should they attend all of them for a short transition time? Or, will attending all of the cell groups create a dependency on the Chappotins?
Whatever the case, it seems that future cell leaders should begin taking turns leading the current group. This will help to make them more comfortable when the time for multiplication comes, and will also help to reduce the focus on Chris and Heidi.
When multiplication occurs, should the group continue to meet as a whole on Sunday? I think yes. This seems beneficial because it will ease the transition, and because a number of people have expressed a desire to continue to meet as one, as if to say, “We like seeing everyone each week and we don’t want to lose that.” If the Sunday meeting does continue, then each cell will need to find another night during the week to meet. (Though continuing the corporate gathering on Sunday has its benefits, perhaps adjourning the corporate gathering for a week or two would also be beneficial, so that each group has the opportunity to ‘settle into’ or ‘establish the identity of’ the new group. Of course, the identity of groups will continually change as they multiply; so maybe they shouldn't get too settled?)
Another important question: how does children’s ministry take place in cell groups—in such a way that learning occurs, rather than merely babysitting? Rachel, the children’s minister, takes the kids into another room in the house when praise time is over. Recently she explained that creating an environment of learning is difficult when ages range from 2 to 10. Therefore, the plan is to have two classes, one for ages 1-4, and another for ages 5 and up.
But, again, what happens when the group multiplies? Rachel will not be able to attend them all, and the groups will have various numbers of kids and combinations of ages. Also, how will the Sunday launch in September change the dynamics of children’s ministry? If quality worship and learning experiences are created on Sundays, does that reduce the pressure on cell groups to provide structure and well-prepared curricula, making ‘just babysitting’ okay?
Wow, that’s a lot of questions! I look forward to being a part of some of these decisions and seeing what happens. Though I have a lot of questions, I am becoming more and more convinced of two things for future church plants. First, the search for facilities should begin as soon as possible, in order to find the best possible option and also to reduce stress during the already stressful couple of months prior to a Sunday launch. Second, because spiritual friendships take time to develop and deepen, the earlier one can get involved in the community, the better. To put this in the Czech context, though public launch may not officially begin until after a year, a year and a half, or more of being in the Czech Republic, getting to know Czech people should begin immediately. By getting a membership to a local gym, setting up a routine for going to the park and joining in pickup games of soccer/volleyball/whatever, meeting people in one’s apartment complex, and having these new friends over for dinner (or out to dinner), to play games, etc.
May God continue to pour out the blessings of growth (and the inherent difficulties of finding room for everything and everyone). Thank you, God, for including us in your redeeming and transforming work. Please guide our upcoming decisions and glorify your name in all of our efforts.
Christ Journey’s initial cell group has grown more quickly than expected. What a wonderful problem to have! It began as a core team of about 10 and has grown to almost 30. According to small group guru, Ralph Neighbour, a group should multiply once it reaches 15, in order to retain intimacy and to allow room for more growth. However, Neighbour also recommends multiplying after 6-9 months, rather than just the three that Christ Journey has been gathering. It is time for this initial group to multiply into two if not more cells—both because of its size and because the DNA of multiplication needs to be in place before the Sunday worship launch occurs in September. The question is, how should this look? How should the logistics of multiplication pan out? It is a huge blessing to be here with Christ Journey as they figure this out, because these questions will come up soon after Team Olomouc begins its work in the Czech Republic. Christ Journey has several options:
Option 1: two groups of 15. The benefit, strength in numbers. The downside, multiplication would need to occur again very soon and intimacy would be difficult to achieve, or if achieved, to maintain for long.
Option 2: three groups of 10. This would leave more room for growth and allow for more intimacy. But, again, how would this look? How do we decide which people are in which group? By region? Put the families from Cleburne in one group and the Burleson families in two other groups?
Option 3: two or three groups, plus another one or two which start from scratch (i.e. with only one family which would invite unchurched neighbors and friends to join them). At least two families are able and probably willing to do this. Would this spread the church too thin? Should perhaps at least one other family partner with the ‘cell group planters’ to help and to learn?
Another question is where Chris and Heidi fit into these groups. Should they attend all of them for a short transition time? Or, will attending all of the cell groups create a dependency on the Chappotins?
Whatever the case, it seems that future cell leaders should begin taking turns leading the current group. This will help to make them more comfortable when the time for multiplication comes, and will also help to reduce the focus on Chris and Heidi.
When multiplication occurs, should the group continue to meet as a whole on Sunday? I think yes. This seems beneficial because it will ease the transition, and because a number of people have expressed a desire to continue to meet as one, as if to say, “We like seeing everyone each week and we don’t want to lose that.” If the Sunday meeting does continue, then each cell will need to find another night during the week to meet. (Though continuing the corporate gathering on Sunday has its benefits, perhaps adjourning the corporate gathering for a week or two would also be beneficial, so that each group has the opportunity to ‘settle into’ or ‘establish the identity of’ the new group. Of course, the identity of groups will continually change as they multiply; so maybe they shouldn't get too settled?)
Another important question: how does children’s ministry take place in cell groups—in such a way that learning occurs, rather than merely babysitting? Rachel, the children’s minister, takes the kids into another room in the house when praise time is over. Recently she explained that creating an environment of learning is difficult when ages range from 2 to 10. Therefore, the plan is to have two classes, one for ages 1-4, and another for ages 5 and up.
But, again, what happens when the group multiplies? Rachel will not be able to attend them all, and the groups will have various numbers of kids and combinations of ages. Also, how will the Sunday launch in September change the dynamics of children’s ministry? If quality worship and learning experiences are created on Sundays, does that reduce the pressure on cell groups to provide structure and well-prepared curricula, making ‘just babysitting’ okay?
Wow, that’s a lot of questions! I look forward to being a part of some of these decisions and seeing what happens. Though I have a lot of questions, I am becoming more and more convinced of two things for future church plants. First, the search for facilities should begin as soon as possible, in order to find the best possible option and also to reduce stress during the already stressful couple of months prior to a Sunday launch. Second, because spiritual friendships take time to develop and deepen, the earlier one can get involved in the community, the better. To put this in the Czech context, though public launch may not officially begin until after a year, a year and a half, or more of being in the Czech Republic, getting to know Czech people should begin immediately. By getting a membership to a local gym, setting up a routine for going to the park and joining in pickup games of soccer/volleyball/whatever, meeting people in one’s apartment complex, and having these new friends over for dinner (or out to dinner), to play games, etc.
May God continue to pour out the blessings of growth (and the inherent difficulties of finding room for everything and everyone). Thank you, God, for including us in your redeeming and transforming work. Please guide our upcoming decisions and glorify your name in all of our efforts.
posted by mitch | 1:15 AM
1 Comments:
Like you said, a good problem to have. Praise God for the growth the the Lord's church is experiencing!! I pray (and know) that He will guide this church as it seeks the healthiest way to grow and the most effective way to witness! Can't wait for more news!
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