COVID 19 Small Group Opportunity

The COVID 19 pandemic has forced the church back to its foundational structure, small group life.

The current restrictions on social gathering have the potential of producing a renaissance of group life in the church. Group meetings by ‘Zoom’ or face to face in homes (where allowed), has become the key function for most churches.

The pandemic has awakened a higher interest in group life than previously existed. The group experience in many ways is what remains of the church. It is true many churches have been live-streaming their worship services but in reality, it is a tv program. Group (Sabbath School class) gatherings, even if by ‘Zoom’, is now the core experience where church members connect with each other. This is a dramatic change that could have a lasting impact on how we do church.

The pandemic has lowered the amount of human interaction in our communities. There is now a pervasive hunger for relationship interaction that we haven’t previously experienced. Personally I have never engaged with so many people on my daily walk as during this period. Could it be that out of this pandemic that our society has found a new appreciation for the importance of belonging to a community?

This hunger for community presents a new opportunity for how we do church and how we reach our community? Friendship and community building has always been the key to a healthy growing church. However, like pre-pandemic times, it has often been taken for granted. Relational evangelism and community building rarely have been given the profile they deserve.

The apostle Paul regarded hospitality as a foundational practise for the Christian. He wrote. “ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13. Paul links Christian community, discipleship zeal and spiritual health together with hospitality. Hebrew’s reminds us that gathering Christians together to interact with each other should be a priority, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24,25. Gathering together with a small group of other believers on a regular basis was a foundational practice of the early Christians.

Early Adventism had a priority for social interaction and the sharing of personal stories. Ellen White asked the question, “What is the object of assembling together? We meet together to edify one another by a mutual interchange of thoughts and feelings, thus making one another acquainted with our aspirations, our hopes, and gathering strength and light and courage from one another…” (Review and Herald May 30 1871) When asked what was more important a sermon or social meeting she said the ‘social meetings’. Ellen White understood the importance of social interaction and the way small group facilitated that.

Unfortunately, for many Adventists attending Sabbath School class or attending a homegroup is a diminishing practice. There are many reasons for this decline. Ultimately, classes/groups struggle when they are not functioning as holistic groups. The study of a lesson quarterly is not enough. The pandemic has in many churches forced church leaders to give greater importance to Sabbath School classes (small groups) and have expanded their ministry. By necessity leaders have stepped up and are facilitating a more robust group experience. It is exciting to see that the class/group experience is far more dynamic and holistic than in pre-pandemic times.

The question that needs examining is, ‘How does one consolidate this positive group outcome and lock it into how we do church in the future?’

The following list may be helpful as you develop your own consolidation strategy:

1. Raised up more leaders: Many churches will have raised up new groups and new leaders in their response to the pandemic. These leaders will need added support to maintain their ministry when the church gets back to ‘normal’. Regular leader meetings (minimum two a month) are crucial to maintain momentum and sort through issues.
2. Increased the profile and significance of class/groups: Where possible ordain leaders as elders. This underlines the priority your church has for group life. Check out Elder Maxmiser Mannual. Drive as much ministry as possible through your small groups. For example – pastoral care, worship hosting, prayer ministry, outreach, greeting etc.
3. Increase the holistic life of your groups: The more holistic a group is the more chance it will grow and multiply. Assess each aspect of group life – Bible study, social life, witness, spiritual gifts etc. For a full transition strategy download our Sabbath School Maximiser mannual.
4. Increase Outreach Focus: Small groups that have an outward focus are healthier. The development of prayer lists of group member’s ‘seeker’ contacts should be a regular housekeeping feature of groups meetings. Every newcomer that visits your church should be assigned to a class/group as soon as possible. The welcoming of newcomers is an important agenda for every group.
5. Enlarge the footprint of class/groups: The pandemic has moved many Sabbath Schools classes into homes on Sabbath as well as gathering during the week. The gathering of a class/group on Sabbath and during the week hothouse the development of a group. When churches reopen it makes sense to encourage home groups to also meet during Sabbath School time.
6. Share Class/group Stories: The sharing of small group experiences during the pandemic will be of interest to the whole congregation. This can be done in church newsletter and during worship services. The exposure not only encourages people to join in but also affirms the leaders and the members of each small group.

COVID 19 has had a major impact on us all. The positive impact for the church is that it has refocused our attention on what has often been taken for granted, small group life. There is a real opportunity to bring about significant change in how small group life impacts our church in the future.

“If we were to identify anyone principle as the most important, then without a doubt it would be the multiplication of small groups.” Christian Schwarz, Natural Church Development p32