Growth Goals
Do you want your group to grow wide or deep?
Seriously, I’m not talking about waist size or second chin measurement, I’m talking about your plans for expansion of your group.
There are two general directions you could choose to go:
a) Grow wide
This means that you would be identifying and developing leaders and attracting new members so that you can split and plant, thereby multiplying.
This is most common in groups that are formed for “new believers” or “new to town” members. Once you begin to see leadership and/or teaching capability emerging in a lifegroup member you begin discussions with them about any aspirations they have to lead a group of their own.
b) Grow deep
This focus is more about smaller group size and the aim for deeply intimate relationships where trust and intimacy are developed over time.
Study is more likely to follow a longer timeframe and may even be ‘themed’ over the course of a year. Extra time is devoted to prayer for personal issues and personal accountability.
There is no “one fit all” approach and not very group sits within these two general descriptions. At Eastside church we acknowledge there are different needs and reasons for lifegroups. Your goal as the leader is to know where you’re leading and why!
I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on this topic and how you see it applying to your lifegroup.