I recently received a Facebook message, “Should I as the Youth Minister lead a group and how should we split them up?”  while there are several different ways to answer both of these questions I am going to simply share my thoughts..

When it comes to having the Youth Minister lead a group I think it is best for the other leaders and students that he also lead.  If you are not involved in a group then it will appear to not be something that matters to you.  Students will be able to pick up on this very quickly and will take on whatever attitude the leader has toward small groups.  Leader’s understand the value of leading by example.  If you were to evaluate churches that have great small group ministry happening you would find that the senior leader has made it a priority in his/her life as well.  The people/students follow their leader.

The other thing that being involved in a small group will do is give you a voice.  For example if a small group leader of another group comes to you and has some questions about the material or about how their group is going.  By being involved in a group you immediately have credibility to pour into them as a leader.  Not being involved in a group is going to cause you to have to get back to the leader.  You will not be able to speak out of experience from the previous weeks lesson.

Some Youth Minister’s take the approach that I will be available to substitute for group leader when they are not available.  Often that makes sense but I would encourage you to spend time with a group of students and get more leaders involved so that each group has an apprentice leader.  This way there is not one adult leading the group with sole responsibility for what happens.  When developing your groups with an apprentice leader you also get the chance to be prepared to split groups as they grow.

Small groups are a vital part of spiritual development in the life of a student.  It is important to have leaders beside yourself pouring into them spiritually and relationally.  I will post more later in regards to how to separate a group of students.

What role do you play in small groups?  How has being involved given you a better understanding for how your groups function?

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