Small Group - Huge Impact
6 Families. 4 Years. 1 Small Group.
In May 2022, a group of parents found themselves wading through the same murky waters of joy and anxiety together. They had just celebrated the confirmation of their oldest children, while also raising younger kids. They felt joy because their kids had come to love Good Shepherd, and they could see their faith growing.
But they were also worried. They knew how quickly the demands of high school schedules could relegate church to an afterthought. As these parents talked, an idea was born.
“What if we form a small group to help our kids build deep, supportive relationships with one another—relationships that will help them keep Jesus at the center of their lives? If some of their closest relationships are with their peers at Good Shepherd, maybe that will help strengthen their faith and FLY.”
The Brecht, Dye, Maley, Raymond, Rodgers, and Sorensen families took a leap of faith and formed a small (not-so-small) group. Not only did the experiment work, but God moved in ways they could not have imagined.
Today, this small group feels like a spiritual family. But the path has not always been easy. Schedules are demanding. With six families, there has rarely been a small group gathering when everyone could attend.
So what made this work when so many other groups give up?
Two things: commitment and realistic expectations.
These families committed early on to prioritizing small group. But they also learned to balance that commitment with realistic expectations. Not everyone could come every time. Sometimes only part of a family could attend. But consistency and commitment over four years have built something beautiful.
Some of the parents shared why this small group has been so important:
- “We don’t have family here. This feels like an extended family.”
- “Our kids go through similar stresses at school.”
- “It’s helpful as parents to have a support network as we go through similar experiences.”
- “It has been great to be able to process the chaos of the world with other parents and to learn to model open, healthy communication.”
They have also been amazed at how much their kids value small group.
- “I cannot believe how excited our kids get about small group!”
- “You cannot believe how often our kids ask, ‘When is the next small group?!’”
Small group has deeply impacted their kids’ faith in Christ.
- “After we started small group, none of our kids protested going to church anymore. In fact, they started bugging us: ‘We’re going to church today, right?!’”
- “Several of our kids want to be camp counselors at Tomah Shinga together.”
Perhaps the most surprising impact of this small group came from the youth themselves. When asked what this group has meant to them, they shared:
- “It makes you want to come to church because your people are there.”
- “Being with people who share your same beliefs is pretty cool. My friends at school all have different beliefs.”
- “It’s a comforting, safe environment because you know you always have people supporting you.”
- “You build community in church with people who really know you.” (And the next kid simply added, “Samsies.”)
- “You get to know people from different schools. And we get to know older kids we would never have really known.”
One youth wisely said:
“You have to make time. You can always find time to come as you can.”
Perhaps the most powerful testament to the impact of small group ministry came during the group’s past two gatherings.
In July, the group gathered in the Dye family’s kitchen. They went around the room sharing affirmations, blessings, and words of encouragement for the graduates as they prepared to begin a new chapter. Tears, laughter, and prayers were in abundance. It was bittersweet because they all believed this would be the last time the whole group would be together for a long, long time.
But then something amazing happened.
On Labor Day weekend, the group gathered again. And most of the youth who had moved away to college came home.
Why?
Because, as they put it, “We can’t miss small group.”
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