Small Home-Based Groups
Healthy congregations encourage members to form into small groups, also known as "cell groups" or what we call "circles of friends."
These groups serve as the primary locus of belonging and peer-to-peer pastoral care. Because they don't depend on the direct participation of clergy or lay staff, they enable the congregation to be "scalable," that is, to grow far beyond the capacity of one or a few pastors to be primary caregivers.
Small groups generally have 8 to 15 participants, both church members and friends. They agree to meet regularly (usually weekly or monthly), for designated purposes (Bible study, social, dinner, parents with children present or absent, book reading, mission project, crafts activity like knitting), usually in homes but possibly in other convenient locations.
For a detailed presentation on Small Groups, please go to the Church Wellness Project.
