How does small group ministry serve our ministry?

• Small group experiences build community within your church.
• Spiritual growth and transformation happens in groups.
• Participating helps individuals build consciousness.
• Small groups provide leadership opportunities and training through facilitation.
• Participation puts more responsibility on each individual for their spiritual journey.
• Small groups help support ministers in caring for individuals.

How does small group ministry serve individuals?

• Helps build relationships.
• Gives opportunity to minister to each other.
• Provides time to explore and deepen spiritual awareness.
• Provides participants a safe place to share needs and concerns.

Aren't all groups at our church small groups?

They can definitely be considered that way. Some groups are socially-focused, providing fun within a spiritual environment. Some are task-oriented and help carry out some of the functions of the church such as ushering. Some are study groups for spiritual exploration. Some groups are classes for other educational opportunities.

When all groups are viewed as small groups, spiritual connecting and support can be built into them by including a brief time for relationship-building and for prayer support each time they come together.

What are some keys to success in Small Group Ministry?

• Hold a long-term vision and communicate it regularly.
• Focus on training and supporting effective leaders.
• Expect to multiply and grow groups.
• Share the leadership responsibilities.

A Testimonial

"The Small Group Ministry at Unity North Atlanta Church ranks right up there with our Music Ministry and Youth & Family Ministry as the most important ministries at our church. We now have about 200 congregants in our Small Group Ministry about 40 percent of our Sunday attendance. And our goal is to double that within the next year or two."


"We believe that small groups are where true ministry and true community is built. And the major strategy for growing our church revolves around growing our Small Group Ministry."

Rev. Bill Worth, Associate Minister
Unity North Atlanta Church, Marietta, Ga.

Resources

What resources are available from the Association?

Seven-lesson exploration books are available for spiritual exploration from the Association of Unity Churches International. Each lesson can be easily facilitated by a group leader as each includes a script for facilitators to follow, a relationship-building activity, a reading which is the base for the discussion questions, and a variety of ways to share requests for prayer support. View a broad summary of the Small Group Exploration Books.

For those wishing to learn more about what Unity believes, try Proving the Power of Principle.
For those wishing to learn more about Jesus' teachings, we recommend Cultivating God Mind Through Parables.

Others available include:
Spiritual Social Action
Creative Living
Creating a Life of Prayer
Living an Abundant Life
Knowing the Truth About Healing
Meeting Myself in the Bible
Trusting the Process of Change

Spanish:
Conociéndome en la Biblia
La Demostración del Poder de los Principios

You can view a sample lesson from Cultivating God Mind Through Parables.
A brief overview of each book's content can be seen in the Scope and Sequence Chart.
Resources are available for Minister Talks for one exploration book, Cultivating God Mind Through Parables.

Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these documents. Download it free at www.adobe.com.

Where else can I obtain resources?

The Info Xchange portion of this Web site contains connections to other SGM resources available through Unity writers and churches. Also, consider sharing small group programs you have developed with others in Unity through the Info Xchange. Support and share together!

How do we organize?

What organizational structure is needed?

If you are beginning study groups or want to expand your present structure, consider the brief outline below.

Action Plan for a Small Group Ministry

I. Invite interested persons to a planning session

• Clarify understanding of expectations for Small Group Ministry.
• Create a long-term vision.
• Design and implement a management team structure for Small Group Ministry.

II. Create a plan for implementation

• Assess congregational interest to determine groups needed.
• Select and recruit facilitators.
• Plan promotional strategies.
• Organize training plans for facilitators.
• Discuss and plan logistical details.
• Detail plans in a time line.

III. Work the plan

• Meet monthly as a management team.
• Each Key Leader meets monthly with the three to five facilitators under them.
• Train facilitators.
• Establish practice groups for facilitators.
• Evaluate effectiveness of program frequently.