BONUS | The Power of Circles
How Small Groups Sparked Growth at Thrive Church
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Revitalizing Your Church Through Small Groups - Lessons from Thrive Church, York, PA
October 8, 2024
Bonus Episode Show Notes
In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of small groups in church revitalization. Our guest, Dustin Godshall, Lead Pastor of Thrive Church in York, PA, shares his decade-long journey of implementing and refining a small group ministry that has been instrumental in his church's remarkable growth and spiritual vitality. DOWNLOAD Thrive Small Group Documents
Key Points:
1. Dustin's Arrival and Initial Challenges:
- Inherited a congregation of about 60 people in 2014
- Church was hurting and facing an uncertain future
- Fear of closure was prevalent among members
2. Church Transformation:
- Rebranded from York Grace Brethren Church to Thrive Church in 2021
- Grew to an average attendance of 300 by 2023
- Successfully launched a new campus
3. The Why Behind Small Groups:
- Community building beyond Sunday mornings
- Facilitating deeper discipleship
- Providing care and support networks
- Developing new leaders
- Assimilating new members effectively
4. Transitioning from Sunday School to Small Groups:
- Overcoming resistance to change
- Creating new habits for meeting outside Sundays
- Developing effective small group leaders
- Maintaining momentum through challenges
5. Implementing Sermon-Based Small Groups:
- Reinforces Sunday messages
- Simplifies preparation for leaders and participants
- Aligns with overall church teaching
- Allows easy entry for new members
6. Keys to Successful Small Group Implementation:
- Clear vision and consistent communication
- Ongoing leadership development
- Flexibility in meeting times and locations
- Semester-based system with clear on-ramps and off-ramps
- Childcare solutions for young families
- Focus on fostering genuine relationships
- Celebrating and sharing success stories
- Willingness to adapt and improve continuously
7. Overcoming Common Obstacles:
- Addressing closed groups resistant to new members
- Preventing leader burnout
- Dealing with inconsistent attendance
- Moving beyond shallow discussions
- Integrating new church attendees into groups
8. Measuring Success and Fostering Growth:
- Looking beyond just numerical growth
- Tracking percentage of church attendees in groups
- Monitoring leadership development
- Collecting stories of life change and spiritual growth
- Observing increased engagement in other areas of church life
- Improved retention of new members
9. Practical Tips for Getting Started:
- Casting a clear vision to the congregation
- Starting with pilot groups before full launch
- Identifying and training potential leaders
- Creating simple systems for group management
- Providing resources and ongoing support for leaders
- Integrating small groups into the overall discipleship strategy
- Practicing patience and persistence
10. Helpful Resources Mentioned:
- "Canoeing the Mountains" by Tod Bolsinger
- "Sticky Church" by Larry Osborne
Throughout the discussion, Dustin emphasizes the importance of understanding the "why" behind small groups and communicating this clearly to the congregation. He shares how Thrive Church moved from a hurting church to a healing church, then to a healthy church, and finally to a growing church. This progression was significantly supported by their small group strategy.
Dustin also discusses the challenges they faced in implementing small groups, including initial resistance, leadership development, and maintaining momentum when early attempts didn't go as planned. He stresses the importance of persistence and adaptability in overcoming these obstacles.
The podcast delves into the specifics of Thrive Church's sermon-based small group model, explaining how it reinforces Sunday messages and provides a simple yet effective structure for group discussions. Dustin shares practical insights on preparing materials for leaders, fostering meaningful discussions, and creating a supportive environment within groups.
A significant portion of the conversation focuses on leadership development within small groups. Dustin explains how they identify potential leaders, provide training and support, and use a co-leader model to prevent burnout and cultivate new leadership.
The discussion also touches on the importance of creating a clear pathway for new members to connect with groups. Dustin shares their idea of implementing a "test drive" system where newcomers can visit a group before committing, addressing the common hesitation people feel about joining established groups.
Towards the end of the podcast, Dustin reflects on the overall impact of small groups on Thrive Church's growth and vitality. He emphasizes that while numerical growth is important, the real measure of success lies in the stories of life change, deeper discipleship, and increased engagement in church life.
This episode provides a wealth of practical insights and inspiration for pastors and church leaders looking to implement or revitalize their small group ministries. Dustin's experience at Thrive Church serves as a powerful testament to the transformative potential of small groups in fostering church growth, deepening discipleship, and building a vibrant, connected community of believers.