Since agreeing to write for smallgroupministry.com, an interesting thing has happened. The church we attend is actually the second campus of a multi-location ministry. Just a month ago my wife Elizabeth, and I volunteered to help out where we could with small groups. We didn’t know at the time that leadership was looking to jump-start the ministry for the whole church… both campuses.

In short order, we had agreed to take on leadership of the entire program with the goal of reenergizing small groups and bringing it back as a key ministry of the church. God has a sense of humor.

So, here's my chance to share both years of experience building groups of all kinds… and the very current process of renewing a small-group ministry in real time. In future articles, I hope to share insights and ideas as well as what’s working and not working in our efforts at our church. Hopefully along the way, you’ll find help on your path to building a great small-group ministry where you are.

We were supposed to introduce the new initiative this weekend but we’ve stepped back. Why? Because there’s an important question that must be answered before launching or re-launching any ministry. That question is, “Why are we doing this?”

Now, that question might seem like a no-brainer. But in my experience, too many people attempt to launch ministry without adequately answering this question. It’s crucial that all those involved in leadership know, and agree, to the answer. So rather than rush into things on an artificial timeline, we’re stepping back and having further conversations about what all of us expect.

I used to present workshops on starting and maintaining volunteer ministry to churches all around the Midwest. As an exercise to help bring focus, I asked participants to answer a simple question. I’ll ask you to answer the same one. What’s the point? You want small-group ministry at your church…what’s the point?

The fact that big, “successful” churches are doing it isn’t good enough. The fact that Rick Warren at Saddleback thinks they’re great doesn’t matter. What’s the point for your church?

Once you’ve answered this to the satisfaction of your team, examine each style or mix of styles for small-group ministry and hold each under the light of “What’s the point?” After completing this exercise for the various aspects of starting or re-starting a small-group ministry, you should be able to distill it all down to a clear, simple purpose statement. This purpose statement will serve you moving forward as the filter through which decisions about small group ministry can be passed.

If you’ve clearly identified the point of doing what you’re doing, it becomes easier to see what aligns with and advances that point and what doesn’t. Let’s face it, there are a lot of people in your congregation with ideas for small groups and opinions about what small groups should do. After identifying a clear purpose that all leaders agree with, you stand a much better chance of communicating to your congregation what small group ministry at your church is — and what it’s not.

Next month we’ll dig into developing a strong vision for your ministry that’s built on the purpose you’ve established. Until then, we’re rolling up our sleeves at our church and tackling some of the same issues you’re facing…more to come!

Tim Kurth served as a Director of Christian Education in the Midwest for more than 20 years. During that time he assisted churches in starting a variety of volunteer ministries. He’s a husband, father, author and speaker. He and his wife Elizabeth live in Loveland, Colorado, where he currently serves as Camp Project Leader with Group Workcamps Foundation.