We’re heavy into the small group administration time of the year right now – I just got a few stats from our group as far as breakdowns by gender and class that were interesting to me. Here’s where we’re starting this year, and some observations from last year as well:
- 52% Female students
- 48% Male students
- 38% Freshman
- 27% Sophomores
- 22% Juniors
- 13% Seniors
- 37% got together 1-3 times outside of normal group
- 34% got together 4-6 times outside of normal group
- 96% of leaders said that email was the best way to communicate with them
- 39% said texting was another good way to communicate with them
- 25% of our small group leaders won’t be returning next year
- 81% read the weekly small group leader email
- 75% canceled 0-3 meeting times during the year
- 15% canceled 4-5 meeting times during the year
- 8% of our leaders are starting over again with freshman
JG
Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 16+ years in a small church and a big church. He currently serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. [
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Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
Chris Wesley serves as the Director of Student Ministry at Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland.
Colton Harker serves with Josh at Saddleback Church. He is currently in his second year in youth ministry.
Just as a matter of interest – what are your thoughts on the percentage drop as the kids get older and how long do the leaders average?
The drop in class is expected, but I’m bummed at how significant it is. We’re still taking registrations so I hope the percentages get better, but I’m a realist, too. This is going to be pretty close to the final numbers.
I’m not sure of our leader average, I would say we’re building a legacy of long-term leaders right now – we’ve very much had it in the past but the last couple years we’ve had more falloff than desired or expected.
JG
Thanks – the honesty from you guys goes such a long way.
Does the drop in class happen at the big meetings as well/continue into the college age?
Questions come from thinking/working through a whole variety of transitioning issues (biggest issue for us is at the 14/15 age going from a programme to church though).
Josh,
just hammer it out from the registration forms?
How do you collect this data? Do your small group leaders/students fill out a survey to help gather the info or do you have office staff/interns/yourself
Both/and …. yup, we do an end of year survey, and cull the registration forms, too.
JG