Subscribe to the Network6 Rules for Small Group Crashing
I’ve been small group crashing the last 3 weeks in our high school ministry. What is Small Group Crashing, you ask? Basically, I drop in unannounced to our small groups scattered across the area. It is SO much fun, here’s the rules I live by:
Select houses in the same general area – Ideally you can hit 3 houses in a night, one at the beginning of the night, one in the middle of the lesson and one as they’re wrapping up. If you choose houses all over creation, you’ll spend more time in the car than with people. Pick them all as close together as possible, or target one you HAVE to get to for whatever reason and then find a few others that are close.
Use GPS and bring a flashlight - If you have to borrow a GPS from your senior pastor (he or she might actually be able to afford one) than do it. Finding host homes is easy, and the flashlight helps illuminate poorly lit house numbers.
Flowers for the host family, cookies and milk for the gang – as you walk in, come in with your arms loaded down. Cookies and milk are cheap and universally acceptable. Oreos ($4) and milk ($3) and a bunch of flowers ($6) for the host home mom makes for the best $13 spent in your youth ministry this week.
Touch everyone – Tonight I played 4 games of ping pong, talked to 4 leaders, gave out 16 bear hugs, hit 22 hi-5s and gave 2 awkward handshakes. Guy head nodes, side hugs, slaps on the calf – all are acceptable forms of greeting. Sure you’re just popping in and out – but be sure to spread the love.
Don’t stay too long – Some groups will cheer as you enter and want you to stay all night. You might interrupt another right in the middle of the lesson and your exit should be shortly after your entrance. Either reception aside, make sure your internal clock is ticking and your exit comes shortly after the cookies are gone or when you sense the need to get back to the lesson or discussion.
Follow-up with a nice email – there’s nothing better than an email to the leader after your visit. No matter how the night went, send along an encouraging note. This is not the time for criticism – you weren’t there to spy, you were there to celebrate. A few minutes of your evening and a few emails the next day will go a long way in keeping long-term adult leadership.
One of the students tonight suggested I call it Drive By Cookies and Milk from now on. Awesome.
JG
How about driving by here with some cookies and milk? Spread the love man