Coaching a Small Group Movement with Jim Jansen

Episode Overview Churches often know they need small groups, but creating a small group movement requires more than good curriculum or a one-time training session.

Brian Miller talks with Jim Jansen about why coaching may be the missing piece. Rather than trying to teach new facilitators everything they could possibly need to know before they begin, churches can give them enough to get started and then surround them with ongoing encouragement, questions, listening, and support as real challenges arise.

Jim introduces a simple structure for sustainable small group movements and explains why the often-missing role—the coach or mentor who comes alongside group facilitators—can make the difference between having a collection of groups and developing a movement that changes a church's culture.

Key Ideas & Takeaways Content usually isn't the problem. Churches already have an enormous amount of small group content available. More information alone won't create a healthy movement.

Too much upfront training can actually become a barrier. Jim describes the mistake of trying to give new facilitators everything he had learned over decades in a two-hour training. Instead of preparing people, it overwhelmed them.

Give leaders enough to begin, then support them as they learn. A coaching environment allows facilitators to deal with challenges when those challenges are actually being experienced.

Not everyone needs the same training. One leader may need help with a participant who dominates the conversation, while another needs to learn how to draw quieter people into the discussion. Coaching allows development to become individualized.

There are probably more potential small group leaders than current small group leaders. The gap may not be a lack of capable people. It may be a lack of ongoing encouragement and support.

Jim's small group movement structure includes several levels:

Participants who belong to the group.

Facilitators who lead the groups.

Coaches or mentors who support the facilitators.