A major factor in determining your chapter’s effectiveness on your campus is your ability to develop personal relationships with students. Use small groups as a way to help in your development of those key, personal relationships that can have a real, lasting impact. There are three primary reasons why it’s wise to seek to grow into multiple groups instead of just having one large group:
1. It helps to develop leadership.
Instead of your Impact chapter just relying on one leader, you are continuing to develop new leaders as new small groups are formed. There are always opportunities for young leaders to lead.
2. You have small groups with an outreach mindset.
By having a goal of eventually growing the small group to the point of birthing another group, you will always be looking to invite and welcome new people in. Some small groups have a tangible example of their desire to be continually reaching out to others. They place an empty chair in the group each week (knowing that they want to fill the chair the following week).
3. Men and women have different needs.
There are limits on what can be discussed in a large, co-ed format. Men and women have unique needs that need to be discussed in a safe environment where the other gender is not present. This will help enable life transformation and healthy relationship building between brothers and sisters.
Incorporate these things into your chapter and you will begin to see growth individually as you develop leaders as well as collectively. Be sure to comment below if you have any thoughts on small groups or a story you want to share!
