Small Group Dilemma

For the past two years I have been involved with a small group study and fellowship that developed out of one of our Alpha programs. All of the participants in the group (except me and El Jefe) are young couples ranging in age from their late twenties to early forties. We never planned for this to happen, but the Spirit moved and we responded.

From time to time we debate whether or not to ask another couple or couples to join the group. On the one hand, we want others to have the same experience we are having. On the other hand, how can you add new people to the group without damaging the dynamic that makes the experience work? There is also the concern that asking one couple without asking another risks hurting feelings and setting up an undesirable atmosphere of exclusivity.

We are in the midst of that discussion again as we are making plans for resuming regular weekly meetings in the fall. It occured to me that maybe the answer is to foster a new group instead of adding to our group. We know of several couples in the church who would probably be interested and would probably also be very compatible.

Fostering a new group could be a great thing for us. It would make us think about what has made our group meaningful to us and then make us share that with others while continuing with our own group. It seems like the next logical step to take as disciples.