Small Group FAQ

We want each of our adult small groups to be able to have an opportunity for distraction free adult conversations. We realize that children “while we love them ” can be a distraction to group discussions. We also realize that child care can be one of the biggest barriers to group attendance so Ridge Church provides reimbursement for childcare. We ask group members to find child care that they are comfortable with and then we reimburse child care on a predetermined scale. So yes, we pay for your child care!

We have what we call closed groups at Ridge Church. Once the group is formed the group is typically closed to new members for the life of the group. One of the primary goals for our groups is the development of significant relationships and a constant influx of new people in a group makes forming authentic relationships more difficult.  We currently have two primary entry points for groups per year called “Group Link”.

Groups can structure their meeting parameters to fit the group but most groups meet for 1 1/2-2 hours each session, same night-one night per week, three weeks per month, taking one week per month off.

The average group meets together from 12 months to 24 months. We ask every group to begin with the understanding that at some point would would like them to multiply and form new groups giving others the opportunity to experience authentic community. Multiplication of groups is a huge part of our mission.

Groups typically meet in the home of groups members throughout the week but occasionally groups choose to meet in coffee shops and business offices as well. Some of the Financial Peace Groups and Starting Point groups are hosted on the Ridge Church campus in Fall and Spring.

Some families are comfortable hosting and other families are not. Each group member can sign up to host or choose not to host and either option is fine. We do ask that if a group chooses to do a meal, appetizers, or desserts that all group members share the associated costs. We also ask host homes to be sensitive to when it comes to pets and assume your pet might make someone sneeze:-)

Each group has a trained group leader but our groups are not teacher driven they are discussion driven. We provide a suggested curriculum map but groups can choose videos, books, and Bible studies to drive the discussion. During the life of a group we encourage groups to use different formats to platform the discussion. Group Leaders help choose discussion facilitators, and they facilitate the organization and care ministry of groups but they do not teach lessons each week.

Each group has a starter period of 8-10 weeks that we call a “formational period.” If the group is not a good fit for any reason, at the end of this formational period you decide to try out another group at the next available opportunity. We realize that when we put 6-8 singles together or 6-8 coupled together that sometimes the groups have great chemistry and other times they do not. We want you to be in a group that works for you!