How to Start an Online Small GroupCenter for Online Evangelism

Outline

• What is an online small group?

• 4 Reasons to start your own small group online

• Defining your target audience

• Finding a topic

• Writing your goals

• Time management

• Using Zoom

• Promoting your small group

• Getting started

What is an Online Small Group?

Online Small Groups

• According to The Network, a Small Group is “an intentional gathering, meeting regularly for the purpose of joining God’s mission.”

• Against this background, we can define an online small group as a small number of individuals who meet online regularly to grow in faith, meet the felt needs of others, and create disciples.

• Online Small Groups can consist of 5 to 20 individuals and the interaction takes place using an online video conferring platform.

4 Reasons to Start an Online Small Group

1. Discipleship

This is an opportunity to make followers for Christ.

Personal interactions help foster deeper conversations around life and the Gospel.

2. Reach more people around the world

You can connect with individuals in different states, countries, and time zones all at once.

3. You can meet people where they are.

Someone who comes across online content that stirs their heart may hesitate to walk into a church.

4. You can build stronger relationships.

Imagine becoming friends with persons who read your blog or watch your videos on YouTube!

Defining Your Target Audience

Who do you want to reach?• Gender?

• Religious background?

• Age?

• Location?

• Hobbies and Interests?

• Career?

• Struggles?

• Fears?

• Church attendance?

Why a Target Audience is Important

• Knowing who you’re targeting gives you an idea of how to reach them and where to reach them.

• Second, knowing your audience gives you an idea of what topics to cover.

Exercise • In 3 minutes, write a brief and clear description of the individuals you want to reach.

Finding Your Opening Wedge

Your Opening Wedge

• An opening wedge is a subject that is of interest to your target audience. This is a topic that helps your audience relate to you because you have something in common. This is a topic that hooks your audience.

Examples of Opening Wedge Topics• Diet

• Home-making

• Fishing

• Basketball

• Hair care

• Raising children

• Travel

• Photography

• Finance

• Relationships

• Etc.

Doors that have been closed to him who merely preaches the gospel

will be opened to the intelligent medical missionary. I can see in the

Lord's providence that the medical missionary work is to be a great

entering wedge, whereby the diseased soul may be reached.

E.G. White

Opening Doors for Evangelism—Nothing will open doors for the

truth like evangelistic medical missionary work. This will find access

to hearts and minds and will be a means of converting many to the

truth. The evangelist who is prepared to minister to a diseased body

is given the grandest opportunity of ministering to the sin-sick soul.

E.G. White

What aspect of your life (or hobby) can you use as an

entering wedge?

Setting Goals

Questions to Ask when Setting Goals

What are you trying to accomplish?

What do you want people to do as a

result of attending your small group?

How will you be able to tell whether

your small group was a success?

Goals must be S.M.A.R.T.

SPECIFIC MEASURABLE ATTAINABLE RELEVANT TIMELY

Examples

I want 10 people to sign up for my small group in the next 3 weeks.

I want 4 people from my small group to visit their local Adventist

church after 2 months.

I want 5 people in my group to request Amazing Facts Bible study

guides after 3 sessions.

Exercise –Write down 2 goals you would have for your small group.

I want….# to (specific action) in…x amount of time.

Time Management

Questions to Consider

How much time do I have each week to dedicate to building my

small group?

How long will the sessions be?

How long will each cycle be? What would be the best time if I have participants worldwide?

Using Zoom to Host your Meetings

To Start a Meeting

Go to Zoom.us

Click the “Host a Meeting” tab on the top right-hand corner

Choose to keep video chat on

Sign in using your login information or create a new account

Launch the Zoom application and open

Send out the meeting details, including the Meeting ID and/or link to the email addresses you collect from those interested.

You’ve created a meeting!

Promoting Your Small

Group

Promote your Group

• Use your existing online platforms to invite people to your group. You can also invite people that you meet in person.

Launch Your Small Group

Evaluating

What can you do better the next time?

• When the first cycle of your small group comes to an end, take the time to evaluate your successes and failures. Consider ways to improve the group and reach more people.

Checklist to get started

✓ Define my target audience

✓ Find my topic of study

✓ Write down my goals

✓ Create my time schedule

✓ Set up Zoom

✓ Promote my small group

✓ Launch first meeting

✓ Evaluate

✓ Share your story with COE

More ResourcesFind the full script for this presentation here.

All the Best!

Email the Center for Online Evangelism:

info@centerforonlineevangelism.org