Kleon would be proud!
The premise of Greg Satell’s book “Cascades” is clear and simple:
“Small groups, loosely connected, but united by a common purpose” can cause a monumental cascade of change.[1]
Satell surmises that power is no longer in the hands of the top hierarchies but in the center of networks.[2] Satell parades an array of examples throughout his book: Otpur, the Ukrainian Revolution, Netflix, Gandhi, Saddleback Church, Nelson Mandela, etc. to make his one point clear repeatedly: “Connection wins, isolation loses.”[3]
This book caused me to think of the church. All throughout history, the church has amazingly survived and thrived amidst great opposition. The early church growth model was clear and simple “small groups, loosely connected, but united by a common purpose.” (I wonder if Satell knows his cascading idea is a few thousand years old? Austin Kleon who encourages all to Steal Like an Artist would be proud!) Acts 2:42-47 states:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
The early fledgling church plant started “in an obscure part of the Roman Empire, (and within) a relatively short period transformed into a major religion with millions of followers spread out from India in the east, Ethiopia in the south to Britain in the west.”[4] Dreyer cites Schor as noting that “conversion to Christianity was never just about theology or behavioural norms; it was about group relations.[5] It was an “imagined community, linking unacquainted people across hundreds of cities.”[6]
How are we causing more connections across loosely connected groups to unite for the sake of God’s Kingdom? Is bigger better when it comes to church size? Or is it more important for the interconnection of all churches for greater Kingdom impact? I have thought much about this as we serve in a network of churches where all sizes are a part. The beauty of what is currently unfolding is that, at least in our network of churches, pastors are no longer as divided because of church size. The first question is no longer “What was your Sunday attendance?” There is a growing respect and a linking of arms that is conducive to greater growth.
I came across an interesting article by Bretherton and Dunbar in the Archive for the Psychology of Religion[7]. In their research, they observed repeated patterns in church size based on how the human mind is created to handle relationships. Berterton and Dunbar cited Dunbar (1993): “Mapping the size of the human neocortex onto the relationship between group size and neocortex size in primates yields a predicted group size for humans of around 150 individuals.” The larger we grow as a church the better the small group system of the church needs to flourish or engagement diminishes.[8] On the other hand, this same article stated that larger churches can have greater community and societal impact.[9]
My husband and I have served as pastors in large and small contexts and each has its challenges and joys. We do desire growth because people represent numbers. However, our goal has to be people connecting to Christ as well as in community with each other and not simply to have a crowd on Sundays to complement our own egos. I have to remind myself of this. Success is in how we love God and enjoy the journey in ministry, connecting and leading others to do the same with the common purpose of glorifying Christ.
[1] Greg Satell, Cascades: How to Create a Movement That Drives Transformational Change (2019: McGraw-Hill Education, n.d.), 19.
[2] Ibid, 21.
[3] Ibid, 22.
[4] Wim A. Dreyer, “The Amazing Growth of the Early Church,” HTS Theological Studies 68, no. 1 (January 2012): 1–7, http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S0259-94222012000100076&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] R. Bretherton and RIM Dunbar, “Dunbar’s Number Goes to Church: The Social Brain Hypothesis as a Third Strand in the Study of Church Growth,” Archive for the Psychology of Religion 42, no. 1 (March 1, 2020): 63–76, https://doi.org/10.1177/0084672420906215.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
About the Author
Esther Edwards
Esther has served in ministry leadership for over 35 years. She is an ordained minister, an ICF and CCLC certified coach, and licensed coach trainer. Her and her husband have launched their own coaching practice, Enjoy the Journey Leadership Coaching and seek to train ministry leaders in the powerful skill of coaching. Esther loves hiking, reading, and experiencing new coffee shops with friends and family. She enjoys the journey with her husband, Keith, their four daughters, sons-in-law, and their four, soon to be five, beautiful grandchildren.19 responses to “Kleon would be proud!”
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Esther,
This is such a powerful statement, “Success is in how we love God and enjoy the journey in ministry, connecting and leading others to do the same with the common purpose of glorifying Christ.” AMEN!
Our prayer as we raised our daughters was that they would not be resentful of the ministry that we, as their parents, were called to. Instead, that they would come away loving God, loving the church, and enjoying the journey. So far we are seeing that unfold. So grateful. So thankful for you, Jonita!
Good connection to Keon – I hadn’t thought of that one! I really appreciate your use of the early church as a model of a cascading movement. It does kind of seem like the ultimate example!
Kim – So much to think about in all of our contexts when we feel our small endeavors don’t compare. I am reminded of a quote by Brother Lawrence, a monk who resided in Paris during troubled times in the 1600’s: “It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.”[1]
[1] (Accessed April 25, 2023 -https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/innertravelers/brother-lawrence.html)
Well, I’m gonna be giving this blog post to my small group pastor, and together we’re gonna discuss it, because it was very thought provoking, as always Esther!
In my post this week, I also addressed the value of small groups, especially during the virus shutdown. We had to pivot that direction, and it was a healthy season for us that I think has produced good fruit.
However, shortly after the mandates were lifted and we began meeting again publically, we say a sharp drop in small group involvement. I wonder how many other congregations experienced something similar? What did you experience?
It seems as if we’ve had the model from the Book of Acts, and we’ve been trying since then to “crack the code” on how to “do groups.” Is there anyone doing it well and sustainably?
Our own experience has seen a steady decline in engagement with small groups, which has been frustrating, because we can see the impacting value in it. Esther, I recall a conversation you and I had about how to challenge ourselves to meet the emerging needs of the people we are targeting for small group involvement while being bold in adapting our approach. I wonder if you and your husband have found any success in that?
Thanks for the encouragement, John.
Your small groups pastor doesn’t have an easy job. Yes, we have experienced the same. Adam Grant [1] gave it a name which I’m sure you’ve heard: “Languishing” – the “blah” feeling that so many continue to feel and embrace after Covid. We have always struggled here in Northern Va with small group commitment but now commitment levels across the board have waned even more.
We did just institute a new discipleship pathway two years ago called “Rooted” out of Mariner’s Church in California. It has a heavy duty commitment (10 weeks), but because everyone shares their stories, has a prayer experience together, and serves together, the bonding goes deep quickly. Most groups stay together after finishing the 10 weeks and new leaders are developed. We have had more hope through this as a catalyst. Mariner’s Church in CA mentions that they do not feel a small group is successful until it has been together for more than 2-3 years. It is then that they begin truly doing life together.
Jen – We do continue to stress the need. I believe it is simply counter-culture since we, as a society, are so individualistic. The disconnection is embedded. Jennie Allen wrote a book called “Find Your People: Building Community in a Lonely World”. It is an easy read but has some good insight as to why we are so lonely. She recommends that everyone get a firepit and simply hang out so that neighbors have to join you.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/well/mind/covid-mental-health-languishing.html
Esther, I also wondered if Satell knew that his networks/cascades was far older than a recent phenomenon.
Great to read about your network of churches. The network I’ve been a part of in Atlanta, and now the one we are developing in our presbytery, has greatly informed some of my thinking around my NPO research.
Travis,
I look forward to seeing how your NPO will unfold. Thank you for your constant encouragement throughout the semester.
Enjoy your summer!
Esther, I loved your final line as did Jonita! “Success is in how we love God and enjoy the journey in ministry, connecting and leading others to do the same with the common purpose of glorifying Christ.” Your joy in serving shines through even while knowing the journey is hard. What do you like best about serving small churches and what do you like best about serving large churches?
Have a wonderful summer and see you in Oxford! Do we get to do a safari together again?
Jenny,
Smaller churches offer a greater sense of feeling known. (of course, that can be good and bad….depending on the health of the church body and leadership.) There is a connectedness….I’d say a “sweet fellowship” that needs to be reenacted differently in a large context. In the larger settings there is opportunity to have more choice of which smaller network within the church you can join, depending on what your need is. The level of excellence in what is offered is often higher but, of course, the challenge is bringing in those who hang in the fringes.
Enjoy your summer as well and yes, will see you in Oxford. Lol. Wonder what type of safari might be in Oxford?
Hi Professor Esther,
This is beyond brilliant! You have practically written one of my solution points for my NPO on Refugee Resettlement – 1st 30 Days of US Resettlement.
I copied and pasted your whole post and will be digging into the references you provide. Thank you so much.
I do believe that the churches small and large need to step to the proverbial “plate” on refugees resettlement. The broader topic of immigration is something that I hope to address AFTER my Interlinkt – Linking Internationals to their new Homeland – telephone app is Beta tested by next March 9, 2024 -but I am becoming convinced that it is the cascade effect that will have an impact that happens now to serve the “alien amongst us.”
Once again, I am so grateful that this semester has been filled with cohort teachers.
Shalom…Russ
Professor Russell,
Same to you! Thank you for how you inspire us all to lean in and apply learning. I do look forward to seeing how your NPO all unfolds and hope to glean from it for our church context. We had a lady come to our church for the last few Sundays that just moved from Uganda three weeks prior. She couldn’t stop smiling while in church and told me later that she felt so loved and accepted by our church family. She already joined a small group and invited another Ugandan immigrant to do the same. The Body of Christ is universal.
Thank you for your continued work in this needed area.
Esther~ I find this paragraph you wrote so compelling in light of what I posted this week on Soul Groups:
“Mapping the size of the human neocortex onto the relationship between group size and neocortex size in primates yields a predicted group size for humans of around 150 individuals.” The larger we grow as a church the better the small group system of the church needs to flourish or engagement diminishes.[8] On the other hand, this same article stated that larger churches can have greater community and societal impact.”
Thank you for this quote! The words “flourish” and “engagement” are what is missing with an entire generation. Esther, I am deeply encouraged by you and your husband’s commitment for the long haul in ministry. We are both from New Jersey and we both have daughters. And son in laws! I look forward to seeing you in Oregon soon!
I mentioned this in a response to your blog, but will say it again. I look forward to finding out more about your Soul Group endeavor. I am always looking for strategies that could connect our people to each other in more profound ways and sharing stories is what makes that happen on deep levels.
I will be connecting with you.
Have a wonderful summer!
Esther, this is such an important post. I had thought a lot about small groups as I read this book, but (embarrassingly) had not connected it with Acts 2:42. I think that connection is the best Cascade example I’ve seen (including of all Satell’s great examples).
I’ve pastored small, medium, large and extra large churches, and each is a valid expression with different benefits and challenges. But I think in each case, small groups, loosely connected with a common purpose was essential.
I’m grateful God put me in a cohort with you. I’m looking forward to learning more from you in the next couple of years.
Thank you for your response, Tim.
I gain so much learning from everyone’s insights to all these readings. I knew this would be a different program, but had no idea how much learning would be occuring and how deeply God would work in me personally. Thanks for adding so much to the cohort and sharing authentically about your pastoral journey.
Have a great summer!
Thanks Esther….I also was thinking through this concept within the church that I serve in. You rightfully point out–although I cannot remember the source–that often large churches are better at welcoming and integrating people into smaller groups…because they have to be! Thus the system is created and serves the mission. One primary pondering for me related to this book is how much ‘control’ leadership has to maintain in order to keep a community focussed on the vision…and how much freedom smaller groups within the church need ‘freedom’ to be creative and implement things in unique ways towards the common vision. This seems to be a key thing for leadership to discern and manage within any size church, but certainly a larger community. Praying that God gives me wisdom to lead well in this respect in the months ahead. Have a great summer
Scott,
Thanks for your response. It seems that many of us in pastoral contexts face the same thoughts and challenges regarding small group systems. They are so needed and need to mulitply, but also need to keep the DNA of the larger vision.
You are right. Wisdom is so needed in leading in our church contexts.
Have a great summer and look forward to continuing on this doctoral journey with your valuable insights.