Mid-Size Communities Part 3: FAQ

The following is not an exhaustive FAQ list, nor does it contain all information regarding mid-size communities (MSC). It is merely a brief snapshot of MSCs. The upcoming posts will reveal more information regarding MSCs. What are Mid-Size Communities?

• Mid-Size Communities are a new way to think about community. They are a group of 20-50 people who journey together to celebrate, to grow, and to be a blessing to those they live, work, and play with.
• A community that is formed around a common affinity, geography, or societal need – and this gathering point becomes the mission focus of the group.
• A community, not just a scheduled meeting. So typically, every other week, there is a large group gathering, but smaller groups for study and get togethers happen in the off weeks.
  • For example, I lead a Young Families MSC and we have formed around a common affinity – young families. This affinity then becomes our mission focus – so my MSC of young families exists to reach out to other young families in our city. So everything we do, from our every other week gathering to the things we do in the off weeks, all relate to young families and reaching other young families.
• A group of people on mission with one another – they are the church.
• A place where you belong before you believe.
• A sign, instrument, and foretaste of the Kingdom of God.
• Not a large small group nor a small weekend gathering.
• Small enough to care, but large enough to dare.
• Big enough that you won’t be the centre of attention when you’re new, but small enough that you’ll find someone you connect with.
• An open, inclusive, and safe environment where friendships are formed and we can discover who we could potentially grow a “deeper” relationship with.

What does a typical large group gathering look like?

• Think of a standing reception. People are eating and chatting with one another. Some people are gathered in groups of 5 or 6 and others are talking in groups of 2 or 3. This is what an MSC gathering is like. These gatherings are large enough that you won’t be the centre of attention when you’re new but small enough that you’ll find someone you connect with.
• They may last anywhere from 90 minutes – two hours.
• There are different types of gatherings: discussion, social, or mission focus nights.
  • A discussion night might have a 5-10 minute big idea teaching time, with smaller groups of discussion processing and applying the ideas afterwards
    • For example, I presented the ideas in this post, and then the MSC broke up into smaller groups to discuss what they were going to do.
  • A social night might have large or smaller group games, like pictionary.
  • A mission focus night can range anywhere from determining the group’s mission focus, having a discussion on it, praying over it, or going out and doing it.
    • For example, one of the MSCs in my church regularly reach out to the international students at the university. They invited them all out to our Good Friday services and then had dinner together afterwards
    • Another example is a time when my young families MSC decided to pack operation christmas child shoeboxes together with our children. So during the week, some parents bought supplies together. On the MSC gathering night, we ate, socialized, packed the shoeboxes together, and then prayed for the children who were going to get them.

Who leads a Mid-Size Community?

• MSCs are led by a leadership team of 3-6 people.
• The MSC leadership team is a co-discipling team environment. The team members are praying for one another, supporting one another, discipling one another, and pointing one another towards Christ.
• Every team member has the following: a missional mindset, a solid foundation, leadership capacity (able to lead up to 50 people), and previous and/or concurrent participation in a MSC.

What about Small Groups?

• Small groups are a personal space for people to connect and support one another in more vulnerable and intimate ways. They are a great environment for study, spiritual growth, accountability, and depth in relationship. However, small groups need to form organically and naturally, since relational chemistry is of the utmost importance for a great small group. That is why smaller groups are able to form organically and naturally through MSCs – they can meet in the off-weeks.

What didn’t work with small groups that will work with Mid-Size Communities?

• More individuals can be integrated into an MSC:
  • Newcomers will not feel obligated to keep coming, nor are they the centre of attention.
  • It’s easy to step into an MSC environment, since the environment is conducive to this.
  • It’s great to meet a lot of new people.
• Multiplication
  • In small groups, multiplication was an incredibly hard and painful thing.
  • In MSCs, multiplication doesn’t feel like radical surgery since there are so many more people.
  • In MSCs there is less ambiguity in who goes where because multiplication happens with the focus of mission.
• Discipleship
  • The MSC lead team is an incredible environment for discipleship. In depth discipleship happens here where it’s a co-discipling environment.
  • All MSC leaders receive training and ongoing coaching and support from staff.
  • Through an MSC, a disciple grows in knowledge (discussion nights and off-week small groups) as well as puts his/her faith to action, since every MSC has a mission focus.
  • Above all else, through an MSC, individuals discover that all of life is discipleship, rather than it just being a weekend thing.

What about Cliques?

• The MSC lead team are cultural architects – so the culture has to be shaped in a way that the MSC is not encouraging exclusive cliques.
  • For example, every time there is a discussion night in an MSC gathering, ensure that the smaller discussion groups change every time.
  • Also, create an environment where anyone can invite anyone – this way, there are new people at every MSC gathering, and getting to know new people just becomes the norm.

Join me next time in part four, as we explore the theological rationale for mid-size communities.