STRATEGY
Short-term groups are Journey’s strategic response to people who are not connecting through more primary strategies and systems. Primary connection strategies include strategic service teams and community groups. In fact, we believe that long-term community groups are the platform for real life change. However, when people are reluctant to connect in either of these environments, short-term groups are available as a way to get people out of rows and experience a taste of community. The draw for disconnected people into short-term groups who may otherwise be reluctant to join long-term community is that short-term groups are focused on felt needs. In other words, an individual or couple may not say, “ I feel like I need to be in long-term community”, but they may say, “I feel like we need to work on our marriage”, or “I feel like we could use some financial guidance”.
Short-term groups are limited in options so that people don’t experience “short-term group addiction”. Because long-term community is the ultimate goal, we want to help people have an excellent experience in community but avoid “parking” in short-term groups. They emphasize equipping and are built around felt needs.
- Marriage / Relationships
- Financial
- Parenting
- Men’s / Women’s
Short-term groups are strategically placed throughout the year to begin in the March/April, June/July, or September/October time frame following GroupLink events. Short-term groups are not intended to be utilized as “overflow parking” for people who attended Group Link but did not find a group. Those individuals are already prepared and willing to participate in long-term community and would be best served in a formative community group.
VISION
The vision of short-term groups is to broaden participation in community by lowering barriers to joining a group, providing an excellent group experience, and preparing people to move toward long-term community.
WINS
The “big” win in short-term groups is that people would move out of short-term groups and into long-term community. Complimentary initial wins would include:
- New guests registering in short-term group
- Low attrition rates after registration for short-term group
- Consistent positive participation during group
- Preparedness for long-term community upon completion of short-term group
