#152 Small Group Training Manual: Air Force Ministry

Introduction

Small groups can be a great way to build intentional community and a network of resources. This paper is written in the context of an Air Force chaplain. In this context the roles and responsibility may change over time. This paper assumes that I will be stationed at a small Air Force base with approximately a thousand soldiers and one other chaplain of higher rank than myself. Chaplains are stationed at bases anywhere from one year to eight years, but most commonly around two years. Furthermore, I know that at most bases about a third to half the people on base consider themselves Christian. While the rest is majority non-religious, with some Jews and Muslims. This environment is a mission field. But it is also a pluralistic environment that is legally separated from religion. As such there are some limits to the types of ministry that I can do. Day to day the main role of chaplains is to meet with people one on one for counseling. As a chaplain there are limits on how I can share my faith with non-believers. I cannot tell an Airman that their problem is that they need God unless it is something they bring up. But what I can do is direct them towards resources that can do what I cannot. I can direct people to visit a church, or read a book. But most strategically I can invite them to a small group. Small groups can be a way of instantly bringing a dozen Christians and friends into the life of troubled young Airmen.

Motivations for Developing Groups

My motivation for starting groups is to better manage the needs of the Airmen that I will serve. My main work will be pastoral counseling, preaching, and being in the community. Creating groups will make it easier to encourage and strengthen the community and better identify who is falling through the cracks. Furthermore, since much of my time may be occupied in one on one counseling by creating groups some of that counseling may become unnecessary and I will have more support available to the Airmen that need it.

Creating groups will ease the administrative burden of my ministry. Like the advice of Jethro to Moses and the challenge Moses faced, “I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me” Numbers 11:14 (NASB). By developing groups some of the chaos of my role as chaplain will be unburdened; helping me to better serve the community.

Goals and Dreams for Small Groups Biblical Foundations for Groups

The dream in starting small groups is to build a community of believers and non-believers alike who are seeking to build each other up as it says in Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” And through community coming to faith and becoming disciples of God. With that dream in mind the goals in developing a small group ministry are to identify leaders, disciple Christians, and build community.

By identifying leaders, with God’s help, I can train them to build up one another. As it says in Ephesians that God gave us gifts to use in the Church. In Ephesians 4:12, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” By training up others they will be able to better serve the needs of our fellow Christians. As a chaplain I cannot go everywhere or be everywhere. But I can train people from all areas of the base. They will be able to identify needs that I wouldn’t know about. Either building up one another or directing them towards me. This allows for a more cohesive care of Airmen.

By discipling other Airmen, I can prepare them to lead small groups. In this way creating more leaders who are equipped to deal with challenges. For example some Airmen are better experienced than me to deal with issues such as divorce, remarriage, addiction, suicide and loss. By training these people up they can lead some groups better than I will ever be able to. Finally, the goal is to build community. By creating more relationships between other Airmen, we build a stronger community. This community network allows for a more complete care of the individual.

Answer what type of Groups you will develop

The types of groups will be based on the needs of the community, and the goals that I have laid out. The groups I develop will fit into one of two categories, community building groups and discipleship groups. Most of the groups will be community building groups as this is one of the largest issues within the military. The Air Force has a higher than average divorce rate. While the possibility of deployment, and frequent moves, puts strains on many marriages. I expect to run groups around the issue of marriage. I plan to do one on one premarital counseling using Prepare Enrich. I also plan to potentially have marriage small groups that work through Financial Peace University, Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, and The Smart Stepfamily, and perhaps a yearly seminar based on the Marriage Works program.

There will also be groups for individuals based on the idea of growth and discipleship. To that end I will start a Holy Smoke group, which gathers to smoke cigars and study the Bible weekly. SoulCon groups which is an intensive six week discipleship program for men based around accountability, fitness, friendship, and relationship with God. Furthermore, groups for women only, and coed book study groups, will be developed as needed. Other community groups that I plan to start in conjunction with my wife are family groups, resilience groups, and mom groups. We plan to build a family like community, opening our home up to the community on occasion such as for regular summer barbeques. We are also going to set up mom groups, for moms of young kids to go to the park together. Together we plan to also build a resilience based group for families that expect deployment to prepare for it. The group can prepare families for deployment, and support each other while on deployment.

Specifically address how you will lead small groups

There are many groups that are needed in a community like those in the Air Force. I cannot lead all of these groups personally. Therefore I will lead some groups, attend others, and oversee the rest. I plan to be a part of most of the groups to some degree in their beginnings. Each group needs a leader, once the group is started I will occasionally drop in to see how the groups are going and meet with group leaders regularly. I will run the Holy Smoke group with an apprentice, and hopefully co lead the marriage groups depending on need. I will also attend or lead the resilience group with my wife. My wife plans to run the moms group, and help host the family group which will be a team effort. These are the essential groups that are needed to build a community. The other groups such as SoulCon, and book studies, will occur as there is interest and trained leaders.

Groups will be led according to the group covenant. Each group has a predefined purpose and goal. Since “In any group or organization there will be different points of view, priorities and aims” a group covenant sets a common goal to follow. As a group leader it is my job to keep the group on track to achieve its goal. Furthermore, group leaders are purveyors of the group covenant. They ought to be reproducing and training up new leaders who may go start their own groups when they are ready. A group leader upholds the group covenant and tries to lead by example. Answering the hard questions with hard answers, opening themselves up even when it is hard, knowing the answers to questions, and being a resource to the group.

Detail how you will grow and develop a small group ministry

Developing a small group ministry is a challenge but one worth pursuing. Building community is based on trust and that takes time. Since I will likely be stationed at any particular base for only two-three years It is important to connect with what is already in place in a community. By tapping into the network of friendships, leadership, and community that is already in place I can streamline the process of starting a small group ministry.

Since I cannot lead all of the groups I will be spending time developing leaders. I will be doing this through discipleship and “The goal of developing a disciple is to develop them to do something” that something, is leading groups. By discipling others to lead groups I ease the burden on my ministry and am able to work more strategically. Creating a vision for small groups in the community looks like, “The ultimate success for a small group leader is to simultaneously grow your group in quality and quantity while developing future leaders.” Each leader will be trained to lead using The Big Book on Small Groups by Jeffrey Arnold. After an initial training of the group leaders we will meet regularly to discuss group progress.

How to Develop Small Group Leaders

Identifying leaders is one of the first challenges in starting a small group ministry. One of my pastors, Joe Basile, told me in a conversation in March, 2025 that leaders lead before they have a title. The title is an affirmation of who they already are. When looking to develop small group leaders we first must identify who those leaders are. This is best done by considering who is already leading in one way or another. Depending on the circumstances it may be the person who speaks up in a small group, the person who regularly greets people, who leads others in their job, or the person who stands up first in a church service. These are indications of preexisting leaders that can be developed into small group leaders.

How we go about developing small group leaders ought to be based on the types of groups being developed and the purpose of the small group ministry. Accordingly, a multipronged approach is helpful. Through one on one discipleship, small group apprenticeship, a small group course, and continued discipleship, we can ensure the preparation of small group leaders. Before someone can lead others they must know how to be led. Discipleship either in the form of one on one meetings or in a small group setting prepares leaders to understand what good leadership looks like. A parable of Jesus says, “So the last shall be first, and the first last.” Matthew 20:16. In the same way one cannot become a leader without first willing to follow.

In preparing to be a small group leader, having people practice leadership and learn about how small groups work can prepare them to lead. First by serving as a small group apprentice with gradually increasing responsibilities until they have proven themselves capable as a leader; which may take six to twelve weeks. Serving as an “apprentice/coordinator in a group will prepare potential leaders to lead a life-changing small group on their own, regardless of how long they’ve been Christians or what their level of training and expertise is.” One of the best ways to learn is by doing and this is especially true when it comes to serving others. Second, people prepare to lead groups by going through a small group course or seminar. Such as a six week course going through The Big Book on Small Groups by Jeffrey Arnold. Finally small group leaders need continual evaluation and support in leading groups. This may be accomplished by monthly small group leader gatherings where new skills are developed and old ones practiced.

How to Lead a Group

Leading a group requires setting aside your own priorities on behalf of the needs of the group. The question becomes, “Is your motive as a leader to serve Christ and his church and ultimately to glorify God, or is it to gain for yourself personal prominence, prestige, and power?” The answer to this question must be clear to the group leader. Group leaders are to be servant leaders willing like Christ to put others above themselves. In John 13 Jesus washes the feet of His disciples and says to them “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you” John 13:15. In this way as leaders we are to serve those around us. Those who wish to lead must constantly be in the Word and in communion with God. Good leaders “abandon their own agendas and preferences in order to seek the good of their fellow servants (Jn 13:13–17). Through such imitation they become servants of the great Servant” this is a great honor. As Whitney wrote, “No spiritual discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture.” A leader must follow the examples laid out for them in the Scriptures, and to teach the Word of God as they are able.

Each group regardless of purpose should attempt to honor God in multiple ways. Through community, prayer, worshiping God, volunteering together, and Studying God’s Word. Small groups are an expression of our spiritual need for community. Small group leaders, “teach people to love their neighbors by connecting them to Christ through biblical community and teaching the community to love and serve their community through their spiritual gifts.” A small group leader will use their spiritual gifts to serve and lead their group. One of the ways they do this is by helping others identify their gifts and put them into action.

Small group leaders uphold the standard of conduct. Leaders are to know the standard of conduct and the group covenant and keep the group on track. A good group covenant will be short, memorable, identify the purpose of the group, expectations of group members, and how members are to act towards one another. As such the type of group affects the covenant and behaviour of the group members. For example in a marriage group there may be rules about only sharing your own stories. While in a men’s group there may be a rule about being authentic even if that means cussing.

How to Grow Small Groups

Small groups grow when a community need is being met, when leadership is good, and when the group is reaching outsiders. Each of these things must be intentional within a small group. The growth of a small group is dependent on the mentality within that group. Every community has general and specific needs. In the Air Force, the rate of marital issues and divorce is high. This indicates that a group that helps married couples could be successful. As couples join that group and see their marriages improved they invite others to join and grow with them. If a group is good it is hard to keep it to yourself. The group also grows when the leader of the group leads well. By being a servant leader who is well trained on the group subject at hand, people feel comfortable learning from and trusting group leaders. Good leadership within a small group can cause excitement and anticipation for the group. Thirdly, groups grow when they are open to outsiders. Open groups welcome outsiders and the individuals in the group are excited when new people come. Whereas closed groups do not welcome outsiders. New people and ideas may be frowned upon in closed groups. When the group covenant and group leaders consistently show the value of outsiders to the group then the likelihood of people inviting their friends and people coming back a second time increases.

Another thing to do is have a small group schedule. When small groups run indefinitely deep relationships can be formed. When small groups never end they become insular and daunting to join. But when small groups run seasonally such as on a six to twelve week schedule the commitment level is lowered. This makes joining the group easier and can more quickly turn outsiders into insiders. This format also allows for a quicker turnaround of small group apprenticeships into group leaders. While giving you the opportunity of removing leaders who are not up to the task without offense. Finally small group leaders need to have truth tellers in their lives. For “Truth tellers are probably your greatest resource for growth.” A truth teller can be someone in the group or the small group manager. Either way it is someone to encourage the group leader and to give the leader a better idea of what they need to change. When there is a truth teller in a group that the leader will listen to, change can happen more quickly leading to better groups.

How to Multiply Small Groups

Small groups are multiplied when individual groups function well. When a new need is recognized, when the community has developed a new leader, or when many outsiders have joined the group, another group may appear. Multiplication is an outflow of a well formed and lead community. Through time new needs and interests can be identified. For example a premarital group in time might give way to a marriage group. Or a group member of a group that supports the families of airmen may start a group of veterans as life changes occur. When people complete the apprentice process they may go on to start a new group and bring their family and friends along. Thirdly, when outsiders are welcome in groups they will join the group. As new people catch the vision group multiplication occurs.

In the context of Chaplain ministry in the Air Force multiplication may also take the form of one on one discipleship and counseling leading to groups. As people seek counseling they are connected to the wider community through small groups. In turn “The group becomes their greenhouse for growth as they engage the Word, prayer, love, and accountability.” This causes group growth and eventually multiplication. Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:2, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” This is what happens as people are discipled and counseled, they are led by God to share it with others. We are to “Get a Firm Grasp on the Things God Has Taught” to us. Arnold wrote, “never stop focusing on community. Community is a key structure your group will learn and grow in.” A Christian community is one of the ideal results of a small group ministry.

How to Develop/Transition to Small Groups in Your Church

The context of my ministry is somewhat outside of my control. But some presumptions can be made. There are likely no small groups at the base when I arrive. But there may be some classes that I am expected to lead in the style of “With” groups.

Transitioning towards a small group ministry will require me to get people to buy into the idea. This may be done by creating one or two foundational groups with a broad appeal that shows the value of small groups. Once those are started I may begin to identify leaders who will become apprentices and eventually leaders. These groups will give opportunity to model servant leadership, to understand the role of a group covenant, and what having an apprentice looks like. Secondly as leaders are identified a group of leaders may be developed in a leadership small group. This allows for groups to be quickly deployed. Before major changes can occur “You will need time to walk your leaders through the process of change, and consistent time over several weeks to galvanize these thoughts and ideas before they will own them.” The goal is to get pre existing leaders on your side rather than alienating existing leadership.

To begin leading in a new context and transition towards small group leaders must, “understand at least three fundamental issues: Where does vision come from? How does vision inspire people? How do leaders communicate vision?” The vision for small groups comes out of the desire to see more souls saved and a Christian support network developed. This vision inspires people as they begin to see the needs in their own lives and the lives of those around them. This vision ought to be communicated gently but urgently. As Christians in a non-religious environment the words of Christ take on new meaning, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” Matthew 5:14. The passage of Matthew 5:13-20 communicates to Christians that we are to be the example to the world of what it means for Christ to be in us. This message is both exhilarating and condemning to any community that has long been stagnant and relied on secular values.

Conclusion

In conclusion, small groups are an invaluable tool to a chaplain. Small groups can be used to build community, offer resources, make friends, have discipleship, save lives, and save marriages. My motivations to build a small group ministry as a chaplain are to improve the lives of Airmen and ease my burden as their chaplain. By creating groups that help people grow as Christians and grow in community I can build a supportive network of Christian Airmen. When becoming a chaplain at an Air Force base a plan must be in place to develop small groups and ministry in that context. This paper considered the ways small groups could be developed, how groups should be led, and how leaders may be developed. Group growth and multiplication were further considered. Methods of transitioning to small groups were also considered. The process of building a small group ministry takes time, but it is well worth the challenge.

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