Offer Interest- and Background-Based Small Groups

The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, Calif., tailors its opportunities for connection to ensure attendees return again and again. “To really get to know people, you need to find out the relational issues and what culture they grew up with, and then how you can serve them particularly,” says Lead Pastor of Pastoral Care Cecelia Freeman. The church offers groups for every ethnicity in the church, a homeless group, formational groups, topical or seasonal groups, home groups and recreational groups. Next on their to-do list is creating online groups to accommodate members’ busy lives.