Group Meeting Location

Same Place Every Time

When a group meets in the same location each time, it is easy to publish the location and invite new people to join the group. It is also the best plan for people with short memories who easily forget where the group plans to meet next time. This location may be at the discussion leader’s home or at the home of another member of the group.

Rotate Location Each Time or Monthly

Some people will feel that it is a burden to open their living space to the small group each week especially if they are also need to provide beverages and food. Sharing the food and beverage responsibility can alleviate some of the burden. If hosting the group is part of the leader’s responsibility, potential leaders may feel that hosting the group is a burden and decline your invitation to be a leader. One nice feature of meeting at different group member homes each time is that you get to see people in their personal environment. By seeing the pictures on the wall and the books on the shelf you get a visual glimpse of this person’s story. Some people will not feel comfortable hosting the group in their home or apartment and will need the freedom to pass when it is their turn to host.

At a Coffee Shop, Restaurant, etc.

Restaurants are convenient locations for smaller groups to meet unless there is a private room in which a larger group could gather. These locations may not be very quiet or private which will effect the dynamic of the group.

At the Church

Meeting at church is a safe and convenient location for groups but the space may not be as warm and friendly as meeting in a person’s home. A room at the church may be a good location to get a small group started. Later, when the members are comfortable with each, the group may want to relocate to someone’s living room. Does you church have a large fellowship hall or gym? Spaces like this are not good locations for a regular Sunday school class but they could work for several small groups meeting simultaneously. This structure also allows groups to meet together for announcements or a presentation before or after meeting in the small group.