A cell group is a small group that is going somewhere. It is a proven way to help college students connect with God, with each other, and with lost students.
Today’s students need a place to connect. Fifty percent of today’s students come from broken homes. The college years are a fresh chance to make friends and build bonds of trust with other people. Because students can be skeptical of authority, they learn best in a social (relational) context where ideas can be freely discussed. Christian students need a safe place to process biblical truth and develop personal convictions.
A cell group is an on-campus expression of biblical community. Life among the family of believers in the New Testament church is pictured in Acts 2:42-47:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
This biblical community exhibited these four values:
CHANGED LIVES IN BOSTON
Kohichi, a Ph.D. student at MIT in Boston, was excited about starting a cell group with his circle of friends. In his laser lab, he had been working with a Muslim woman, Farzana, and for one year had been sharing Christ with her. After seeing Kohichi’s life and other Christians, Farzana received Christ. She began attending Kohichi’s cell group and has been growing in her relationship with God ever since. She is deeply touched by the way the cell group loves and accepts her. Stacey’s cell group included students at various spiritual maturity levels. One of her members, Jennifer, had been slowly drifting from God. Because of the structure of the cell group Jennifer still felt free to come and participate in the group meetings. The cell group was her only involvement with Campus Crusade and God used it to restore her walk with God. The following year Jennifer and Stacey were both student leaders on their campus.
THE BENEFITS OF A CELL GROUP
PURSUING TRUTH IN THE CONTEXT OF RELATIONSHIPS
Under the leadership of Rod Howard, the Campus Crusade ministry at Berkeley has adapted the cell model to help students become the primary leaders of the ministry. Just a few years ago, the ministry at Berkeley had only 10 students involved. Within two years, after adopting the cell model, more than 20 students were involved in the small group leaders’ training representing team leaders from 12 small groups. Small groups have become an important means of taking the gospel to the campus. Students invite non-Christians to participate with Christians in the small groups so that truth can be pursued in the context of relationships. Students have been taking the lead to do evangelism and lead their friends to Christ. During a recent fall semester 20 students trusted Christ with 12 being incorporated into the ministry.
Select both a leader and an apprentice. The qualifications for these positions are a track record of spiritual growth, ability to build relationships, and a commitment to the mission of the group.
Recruiting students to be members of the group. Look for students who share the values of Acts 2:42- 47. Explain that this is more than a Bible study – it is a group that is going somewhere. But don’t overload students with too many qualifications. Remember, spiritual growth will happen in the context of the group.
Promote group interaction. Keep it informal. Include discussion-oriented Bible study, and share prayer requests. Success is not measured by how much the leader says, but by how much people talk about meaningful things.
Encourage outreach. Encourage each person to pray for three friends who do not yet know Christ.
Welcome new people into the group. These can be new believers or other friends from around campus. An empty chair is always a visible reminder that guests are welcome.
When the time comes, birth a new cell group. You know it’s time to birth a new group when you have 10-15 people. As with all births, it will be both painful and exciting. Either the apprentice or the leader can start the new group. Reassure students that there are many ways to maintain relationships between the groups.
Once you have several groups, begin a VHS meeting. Cell group leaders will need shepherding and input on a regular basis. They‘ll also have plenty of problems to solve. The VHS meeting is a chance for you to develop these leaders.
CELL GROUPS IN THE BIG APPLE
Campus Crusade staff member Chris Whitford works in New York City and has a vision for reaching college students on the many campuses in Manhattan. She has a big heart for the people and she enjoys the ethnic diversity and cultural life in New York, but some difficult years ministering at Columbia University convinced Chris she needed a new approach. So Chris joined forces with Redeemer Presbyterian Church which shares a similar vision for reaching Manhattan. She then organized the student ministry after the cell model to foster community, develop leadership and encourage growth of the ministry to additional campuses. Despite formidable obstacles, Chris has been very encouraged by what God has done so far:
Alumni volunteers have found cell groups a rewarding way to contribute to the ministry with their limited time. Ryan is involved at Columbia. Leah, a graduate of the university of Virginia, is adviser to a group at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Kevin had experience in Campus Crusade at Queens and Intervarsity at Oberlin, and now is a volunteer with the ministry. Jenny was involved with a cell group at NYU and had such a positive experience that she is beginning one at the School of Visual Arts. After attending a Campus Crusade summer project at Wildwood, N.J., Paul began a cell group with students from Manhattan School of Music and Mannes School of Music. No official religious activity is permitted on these campuses. The off-campus location of the cell group has helped Christian students to connect with one another. A cell group at Columbia has been a good place for two seekers to consider the Christian faith. The cell model has been a helpful addition to the overall Metro Strategy recently begun in New York City. A Christmas party drew 200 students, including students from the above campuses, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and several flourishing Student LINC campuses. (See additional resources.) Chris gives direction to the student cell group leaders at the “VHS” meeting. According to Chris, the cell model is an easier model to manage ministry growth while maintaining oversight. It has been a boost to the smaller ministries in the city, and has provided her with more venues for influence.
3. The hospitality person organizes food and helps ensure a fun, informal environment.
4. The media/communications person arranges for publicity on campus and facilitates broad exposure strategies using campus media.
5. The prayer coordinator leads praise and intercession in the group and develops a prayer plan. This person may put people in prayer partnerships or implement other creative ways to encourage prayer and dependence on Christ.
6. The evangelism coordinator encourages personal evangelism by doing it and bringing others along. The coordinator also provides periodic training (how to share Christ, giving a testimony, etc) and helps people organize four-week evangelistic discussion groups with friends. Parties now and then where people can bring their non-Christian friends are also an idea for the coordinator.
7. The missions person encourages prayer and involvement in an overseas partnership. It gets exciting when the group (or all the cell groups on campus) decide to get involved.
OWNING THE MINISTRY IN ATLANTA
Howie Espenshied has adapted the cell model at Georgia Tech, and says it has revolutionized the mentality of the student leadership. Danny McKinney is developing a strategy and building a team on the stength of the ministry at Georgia Tech to reach the 100,000 students in Atlanta.
This past fall they saw an increase in their small group involvement from 75 students to 150. The “VHS” meeting is attended by 25 students (facilitators and assistants) representing 12 connection groups on two campuses. Danny believes the increased involvement results from the openended nature of the groups.
Student ownership of evangelism has increased. The greek ministry on campus has two connection groups, one with 12 students and another with 17. They teamed up to host an outreach to greeks and invited a Christian businessman to speak on success. Seventy attended the outreach.
The group can meet in a dorm room, dorm lounge, a comfortable room in the student center, or in someone’s apartment or home. The more informal the atmosphere the better.
This is only a sample, so feel free to mix and match. Other things could be added, such as having people share (“I had an answer to prayer this week.”) or asking a group member to share their testimony. (Ask in advance – don’t put someone on the spot.) Be sure to finish on time, and remember, the more relational SMALL GROUP ICEBREAKERS the better.
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