Katie Cervoni

Leadership Project Proposal

6/23/15
Purpose of Project
For this project I would like to take a look into small group leadership in
churches and create a resource that shares advice as well as best
practice for leading small groups. This project will be completed over
the summer of 2015, and will be shared with youth group leadership at
Victory Highway Wesleyan University Church in Painted Post, NY. This
research will be conducted via surveys of small group leaders, reading
of leadership texts, interviews, and hands on learning as I lead a small
group of high school girls for the summer. There will be an emphasis of
this project of youth group small groups. But it is applicable and
researched for all ages of small group leadership.
Problem (what/why)
There are also other people who are not in small groups because of the
way they are facilitated, and there are students that are members of
small groups that are not fruitful. Why waste the most important asset
we have, our time, for something that is not bettering us or meeting
our needs.
Problem Identification (who)
The problem has been identified throughout my 8+ years involved in
youth group as both a student and a leader, feedback from other
volunteers, and the response of students in the ministry to their small
group experience. Although this is targeted toward youth, it is
applicable to all ages and all small groups existing.
The problem has also been further established through my interaction
with some youth. As a part of this project, I un-intentionally started
leading a small group of girls who can to me and a friend asking for
guidance and accountability because their small groups were not
meeting their needs and because they were unable to attend church or
small groups regularly. So I am not leading 4 high school girls through
the summer, and hopefully beyond.

Approach to solve problem

-Facilitate a small group for the 4 girls who have contacted me looking
for an outlet
-Research and study small group trends and best practice
-Survey small group leaders about what they do well and could
improve on
- Document my own results from facilitating small group
- Create a plan or a proposal for groups to form in the future
- Meet with small group leader trainers at my church and learn how to
lead a small group best
- Meet with youth pastor (potential) to keep topics relevant and
applicable to what they are learning in Sunday school..Ect
Final Product
A report of the research and findings, an outline for a small group to be
used in the future, and a group of girls being led by myself and
developing their relationship with Christ.