Small Group

Placement Process

How was I placed in my small group (if you submitted a request for placement)?

You may be asking, “How did I end up in this group”? Here’s how!

After praying over your response card (yes…we really do this :o)…

Your response card was compared to other participants who have submitted a request to be placed in a small group. Our objective was to maximize your desires with the realities of what others specified on their cards. Each time a specific criterion was applied, your potential group options were narrowed. In most cases, your second options (and then third) for each criteria were considered to open back up your group options so that overall as many of your specified criteria could be addressed.

Of course, this was done for each individual so that when potential group member’s response cards were placed side-by-side, the needs of all those involved were ultimately maximized to allow for a real group to form (you can’t meet by yourself…not much fun!).

Here is an example of the criteria we used, why we did, and the considerations we took into account when placing you in a group.

Criteria	Why?	Considerations
Who else has similar criteria to you?	Only folks currently participating in the small group placement process were available to place you with. This represents a limited pool of people to choose from.	The more folks that are participating in the current small group placement process, the better the odds that at least one or more of your specific criteria will match up with a few other people.
What type of group are you willing to try?	Affinity with others is a primary way to connect and build friendships.	The more types of group’s you are willing to try, the more significant your options. Being open to a mixed group (singles/couples), significantly increases you being in a group that matches more of your criteria.
How do you want to handle childcare for your group?	Children must be taken care of so this criteria is a key ingredient that must be included in what group you are placed in.	The way you are willing to handle childcare will limit your options. If you desire childcare in your group, group’s not offering this will not be an option for you.
What days are you willing to meet on?	If you can’t meet on a certain day, there is no need to place you in that group! You won’t be able to participate.	The reality of what days you are willing to make available to meet with your group will limit what groups will work for you.
What location of town do you want to meet at?	Trying to meet as close to where you live as possible will make it easier to spend week-to-week time together.	There are a set number of folks from your neighborhood participating in the small group placement process. When type, childcare, and day of the week are considered, your group options may need to expand outside your neighborhood to form a group. Overtime, you can invite folks from your street to your group and the goal is to eventually form new small groups with a good number of people in them right in your neighborhood if your group doesn’t initially start out meeting in there.
Are you willing to host?	Even if all criteria for folk’s match up, if the group has no place to meet, the group won’t work!	Group placement may have to be tweaked even after other criteria are matched to help ensure each group has a host. You can’t meet without a host!
What time would you like to meet?	Coming from work or scheduling around children’s schedules is a reality that must be considered when placing you in a group.	The more restrictive you are on the time you can meet, the harder it will be to get placed in a group. The more flexible you are able to be on the start time, the better your options.
Other	Special circumstances can also be considered. Examples include being in a group with a specific person, kids that are similar in age to your children, people with similar interests, etc…	These criteria are much harder to address when placing you in a small group. Even one special criterion may eliminate you from fitting within a group. However, these criteria are good to specify so that we can at least try to make them work if we have the option.