Small Group, Big Impact: How One Person Made the Difference

Do you ever find yourself wishing your church had more small groups? More spaces where people could gather, grow, ask questions, and build meaningful relationships?

I’ve been blessed to be part of a small group in my own church that has done exactly that. It didn’t start with a formal program, a strategic plan, or a big launch. It started with one person—Dianne.

Dianne is someone who loves God deeply and cares about the Church. She isn’t afraid to talk about her faith, and she has a natural way of inviting others into conversation. Having lived in our small town for over 45 years, she knows many people in the community. As a former librarian, she has always had a love for books—and for people.

With a simple idea and a willing heart, she began a book study.

She used what she already had—relationships and Facebook—to invite others. No complicated system. Just a genuine invitation: “Come join us.”

And people did.

What started as a small gathering has grown into a group that typically includes 8–14 participants. Men and women. People from different denominations—and even some with no church background at all. It has become a space where faith is explored openly and honestly.

The format is beautifully simple. Each week, participants read a portion of a selected book. When they gather, the conversation centers around what challenged them, what confused them, and what inspired them. No pressure. No need to have all the answers. Just a willingness to engage.

Over the years, the group has explored a wide range of books and topics, including Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott, The Acts of the Apostles, Zealot by Reza Aslan, Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans, reflections on the Lord’s Prayer, and Field Notes for the Wilderness by Sarah Bessey.

What stands out isn’t just the content—it’s the connection.

In small churches especially, it’s easy to assume that meaningful programming requires significant resources or a large number of people. But this group is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one person who is willing to say yes.

One person who invites.One person who gathers.One person who creates space for others to grow.

So here’s a question worth asking:

Do you have a “Dianne” in your congregation—someone who loves people, loves God, and might just be waiting to be asked?

Or perhaps the better question is this:

Are you that Dianne?

Small groups don’t have to be complicated. They don’t have to be perfect. They simply need a starting point and someone willing to take the first step.

In communities like ours, those simple steps can create powerful spaces of belonging, learning, and transformation. Maybe today is the day to begin.

Blessings,

Claudia Krogmann