SMALL GROUPS

We have thus established two principles:
         • There is a correlation between the church’s number of units [small groups] and its membership strength.
         • New units are, generally, more reproductive than old units.

But how many units, or groups, should a church have? And how many should be new groups? This is best answered in terms of number of groups for every 100 members in the church, and my observations would suggest the following:
8 groups per 100 members – structured for significant growth
7 groups per 100 members – structured for growth
6 groups per 100 members – structured for maintenance to slight growth
5 groups per 100 members – structured for maintenance or membership decline
4 or fewer groups per 100 members – structured for decline

To Spread the Power, George G. Hunter, III, p. 114.