Intentional
SMALL GROUPS

MASTERCLASS

September 29–October 1 or October 26–29

CHATTANOOGA, TN

REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER
Register for October
GET MORE INFOrmation

Learn how to build, launch, and scale a healthy small group program at your parish...

AND MAKE DISCIPLES!

Let's be honest: traditional "large group" youth ministry models just aren't working anymore – not if the metric for success is discipleship.

This generation of young people isn't impressed by flashy programs,  elaborate events, or big crowds...

They want to be seen, known, and loved.

They're looking for a consistent community that they can count on, and an intentional mentor that accompanies them.

Both of those are essential ingredients in our Intentional Small Group Model.

What's Included?

LODGING

You'll have your own bed in a comfortable shared bedroom on-site at the ProjectYM Mission Base for all three nights.

MOST MEALS

Breakfast and lunch are provided every full day of the event — dinners and a few other meals are enjoyed together at local restaurants on your own tab.

LINENS

All towels, linens, and pillows are provided.

AIRPORT PICKUP

If you're flying into the lovely Chattanooga airport, we'll pick you up!

PROGRAMMING

All Masterclass sessions, materials, and facilitation are included from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.

COMMUNITY

You'll leave with a network of peers who understand your ministry context and will continue to support you long after the event ends.

PLUS A COPY OF "Small-Group Discipleship"

You'll receive a paperback copy of Michael Marchand's new book "Small-Group Discipleship" (from Ave Maria Press). The book serves as the primary text for the Intentional Small Group Masterclass.

BOOK INCLUDED!

The Intentional Small Group Masterclass is based on the new book from Ave Maria Press: "Small-Group Discipleship" – and is taught by the author!

All Masterclass participants receive a free paperback copy of the boook.

"Do you want to move your teens from discussion to discipleship? Look no further than this book. In Small-Group Discipleship, Michael Marchand provides a clear blueprint on how to use small groups in youth ministry with engaging stories, real-life examples, and practical wisdom."

— Dr. Bob Rice —
Professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville
and author of Sharing the Gospel with Our Lives

"Small Group Discipleship is a must-read for ministry leaders seeking to move beyond programs and form young disciples through intentional relationships and communities of faith in the twenty-first century."

— Annie Grandell —
YDisciple Director for NET Ministries

What's the Rhythm of the Week?

Every day has a loose structure, but we keep it flexible based on what the group needs. Here's the general shape of a typical day:

MORNING

Breakfast together, followed by prayer,
and then our Masterclass sessions

MIDDAY

Community lunch and some time to reflect and recharge for the rest of the day

AFTERNOON

Most of our afternoons are spent in small groups breaking down how to apply what we've learned in each person's context.

EVENING

Out to dinner together, followed by evening fun!

How a ProjectYM
Masterclass Works

A Masterclass isn't a stack of lectures. It's four days of focused teaching followed by small-group sessions where you process what you're learning and create strategic plans to implement it in your actual ministry.

Here's what that looks like for Intentional Small Group Masterclass:

TEACHING

Michael walks you through everything you need to know to build a thriving small group program in your parish – focused on making disciples.
(MORE CONTENT DETAILS BELOW)

APPLICATION

Small-group breakouts where you build out what this actually looks like for your parish, your teens, your context.

COMMUNITY

You're doing this work alongside 11 other youth ministers wrestling with the same questions.

"I found the training from ProjectYM to be exceptional. The hands-on approach and practical insights were exactly what I needed. I left with a clear, well-defined plan.”

JONNA OBRYAN
Louisville, KY

Only $950

RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR ONLY $100
OR SAVE $50 BY PAYING IN FULL TODAY!

Includes lodging, breakfast, two lunches, and a copy of "Small-Group Discipleship" by Michael Marchand

REGISTER FOR SePTEMBER
Register for October

Click here to find out more about what's different about a ProjectYM Mission Base event.

Let's talk details.

Here's exactly what you'll learn during the Masterclass – and some additional options.

THE MASTERCLASS

The content for this course has been developed by Michael Marchand and the ProjectYM team over the last couple of years of working with Catholic youth ministry leaders to strategically create, launch, and scale small group programs in parishes across the country.

  • THE MASTERCLASS COVERS:
  • The Purpose of Small Groups
    Small groups — not big events — are the model that actually forms disciples. You'll learn why they work and how to communicate that to your key stakeholders.
  • CreatING and CastING Vision
    How to craft a clear, compelling vision for small groups and share it with your pastor, staff, volunteers, and parents — to get buy-in from the people you need on board for your ministry to be successful.
  • BUILDING A VOLUNTEER TEAM
    A step-by-step system for inviting, training, and supporting the right adults — so you stop scrambling for "warm bodies" and start building a team of real mentors.
  • TransitionING from YOUR Existing Program
    How to move your ministry from where it is now to a healthy small group model without blowing everything up or losing the people who are already active in your ministry.
  • THE Most Effective Small Group Format
    Learn the exact weekly rhythm that turns a group of teenagers into a community that actually goes deeper together, accompanies one another, and forms committed disciples.
  • GROWING AND SCALING UP
    How to go from a couple of healthy small groups to dozens without losing what made the first ones work — because when you multiply leaders, you multiply groups and multiply disciples.
  • Essential Processes and Procedures
    The behind-the-scenes systems — training, reporting, accountability, communication, and more — that keep a growing small group ministry from quietly falling apart.
  • ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
  • Online community support
    You'll be added to our private Thrive Group exclusively for alumni of the Intentional Small Group Masterclass. This is the perfect place to get feedback, answers, and ideas as you build (and scale) your new small group program.
  • SMALL group Content
    You'll receive a 24 week content plan that sets your small group leaders up with everything they need to focus on building community in their weekly small group gatherings.
  • SMALL group AUDIT
    Every parish uses the term "small group" differently, but not all small groups acheive the same goal – by design. This audit helps you identify which type of group you're currently running, evaluate how well it's fulfilling its intended purpose, and discern whether your group is the right fit for the students you're trying to serve.
  • rule of life handbook
    The Intentional Small Group Model is built around to strategy of small groups developing (and committing to) a Rule of Life together. This digital handbook gives you (and your leaders) the tools to successfully develop and implement a Rule of Life in your groups.
  • success scorecard
    In ministry, it's dangerously easy to mistake activity for fruit. The five Marks of Success (Ownership, Overflow, Mission, Priority, and Habits) are the signs that consistently appear when an Intentional Small Group is truly thriving — when discipleship is taking root and bearing fruit in real life. This scorecard helps you evaluate how your groups are actually doing.
  • Small Group Discipleship Book
    The Intentional Small Group Masterclass is based on the book "Small-Group Discipleship" by Michael Marchand (Ave Maria Press). You'll get a free paperback copy of the book!

Only $950

Four Day Masterclass
INCLUDES lodging, breakfast, lunch, and supplies

Thrive pro members get a 20% discount on their registration!

Certification
Add-On

The Small Group Specialist Certification isn’t just a badge or a piece of paper you hang on the wall – it’s a powerful process that helps you internalize what you’ve learned, confidently implement it in your context, and grow as a ministry leader others can trust and look to.

Let’s be real: change is hard. Even with the best ideas and training, real transformation in your parish requires clarity, strategy, support, and follow-through. That’s exactly what the certification process provides.

  • one-on-one coaching
    You’ll get  three personalized, one-on-one coaching sessions with a ProjectYM coach who’s been where you are. They’ll help you troubleshoot roadblocks, adapt the Intentional Small Group Model to your unique situation, and stay accountable to the goals you set.
  • STRATEGIC PLANNING GUIDES
    Between sessions, you’ll work through strategic plans and prep work that's not academic — it’s practical. You'll be working on the real-world solutions that will directly move your small group program forward.
  • National certification
    At the end of the process, you’ll complete a final assessment to demonstrate your growth and earn the official title of "Certified Small Group Specialist". Your certification is backed by ProjectYM, NFCYM, TENx10, and multiple dioceses across the United States.

    It might seem silly, but that title matters. Not just because it looks good on a resume or parish job application (though it does), but because it gives pastors, parents, and diocesan leaders confidence in your leadership and in the vision you’re casting for discipleship.

    When you’re certified, you’re not just someone who attended the training. You’re someone who owned it, applied it, and is ready to lead others with credibility, insight, and purpose.

    Certified Small Group Specialists are also able to serve as Intentional Small Group Coaches for future participants seeking certification.

Only $525

IN addition to the Masterclass Registration Fee of $950

Plus You'll Be able to serve as a Coach for future participants!

REGISTER FOR SePTEMBER
Register for October

You'll be able to opt into the certification
add-on after you register.

Made by Michael Marchand
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