Posts by Mark Howell
Heaven
When you think about Heaven…what comes to mind? For most of us, even those of us who have been walking with Christ a long time, Heaven is a only a very vague concept. Is it a real place? Will there be clouds? Will we have wings, play harps and walk on streets of gold? Will…
Read MoreMindy Caliguire on Spiritual Formation
The Willow Creek Association has provided a link to some great new web-based training opportunities. Here’s part one of an 11 part series by Mindy Caliguire, founder of Soul Care and author of Simplicity. This is good stuff!
Read MoreWelcome To My New Home!
No need for a house-warming gift! Same content. New digs. Still working out a few of the wrinkles, but I think you’ll like some of the new capabilities. For starters, check out my new Custom DVD-Driven Curriculum page! Love that I can finally post a sample of the great work our team can do!…
Read MoreLearning How to Pray Together
Praying together at the end of a small group meeting is one of the real challenges for almost every small group. The very common fear of public speaking (number #1 fear for many) is compounded by the unspoken belief held by many that it’s important to speak an unfamiliar dialect when praying (a thee and…
Read MoreWhat’s the Best Way to Close a Meeting in Prayer?
What’s the Best Way to Close a Meeting in Prayer? I get a lot of questions. Some from readers and some from attendees at a workshop I’m giving. Here’s a very common question, especially when I’m talking with new leaders. “What is the best way to close a group meeting in prayer?” Great question! But…
Read MoreClarifying the Win In Your Small Group Ministry
How do you know you’re succeeding at what you do? If we were baseball players…it’d be easy. At the end of the game we’d see who had the most runs on the scoreboard. Would hits matter? Yes. Would RBIs matter? Yes. What about our pitcher’s ERA? Yes. But would they themselves be a win? No. …
Read MoreProblem-Free Leader Identification and Recruitment
As we’ve discussed previously, there is no problem-free. Every solution comes with a set of problems. Knowing that, wise people simply choose the problems they’d rather have and select the solution they like based on that. Is there a problem-free way to identify and recruit small group leaders? No. Every method of identifying and recruiting…
Read MoreHow to Build a Small Group Ministry in a Sunday School Culture, Part 5
Churches make the decision to launch a small group ministry in a church with a Sunday School culture for a variety of reasons. There may be a growing conviction that while an on-campus solution may work for some…it isn’t working for everyone. There may be a sense that we need to provide a menu that…
Read MoreSmall Group Ministry Essentials
Looking for a way to take your small group ministry to the next level? You’re invited! Join Mark Howell for a workshop designed to give you the practical tools you need to build a pervasive small group ministry. Three Essential Sessions: Getting to There: Building a Dynamic Small Group Ministry…Where Life Change Really Happens Debug Your…
Read MoreREFUEL – a new small group curriculum from Saddleback
Looking for a new DVD-driven small group curriculum? Might want to take a look at Refuel: An Uncomplicated Guide to Connecting with God, the newest resource from Saddleback. Billed as “an uncomplicated guide for connecting with God,” REFUEL offers an easy to read book and online video and discussion materials. Instead of purchasing the DVD,…
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