Posts by Mark Howell
Welcome to the blog!
Welcome to the blog! Hope you feel welcome…and can find plenty to chew on! Feel free to wander back to the kitchen…or the archives and pick up a few ideas. I try to keep a constant flow of material designed to get down to the nitty gritty of how small group ministry really works. What…
Read MoreThinking Strategically…about the Fall Season
Short story? Most of us think more clearly about how things begin than how they end (or move to the next stage). The test for this statement? Think about learning to ride a bike. Did you stop to think about what you’d do if you needed to stop? Did you think about what you’d do…
Read MoreEssential Ingredients of Life Change
“The optimal environment for life change is a small group.” No doubt you’ve heard that line over the years and even used it yourself to explain the importance of a thriving small group ministry. But is life change automatic? And if it’s not automatic, what has to happen to produce it? What are the essential…
Read MoreWhat to Do About Childcare?
One of the most frequently asked small group ministry questions is, “What can we do about childcare?” It’s an important question because it is a very real stumbling block for many people. At the same time, the question reveals an assumption that important to deal with. The assumption is that if small groups are really…
Read MoreThe Power of a Spiritual Training Partner
Have you ever made the decision to lose weight or start exercising (or any number of other things) only to find that you really couldn’t do it alone? The benefit of a training partner or participating in a weight-watchers group is unquestioned. Yet, when it comes to spiritual next steps, most of us attempt to…
Read MoreLife On Life is the Essential Ingredient
"The optimal ingredient for life change is a small group." No doubt you’ve heard that line many times (or some variation of it). These days I am more convinced than ever that there is some truth to the line, but not the whole truth. I actually think it’s better to say something like, "Small groups…
Read MoreHost Gift Bags
What do you provide your hosts when they sign up? When our hosts assemble at the orientation they’ll receive a gift bag that includes a half pound bag of Starbucks coffee, a small bag of Hershey’s Kisses, a 7 Day Prayer Guide, The ABCs of a Great Start for Your Group, and nametags for their…
Read MoreHost Orientations That Launch Groups
With the launch of our own One Month to Live campaign just 2 1/2 weeks away, I thought I’d share a few secrets of a great Host Orientation…one that encourages new leaders and connects them with a coach. I’ve tried a lot of different things, tweaked the plan multiple times, and have found that a…
Read MoreCheck Out The Small Group Exchange!
Just tripped across a new site with lots of great resources. The Small Group Exchange has a wide selection of available studies. Easy to poke around a come up with a new idea or two. You’ll also find an interesting selection of free articles by a good cross-section of small group experts from around the…
Read MoreLife Change at the Member Level…Begins with You
The optimal environment for life change is a small group. We’ve all heard that line for years. Most of us have said that line so frequently that it is now an automatic response when we hear a counter opinion. And yet…is it really true? And if it is true, is it a given? Or does…
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