Posts by Mark Howell
How to Build an Effective Coaching Structure, Part One
Building an effective coaching structure is one of the great challenges of small group ministry. Every church wrestles with it. And I mean every church. I’ve not found a church yet that really has it figured out. They may have a solution that works for them…but it’s not a problem-free solution. It’s just the best…
Read MoreLooking for a New Church-Wide Campaign?
Looking for a new church-wide campaign? Who isn’t?!! One of the results of campaigns like the 40 Days of Purpose is that many churches have woken up to the potential of supplying their small groups with material that accompanies their message series. Often referred to as an alignment, getting everyone in your congregation involved in…
Read MorePrepare Your Church for the Future
When Carl George published Prepare Your Church for the Future in 1991 it was not the first book on small group ministry. In fact, at the time it came out there were already many books on the idea of gathering in community with a few others…for Bible study or prayer or accountability or care. If…
Read MoreThe Four Keys of an Effective Coaching System
I’m frequently asked what can be done to improve the coaching in a small group ministry. Going back at least as far as Carl George’s Prepare Your Church for the Future, it’s been proposed that Jethro had it right and for Moses to try and take care of all of the people himself was crazy…
Read MoreSpan of Care
“Span of care” is a term used to describe the number of people being cared for by someone. In Prepare Your Church for the Future Carl George proposed that while everyone needs to be cared for by someone, no one ought to be taking care of more than about ten. Looking at Exodus 18:13-25, George…
Read MoreLeadership Structure
“How can I take care of my small group leaders?” Ever asked that one? You’re not alone! There are at least two main schools of thought on this subject as I write. Neither solution is problem-free. But since there is no problem-free, it’s simply a matter of choosing the set of problems/issues you’d rather have. …
Read MoreSecrets of a Successful Small Group Launch
Want the scoop on how to launch small groups? Who doesn’t! After all, groups do more than provide the “optimal environment for life-change.” They also provide a very effective delivery system for ministry and mission. So then the question might be, “How can you get groups going in a way that has the best chance…
Read MoreGive Your Group a Great Start in 2008
Ready to think about helping your small group have a better experience in 2008? It’s that time again! Time for all good groups to get going! And get going on the right foot. There are several important keys to getting off to a great start in the new year. First, if you didn’t already set…
Read MoreThe Power of a Small Group Agreement
Ever play on a winning team? Participate in a group that really came together and was somehow better together than any sum of the individuals ought to have been? There’s something about that, isn’t there? The whole concept of stacking hands and agreeing that in order to be the best we’re going to have to…
Read MoreCreating Community
Looking for a way to think about how to design your small group ministry? That might be the most helpful thing about Creating Community: Five Keys to Building a Small Group Culture. Although it’s a short book (190 pages), it contains some very important keys to building a small group culture in your church. Most…
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