Posts by Mark Howell
But Does It Scale? A Coaching Question
I had an interesting comment via Twitter in response to my article on How Do You Assign Coaches? Life-Stage? Geographic? Random? The reader said, “Our leaders coach who they raise up and multiply out.” See where they’re going? A group grows and then births a new group, led by an apprentice leader. A classic example…
Read MoreGroup Insights Leader Kit: An Interesting New Tool for Small Groups
Looking for a way to help group members really understand each other? You’ll want to take a look at the Group Insights Leader Kit. Developed to help groups maximize the experience and leverage the benefits of the Small Group Insights Profile (based on an assessment developed by Dr. Les Parrott), the Leader Kit is designed to…
Read MoreNext Steps for the Howell Family
I very rarely update you on the goings on for the Howell family, but wanted to bring you up to speed on a big move for us. We landed at Parkview Christian Church in February of 2010. Joined a great team on a really great mission. Led by Senior Pastor Tim Harlow, Parkview has been…
Read MoreFrequency: Discovering Your Unique Connection to God
Had an opportunity over the weekend to take a good look at Frequency: Discovering Your Unique Connection to God. Written by Eric Parks and Casey Bankord as a companion resource to the Monvee Spiritual Growth Assessment, there’s a lot to like about Frequency. First of all, the metaphor of frequency to describe our unique pattern…
Read MoreFresh: Reviving Stale Faith | New DVD-Driven Study from Kerry Shook
Looking for a study that will help your groups put their toe in the water of spiritual practices like meditation, fasting and silence? You might want to take a look at Fresh: Reviving Stale Faith. The newest addition to Lifeway’s Platform Series, this six session study features Kerry Shook, senior pastor of Woodlands Church, a…
Read MoreSTIR: Authentic Transformation in Small Groups
A little more than a month ago I had the opportunity to preview a Willow Creek Association resource that I think you’re going to want to purchase for your small group leader training library. STIR: Authentic Transformation in Small Groups Kit is a collection of six outstanding 30 minute sessions featuring a great list of speakers…
Read MoreWe’ve Tried That Before…and It Doesn’t Work Here
One of the things I love doing is talking with small group pastors and directors about their small group ministry. How it’s designed. The structure. How they coach their leaders. How they connect unconnected people. It’s just fun hearing about what they’re trying. Tell Me More About That… And of course…I can’t help asking questions…
Read More7 Core Ideas about Small Group Coaching
Have you established a coaching model in your small group ministry? Better, what’s the most recent coaching model you’ve implemented? Even better, what coaching model are you leaning toward implementing next? It would be funny if it weren’t the truth for many of us. Still, it might pay to do some basic thinking about small…
Read MoreAn Important Realization: What Works Today Will Not Tomorrow
I know this idea will stretch some of you. It might be as difficult for you to grasp as Jesus’ new paradigm was for the guardians of the status quo in the 1st Century. I get that it might be difficult, but don’t let what is working today keep you from realizing that even if…
Read MoreHow Do You Assign Coaches? Life-Stage? Geographic? Random?
I love a great question…and I got a really great question yesterday. Such a good question, a puzzle shared by so many, that I thought it’d be better to answer it here. It’s about coaching. See what you think: “How do you group your groups? By life-stage? Affinity? Geography? We currently have approximately 128 groups…
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