Posts by Mark Howell
Skill Training | Top 10 Ways to Learn 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 MoreTo Do List: Film Video Testimonies That Inspire Action
The best way to launch small groups is with a church-wide campaign. The best time to do it is in the fall. I’ve written extensively about how to sequence a campaign. One of the key steps in the sequence is recruiting hosts. As you know by now, I am huge fan of using the personal…
Read MoreThe ABCs of a Great Start (for your connection group)
A number of years ago (back when the connection strategy was new and untested) I developed a handout that I give to each person who is chosen as a leader. In most cases that’s more than one person per group. The handout is called, Getting Started: The ABCs of a Great Start (for your connection…
Read MoreThe Results Are In…Women’s Connection Recap
A few weeks ago I published Taking Advantage of Special Days to Launch Groups. Since I use the strategies I write about, I wanted to give you an update on what happened at our Women’s Small Group Connections this last weekend. You need to know several things: We had a great time! I added an…
Read MoreIntroducing: Eddie Mosley and EddieMosley.com
Most of the people I’m introducing you to are small group ministry practitioners, extremely knowledgeable, really worth reading and following because they’re on to some things that I think you need to hear about. Eddie Mosley is no exception. As the Executive Director of GroupLife at LifePoint Church in Smyrna, TN, he’s engaged in the…
Read MoreThe Latest On Church-Wide Campaigns (2010)
CLICK HERE FOR MY 2017 LIST If you want to give your members a gift they’ll never forget…use a church-wide campaign. What Rick Warren calls a spiritual growth emphasis can have an impact that your people will still be talking about 10 years from now. More importantly, done in the right way, a church-wide campaign…
Read MoreThe Me I Want To Be
John Ortberg’s latest, The Me I Want to Be is now available as a church-wide campaign (in addition to being a great study for individual groups to do). Answering the question, “How can I become the best version of me?” the church-wide study will help your whole congregation take important steps in the same direction.…
Read MoreSkill Training: Help Leaders Choose Their Next Study
“What study should we do next?” I don’t know about you…but I love hearing that question! I love hearing it from any leader, but I especially love hearing it from a new leader. When I hear it from a new leader, it means that their new group has made it through the critical first six…
Read MoreIntroducing Reid Smith and 2orMore Resources
One of my favorite guys in grouplife land is Reid Smith. In addition to serving as the Community Life Pastor at Christ Fellowship, a multi-site church in Palm Beach, Florida, Reid’s been providing small group leadership training and resources for over 15 years. There always doing some cool things in the Life Group area at…
Read MoreCharacter: Who You Are When No One’s Looking
One of the best books or Bible studies I’ve ever found to launch men’s groups is Character: Who You Are When No One’s Looking by Bill Hybels. The topic will immediately resonate with the majority of the men in your congregation. I’ve also found it to be a topic that makes for engaging conversation and…
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