Posts by Mark Howell
Assumption 1: There Is No Problem-Free
No matter the discussion, whenever I am looking for a strategy that will help meet a particular need…I begin my thinking by acknowledging that there is no problem-free solution to anything. This is where the thought process begins. In fact, when I begin a consulting session I often draw this diagram up in the upper…
Read MoreHow To Connect People No One Else Is Connecting
One of the most repeated quotes right now is the great Craig Groeschel line that “if you want to reach people no one else is reaching, you need to do things no one else is doing.” I remember where I was when I heard him say that. I think I’ll always remember that moment. Honestly,…
Read MoreResources That Equip Coaches
I noticed a tweet the other day that asked for recommendations on coaching resources…specifically skills and development. Here are a few that I’ve found very helpful: A must have for every small group ministry library is Coaching Life-Changing Small Group Leaders: A Practical Guide for Those Who Lead and Shepherd Small Group Leaders by Bill…
Read MoreDo You Already Have All The Answers?
When you take a close look at how your small group ministry is going…are there problems for which you don’t have answers? Or is it all good? Alan Kay, the computer scientist, said “Point of view is worth 80 IQ points.” His famous quote is also recorded as “Perspective is worth 80 IQ points.” Either…
Read More5 Things You Can Do Now To Connect More People This Year
It is not too late to do a few easy things that will help connect a lot more people this year. In fact, there are 5 little things you can do right now that could make a really big difference in the total number you connect by the end of the year. Here they are:…
Read MoreTop 10 Articles in April
Here are the top 10 articles from April 2010 (as measured by Google Analytics): Small Group Philosophy 101 Technology: Tools That Enhance GroupLife Looking for a New Church-Wide Campaign? 5 Keys to Sustaining New Groups How To Build An Annual GroupLife Calendar Skill Training: Top 10 Ways To Find New Group Members Design a System…
Read MoreThe Naked Truth About Small Group Ministry
One of the books you need in your library is The Naked Truth About Small Group Ministry by Randall Neighbour. You don’t need to agree with everything. I don’t. But this is one of those books that you need to read because it will bring balance and perspective to whichever small group philosophy you choose.…
Read MoreIntroducing: Alan Danielson and AlanDanielson.tv
One of the small group ministry experts you ought to get to know is Alan Danielson and his blog ought to be bookmarked or subscribed to. I first met Alan when he stepped into a key leadership role in the small group ministry at LifeChurch.tv. His leadership and skill set was instrumental in the development…
Read MoreRecruiting Coaches: When Not To Compromise
I’ve written a lot about coaching. You can see quite a few articles right here. Today I want to warn you about something you might find surprising given my reputation for advocating a “lowered bar” approach for group leaders. I want to really encourage you not to compromise or lower the bar in terms of…
Read MoreSkill Training | Sub-Grouping for Deeper Connection
“My group members don’t want to sub-group!” “We’d really rather stay together.” “We don’t want to miss out on what anyone says.” If you’ve heard any of these lines (or said them yourselves), you’re normal. If you’ve given into the temptation to stay in a circle of 12 (or anything larger than 3 or 4)…
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