Posts by Mark Howell
Thinking Thursday: Reach Your Escape Velocity
Caution: You may be tempted to dismiss this video as irrelevant to your work. For almost all of us, figuring out how to free our organizations from the successes and failures of the past is essential. Just put on your thinking hat and listen carefully. You will hear what I heard and pick up multiple…
Read MoreCan You Spot the Difference between a Step and a Program?
“Next steps for everyone and first steps for their friends.“ Next steps for everyone and first steps for their friends is a core concept in my ministry strategy. It’s an adaptation of one of Andy Stanley’s 7 Practices of Effective Ministry (“steps, not programs”). If you’ve been along for very much of this conversation, this is…
Read More10 Big Lessons I’ve Learned about Small Group Ministry
Have you ever sat down and listed the biggest lessons you’ve learned? Here are 10 big lessons I’ve learned about small group ministry: 1. The interests of insiders are different than the interests of outsiders. Insiders can sometimes be guilted into caring about things senior pastors care about (theology, missions, capital campaigns, etc.). Unconnected people…
Read MoreCan Your Ministry Reach Escape Velocity?
You know your ministry isn’t what it needs to be and you really want to move it to the next level. In fact, you’ve known it isn’t what it needs to be for at least a year or two (or maybe it’s been five). And you’ve tried several tweaks to pry it loose, but it’s…
Read MoreAdd The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership to the Must Read List
Spent some time this week with The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership, the newest book from Jenni Catron. A leader who loves “putting feet to vision,” she has served on the executive leadership teams of Menlo Church in Menlo Park, CA and Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN. Prior to ministry leadership, she worked as Artist…
Read MoreThinking Thursday: John Lasseter on Charlie Rose
Like me, you may not be a creative in the sense that Pixar’s John Lasseter is a creative. But we can learn so much by hanging out with creative people. Charlie Rose has a fascinating conversation with John Lasseter, an American animator, film director, screenwriter, producer and the chief creative officer of Pixar, Walt Disney Animation…
Read More8 Things I Know For Sure about Making Disciples in Groups
There were several great comments on yesterday’s post about the 5 Things I Wish You Knew as You Build Your Small Group Ministry. All of the comments were focused on #5: “You must focus on making disciples as you connect unconnected people.” Today I want to tease out a few things about a few things…
Read MoreBreaking! Don’t Miss the Early-Bird Pricing for My 2016 Coaching Network
Every year I block off six days and several hours a week for six months to personally invest in a very limited group of small group pastors. Breaking! I’ve extended early-bird pricing for my 2016 Small Group Ministry Coaching Network through midnight PST 12/5/15. My Winter/Spring 2016 Small Group Ministry Coaching Network experience is designed…
Read More5 Things I Wish You Knew as You Build Your Small Group Ministry
In some ways, small group ministry is like a puzzle. A big puzzle with lots and lots of pieces. And in other ways, it is really so simple. It’s not complicated. Sure, there are some things that are easy and obvious. And there are other things that might require a coach. Someone who has been…
Read MoreBlack Friday: Take Advantage of My 72 Hour Sale Pricing
I’ve never done this before. I thought I’d try it out. For the next 72 hours, until 3:30am PST on Monday 11/30/15, I’m offering several screaming deals. Save on a 5 call package of coaching calls: Regular Price: Five 60 minute coaching calls for $625 Black Friday Price: Five 60 minute coaching calls for $500…
Read More