Do you know about my membership site?

I launched GroupLife Insider, my membership site, almost 3 years ago. Why a membership site? As much as I enjoy sharing my insights, strategies, tips and ideas here on MarkHowellLive.com, there has always been a limit to how much I could develop and give away for free. Like you, I have a day job. And…

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7 Skills Every Small Group Pastor Must Develop

What skills must every small group pastor have in their skill set? I’ve written about the 5 habits I’d look for if I was hiring a small group pastor. This is really a different thing. A habit predicts behavior (good or bad). The right habits predict motivated behaviors in line with the mission of their…

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5 Great Ways to Blow Up Your Small Group Ministry

You’ve worked hard to build your small group ministry. It’s humming along; firing on all cylinders. And at just about any moment there are a few things that can blow up most of what you’ve worked hard to accomplish. You've worked hard to build your small group ministry. It's humming along; firing on all cylinders.…

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Will You Take Advantage of Jumpstart January ’21?

I think you’ll agree that these are challenging times. In fact, everything about 2020 makes it one of the most challenging seasons ever. And yet, I believe there is an unprecedented opportunity in early 2021 to connect more unconnected people than ever before. I also believe that if we connect unconnected people in the right…

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IS THIS PRACTICE PART OF YOUR POST-COVID STRATEGY?

Think about this statement: “Every next step that is designed and offered should lead only in the direction of the “individual” preferred future to which you want everyone to go.” Here are three things you should notice about the statement: It assumes you have already developed a clear understanding of your “individual” preferred future. Most…

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HAVE YOU EVALUATED WHAT YOU’RE OFFERING POST-COVID-19?

One of the practices I wrote about in 10 Practices You Need to Adopt Going Forward (post-COVID-19), is a thorough evaluation of your existing belong and become menu. Note: When you read “belong” think connection or fellowship. When you read “become” think growth or discipleship. Every church already has a menu of fellowship (belong) and…

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OFFER BELONGING (AND CONNECTION) BEFORE BEING ASKED

Have you ever come up with an idea that turned out to genius? I call it a genius innovation when you find yourself experiencing something and thinking, “This is so cool! Why didn’t I think of this?!!” We’ve all experienced genius innovation. But sometimes a genius innovation has its day and then fades away. Maybe…

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TWO PRACTICES THAT WILL INCREASE ENGAGEMENT

In 10 Practices You Need to Adopt Going Forward (post-COVID-19), I pointed out the obvious: “As churches step into what’s next, some are recognizing that the world changed in 2020 and preexisting engagement pathways were built for a time and place that no longer exists.” If you read that line and said, “Thank you Captain…

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MAKE BELONGING THE CENTERPIECE OF YOUR ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

Taking another look at your engagement pathway? As churches step into what’s next, some are recognizing that the world changed in 2020 and preexisting engagement pathways were built for a time and place that no longer exists. As churches step into what's next, some are recognizing that the world changed in 2020 and preexisting engagement…

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