Posts by Mark Howell
Freefall to Fly: A Powerful New Women’s Study from Rebekah Lyons
Finally had the opportunity to preview a new study from Rebekah Lyons. Freefall to Fly: A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning is a six session study based on Lyon’s 2013 book by the same title. If you’re unfamiliar with Rebekah Lyons, she serves alongside her husband, Gabe, as cofounder of QIdeas, an organization that helps…
Read MoreHow to Help a HOST Become a Small Group Leader
If you’ve been following this conversation at all, you know one of my major themes is I want to make it as easy as possible to take first steps into leading a small group and nearly automatic for a new leader to step onto the leadership development conveyor belt. I’ve referred to this idea many times…
Read MoreVery Little Surprise Here: 21 Days of Flesh Has Real Possibilities
Earlier this month I reviewed Flesh: Bringing the Incarnation Down to Earth, a new book by Hugh Halter. Spoiler Alert: I loved it! Let’s just say I found it “challenging with just a dash of scary–but so inspiring!” You can read my full review right here. I learned from Hugh that they’ve developed a 21…
Read MoreCan Your Small Group Ministry Take These Four Next Steps?
When you are a beginner, you do what beginners can do. Think about when a newborn turns over for the very first time. Or takes their first step. Or puts a phrase together. Clearly, there are things that you do when you are a beginner. And then there are things you can only do once…
Read MoreReview: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Church-Wide Initiative
Finally had a chance to finish previewing a new church-wide initiative from Peter Scazzero and Zondervan. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality is an 8 session campaign based on Scazzero’s best-seller by the same title. You probably remember Scazzero’s previous book, The Emotionally Healthy Church, a groundbreaking best-seller that was awarded a Gold Medallion by the ECPA. The Main Idea…
Read MoreThe Big Idea Behind Small Group Coaching
Without a doubt, the struggle to build an effective coaching structure is one of the most challenging aspects in building a thriving small group ministry. I hear this again and again. I’ve probably heard this over a thousand times in my 20+ years of small group ministry. Taking my cue from Jim Collins and Great…
Read MoreHow to Do an “Exit Interview” for a Launch-Phase Coach
In a previous post I shared my “secret formula” for how I recruit a small group coach. If you didn’t read it, you should go back and read it first. Then, what I’m going to tell you today will make a lot more sense. Today I want to tell you how I do a kind of…
Read MoreIt’s Not Too Late! Take Advantage of My 2015 Coaching Network
Have you thought about joining my 2015 Small Group Ministry Coaching Network? It’s not too late, but you need to act pretty quickly. I have only a few spots left! A few important details: Before you decide you can’t participate, make sure you know a few important details: There are several payment plans: All you…
Read More5 Small Group Ministry Truths I Hold to Be Self Evident
There are certain things, certain ideas, that are just true. This was the case for Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers of the United States of America (Jefferson maintained they were self-evident). And it is true for small group ministry. With over three decades of small group ministry experience, I have found certain truths to…
Read MoreMissional Living Resources You Should Know About
Every year I end up being sent well over a hundred new small group studies, church-wide campaigns and ministry books of all kinds. It’s a great privilege to be asked to review them. A few weeks ago I received a box with a collection of resources on missional living from a variety of publishers. Over…
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