Posts by Mark Howell
Will You Take Your Ministry to a New Level in ’15? Join My Network!
Join my 2015 Coaching Network I want to invite you to join my 2015 Small Group Ministry Coaching Network; an experience designed to give you the tools and strategies you need in order to build a small group ministry that works in the 21st century. Several of my 2014 alumni from quite a cross section of churches…
Read More7 Rules at the Essence of Small Group Coaching
I was on a coaching call yesterday and as we talked I realized that there are certain ideas, rules really, that always pop up in my conversations about small group coaching. Here are 7 rules at the essence of small group coaching: 1. Whatever you want to happen in the lives of small group members…
Read More5 Crucial Small Group Ministry Dashboard Indicators
How healthy is your small group ministry? How do you know? What are you measuring? The dashboard in your car monitors fuel level, speed, RPMs, oil pressure, engine temperature, etc. What should your small group ministry’s dashboard be monitoring? How do you know whether your ministry is healthy? Before we begin Before we talk about what…
Read MoreThe Power of God’s Names by Dr. Tony Evans
Finally had an opportunity this week to spend some time with a new study from Dr. Tony Evans. The Power of God’s Names was published earlier this year (2014) and is another great offering from one of America’s most dynamic preachers. Evans has been the Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for close to four decades…
Read MoreHere’s My Reading List for Christmas 2014
Every year I create a list of books I think you should read. Sometimes the books I include are very purely about small group ministry, discipleship or spiritual formation. Other times, the books I include may seem pretty far afield (innovation, design, leadership, or strategy). You’ll just have to trust me. I wouldn’t include a book I…
Read MoreQuotebook: The Job of a Change Agent
I have often joked that I want my title to be The Disruptor of the Status Quo. It’s not really a joke, but so far I’ve not succeeded in getting the title officially. I love this paragraph from a Bill Taylor article on HBR: The job of the change agent is not just to surface…
Read MoreHow to Design Next Steps and First Steps
At Canyon Ridge we want to provide next steps for every Ridger and first steps for their friends. The essence of the idea is that when you think about the various kinds of people who attend your church, each of the various kinds of people would require their own next step. At Canyon Ridge we…
Read More5 Blind Spots that Affect Small Group Ministries Everywhere
I think we all know what a blind spot is…when it’s in our car. It’s that spot that you can’t really see when you’re changing lanes or backing up. If you’ve seen the movie Blind Side you know what it means in football (and you know the role of the left tackle). What you may…
Read MoreThe Best Yes: Lysa TerKeurst’s Newest DVD-Driven Study
Spent some time this week with the newest study by Lysa TerKeurst: The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands. TerKeurst is a New York Times bestselling author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led thousands to make…
Read MoreThankful for So Much
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV We have so much for which to be thankful. That’s one way to say it. I’m not much of a grammarian. We have so much to be thankful for. That’s better. We really…
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