Posts by Mark Howell
Quotebook: Never Stop Questioning
I’ve written many times about the power of a great question. Here are two of my favorite posts: Supercharge Your Ministry Impact with These 5 Questions and Ministry in a Fog? Here are 6 Critical Questions That Create Clarity. Here is what Albert Einstein thought about questions: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for…
Read MoreDo You Know the 5 Keys to Unlocking Small Group Ministry Impact?
Having trouble figuring out how to unlock small group ministry impact? Maybe you’re just beginning to think about prioritizing small group ministry. Maybe you tried once and couldn’t get it off the ground. Or maybe you’ve tried multiple times to launch small group ministry and just can’t figure out how to make it work. No…
Read MoreThe Question Everyone Ought to Be Asking
As you know…there are no problem-free strategies or solutions. Every strategy, every solution comes with a set of problems. Wise leaders simply choose the set of problems they’d rather have. See also, 5 Strategic Flaws That Cripple Ministry Impact. With me? Once you come to the conclusion that there are no problem-free strategies or solutions,…
Read MoreTop 10 Reasons Leprechauns Rarely Join a Small Group
Today bein’ St. Patrick’s Day ‘n all, I thought it might be somthin’ fine to talk about some of the reasons Leprechauns rarely join a small group. Who really wants to share the pot of gold? Very few leprechauns are others-centered. Much too busy. Most leprechauns spend all of their time making shoes. What leprechaun…
Read MoreDilbert on Hiring the Right People
Sometimes you just have to laugh. Or you need to laugh. Either way…this is a funny one.
Read MoreWould You Rather: Connect More People or Eliminate Risk?
If you had to choose, would you rather connect more people or eliminate risk? Don’t you hate a proposition like that? But if you think about it, it’s really the premise behind the childhood game. Two choices. Choose which of the choices you’d rather make. See also, Would You Rather: Connect More People or Make…
Read MoreAmazed and Confused: A Great New Book (and Study) by Heather Zempel
I might as well get this out of the way. You are going to want your own copy of Amazed and Confused. In my experience, it really doesn’t matter what Heather Zempel is writing about or talking about…I want to read it again or hear it again. That’s just always been my experience. And this time…
Read MoreA Smörgåsbord of Destinations vs Sequential and Tailored Next Steps
How would you describe your church? How would you describe the collection of ministries of your church? Particularly your ministries and programs designed to meet the needs of adults? I’m always looking for ways to better describe a phenomenon that occurs naturally in churches everywhere. I sometimes refer to this phenomenon as the Smörgåsbord of…
Read More5 Strategic Flaws that Cripple Ministry Impact
There are recognizable strategic flaws in the culture of churches that are stuck. Fresh eyes can almost always reveal strategic flaws in an honest conversation, a website review, or an onsite visit. Sometimes it can be just one strategic flaw. Other times it is the whole set. Does your church struggle with any of these?…
Read MoreDon’t Miss Church Leadership Essentials: What Every Pastor Needs to Know
Downloaded a great new book this week: Church Leadership Essentials: What Every Pastor Needs to Know by Greg Atkinson. More than a great read, this book is packed with ideas you are going to want to have in your toolbox. I have to say, I love the way this book is put together! 34 short, extremely…
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