Posts by Mark Howell
Launch New Small Groups on Easter with This Simple Strategy
Need to connect people and launch new small groups? The short season following Easter is one of the three best times every year to launch new small groups and connect a certain kind of person. When can you launch? This year (2014), Easter is on April 20th, which means that you can launch some new…
Read MoreDo You Have Eyes to See and Ears to Hear?
Jesus had some one-liners that he used over and over again. I think one of his favorites might have been the “eyes to see and ears to hear” reference. Favorites might not be the right word. There definitely seem to have been times when it was actually a little exasperating that his disciples could be…
Read MoreDo You Struggle with this Leading Cause of Ministry Misfire?
I’ve written many times about the dangers of what I call the pursuit of problem-free. I’m pretty sure that the dogged search for problem-free solutions delays more ministry than anything else. Ready to pull the trigger on a new strategy to connect people? Can’t do it. First, we need to look for a strategy that…
Read MoreCan You Spot These Serious Small Group Ministry Misalignment Signals?
Does your strategic dashboard light up with flashing warning signals and even alarm bells when you run certain diagnostics? Or do you find yourself reporting that “everything is fine” even when you find yourself uneasy about what’s really happening? I’ve written about the top 1o signs your small group ministry needs a reboot and a 5…
Read MoreTop 10 Posts of February, 2014
Miss a day? Here are my top 10 posts of February, 2014. 10 Powerful Benefits of a Thriving Small Group Ministry (December, 2013) How to Launch Groups Using a Small Group Connection (May, 2008) Supercharge Your Ministry Impact with These 5 Questions (January, 2013) Can You Tell If Your Small Group Might Be a Zombie?…
Read MoreTop 10 Signs It’s Time to Abandon Your Small Group Strategy
Although you never want to give up prematurely…there are signs that it’s time to throw in the towel. Let’s just say if very many of these happen…it might be a sign: Your capital campaign reaches the hallelujah goal and you can finally build the Taj Mahal of adult education space with a lifetime supply of…
Read MoreHere’s a Front Row Seat to Saddleback’s HOST Gathering
If you read my recent interview with Steve Gladen on the power of a host gatherings you might want to see one for yourself. Well, at least for now…you can! Here’s a link to their most recent HOST gathering (Sunday, February 23, 2014). An interesting tidbit you’ll learn in watching the host gathering is that earlier…
Read MoreTop 10 Ways to Launch New Groups
There are many ways to launch new groups. If you’ve limited your attempts to one strategy…you truly do not know what you are missing. Here are my top 10 ways to launch new groups: Launch a church-wide campaign. If you want to launch a wave of groups, there is absolutely no better way. This strategy…
Read MoreNew from Chris Mavity: “Your Volunteers” Packs a Powerful Punch
I tripped across a fantastic training resource over the weekend! Your Volunteers: From Come and See to Come and Serve is a short little book that packs a big impact. Written by Chris Mavity, Executive Director of North Coast Training, Your Volunteers is a book you’re going to want to read right away and again…
Read More5 Key Ingredients that Motivate a First Step Toward Community
Here are today’s questions: What are the key ingredients that motivate unconnected people to take a first step toward community? Is there a recipe that helps motivate a toe-in-the-water? What is it? Do you need all of the ingredients? Or do you just need 3 or 4 of the key ingredients? Just like any other…
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