Posts by Mark Howell
Is THIS What’s Keeping You from Your Goals?
Is THIS What’s Keeping You from Your Goals? If I know you, you’ve worked very hard to start the small groups you’ve started. You’ve recruited leaders that worked out for the most part and you’ve made announcements, and run blurbs in weekend bulletins, and sent out emails, and even got your pastor to mention small…
Read MoreTop 5 Church-Wide Campaigns for 2017
Have you pulled the trigger yet on church-wide campaign for 2017? It’s not too late, but now is the time if you plan to incorporate a church-wide campaign (an alignment between your weekend message series and a small group study). Although you would really have to hustle to take advantage of a campaign in February…
Read More10 of My Favorite Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes
I’ve had a plaque on my office wall for many years. It features a picture taken at Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. It also has a button that when pushed starts the speech. I love the sound of it and the words that he spoke (and I…
Read MoreDon’t Miss Rescue Academy (a New Resource from SecondChance.org)
Spent some time this week with a new resource from People of the Second Chance. Whether it finds a place in your resource library or you use it to train small group leaders or coaches, it really looks like something you may want to take a look at. Resource Academy is “a 7-part video and workbook…
Read MoreThe Awesome Potential of the Launch-Phase Coach Strategy
I’ve written previously about how to identify a potential coach. I’ve also written about how to recruit a potential coach. In post I want to help you to develop a basic job description for a “launch-phase” coach. But before I get into developing a job description, I want to lay out a little philosophy that will help…
Read MoreBill Taylor on The Risk of Playing It Safe
“Your first job as a leader or a change agent, is to convince your colleagues (and maybe even yourselves) that playing it safe may be the riskiest course of all. Change begins to happen when people finally conclude that the risk of trying something new is less than the cost of what’s worked in the…
Read More7 Things You Might Be Missing about Unconnected People
7 Things You Might Be Missing about Unconnected People Ever wish you could suddenly unravel the mystery of how to connect the unconnected people in your church? You know–the ones that no matter what you try, no matter how hard you try–they really don’t seem to want to do anything more than sit in a…
Read MoreHow to Communicate with Leaders (and Hosts)
How are you communicating with your small group leaders and hosts (remember, I’m differentiating between those just getting a toe in the water and those stepping onto the leadership conveyor belt)? How hard (or easy) is it for you to get the word out about upcoming events, recommended curriculum, and leader development? How do you…
Read MoreFriday’s List | January 6th
Every Friday I post a short list of the things I’m reading, listening to, loving and wrestling with: Here’s what I’m reading right now: TEN MAJOR TRENDS FOR CHURCHES IN 2017 by Thom Rainer. An important list to take in. 6 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2017 by Carey Nieuwhof. Must Read! Preparing Your Group Ministry…
Read MoreSimon Sinek on Differentiation and an Excess of “What”
“Companies that offer lots of options are often struggling to differentiate. Differentiation comes from clarity of Why not excess of What.” Simon Sinek You can read more from my Quotebook right here. Image by Bryan
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