Posts by Mark Howell
How To Sequence A Small Group Launch
When NASA prepares for a shuttle launch, there are certain steps that are a given. There is a sequence to what they do. When anything unexpected happens during the launch preparation (mechanical issues, weather change, etc.) it isn’t unusual for NASA to restart the sequence. In much the same way, when you’re preparing for a…
Read MoreFour Questions That Will Inspire Breakthrough Thinking
How dry is the cement around what’s possible in your discipleship effort? Pretty firm? Room to wiggle? As we continue to think about how to help more people experience genuine life-change, I find myself drawn again to ideas in Gary Hamel’s The Future of Management. Here are four questions he uses to maximize the chances…
Read MoreEscaping the Straitjacket of Conventional Thinking
How limited is your thinking? When you stop long enough to examine how your ministry is designed…particularly the assumptions that it is based on…how limited is your thinking? Need an example? Try these statements on for size: “New groups must begin with a qualified leader and an apprentice.” I remember hearing Jim Dethmer talk about…
Read MoreDetermining Essential Ingredients
Had a fascinating discussion over the weekend with a passionate devotee of the worship + ABF philosophy of ministry. He was definitely passionate. He was absolutely committed to the philosophy. And he was in some amount of denial about why it is so difficult to find churches with contemporary worship, relevant teaching and a great…
Read MorePhilosophy of Ministry: Off-Campus Groups vs. On-Campus Classes
I’ve written quite a bit about the subject of building a small group ministry in a church with a Sunday School culture. This is an important topic because it is where so many churches are. A legacy program in a changing landscape. And it’s a challenging situation. That said, I want to talk today about…
Read MoreGroups Interactive
What are you using to manage and grow your small group ministry? As I’ve mentioned previously, 24/7 access is a very important detail. Whether you have 10 groups or 100, the ability to find out what groups are available, how to contact the leader, and when and where they meet are almost an essential ingredients. Reporting…
Read MoreDiagnosing Your Discipleship Strategy
Ever slow down long enough to look at whether your discipleship strategy is actually working? I know…who has time? Here’s the thing, we better make time! As I see it, you don’t have to read between the lines to see the link between leadership and accountability for results (See Matthew 25 or Luke 19…
Read MoreWhere Can I Find New Coaches?
A great conversation yesterday drew an important question. We’re getting ready for a church-wide campaign and know we’ll need coaches for our newest hosts. Where can I find new coaches? Ever asked that one? It’s a good question. Important on a couple levels. First, it is important that your newest hosts have a coach who…
Read MoreChurch-Wide Campaigns: Clarifying the Win
Great question recently from a Small Group Pastor preparing for a meeting with his Senior Pastor to talk about the fall campaign. Here’s his question: “What are the campaign critical questions to ask when working with the Lead Pastor on Fall Campaign Strategic Plans?” Great question! Assuming you’ve already made the case for a church-wide…
Read MoreSummer “To Do” List
Ah the joys of summer! Vacations. Cookouts. The beach. The lake. The River. The Pool. Family time. Good times. Summer (I know it’s winter for many of you in the Southern Hemisphere…but work with me here!). What have you got going wherever you are? Hopefully some good downtime. Also, hopefully you’re working smarter, getting ahead…
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