Posts by Mark Howell
Church Unique
Looking for a resource that can walk you through the development of a cohesive and compelling vision, mission, values and strategy concept? There are plenty of books out there, but I haven’t come across any as complete as Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement by Will Mancini. Whether you’re…
Read MoreIf I Was Starting Today: Part 1
If I knew then what I know now… That’s where this series of posts finds its roots. I’ve been at this a while and I’m often asked what I’d do if I was starting fresh but armed with what I know now. And in my mind there are three questions and seven core ideas. …
Read MoreDelivering Training for Small Group Leaders
How do you deliver training for your small group leaders? The guys over at Community Christian Church are testing an interesting idea by delivering training on key topics via YouTube. You can see a few of their short training videos right here. Definitely not really high tech, these are a good example of how easy…
Read MoreWhat Have You Got Planned This Summer?
You’ve worked hard to help jump start some new small groups this year. Don’t let the death valley days of summer get the best of them! Instead, take advantage of some simple strategies to help them thrive! What can you do to help them? Read on! First, now is the time to build in the…
Read MoreHow to Build an Effective Coaching Structure, Part Three
Building an effective coaching structure is a huge challenge. In fact, it’s so tough that you’ll hear many small group pastors from around the country admit that they’ve given up on the idea. Oh, there are plenty that are still chipping away at making it work. But it’s no picnic. If it was, you probably…
Read MoreHOST: What Does It Mean?
You’ve probably heard of “hosting” a group. But what does it mean to be a host? Is there a difference between a host and a leader? Is it just another name for a leader? If I’m a host, will you provide the teacher? These are questions that are asked all the time. ALL the time. …
Read MoreBut We Have Adult Sunday School!
I’m frequently asked what should be done to launch small groups in churches where there is an existing adult Sunday school program. Is it an issue? Yes. Does it complicate the project? Only slightly. Is there a solution? Absolutely! Here is my prescription: First, you’ll need to gather some important information. Three questions will provide…
Read MoreConcentric Circles
I’ve found Saddleback’s concentric circle idea to be very helpful in explaining a number of small group related concepts. Here’s my version. Basic idea? The largest circle represents the community you’re in. They are who you’re trying to reach. The crowd represents the group that considers your church to be their church. They may not…
Read MoreHow Important is the Senior Pastor?
One of the most frequent questions about small group ministry is “How important is the Senior Pastor?” Translation: What if my senior pastor offers encouragement, cheerleads from the sideline, even holds me accountable for the success of the small group ministry…but won’t lead from the pulpit? Ever ask that question? It’s a simple answer really. …
Read MoreNot Just a Holy Huddle
What does a healthy small group look like in your small group system? One that meets regularly? Maybe a small group that invites new people? Or how about one that practices the "one-anothers"…on one another? What does a small group need to be like to be an example of a healthy group? This is a…
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