Design a System That Identifies Potential Leaders
“We can’t find enough leaders!” This is one of the most common responses when I ask small group champions around the country what they’re biggest challenges are. If it sounds familiar…read on. The underlying reason that finding enough leaders is a challenge is a design issue. I love Andy Stanley’s line that “your ministry is…
Read MoreSmall Group Ministry in Perpetual Beta
Perpetual beta is an attitude. It’s the attitude that what you’re doing is in development all the time. It’s an attitude that says, “this is working good enough, this is working well for now, but we expect that we’ll figure out how to improve it.” Think Google and you’ve got the right idea. They’re always…
Read MoreSmall Group Philosphy 101
What is the philosophy of your small group ministry? Do you have one? I think that the most fundamental step for every small group ministry is to develop a personalized philosophy of ministry. Developing a personalized philosophy of ministry is critical because you will be the one defining priorities, determining next steps and defending actions. …
Read MoreSkill Training: Top 10 Ways To Find New Group Members
Who makes the best new members for your group? That’s easy. Unconnected people with whom you are actively building a relationship. Here are some ideas that will help you find new members: Look for people who are already doing the same things you are. If your kids are in High School, make it a point…
Read MoreHow To Choose Curriculum That Launches Groups
Choosing the right curriculum is an essential ingredient in launching new groups. Make a great selection and you’ll significantly increase interest in the group. You’ll also increase the likelihood that the group continues beyond the first 6 weeks. Choose poorly and your new groups may not even get off the ground. Here are the four…
Read MoreWho Are You Trying To Connect?
Memo: Approach connecting strategies much like you would if you were launching a new product. Think like a marketer if you want to succeed. There is a connection between effectiveness and design. Now…before you get too concerned, I’m not discounting God’s role in how things happen. Just saying that it is a little crazy to…
Read MoreManaging Expectations (Childcare and Otherwise)
Sometimes a question comes in that has answers…but they’re not simple answers. Take a minute to read the following…and then we’ll talk: In Small Groups, one of the things I face most often is what do we do with our kids? This prevents participation and potential leaders from leading. Our church offers Sunday School, Small…
Read MoreBreakout Chicago 2010
Looking for a way to provide training for your small group leaders? If you’re near Chicago you may want to take a look at Breakout Chicago 2010. Coming up on Saturday, April 20th, the training event features 10 breakouts to choose from on a wide range of topics presented by a top notch panel of…
Read MoreGroupLife Philosophy: Test Drive First
“What if I’ve got a coach that really isn’t a good fit for the job?” That was one of the questions I was asked in a recent survey here at MarkHowellLive. Another question was, “We need more leaders! How can I encourage more of our congregation to step up and lead a group?” I want…
Read More2 GroupLife Keys That Predict Sustainability
What are the keys to sustaining the groups you launch? Although there are many variables, I’ve found there are two that are often missed…and they are both easy to build in to every group in your system. What are they? Multiple facilitators and multiple locations (The idea for this article came from a survey I’m…
Read More