While "birthing" is a popular multiplication model, some situations call for an alternative.
Phil Niekerk
There are some people in this world that love the concept of childbirth. I'm not one of them. Don't get me wrong. I love my three kids and can't imagine life without them. It's the birthing process that I have issues with. It's the moment after conception that I begin to struggle with the reproduction process.
I think it has to do with my beautiful bride being stretched and swollen for three-quarters ...
A case study on Grace Community Church's small group program
Ron Stohler
Worship attendance? 6000+
Number of small groups currently meeting? Offsite Adult Groups: 250+ Onsite Women's Groups: 50+ Jr. and Sr. High: 50+ Children: 180+ small groups Ministry Teams: 100+
Number of people currently in small groups? (these are not mutually exclusive) Offsite Adult Groups: 2,500+ Onsite Women's Groups: 500+ Jr. and Sr. High: 500+ Children: 1,500+ Ministry Teams: 1000+
A case study on a church's small group campaign growth, and the lessons they learned.
Daniel Dzikowicz
Worship Attendance: Between our two services and our youth Sunday school we have been getting 800+ adults and children each Sunday (November 2004). Number of small groups currently meeting: 94 Number of people currently in small groups: Somewhere between 700-800 (this high attendance-to-group-ratio is directly related to the 40 Days of Purpose campaign which we are currently in)
A case study of the Coffee Shop Connection, a small group outreach for people seeking God who are skeptical about traditional venues like the local Christian church.
Bruce Umpstead
Introduction
My name is Bruce Umpstead, and my wife, Gina, and I are small group ministry leaders of the Coffee Shop Connection (CSC, formerly the Coffee Shop Church), which is a network of small groups that serve as outreach opportunities for people seeking God who are skeptical about traditional venues like the local Christian church. The ministry's updated website is www.coffeeshopconnection.com. ...
When our church grew almost overnight, we needed a plan to disciple our new, "milk-only" members.
Anonymous
Worship Attendance—250 Small Groups—Our Current Small Group Structure is a mix of "fully-functioning" groups and short-term ones for families or adult affinity groups as well as weekly groups for teens. At our "max" in 2004, we had 9 Family/Affinity Groups & 6 Teen Groups # in Small Groups – 130
Background
Our congregation is a 130-year-old congregation in a rural community of 700 ...
The reason for making a move to being a cell church is not that it is easier, but because it will be more effective.
Jay Firebaugh
As a pastor, I've helped lead a church through transitioning to a cell church, and am now currently Sr. Pastor of a 13 year old church that has been a cell church almost from its inception. As a result, pastors who are either transitioning their churches or who are exploring the idea often contact me. The one thing I tell them most often is that cells or small groups can NOT be just another in the ...
Steve Gladen and Rick Howerton talk about the history and necessity of small groups in America.
Steve Gladen and Rick Howerton
In the following audio clip, Steve Gladen and Rick Howerton walk through a brief history of Serendipity Publishers and Saddleback Church—two organizations that have been vital to the success of the rising small-groups movement in America today. They also discuss why small groups are so necessary in today's fractured culture, and how they can benefit any church looking to build strong and fruitful ...
My favorite burrito is nearly 1,000 calories and has almost 40 grams of fat. Thanks to the company website, I was able to check out the nutritional value (or lack thereof) of my typical lunch at a popular restaurant. I was shocked an appalled—especially because I assumed that the burrito was healthier than other fast food options. I was wrong.
The health disaster discovery was made after a friend ...
Many, if not most, churches employ something I call a "funnel strategy" for building community. The funnel strategy focuses on moving people from a large group (e.g. a weekend service) to small groups and is based on the premise that people will experience more community as they get "closer" to others.
It makes sense and is a critical part of a successful plan for building community. The problem comes ...
A case study from Lakeview Christian Center's transition toward becoming a church of small groups
Shane Frazier
Attendance: 1900 Small Groups: 126 (Fall Semester) # of people in groups: 1178 (62% based on survey in Feb 04)
Background
Lakeview Christian Center has recently decided to become a church "OF" small groups. This has been a cultural change among the leadership of this 86 year old Assembly of God church. God has challenged the congregation of Lakeview to begin to live out the commandment to "love one another" ...
Printer view of these results
