How one ministry partners with churches to put the homeless back on their feet.
by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra
Belinda Bowden couldn't believe she was homeless. The 41-year-old had been ascending the corporate ladder, making $50,000 a year as a Kmart assistant store manager, when one by one the rungs snapped.
Asked to lie about the store's stability to potential employees, Bowden quit her job. Her savings account depleted by credit-card debt and medical bills, Bowden couldn't pay her rent. Two months later, ...
About two years ago we fired our coaches. OK, truth be told, we didn't really have any coaches to fire. Two years ago we liberated our small group staff to coach the small group leaders directly—without the aid of a lay coach.
First, let me recognize that this will not work in every environment. I believe that small group structures and systems are not universally applicable. Principles may be, ...
How church structure can limit the success of your small group ministry.
David Limiero
Introduction: Growth Barriers and Small Group Plateaus
One of the most significant contributions of the Church Growth movement has been the identification of growth barriers. First identified by C. Peter Wagner of Fuller Seminary, growth barriers are specific sizes at which churches tend to get "stuck" and growth often plateaus. The most common barriers are found when a congregation reaches 200, 400, ...
Managing your group's meeting time can be one of the harder aspects of leading; here are some tips to help you.
Pat J. Sikora
It happened again last night. Darryl led a great discussion of the Bible study, but there was no time left—again—at the end for prayer and worship. Darryl knows how important prayer is, but the group time is just an hour and a half, and he never has time for prayer. He'd also like to include worship in the meetings, but how?
How can Darryl keep a healthy balance in his meeting time?
Here are six keys to group health that your members deserve to know about.
Rick Howerton
Note: This article has been excerpted from the SmallGroups.com training tool called Reviving a Dying Small Group.
Rick Howerton is a church consultant, trainer, and church planter of The Bridge in Spring Hill, Tennessee. He will also be speaking at the upcoming Saddleback Small Groups Conferences. Click here for more information.
Group members will be much more apt to continue with the group over the ...
Small GroupsMoney TroublesWhere small groups fit in a tough economy.Reid Smith
SmallGroups.com recently had a chance to sit down with one of our favorite authors: Reid Smith. In addition to serving as one of our Q & A experts, Reid serves as Community Life pastor for the multi-site Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
We asked Reid how the current economic situation was affecting the small-group ministry at Christ Fellowship, and what the church has done to adjust.
Practical advice for those who train, support, and encourage small-group leaders
Dave Ferguson, Eric Metcalf, Janet McMahon, and Tammy Melchien
Small-group leaders play a vital role in the discipleship process of many churches by teaching, supporting, and even confronting the members of their groups. But who teaches, supports, and confronts the group leaders? That is largely the role of small-group coaches. This downloadable resource can help focus and strengthen your church's coaching ministry. And if your church doesn't support small-group ...
Follow these steps to lead meaningful and effective leaders meetings.
by Doug Patch
It is difficult to imagine how a leader can effectively communicate to the home group—verbally and by modeling—excitement and direction for evangelism and discipleship without healthy leaders meetings that evaluate the success and direction of the group. Here is a brief guide on how leaders meetings can help a home group "stay the course."
Here are some potential barriers to good leaders ...
Five ways your small groups can turn this movie into an opportunity for ministry.
by Brett Eastman
This Easter may be the biggest opportunity for small group ministry, yet.
Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ grossed $23.6 million opening day. This one-day sale rivals blockbusters like The Matrix Revolutions, The Lord of the Rings, and The Phantom Menace. The numbers may baffle Hollywood, but for months churches across the nation have been anticipating America's rush to the theaters.
Brett Eastman's story about the development of small groups at Saddleback church.
by Life Together
After five years of championing small groups at Willow Creek Community Church, Brett Eastman shuttled his family westward to Orange County, California. He was hired at Saddleback Church and figured he would pick up where he left off at Willow.
But Saddleback was not Willow. In this interview, Brett Eastman, founder and CEO of Lifetogether, talks about the difference between the churches and what he ...
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