Here are some things to keep in mind when money isn't a factor.
by Nancy Beach
Since many of us who serve in ministry end up leading volunteers, the editors at Gifted for Leadership wanted to find out how leading volunteers differed from leading paid staff. So we asked Nancy Beach, a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church as well as a GFL editorial advisor, who has vast experience in leading staff, volunteers, and the staff who lead volunteers.
If small groups are more like organisms than organizations, why do we need a program?
Michael C. Mack
We say our groups are "family," that is, they are natural expressions of our love for one another. So why do we need a small groups "program" or "ministry" in the church? This is a question I am sometimes asked when I speak about small groups. Small groups are more of a living "organism" than a machinelike "organization, right? So why have a program?
Our families may not be "programs," but there are ...
Identifying the key roles in your group ensures its long-term health.
by Life Together
As a leader, you're the champion for fulfilling the purposes of your group. It's critical, then, that you fully understand each member's role ahead of time. That will simplify figuring out who should be in them after your group kicks off. Below are several "job descriptions" of key roles in the group. You'll need to identify who can fill these roles—and then recruit members in your group for ...
While apprenticing is rewarding, it can be hard work and requires the persistent application of certain skills. The 10 skills listed here all need to be used by the leader who trains an apprentice.
1. Supplicate. Jesus prayed not only before he called the disciples, but also toward the end of his earthly ministry (John 17:6-19)—and, undoubtedly, throughout the three years they spent together. ...
Setting up task groups is a great way to develop a growing number of faithful volunteers in almost any area of ministry. A task group is distinct in that it isn't just a traditional fellowship-building group or a team of people simply fulfilling a task. By definition, task groups attempt to accomplish both fellowship and ministry at the same time.
The principle mission of a task group is to set aside ...
Teams, says author Charlene B. Adair-Heeley, need to critique themselves regularly to stay on track. It is like weight control-it's easier to take off five pounds a week for ten weeks than to lose fifty pounds all at one time.
Your small group is a team. You are united with common purposes and goals. How are you doing in achieving those goals? Adair-Heeley recommends two methods to find out.
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