About Me
Chris is a ministry consultant and coach with over twenty years of experience serving the local church...
Why Small Groups Should Stay Connected During the Summer Months
Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes a time of relaxation and vacation for many. It’s tempting to put our small groups on hold during this season, but I want to challenge you to consider the immense value of staying connected as a community during the summer months.
Announcing The Align Groups Conference
Do you remember when church small group leaders gathered together for training and encouragement? Well, those days are back! Lifeway has partnered with The Small Group Network for a brand new in-person groups conference called “Align.” Align is a one-day conference that will help you learn the Small Group Ministry essentials. This training is designed
4 Ways to Engage and Reengage With Your Group This Summer
After a year and a half of days and months seemingly blurring together during the pandemic, a lot of us are starting to see the light at the end of the lockdown tunnel—and just in time for summer. Summer (hopefully) means more fun time spent with family and friends. Kids are home from school, and
Tips For Leading A Couples Small Group
Bob and Crystal were a really nice married couple who joined our small group. At the first gathering for the semester at a restaurant, Bob seemed to jell with the guys, and Crystal jumped right in with the other women in their conversations. I was excited about what this new couple would contribute to the
A Republican, a Democrat, and a Murder Hornet Walk Into Your Group
Remember when “murder hornets” were the biggest thing we had to worry about in 2020? With all that’s taken place in the first nine months of this year—COVID-19, lockdowns, racial injustice, protests, political tensions—it feels like we should all just take a beach vacation for the rest of the year. Unfortunately, that’s not possible for
Why Your Groups Ministry is More Important Than Ever
We’re talking a lot about health in our current environment, and rightly so. There have been over four million cases and 146,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States alone. Monitoring and taking care of our personal health is vital right now. In the same way, church leaders need to monitor and invest in the
How to Choose a Groups System That Works (Including Online)
According to Dictionary.com, the definition of the word “system” is: “a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method.” We’re sometimes afraid of systems in the groups world because we feel community is supposed to happen organically, not through an organized scheme. But at its core, a
3 Things to do When Your Group Needs to Multiply
After we have experienced genuine biblical community in a small group, the thought of anyone leaving that community is very hard. We want to keep what we are experiencing for as long as we can. But the mandate to continue making disciples is clear. The only way to make room for more people to start
Congratulations: Your Church Just Became a Church OF Small Groups
One of the most common questions I receive from church leaders is: “How do we make our church a church of small groups instead of a church with small groups?” For clarification: A church of small groups is typically not program driven. They’ll have the basic ministry options of worship, kids, students, missions, and groups.
5 Tips for Overcoming Virtual Meetings Fatigue
We are now going on several months where screen captures of Zoom meetings have become the new selfie. In this time of social distancing, a lot of our social contacts are through a camera lens and a video screen. In so many ways, we should be very thankful for the technology that has allowed us