If you are a small group ministry point leader for your church, then you can attend Schmoozapalooza for FREE! On October 23rd ThinkingSmall.net and Christ's Church of Oak Brook are teaming up to hold some practical small group workshops. Here's the scoop:
Whether you're a volunteer or paid church staff, if you're responsible for the small groups ministry in your church, you're running point. You know that having a community of peers for support, ideas, prayer, and encouragement makes everyday ministry challenges manageable. Schmooze over coffee with Group Life Point Leaders from Wisconsin to Indiana at this free networking event. Win free stuff. Visit the Vendor Showcase. Toss out some ideas (and pick some up). Swap emails, twitter names, and phone numbers with breakout speakers. There is no charge for SCHMOOZAPALOOZA! but you must be a Group Life Point Leader and register to attend.
Here is the latest off info from the group life conference website, they just released a promo video too! If your church is not hosting this event you will want to find a local host near you:
What's the next, right step for your small groups?
Real growth is possible, especially in the fertile soil of genuine Biblical community. This is the place where hearts open to grace, where relationships heal, where sin patterns break, where connections to God strengthen.
This is the place where lives are transformed.
How do you bring your small group to this point of transformation? This Changes Everything is a one-day training event designed to move you in that direction. It offers practical next steps for fostering spiritual growth in your small groups. And best of all, it does this with an emphasis on convenience and affordability.
Who should attend?
-All small group leaders and volunteers
Why attend?
-New laser-focused, broadcast only, one-day training -Unrivaled teaching from experienced group life experts
Where?
-Hosted at your church or a host site near you -This is a broadcast only event exclusively on CCN -There will not be a live event at Willow Creek Community Church
Why become a host site?
-Provide your leaders with unrivaled training and the opportunity to interact with fellow leaders -Your church will receive a block of 40 tickets to Group Life Conference 2009 -Free downloadable marketing tools to promote the event -Training with immediate ministry application -Dedicated CCN ministry consultant to support you along the way
Many groups take a break in the summer and often leaders wonder what they should do next with their group as the fall season begins. It is a common question because people are often coming back from summer break and they are ready for something fresh. However, for leaders I think that answers can be found in asking the right questions. To honestly figure out where your group needs to go... you need to figure out where you are and there are four major areas to consider:
1. God - Your personal relationship with God and your group's relationship with God.
2. Each other - The depth of your relationships with your group members and their relationships with each other.
3. Leadership - The number of future leaders your group is producing and who you are personally investing in.
4. Evangelism - The relationships your group has with unchurched people and the passion they tap into to connect those people to God.
Evaluation Questions
God:
How often do you pray for your group each week?
Do you and your group members discuss personal time spent with God?
How much time do you spend in prayer and bible study each day?
Does your group spend time talking about prayers that God has answered?
Each Other:
How many times does your group meet in an average month?
How many parties, socials, or fun group activities has your group had in the past 3 months?
How many times have you invited someone from your group over for a meal in the past two months?
Do you ever participate in church activities as a group by going together?
How often do you communicate with group members by phone, email, cards, or letters to encourage them?
Leadership:
Does your group have an assistant-leader or an apprentice?
How many of your group members expect to lead a group sometime in the future?
How many people in your group participate by leading different components of the meeting? (For example: prayer time, ice breaker, bible reading, etc.)
How often does your group pray about developing new group leaders?
Who in your group would you like to see become a leader?
Evangelism:
How often does your group pray for people far from God and when was the last time you were able to share your faith?
How many parties or gatherings have you had, not spiritual in nature, that your group members could invite their non-Christian friends to.
When a visitor attends your group for the first time, how often do you follow up with a phone call, card, or an invite to breakfast or lunch?
Do you know how to draw the bridge and use it to share your faith? Have you done it recently?
These questions help me figure out if I am on target with leading my group. Hopefully, you find them useful. You may even want to bring them to your next meeting and discuss them with you group or with other leaders in your group ministry.
National Community Church is hoting a strategic small group training event at Ebenezers Coffee House on December 10th-11th, 2009. Russ Robinson and Dave Treat will be speaking on the following topics:
Clear Ministry Objectives
Effective Point Leadership
Successful Coaching Structures
Ongoing Leader Development
An Open-Group Mindset
A Broad Bandwidth of Groups
Assimilation that Works
I have personally heard both of these guys train small group leaders at advanced small group training sessions and they are extremely gifted leaders and teachers. If you are able to attend you wont be dissapointed. This may be the event you need to take your small group ministry to the next level.
