Media Training Helps

Media-based small group curriculum is widely available and being produced by publishers and even in-house by many churches. While media/DVD-based curriculum has been available for some time, I haven’t seen a multitude of media-based small group leader training tools...that is, until more recently. Frankly, I’m more excited by media-based small group leader training tools than I am about media-based small group curriculum, so I’m glad to see more and more media-based tools available for the training and support of small group leaders and small group coaches. Here's a few that I’ve seen lately...

SmallGroups.com eTraining – (OK, selfless plug here) introduced at SmallGroups.com over a year ago, an interactive online training experience covering basic group leadership skills

ReGroup – a DVD and participants book package that lays out a complete pathway to group process and small group leadership

Simple Small Groups – video channel on YouTube.com dedicated to training small group leaders

Leadership Coaching – a DVD and book resource to help church leaders and small group leader coaches be more effective

Not to mention the many local church websites that are putting their training online. Of course, my opinion is that media-driven training can never replace relationship-driven training, nor would I want it to, however, I’m excited by what’s becoming available to help supplement relational small group leader training!

What are some other media-based training tools that you have used?

Raise or Recognize or Both

This month’s ezine at www.SmallGroups.com explores the issue of developing small group leaders. There’s a wide variety of philosophies when it comes to “setting apart” leaders for the local church in general. In some cases, they are appointed or elected. In some cases they are apprenticed. And in some cases they volunteer without qualification based on some type of announcement. But, in the case of small group leaders, how should they be set apart? Once again the variety of philosophies varies greatly from “If they can breath, they can lead” (or if they can read a study guide or press a DVD button, they can lead) to requiring hours of training and on-the-job experience before they can lead. Regardless of the philosophy of leadership, one important aspect of leading is not how we funnel people into leadership, but what becomes of them once they are in the process. We’ve all had the experience where we’ve known a person who didn’t carry the title of leader, or wasn’t elected or appointed to the position of leader, but we would say without hesitation, “they are a leader.” If we’ve been around ministry long, I suspect we all have had that experience. The real question for me is how we get to the point where the people we elect, appoint, apprentice, or set apart, are the people which we also say, “they are a leader?” The key is figuring out who those people are early on in the process and then building our leader development process in such a way to stimulate their leadership gifts. If the people of whom we say “they are a leader” are not the people we are regularly setting apart as leaders, then I believe something is terribly wrong with our leadership development.

Does that mean we should avoid selecting unproven and inexperienced people as small group leaders? No, I believe we should be raising leaders from the inexperienced (if they can breath, they can lead), but one of the filters we use in our selection is to identify those whom are already gathering a spiritually healthy relational following. Do you agree? What has been your experience?

Online Community 2.0 (part 2)

A term that has been used to describe the current use of the Internet is Web 2.0. Web 2.0 is not a software version, rather it’s a term that refers to the ability for users to create, upload, and publish their own conversations, media, and creative ideas, rather than just download and view “expert-created” content (Web 1.0). Based on research noted in my last blog entry, the church’s use of Web 2.0 tools has been limited. The questions I raised were: Is this due to the typical technology adoption lag in the church? Or, are these tools not contributing to the making of disciples and the building of Christian community as much as hoped?

I don’t have the complete answer to these questions; however, I know that as culture is utilizing online tools, the church will need to utilize online tools as part of the strategy for carrying out our mission as time moves forward.

Interestingly, I have been seeing some online reports lately that Web 3.0 is coming. What is Web 3.0? It’s not well defined yet, but an interesting trend of Web 3.0 is that more emphasis is being placed once again on “expert-created” content. All the user created tools and technology are still there, but the ability for someone to lead, guide, and moderate the flow of content is once again expected to be emphasized more and more. What does this mean? In general, most of us may continue to use the internet more as an information source, rather than as a relationship platform. It also may mean that online community and online relationships, while very important, may not have been as effective at taking the place of face-to-face relationships as previously thought. Facial expressions can’t be completely replaced by emoticons and, body language can’t be completely replaced by avatars .

What’s your experience? What are some ways you utilize user generated information as compared to "expert-generated" content? Is your online experience better described as one way communication or relational dialog?

Online Community 2.0 (part 1)

A term that has been used to describe the current use of the Internet is Web 2.0. The Internet has evolved into a place where users can not only retrieve (download) information (a.k.a. Web 1.0), but a place where users can download, as well as upload their own information easily (Web 2.0). Web 2.0 is characterized by discussion forums, blogs, podcasts, user photos, user videos and applications where users can upload their own content with relative ease and low expense. Out of this movement came a whole group of user content created sites and social networking sites like Facebook.com, Wikipedia.org, Youtube.com and Typepad.com. The church, not always being on the cutting edge of online technology implementation, has adopted and used some of these tools, as well as, created their own tools for specific use in Christian Communities like Godtube.com, Sermoncentral.com, and theooze.com.

Despite the availability of web-based tools beyond email, there still is not widespread use of many Web 2.0 tools. For instance, according to a 2006 study, twenty-five percent of Protestant churches in the United States have virtually no involvement with the World Wide Web. Only half of all churches provide staff with e-mail, and just under half maintain a website. Relatively few Protestant churches use e-mail prayer chains, have an e-mail church newsletter, or have an online member directory (only four percent) according to Ellison Research .

The study found that church website content is usually static rather than interactive. Content usually consists of a map or directions to the church, a calendar of upcoming events, a statement of beliefs, and pages for specific ministry departments—these types of sites are not generally considered Web 2.0.

With that said, at SmallGroups.com, we have not experienced a significant demand for the free-flow of user controlled content or online community. While the overwhelming majority of the content at SmallGroups.com is user generated, we still pick and choose and edit content, rather than allowing all content to be completely user controlled. Does this mean Web 2.0 sites and technology are not useful to the church? Or, will it take more time for the church to learn and adopt such tools? What do you think?

Doing Church as a Team

I just returned from our 20th wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii. We had a wonderful time! While there, I got to spend some time with the leaders of New Hope Oahu. New Hope is noted for “Doing Church as a Team” (also the title of Wayne Cordeiro book about New Hope, see http://www.doingchurchasateam.com/). We spent some time with New Hope executive pastor Elwin Ahu. He talked about New Hope’s ministry strategy that is also described on their website as follows: “Just like paddling a canoe, God designed His people to stroke together for a purpose. He has designed each church with a special purpose, and His plan is to saturate the carrying out of that ministry with joy. In order for this to happen, God has given each of us a unique gift. The combination of our gifts working in synch should give off such a radiance that the whole world will stand up and take notice! Each of us has been given a paddle by God. A gift. A calling. And like the paddlers of a canoe, each of us has a place or a role to fill. On each paddle is our unique thumbprint, our own individual circuitry, designed by God Himself. He places each of us in a community, more specifically in a local church, with a divine purpose. He fits us alongside others who have a similar assignment and calls us a family, a team, the Church. No one person is meant to carry out this assignment alone; it wasn't designed that way. We were created to do church as a team!”

The team concept is done in a small group structural system called fractals. Fractals are relational groupings of people who work together as a team to accomplish ministry tasks. I won’t dwell on details--the book lays it all out. What Elwin emphasized to us is the Holy Spirit’s gifting in the work of the fractal team--basically allowing people to function in community by matching like passions with complimentary giftedness. And then each team member is tasked with the purpose of making other team members successful. This allows people to experience fulfillment in their ministry, rather than burnout. This requires fractal leaders to discern what experiences are like “opening presents on Christmas Day” to each team member. Not that everyone gets to do what energizes them all the time, but making sure team members do what energizes them in the context of their giftedness, within the purpose of the team. Ministries are not forced, but rather pursued as gifting allows and as teams form and multiply (or fractal). New Hope is currently helping other churches discover this process as well. You can find out more at: http://www.doingchurchasateam.com/index.html

Church to the People

Our local church has recently gone through the process of re-seeking our ministry vision. Our church, Harvest Community, uses small groups as base camps for ministry. It’s where we go for re-energizing and guidance and it is sometimes known is at the front line of “taking church to the people.” Harvest home groups very typically involve adults and their children. The home group supports group members in doing individual and family devotions, getting members involved in Life Transformation Groups (LTG), and provides one of the first connection points for new people to the church. Home group leaders are really the ministry leaders of Harvest. The group leader helps stimulate a sense of community in the group that provides the context for care and discipleship of group members, and outreach to new members. It would not be unusual to see groups taking care of one another in times of crisis and illness. You may even see a home group leader performing a wedding or funeral for group members. One of the goals of home groups is to grow, raise up new home group leaders, and multiply those leaders out into new home groups. Stories, struggles, and celebration in the home groups carry over to the Sunday big group worship in the form of prayers and testimonies and group reunion. We don’t simply have smaller groups as a side program it’s really who we are. In fact, more people are involved in smaller groups than come to our Sunday worship gathering. With this decentralized model in mind, our challenge was to have a vision that compels everyone, including those who feel strong identity to their small group, but not necessarily a strong identity to the larger group of Harvest.

The vision process involved getting everyone in small groups and big groups involved in praying for the Lord to show us a clear vision, and that the elder group would be able to see that vision clearly. The elders went away on an extended retreat. What came out of that process was a clear understanding that our focus should be to “take church to the people” rather inviting people to “come to church.” We distilled what that meant in the following paragraph:

“It is the vision of Harvest to take Jesus and the church to relationships, families, communities, and people groups… prayer by prayer, conversation by conversation, connection by connection, friend by friend, group by group. We envision every adult and child bringing God’s new life into one relationship every year, reproducing Christ’s love in all walks of life. In the next five years we would expect that everyone throughout this area could see a picture of Jesus among their personal relationships. In short, we envision taking Church to the People!”

So far, the vision has been received well. There is excitement. And, even the folks who are in small groups, but not part of the bigger group worship are starting to get it and see themselves as part of the vision. A fresh vision really does bring life and order. (Prov. 29:18)

Exciting Updates

2008 is a year of good transitions for SmallGroups.com. SmallGroups.com is already under the umbrella of Christianity Today International (see the Special Announcement ), and as the year progresses you will read and see more and more resources this ministry alliance will make available to you. This month (January) SmallGroups.com is able to offer a $20 coupon for any paid membership registration at SmallGroups.com. This $20 coupon code is good for any small group training downloads available at www.BuildingSmallGroups.com.

Then, starting in February 2008, every monthly online magazine at SmallGroups.com will also include a free training download from BuildingSmallGroups.com. This is like an extra value of $10-$25 PER MONTH just for having a paid SmallGroups.com membership. And things are just getting started--many more tools and resources are to come!

Prepping for Small Group Gatherings

Like many small groups, our group has not met “normally” for a couple of weeks through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. It’s after breaks like this that I am reminded about my own preparation routines prior to small group gatherings. When we are meeting every week, I don’t think about my preparation routine so much as I “just do it.” But after a break from the routine, it gives me the opportunity to evaluate the way I prepare for our small group gatherings. Am I praying enough? Have I connected with our group members in between our regular gatherings? Do I have a purpose in mind for our next group gathering? Have I prepared the agenda sufficiently to know what we will do and yet still be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading? Is it time to remind our group of our vision (to reach out, to multiply, etc.)?

There are many “things” to consider when preparing for gatherings. It’s helpful from time to time to consider what those “things” need to be. Small Group Consultant Jim Egli has a new blog called Small Group Confessions where he shares some of his own small group preparation and thoughts about small group ministry. I would encourage you to check it out.

Take the opportunity at the beginning of this new year to consider your group gathering preparation routine and take it to a new level in 2008!

A Group Gut Check

Each member of our small group did the U.I.O.F. assessment a few weeks ago. As a collective group we were low in the areas of outreach (“O” in the UIOF assessment) and new leader development/multiplication (“F” in the UIOF assessment). What we discovered was that most of our small group was comfortable in their relationships with God and others, but we weren’t going anywhere as a group. We weren’t reaching new people and we weren’t growing closer to multiplying leaders or new groups. As the leader, this is a concern! And, as someone who is supposed to know a little about small group ministry, it was gut check time for me. Perhaps I had been in denial, or at least making excuses as to why we had been stuck for as long as we had. But the reality is that myself and the rest of the group hadn’t owned the fact that we were stuck,…until we did the assessment together. It all just reinforces the importance of regular intentional evaluation. It was a wake-up call for us and now we are putting some energy into turning this thing around!

If you feel like you could use some assessment help, check out some online small group evaluation resources .

Developing Vision

We are getting ready to embark on a fresh endeavor of vision discernment in our local church. I’m part of the leadership team that will be trying to hear from God about where our local church is headed. We are taking several steps to discover a renewed vision including: bringing in an outside consultant to help us with evaluation (we are using Easum, Bandy, and Assoc. staff), clarifying what original vision is still intact, and setting aside generous portions of time in a retreat setting to hear from God as a team.

As a leadership team, we each have individually acknowledged we have different levels of “vision ability.” That is some of us don’t consider ourselves “visionary.” For church leaders and small group leaders that don’t easily see a vision for where God is leading their church or group, there are some things that can help people to develop a vision even when they are not a visionary. Kevin Miller of Christianity Today International has some practical ideas for those who consider themselves non-visionaries.

Here are six ways that mortals like us can see where a group needs to go:
1. Tie in to a bigger vision that's already in place. First, ask, "Do I even need to come up with a complete vision from scratch?" Chances are, you don't need to. In most situations, a leader earlier on or higher up has already set a vision, and you can tie what you're doing into that.
2. Pray and wait on God. This is what most Christians think of when they think of "getting a vision."
3. Gather a group and jointly develop a vision. When I used to take on a new role at work or church, I would (a) gather a group, (b) cast my vision for this area, (c) see who got on board with the vision.
4. Listen to the people you want to help. You don't have to be great at coming up with vision, if you're willing to listen to the people you want to help. If you listen well, people will tell you what they really need. In other words, the people you want to serve help set your vision.
5. Stay in your gifts and let them guide you. The idea here is that God has already shown you much of what he wants you to do in life by the way he made you. So ask yourself, "What has God given me? What passions? What skills? What opportunities? What concerns?"
6. Solve some problem right in front of you. Often vision is born by passing through the narrow and dark birth canal of problems. You see the problem, and you start to work on it. You don't necessarily feel inspired or see lights. All you are doing is trying to solve some problem right in front of you. But later, everyone else says, "What a great vision!"
>Bringing your vision to fulfillment. Once you've got your vision, through one or more of the six ways listed above, do something with it. Some people don't like the word "vision" because they've seen it stand for "lots of hype and nothing happens." To avoid hype, dedicate yourself to fulfilling your vision. In Acts 20:24, the apostle Paul says, "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me."

Taken from Developing a Vision when your not a Visionary-Christianity Today International