Podcast appearances and mentions of steve gladen

Sign up for the Lobby Gathering: Small Group Conference May 13-15th in Southern California at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/Food and lodging are included! Spring Cleaning for Small Group Ministry: The 5 Ks with Steve GladenIn this episode of FG Squared, Steve Gladen, the global pastor of small groups from Saddleback Church, shares insights from his 25+ years of experience to help listeners enhance their small group ministries. Joined by Derek, Steve discusses 'The 4 Ks of Small Group Ministry Spring Cleaning': Kinship with leaders, Keeping clean data, Knowing your playbook, Kindling leadership, and Kicking spiritual butt. They emphasize the importance of building deeper relationships with leaders, maintaining accurate data, ensuring everyone understands the group's playbook, fostering leadership pathways, and ultimately achieving ministry victories. Tune in for practical advice to rejuvenate your small group ministry.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:25 Personal Updates and Moving Challenges01:46 Spring Cleaning in Small Group Ministry03:02 The Four Ks of Small Group Ministry03:20 Kinship with Leaders07:42 Keep Clean Data10:50 Know Your Playbook12:50 Kindle Leadership16:56 Final Thoughts and The Fifth K18:30 Conclusion and Farewell ★ Support this podcast ★

Equipping Small Group Leaders: Insights from Saddleback ChurchIn this episode of SG Squared, Steve Gladen, the global pastor of small groups at Saddleback Church, shares his extensive experience to encourage and equip small group leaders. The episode includes the 'Saddleback Scoop,' highlighting the church's shift from fruitfulness to faithfulness, an approach to combat COVID-induced depletion by focusing on all four aspects of personal refreshment: physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. The 'Network Nugget' segment introduces Saddleback's first online training course, Align, and discusses its positive impact on participants. Additionally, the podcast touches on new course releases, upcoming events, and the importance of maintaining various forms of personal well-being. The show wraps up with a focus on five emotional refreshments essential for small group leaders and members: support, stability, self-expression, significance, and satisfaction.00:00 Welcome to F G Squared00:19 The Saddleback Scoop: Refreshment and Recalibration07:03 Network Nugget: Align Learning and Cohort Strategy13:42 Leadership Learning: The Replenishment Cycle21:45 Trending Topic: Five Emotional Refreshments32:08 Closing Remarks and Resources ★ Support this podcast ★

This episode is a very special cross post from the Group Answers podcast. We are sharing in honor of the passing of Chris Surratt, a friend and brother in Christ who has impacted thousands of small group point people around the world. Thanks for taking the time to listen, and don't forget to check out Group Answers podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.Original Description:On this episode of Group Answers, Chris talks to Steve Gladen about why we should go after hard and soft data to know if our small groups are healthy and creating disciples. Steve Gladen has been the pastor of small groups at Saddleback Church since 1998 and serves as an elder of the church. The post Group Answers Episode 235: Steve Gladen on Knowing Hard and Soft Data in Your Small Group Ministry appeared first on Adult Ministry.CLICK HERE to read the report from Lifeway Research about the state of groups. ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve shares the four key steps that you will want to follow for a successful and strategic 2025 in regards to your small group ministry.  You don't want to miss this episode!BOOK: Planning Small Groups with Purpose ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and co-host Derek sit down to continue reading and answering the top small group mail bag questions sent in by small group point people and ministry leaders. You don't want to miss this episode!SHOWNOTESMail Bag Questions 13-1813 How do we get previously existing groups to become “official” Small Groups so we can include them on our website and app?  They are nomads and we love to start walking beside them.14 What's one thing you would do differently if you could go back to your first day over groups?15 How do we create a church culture of groups?16 Top tips for getting long-time groups to multiply17 What is the outcome or “win” of a group?18 Can Adult Sunday School work with small groups? ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and co-host Derek sit down to continue reading and answering the top small group mail bag questions sent in by small group point people and ministry leaders. You don't want to miss this episode!SHOW NOTESMail Bag Questions 8-128 Who is doing ESL as a small group?9 I wish I had known the importance of having the right coaches in place...any tips?10 What is the biggest mistake you made?11 What's the one thing you would tell yourself as someone new to ministry regarding groups?12 How to get/grow more leaders?Re-imagine Coaching Episode  ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and co-host Derek sit down to read and answer the top small group mail bag questions sent in by small group point people and ministry leaders. You don't want to miss this episode!Mail Bag Questions 1-71 What advice would you give to someone brand new to vocational ministry?2 What is key to moving from good and high participation to great and highly effective in your groups.3 How do you navigate creating a small group culture if senior leadership isn't on board?4 How to encourage attendance after a busy work day?5 How do you best prioritize time and energy with ministry friends?6 Starting healthy! I am from a church plant and want to establish firm foundations as we look to continue the process of growing more into the likeness of Christ in community! Help.7 What % of regular worshippers being in small groups is typical?Check out the The Lobby Conference ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve & co-host Deek talk about 20 ways that you can honor and celebrate the leaders in your ministry this groups season.This is a rebroadcast episode ★ Support this podcast ★

Would you like to know about ten unique ways that your small group can evangelize together? Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and Dereksit down with special guest Kiersten Telzerow to discuss ten innovative ways that small groups can break out beyond the walls to share the good news with people in their community. 10 Ways Your Group Can Evangelize Kiersten - Groups Pastor @ NCC in DCDMIN: Wholistic Discipleship– passionate about ways that groups can engage in mission on a regular basis– being the hands and feet of ChristDo the leg work up front– don't just sign your group up for something - because then everyone will feel like they have to do it and that's not mission ;) Of first time Health Assessment takers 87% evangelism is self selected as lowSet up Personal, Local and GlobalPersonal—1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (Plant, Water, and Harvest)Local/Global—Homa and Away Teams Don't overcomplicate it- first and foremost- don't try to put a 1-week overseas trip on the calendar for all 15 people in your small group- never say never, but the likelihood is that may not happen.Keep it simple and consistent- if we know those who experience the greatest transformation in community in a small group- why wouldn't we believe the same to be true of mission? The more we keep showing up– the easier it gets. It's like flexing a muscle. If we don't have the gift of mercy or evangelism- it can be harder to flex this muscle- so start with something easy.Pray about & strategize it- What's one of the areas that's a great need? Is there a local cause that is close to the church or your small group? Are there places that a group could rotate so maybe it doesn't work on everyone's schedule all at once, but you can take shifts. Serving 2 Saturdays/month.Find what people are passionate about– leverage strengths/ gifts in group. & the most important thing is do it together– model it together, live it out- express the Gospel through our lifestyle/everyday living. Practically speaking:Prayer Walk- Reimagine mission – what that could look like in your group– prayer walk your neighborhood or around your church. Every summer our groups engage in 40 days of prayer walks- in their neighborhoods, at their workplaces, etc. Prayer walking is still living on mission! **Have everyone in your group be praying for 3 people consistently in their sphere of influence.See if your group can “adopt” a cause like taking turns providing respite care to families who are fostering or every year your group puts together shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.Food- Make lunches for homeless friends- if that doesn't already exist- make that a small group! Or, every other week I'm a part of a reconciliation lunch at our Dream Center and I'll bring people with me– listening to people's stories is a way of partnering with Jesus- doing what He did wherever we go.Evangelize in your own neighborhood–(together or individually) If you all live in the same community- ask what you can do in your community. Several of our group members all live in the same area and so we realized there was a gap of a chaplain down at our police precinct- one day we had an incident in the neighborhood and I just said hey I'm a pastor, I live over here- if there's anything I can do please let me know… there's several of us from the same church in the area if anyone needs anything.Never underestimate the small- hidden things. Our small group is made up of bakers- we are always baking things, giving them away, etc. So one time we made a batch of cookies with invites to Easter services attached. I thought- small things- maybe it'll cheer a neighbors day up. Everyone in the group can do this wherever they live- but just deliver goods to neighbors on a regular basis- you never know the difference. Recently I had a neighbor I've been praying for, and she came up to me and said I just needed you to know the difference you made by dropping off those sweets- I'd like to go to church with you one day if that's possible. I was floored- over a batch of cookies.Neighborhood block party.  Invite your group host home to had a block party (or someone else in your group if thats better) to invite their street to a block party.  Either the group, the church, whoever can sponsor it and have a gathering.  This is a great way to live for Jesus in front of lost peopleWrite out your 1-, 3- and 10-minutes testimony and share it with your small group.Identify your One Life who doesn't know Christ and share with the group what stage you are at with them (plant, water, or harvest) and your next step.Have a party with your small group and invite your One Life(s). Let them see Christians having fun.Explore people different than you, attend an ethic mom and pop restaurant and learn about their culture. ★ Support this podcast ★

Would you like to know about ten unique ways that your small group can worship together? Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and Dereksit down with special guest Troy Kennedy to discuss ten innovative ways that small groups can worship together.10 Ways to Worship in Your Small Group Brief discussion on definition of worship. Three questions to prompt response: Who is he? Who am I in relationship to Him? What has he done? 10 Ways to Worship in a Small Group - For the leaders - Before and during the worship time, always pray for God's guidance and presence to be felt among the group. Ask for wisdom in leading the group in worship. Every group dynamic is different and needs to be treated sensitively. Sing along with a favorite worship song with the text. Afterwords, discuss which parts of this song were most powerful or meaningful to you. After everyone has shared, sing along with it again. Read a passage of scripture (Start with John 15)  then offer gratitude prayer through what you discovered as a group.Festoon a passage of scripture - start with Psalm 23 (define "festoon")As a group read The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 - Articulate to one another different sections in your own words. "Our father" "in heaven" "holy is your name" "for Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever, and ever." Use your own perspective on what these phrases are applied in your life right now.Read Revelation 4 & 5's scene from heaven then respond to what you read with one another.Pick a story from one of the gospels involving Jesus. (A good place to start is Luke 10:38-41) Read the passage through together. Then instruct everyone to imagine themselves in the story themselves. Who are they? What does it feel like? What time of day is it? What are the smells? Etc.… Have someone else then read the passage again, slowly, while everyone else is imagining themselves in it. Afterwords have group members share who they were in the passage, describing in detail, what day heard, saw and felt.Everyone write down 10 things, however, great or small, they are grateful for. And when everyone is done, offer prayers of gratitude in the form of popcorn prayer.After a reading from the Psalms enjoy a time of contemplative prayer using silence. Set a timer for 2 to 5 minutes. And during that silence have everyone focus on the goodness of God. Try to visualize yourself sitting quietly with Jesus across from you in the room. How is he looking at you? How does that make you feel? After this time of contemplation, share the experience, however, beneficial or awkward, it might have been.Read Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10-17. Then listen to or sing along with a favorite worship song in the group. Afterwords, go back to Ephesians 6, and identify which parts of the armor of God the song best represents.Have someone share a story in their faith journey where God came through for them. They may have been healed of some kind of malady. They may have had a relationship that was healed. They have felt protected in some way, etc.… while the group is listening to their story, have everyone write down three characteristics of God best exemplified in that story. Afterwords, share with one another your observations. And then offer a prayer of thanksgiving for God's character as it is revealed in that person's story.Have everyone go on some sort of hike or outing to a beautiful outdoor location. Enjoy God's majesty in nature and spend some time prayerfully thanking him as a group for what you see. Expand the worship experience by including elements like communion, foot washing, different body postures (kneeling, hands raised, eyes lifted up etc…) ★ Support this podcast ★

Would you like to know about ten unique ways that your small group can serve your church and community? Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and Derek sit down with special guest Jon Laster, small group pastor from Spring Hill, TN to discuss ten innovative ways that small groups can mobilize to serve people.10 Ways Your Group Can Serve Groups serving other areas of ministry in the local church is life giving, and fuel for what God wants to do in your local congregation! 1 - Talk to your Pastoral Staff and ask them what areas they feel needs the most attention in your local church.  This can be basic cleaning, outreach, etc.  I believe it's the best place to start on where you can serve as a group.   2 - Serve those in your group.  Whether someone needs their lawn cut during a busy season of life, or just a 45 min coffee meeting to check in on them and their family. 3 - Serve your local police and fire department.  These are groups that are often are carrying a heavy load and it's a great way for the local body to serve and encourage them. Pizza and subs go a long way! :)  4 - Find a street in your community and serve the community by doing clean up together. 5 - Sponsor a block party in someone's neighborhood and serve your neighbors lunch or dinner.  This leads to a great time of connection. 6 - Gather and pray for your local church and leaders.  There is never not a good time to do this.  Church leadership is carrying a heavier load than a lot of people realize and one of the best ways to serve others is to pray for them. 7 - Serve together at local food pantries, or homeless shelters.  Find local opportunities outside the walls of your church to be the church. 8 - Find a way to serve your Kids, Teens, Worship, etc. Departments in your church. Whether it's helping with snacks, prayer, set up, clean up, etc.  Serve the upcoming generation! 9 – Connect with a city official and see what they did help in that your group(s) can help. 10 - Serve your local churches vision. This might look a little different for each church, but find ways to serve and carry out your local church's vision together as a group. ★ Support this podcast ★

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country.workshopsquarterly coachingpremium articleslive digital events. All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Check out the Simple Faith podcast with Rusty George, the lead pastor at Crossroads Christian Church. Rusty and the Simple Faith podcast are doing a brand new limited experience in the month of June called, "Friend of God"This is a sneak peek at the first of the 40 episode series, for the full series, look for "Simple Faith With Rusty George" on your favorite podcast app or by clicking here: http://www.pastorrustygeorge.comThis first episode: Ever thought about what it means to be "the one Jesus loves"? In today's devotional, we're kicking off our series with a deep dive into this incredible concept. John faced unimaginable trials, yet he defined himself by Jesus' love. Join me as we explore how viewing ourselves as loved by Jesus can reshape our identity and transform our daily lives.About Rusty: Rusty George is the Lead Pastor at Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie. Under his dedicated leadership, Crossroads Christian Church aspires to flourish as a vibrant community committed to guiding individuals in their journey to discover and follow the path of Jesus.Beyond leading Crossroads Church, Rusty is a global speaker, leader and teacher focusing on making real life simple. Rusty has also written several books and can be heard weekly on his podcast, Leading Simple with Rusty George.Aside from being a loyal Chiefs, Royals, and Lakers fan, Rusty is first and foremost committed to his family. Rusty has been married to his wife, Lorrie, for over twenty-five years, and they have two daughters, Lindsey and Sidney. As a family, they enjoy walking the dogs, playing board games together, and watching HGTV while Rusty watches ESPN on his iPad. ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Would you like to know the basics of starting a small group ministry? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve shares his timeless and commonsense keys to launching & building healthier small groups. Download the fill ins:1. The Saddleback Small Group Difference2. How To Start A Small Group Ministry ★ Support this podcast ★

Do you need more small group leaders? How would you like to see an exponential increase of volunteers stepping up to serve in your church? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve shares his timeless and commonsense keys to building healthier small groups. In this episode titled "The Saddleback Small Group Difference," Steve shares 7 transferable keys that Saddleback church has used to build one of the largest and healthiest small group ministries. You are not going to want to miss this episode!Download notes HERE ★ Support this podcast ★

This month's episode features a panel conversation between Steve Gladen, Dave Enns from North Coast, Rick Howerton from Lakepointe Church, and moderation by Carolyn Taketa. Join us as we listen in to their discussion on their decades of small group experience while at the Lobby Gathering small group conference and retreat in San Juan Capistrano. ★ Support this podcast ★

To sign up for the Lobby Gathering, head over to https://smallgroupnetwork.com/events Your registration includes the event, lodging, and most meals. Plus a cohort like Dr. Bill Donahue's! We can't wait to see you there on February 20-22nd!Do you need more small group leaders? How would you like to see an exponential increase of volunteers stepping up to serve in your church? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve shares his timeless and commonsense keys to building healthier small groups. In this episode titled "Think critically: accomplish more with less," Steve shares 8 ways to accomplish more with less in your small group ministry. You are not going to want to miss this episode! ★ Support this podcast ★

To sign up for the Lobby Gathering, head over to https://smallgroupnetwork.com/events Your registration includes the event, lodging, and most meals. Plus a cohort like Dr. Bill Donahue's! We can't wait to see you there on February 20-22nd!Today's episode comes from a small group conference at Saddleback Church. The session speaker is Dr. Bill Donahue as he shares about how to create an environment for spiritual growth in small groups. Dr. Donahue is one of the most well respected and accomplished speakers and small group practitioners, having written several books and taught at the collegiate level. He also is a coach and leads cohorts at the small group network. To learn more about small groups, or to share your own small group ministry experience, find Steve Gladen and others at https://smallgroupnetwork.com, our facebook group, or join our community at https://go.smallgroupnetwork.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, pastor of small groups at Saddleback Church visits London to interview Nicky Gumbel, Vicar, Holy Trinity Brompton, and Pioneer of the Alpha Course.Nicky and his wife Pippa have impacted millions throughout the world with the Alpha course. Steve talks through what goes into an Alpha course and what makes it effective with Nicky. To learn more about small groups, or to share your own small group ministry experience, find Steve Gladen and others at https://smallgroupnetwork.com, our facebook group, or join our community at https://go.smallgroupnetwork.com ★ Support this podcast ★

The episode features Steve Gladen who, leveraging his extensive experience of over 25 years, offers insights on leading small group ministry in churches. He addresses the common misconception of people fearing evangelism, emphasizing how the experience fundamentally transforms when done as a group. Gladen shares practical strategies to equip small groups in spreading the gospel, growing the church and leading people to Jesus. He also underscores the importance of sharing starts with caring and the role of curriculum strategy in successful evangelism. ★ Support this podcast ★

Do you need more small group leaders? How would you like to see an exponential increase of volunteers stepping up to serve in your church? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by co-host Derek and special guest Mike Hinkle - author of the new book "Treasure Hunt." Mike shares his timeless and commonsense keys to building a successful sales career - all of which will be relevant to you as a small group ministry leader! You are not going to want to miss this episode!SHOWNOTESwww.michaelhinkle.comTo enter the contest, leave a comment about this episode on this post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SGNContact/posts/6772166222879217/  ★ Support this podcast ★

Do you need more small group leaders? How would you like to see an exponential increase of volunteers stepping up to serve in your church? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by co-host Derek and special guest pastor William Johnston of Saddleback church  who shares his top tried and true keys to creating a healthy ministry and staff culture. You are not going to want to miss this episode!Will's Notes Introduction Our secular work culture has largely influenced our workplace interactions Secular work culture shapes us in certain values Escapism: Working for the weekend. My real life starts when I leave work. Individualistic Results: My personal results are the upmost sign of success. Passive responsibility: I am just going to take care of what I need to do. We hand over ownership and leadership completely to a senior leader because we do not want deal with something or we are just lazy. The buck never stops with us      C.  Quickly provide alternatives God wants our whole life to reflect him and flow together. While we can turn off our ministry as work minds. We live on mission for Jesus in all facets of life. We often do not know how to measure success well in church because it is challenging to quantify but our goal is for the Church, the Body of Christ to flourish, for people to meet Jesus, grow to spiritual maturity, serve other and live on mission for him. If it becomes my niche ministry or idea taking off, then we've missed it. Lastly, in the body of Christ we all have responsibility to each other and to live as God has created us. We have interactive mechanisms in our body that course correct when we are sick or even when we trip on shoe. It is the same in the body of Christ     II.  One of the symptom of these values is challenging or decaying staff cultures  A large part of our jobs are people and the largest portion of time is spent with our staff. We are all different people with different personalities, strengths and weaknesses, hobbies, and work ideals. There is nothing new about people not getting along. Even Paul and Barnabus reached a point where they were like “Ya, I think I'm good”       B. We all want to enjoy our place of work.  We all want to enjoy the people we work with but it is hard.  III.    Who is to blame? If you are waiting for someone to make your workplace enjoyable, you are 50% of the problem. If you are sitting back, waiting, and complaining about what other people are not doing for you without doing anything about it, you are part of the problem. “We want our lead pastor to set the tone” “We want the denomination to do this” “If the board of directors said this” We think of certain people in authority as the one with the sole responsibility for our staff dynamics instead of thinking about our staff as something we have an equal part in. If your staff culture is poor, you are a piece of that pie. IV.  How do we course correct when we are not in the head chair? We need to reflect on: What do we want in a workplace? and What are steps I can do to help us get there?  What things would you enjoy in your workplace and begin doing them?       B. There are some simple questions that I believe lead to crawl steps in building a staff that turns into a family. If we as ourselves this set of questions weekly, our staff culture will begin improving immediately. How can I make this time more fun, memorable, intentional? How much time am I spending with each staff member? When was the last time I ate a meal with each staff member in a setting of 4 or less people? When was the last time I asked them about their family? How much time am I in communal spaces or around other staff? When was the last time I followed up on something we talked about recently? What does each staff member want from our relationship?  When was the last time I encouraged each staff member?        C. Walk Step Ideas Have an onboarding strategy for new staff. Taking them out to eat or bringing lunch in Every week checking in on questions they have Inviting them and their spouse over for food or a game night Know everyone's favorite drink Know their bdays and their family members Bdays Individualized BDay gifts Show up to something that matters to them       D. Run Steps Relationship study about the correlation of long lasting relationship and unique joint experiences Grand openings Community Events V. Building Trust with a Supervisor The Basics I typically hear people who want trust or an in with their senior leader to share challenges We don't think they are doing something correctly They are not taking our ideas       2.   We do not begin with the right intentions. We connect because we want something This is never a ploy! If someone takes any of the next steps for their own gain instead of enjoying the people God has placed in your life. It will not be successful. These things done without a heart that sincerely wants to know the other person will probably leave you in the same situation.This is the difference between leading up and sucking up Trust with a senior leader begins with a basic friendship I.  Well that is easy. And the answer to that thought is yes it is easyIt is interesting that most people in our churches desire time and closeness to the senior or lead pastor but when we get on a church staff and are a couple chairs down the table we stop taking initiative and believe everything should be initiated by that senior leader.So we sit back and wait for our senior leader to initiate and then become frustrated when our relationship does not look the way we want it. B. Making Changes In the conversation about building good staff relationship I gave clear next steps I believe a healthy and sustainable relationship with your senior leader is more about posture. Questions that lead us to the right posture When was the last time you prayed for your campus pastor? When was the last time you asked about their kids? When was the last time you asked them out for dinner? When was the last time you asked if there is something you could take off their plate? When was the last time you just talked with no agenda? When was the last time you texted them about something happening in their life? C. Hard Conversations1. People are probably thinking “ok, now can I have a hard conversation with my supervisor?”2.        We always need to ask ourselves a set of questions before a conversation with a superior where we want to express concern, frustration, or challenges.       a. When was the last time you encouraged them?       b. Are my emotions pure or am I mad because… i. They shot down my idea. ii. Spend more time with another staff member Iii. something is going on at home and I do not have a healthy outlet for it.      c. Am I ok being wrong?3.  Fear If you care about your church, you have to be willing to be honest I understand that their are unhealthy leaders out there who do not welcome feedback or tough conversations but I have seen bitterness build up in people and lead to burnout because they did not have one tough conversation that ended up building and building with their senior leader never knowing there was an issue to start with. I try to believe the best in people and sincerely hope that if someone is in ministry and in a lead role that they will appreciate your care for the church and when you have a strong relationship built with that leader they will know the intent and trust the words you share.        4. ResponsibilityIn many our circles as small group people we are close to the top of leadership. It is our duty to protect our lead pastor. We always have to have their backs. And sometimes that means having hard conversations       5. ClosingLeading up is not getting your way or making your rise to the top. It is about caring for your church and caring for your leader. If you commit yourself to loving those two things, your church will be a better place. ★ Support this podcast ★

Do you need more small group leaders? How would you like to see an exponential increase of volunteers stepping up to serve in your church? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by co-host Derek and special guest John Shin (One of the Connections Pastors at Saddleback Church) who shares his 8 Steps to Successful Recruiting. You are not going to want to miss this episode!https://smallgroupnetwork.comNotes: 8 Steps to Successful Recruiting1) Write down your pain points (your needs for ministry volunteers)2) Think beyond the norm and get creative3) Pain Levels from Easy, Need, and Pain (and describing each level)4) Special Tip—Think about behind the scenes ministry (no interaction with people and ministry that involves lots of people engagement. You should try to recruit everyone and anyone to your ministry)5) 4 Step practical plan to recruit- Talk to people you know- Find out what they enjoy and don't enjoy- Focus on their passion (No matter what they say here, get them to serve with you. Make up a role for them)- Recruit person for 1 time help or opportunity6 Always say thank you to your volunteers (cards, gifts, meals). Show appreciation7 Don't let them get bored. Create a development pathway. Some volunteers maybe can take on more responsibility and leadership roles.8 Set a deadline to recruit. Nothing happens without deadlines ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by co-host Derek and special guests Mark Grunden and Ron Kelleher to talk about 5 Steps to Creating a Workplace Ministry:1 Cast a vision2 Create a leadership team3 Convene a launch event4 Compile study resources5 Continue with trainingShownotes:saddleback.com/workplaceworklifebiblestudy.orgMark Grunden / markg@saddleback.comRon Kelleher / RonK@saddlebackvolunteer.com5 Steps to Starting a Workplace Ministry at your Church ★ Support this podcast ★

You can download your planner HERE and the church planner HERECheck out the videos referenced in the podcast HEREEveryone's got excuses... and here are 5 of the most common. But if you are hearing one (or all) of these excuses in your small group ministry, how should you respond? Listen to Steve's talk from the Purpose Driven Small Groups conference to get prepared for the next time you hear an excuse.For more great resources check out https://smallgroupnetwork.comAnd to connect with Steve Gladen as well as other small group pastors from around the world, check out https://go.smallgroupnetwork.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by co-host Derek and special guest Matt Hamilton (who has 35 years of Tech Sales experience at 7 global companies) to talk about 7 ways CRM can Improve Discipleship. In this episode we break down the following:  High Level Perspective Personalized Service Central Repository of Information, accessible and sharable Data Insights Time is Our Most Precious Commodity Continual Improvement – adapt or die Soul Food – nurturing relationships that foster growth and positive impact SHOW NOTES:1. High Level Perspective: - We're all in sales - it's just a question of "what's the product?"  - Clear vision & benefit statement - don't make people guess  - Concise, positive, fun, high energy, memorableEveryone's favorite subject: Themselves!! The more you know about them, the more impactful & engaging you will be. God's tool to move them beyond themselves-Small Groups (our product) - to fill the spiritual void they have from a broken relationship with God. Small Groups bring back (read Acts 2:42-47) community, Biblical knowledge, personal development (Discipleship), serving, evangelism and worship2. Personalized Service   Our world demands real time interaction with deep personalization   Personalization = You Care / You Understand Me = Credibility   Credibility is critical in a noisy, misguided world 3. Central Repository of Information, accessible and sharable    A good memory is great but it isn't transferable or scalable (institutional Knowledge)   One source of information for all team members to access   Requires thoughtfulness on the required fields vs. optional fields Start small, think in terms of the bare essentials or Minimum Viable Product Too Much Information or Layout / Architecture = can drown the initiative Shared information shows competence, increases confidence & greatly improves customer experiences 4. Data Insights Ability to spot trends - very powerful in driving outcomes Move from reactive to proactive - address issues earlier  Cohorts & Patterns - ability to compare outcomes & experiences over time Increase personalization and value to customers / people Competitive advantage - data can bring knowledge & knowledge is gold 5. Time is Our Most Precious Commodity  Use it wisely & maximize impact  Don't waste other people's time - they will reward you through avoidance  Learn through data analysis how to improve time management - adjust regularly  Serve people with the method they prefer, it's not about what you want or like  Focus on building the perfect day & week (activities done every day / week) Don't let things slip - if a day is subpar, make it up the following day 6. Continual Improvement - adapt or die   Static approaches die no matter how great they are  The world is changing, people are changing and the approach has to stay current Data analysis will spot trends, help reveal required adjustments and highlight areas of application (who or where I need to apply the adjustments) 7. Soul Food - nurturing relationships that foster growth and positive impact  People are attracted to ideas & other people that have a positive impact on them  Align the interaction to provide value / positive impact with every touch  Feedback is essential and needs to be regular from a diverse group  Try to score or grade user experience or engagement - If you don't measure it, it's very difficult to monitor performance and spot changes (good or bad) ★ Support this podcast ★

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!A panel discussion on how to overcome the typical barriers of getting new leaders, and how to identify, invite, and recruit new people to lead groups. Group Talk Podcast Panelists: Bill Search - Author of "Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders" and "Simple Small Groups" and serves as Executive Pastor of Ministries at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City, OK Mark Kendall - Small Groups Pastor at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, MN and also serves as the North Central Regional Leader for the Small Group Network. Tommy Carreras - Tommy oversees care and community at Mission Church in Ventura, CA and helps to lead the Ventura County Small Group Network "Huddle."  ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!A lot has changed since Creating Community, by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits was published 16 years ago describing the North Point Church's vision and strategies for group life. New realities, cultural shifts, technological changes, sociological dynamics, and organizational challenges have caused us to reevaluate our assumptions and strategies about small groups ministries. Listen to Bill share North Point's learnings and how we can adapt strategically and creatively for a thriving small groups ministry today.  Guest: Bill Willits is the Executive Director of Adult Ministry Environments for North Point Ministries (NPM). One of the founding staff members of North Point, Bill is a graduate of Florida State University and Dallas Theological Seminary. He is also the co-author of the book, Creating Community with Andy Stanley, which was re-released in an updated and expanded edition in July, 2021. He and his team have helped connect thousands of adults into the benefits of group life.   ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Guests:  From Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, CA  Britt Vargas, High School Ministry Director - brittany.vargas@calvarywestlake.org Connor Johnson, Middle School Pastor - connor.johnson@calvarywestlake.org    https://calvarywestlake.org/middle-school/  https://calvarywestlake.org/high-school/    How do we disciple the next generation through small groups?   Why have student small groups?  What do you look for in student group leaders?  How do you train leaders of various ages and life experiences?  How to connect and develop effective student groups?   How do you handle complicated messy life issues that affect students such as the LGBTQ issues and self-harming behaviors?  ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

In this episode, Steve Gladen breaks down 5 areas where ministry leaders can re-imagine how they do coaching for their groups ministry. The following is what will specifically be covered in this show:History of Coaching Staff or volunteers Serve in one Help in another Saddleback's history—building upon, keeping best of… 1.0 version (1998)1:5—I could recruit faster than our growth 2.0 version (2005)—why it changed, it was broken 1:25 paid Introduced not equal care, but strategic care 4 Buckets and Reactive/pro active Name changed from Coaches to CL's because of paradigm shift Care 70% Administration, training, connecting 30%, Get in for right reason, but get out for right reason CL Retreats 3.0 Version (2009)—why it changed, it couldn't scale financially 1:25 volunteered, above same Introduced any span of care a CL could do 4.0 Version (2014) why it changed, they weren't sure what to do Introduced the “Starbuck's” green apron more developmental FRIEND LEADER COACH Hard and Soft data collection Skip Level, Trust but Verify 5.0 Version (2017) why it changed, we discovered other factors not giving maximum alignment Introduced the Village concept Alignment 6.0 Version (2021) why it changed, discovered different types of CL's HOST to Leader to CL to Minister CL Course Training Modules Track training (next gen beyond Starbuck's green apron)  5 Areas to Reimagine Coaching  The Ethos (the environment the CL lives in) the family system (w/o parents it is risky) How's the family (you, coaches and Group leaders) Do you know what you are producing—the end in mind The Reason (for the CL) Directive Disciple MAKING—management and guidance, Space flight PSGWP page 201 Tom Landry quote Baseline, Know the health metrics HA & GHA How will you give course corrections (ideas, curriculum, encouragement, etc.) The Process (finding CL's) The Group Leader pathway HOST to Leader to CL (P3) to Minister Competency and Capacity Retreats Introductory Course The Pathway (growing the CL) The Coach engagement pathway to the HOST; FRIEND—LEADER—COACH The Coach's pathway of growth for them SGP guidance Modules Training Course(s) Retreats The Influences (that help the CL)…what I call the Village Share the Village, who's in helping? Who surrounds the Small Group speaking health? People (primary) Small Group Point Person CL or Coach Senior Pastor Processes (secondary) Training Pathway for the leader Tools (HA and GHA) Training Pathway for the CL Newsletter Small Group Weekend Table connection Small Group Website home page Weekend services Leader Retreats and SGH Streaming content (curriculum and training) Social Media Testimonies FAQ's Shownotes:smallgroupnetwork.com/smallgrouphttps://sb-web.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/saddleback.com/connect/smallgroups/9958-SmallGroupsCL-Booklet_Interior_Interactive_092101.pdf ★ Support this podcast ★

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Since evangelism is critical part of discipleship, it is typically a high value for our churches. However, practically speaking, many of our groups do not engage regularly in intentional outreach to nonbelievers. In this episode with Joel Comiskey, we focus on why evangelism helps small groups thrive and how we can empower groups to engage in relational evangelism.Joel is the founder of Joel Comiskey Group and has written numerous books on cell groups-based churches. Joel consults with churches, coaches pastors in small group ministries around the world, and actively leads a life-giving small group. Joel recently published a book with co-author Jim Egli titled, “Groups that Thrive: 8 Surprising Discoveries About Life Giving Small Groups.” ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Guests on the Panel:Bill Search is the author of Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders and Simple Small Groups. Currently serving as Executive Pastor of Ministries at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City.  Heather Lee has served on staff at Crossroads Church in Manteca, California for 12 years and as the Groups Director for the last 4 years. She also serves on the SGN team as the Northern California Regional Leader.  Danny Bias is the Life Groups Champion at Newbreak Church in San Diego since 2014. Currently an blogger/author for the Small Group Network.   ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Most small group ministry leaders would agree that Bible study is a significant part of a small group. Yet, do our groups engage meaningfully with Scripture or are they just bouncing off verses during meetings? How well do we train our group leaders on working through a passage of the Bible and helping members interpret and understand God's Word for themselves? What can we do to increase our engagement with God's Word in groups?  Rev. Dr. Roberta Hestenes: As a pastor, Fuller seminary professor, Christian college president, international speaker, senior pastor and author, Rev. Dr. Roberta Hestenes has been a pioneering leader in Christian ministry 50+ years. She is the author of numerous books and publications including “Using the Bible in Groups” and a Bible commentary on 2 Corinthians and Galatians.  She has lectured at more than 60 universities and seminaries and has received 8 honorary doctoral degrees. During her 15+ years on the theology faculty at Fuller Seminary, she initiated courses on small groups, women in ministry, and how to teach the Bible. She is an an ordained Presbyterian minister who currently serves as a teaching pastor at Bayside Granite Bay Church, near Sacramento. ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Do you "want to want to read the Bible?" Do you or your groups struggle to incorporate Bible reading as a regular habit? We talk with Tara-Leigh Cobble, host of the Bible Recap, a short digest of a daily bible reading. With millions of downloads, Tara Leigh has been enormously influential in helping people love to read and understand the Bible. She also believes that the Bible is best understood in the context of community, alongside one another in groups. So Tara-Leigh founded and leads D-Groups to deepen Biblical understanding, community, and accountability, and she shares how these discipleship groups can work in any church or community environment. Links:  https://www.taraleighcobble.com/https://www.thebiblerecap.com/https://www.taraleighcobble.com/d-grouphttps://www.mydgroup.org/churchAnd of course, don't forget to check out the Small Group Network at https://smallgroupnetwork.com or join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SGNContact  ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

On June 10th, the Faith at Work Summit at Saddleback Church is hosting Fortune 500, Christian executives from Target, Disney, Cisco Systems, Metronic and Capital Group. Each of these speakers are passionate about the integration of faith and work. They are seeing God move in their companies, specifically through Christian fellowships and Small groups in the workplace that they are leading.Are you interested in workplace small groups or fellowship with business-minded Christians? Do you or any of your small group leaders lead a group at their workplace? Then join participants from across the US for this Faith at Work Summit, on Saturday, June 10th.If you're in Southern California you can join this event in-person. It's also simulcasted via zoom and you can watch it live online. You can register for this event at https://Saddleback.com/FaithAtWorkSteve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead more effective small group ministry. In this episode, you will hear an audio recording of Rick Warren talking to the Saddleback church staff about his 10 Principles of Exponential Thinking. Steve Gladen will then breakdown how you can apply these 10 principles to your small group ministry. The following is what will specifically be covered in this show:First – exponential growth is possible.Second – exponential growth is the New Testament model.Third – exponential growth brings honor to God.Fourth – exponential growth captures the attention of the unbelieving world.Fifth – exponential growth is caused by God.Sixth – exponential growth is the result of God's blessing on your life.Seventh – exponential growth makes God smile…in fact, He rewards it.Eighth – the only barrier to exponential growth is our own unbelief.Ninth – the secret of exponential growth is believing God for big things.Finally, Tenth – exponential growth begins with exponential thinking.Choosing Growth over ControlThe Book of Acts is one of the best resources we have to understand the growth of the church during its formative years. A brief read through of this section of Scripture can quickly show us that the church preferred growth over control as they would preach to thousands and then baptize them shortly afterward. As witnessed throughout Acts, explosive growth was a good problem to have, for it established a foundation upon which its teachings could stand upon. Similarly, we too must be okay with the mess that new small groups may create. Instead of focusing primarily on if a new small group leader is maintaining sound theological discourse within their very first meeting, we are challenged to celebrate the fact that Jesus is being discussed at all and that members are coming together to form community. But doesn't bad theology and misinformed teaching create more complication for the kingdom of God? Yes, however just as we see in the Bible, doctrine and teaching was provided shortly after Acts through the writings of the Epistles. Just as how Paul conducted “on-the-job” training via letters to the churches he was mentoring, we too can choose growth first and then later practice the approach of surgically addressing any theological concerns through a consistent roll-out of bite-size trainings.A Culture of GroupsWhile we all wish our congregants would be fully devoted followers of Christ who are consistently serving, attending a small group, and in-the-know of the church calendar at all times, the reality is that many of our churchgoers only step foot onto church grounds for Sunday service (or online for virtual Sunday service). In other words, Sunday morning may in fact be the only shot we have to help promote small groups and/or explain the benefits of small groups. If our churches only mention small groups twice a year at the times when there are coordinated group launches, then this means that the typical church attendee only will hear about small groups 4% of the year (even less if they miss one or both of those two services!). If the church's leadership agrees that small groups are one of the most important ministries within the community, then we become challenged to display the fact that small groups are indeed a part of our church's DNA. To help execute this, some strategies can include: (1) head pastor buy-in (where the senior pastor becomes one of the most vocal proponents of small group ministry and even attends a group themselves); (2) Church calendar events that strategically funnel individuals into newly created groups (and/or church events that don't interfere with the weekdays on which small groups typically meet); or (3) Consistent small group promotion from the pulpit (Not every message needs to be a small group sermon, but every message can contain a shout-out or a 30 second tie-in to small groups).Lowering the BarriersIn a post-Covid world, small group ministries have found themselves challenged to embrace new methods in facilitating and nurturing community. While meeting in-person will always be the ideal method of meeting in groups, what we do know is that the concept of virtual groups is here to stay. During this time that we find ourselves in, what type of group is easy to duplicate, is able to meet both online and in-person, is easily sustainable, and also is easy to lead? As we arrive on the other side of the widespread disruption that Covid-19 had brought with it, sermon discussion groups may very well be the perfect type of “growth over control” group to launch within our church's small group ministry. A sermon discussion guide is not only able to empower anyone to host a group and facilitate engaging conversation, but it also allows what Steve and Dave encouraged us all to practice during last year's Lobby: rather than simply telling our groups what to do, we instead provide for our groups the destination we want them to reach while utilizing the values we want them to use in order to arrive there. Even though a model of sermon discussion groups chooses growth over control, it does so within a framework that provides its groups a set of guardrails within which to operate. In other words, groups are not grown without oversight, but instead are grown within a model that becomes quite appealing to a post-Covid world where both in-person and online groups are meeting on a regular basis. ★ Support this podcast ★

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!"What unites us is much greater than what divides us." This quote by Pope John XXIII is so applicable to this conversation with Kelly Lippenholz from Church of the Nativity - a dynamic Catholic congregation deeply committed to discipleship and community through small groups. Kelly shares about the power of a personal invitation from her own story, how Church of the Nativity developed a new culture of community in a Catholic church context, how they executed very successful group launches, and how they integrated groups as the primary pathway for discipleship. Kelly and her small groups team are valuable members of the Small Group Network and you can interact with them on our Facebook page.  Bio: Kelly Lippenholz began her career in ministry at Church of the Nativity, a parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland when she began volunteering with the Youth Ministry program and leading a small group of 6th grade girls. Those girls are now in college and Kelly is in her 10th year of vocational ministry. She spent six years withYouth Ministry - writing curriculum, delivering messages, planning retreats, and training for 200 Next Gen ministers. A few years ago, she transitioned into her current role at Nativity as Director of Adult Discipleship where she oversees several ministries including small groups, member care, missions, and adult ministry.  ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Guest:  Dr. Bill Donahue Dr. Bill Donahue, Ph.D., focuses his work on building transformational leaders, groups and teams. He is a conference speaker, author and strategic voice in areas of leadership development, community-building, and strategic vision. Bill's work blends his corporate and church experience as he serves clients in both arenas. After 18 years at Willow Creek – at the church and the Association – Bill joined the faculty of Trinity International University and leads the Doctor of Ministry Program there, training over 100 church leaders and pastors. Bill has published or co-authored over a dozen books and training resources for all levels of leadership, including the best-selling Leading Life-changing Small Groups, Coaching Life-Changing Leaders, Building a Life-Changing Small Group Ministry, the DVD training series Making Small Groups Work, and most recently The Irresistible Community.https://drbilldonahue.com/ ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!What are younger generations looking for from churches, small groups, and leaders? What are some unique markers of this generation? What does it look like for them to deconstruct their faith? Join us for this conversation with Saddleback's Development Pastor Dave Alford, who has worked with younger generations for decades both in ministry and higher education to learn how we can better care for, minister to, and engage young adults in our lives, in our churches, on our staffs, and in our communities. Bio: Dave Alford Is Pastor of Leadership Development at Saddleback Church where his team oversees small groups, next steps, interns, and ministries to men, women, and singles. Dave's background includes experience in business, pastoral ministry, and higher education.  Dave also writes, coaches, and speaks about leadership. Dave has a Bachelors degree from UC Davis, an MBA from USC, and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. Show Notes: Contact Dave at  dalford@saddleback.comFor this topic, Dave recommends: The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt (2018) ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually. You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATE And to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by co-host Derek to answer the question "should small groups gather during the summer?" ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/ ★ Support this podcast ★

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!How do you measure the fruitfullnes of small group ministry? How do you decide what metrics to you use? If you or anyone on your team are asking these questions, then you've come to the right place!Bill Willits is the Executive Director of Ministry Environments for North Point Ministries. NPM is the parent organization of six Atlanta churches (Including North Point Community Church) as well as twenty-three strategic partner churches around the world. Bill is one of the founding staff members of North Point and the architect of its influential small groups ministry model. He is also the co-author of the book, "Creating Community" with Andy Stanley. His passion for community along with his amazing team has helped them connect just over 80,000 children, students and adults into the benefits of group life.In this month's “Group Talk” podcast, host Carolyn Taketa interviews Bill and asks him the following questions and more in this exciting interview… How do we know if someone is actually growing in their relationship with Jesus? What are the measurable wins that help us understand if we are really making progress? How do we get people from the rows into circles? What is the typical retention rate for small group leaders? ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!In this week's “Here to There” podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa talks with Daniel about the following topics in this exciting interview… The differences between small group models & finding the right one that fits your church culture What essential qualities to look for in prospective leaders Thinking differently & changing your methods to find new leaders The value of being connected to a network of small group point people The importance of creating easy on ramps when recruiting new leaders ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!If you are interested in learning about how online groups can help you & your church fulfill its mission of reaching the un-churched & making disciples, then you've come to the right place!Jay Kranda is the Online Campus Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. Jay is also the author of "Social Media Made Easy: Inexpensive Online Marketing Guide for Non-Profits".In this month's "Group Talk" podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa talks with Jay about the what, why & how of online small groups! Jay hits on the following topics in this exciting interview… How online groups can be used to reach millennials. The primary benefits of having online groups. When churches should consider launching online groups. How to use Facebook groups to begin experimenting with online groups. What platforms & software to use for online groups. ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Diversity is a beautiful thing. People, cultures, perspectives and ideas come in all shapes, sizes, colors and variations, adding tremendous depth and value the tapestry of life we're all part of. And just like people, cultures, perspectives and ideas, personalities also come in all shapes, sizes, colors and variations. This, too, is a beautiful thing, However, problems tend to surface when we fail to understand and appreciate the diversity of personalities and how that diversity impacts and adds value to our environments, relationships and leadership styles.In this month's Group Talk, Carolyn Taketa talks with Amy Jackson and Tom Kang about learning to understand and appreciate the diversity in personality types and how finding value in the nuances of the various temperaments can help you shape effective ministry environments and experiences. ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually. You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATE And to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by co-host Derek to answer the question "How BIG can a SMALL GROUP get?" ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/ ★ Support this podcast ★

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!In this week's “Here to There” podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa talks with Daniel about the following topics in this exciting interview… The differences between small group models & finding the right one that fits your church culture What essential qualities to look for in prospective leaders Thinking differently & changing your methods to find new leaders The value of being connected to a network of small group point people The importance of creating easy on ramps when recruiting new leaders ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Three Seasons of Ministry: What I Wish I Had KnownPart 3: Sustaining Steve Gladen has served as the Global Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church since 1998. He oversees the strategic launch and development of over 7,000 adult small groups on multiple campuses. Steve has authored “Small Groups With Purpose,” which has translated into eight languages to date, and “Leading Small Groups With Purpose.” Steve is also the Founder of the Small Group Network (SGN) giving influence and oversight to all the SGN initiatives.In part 3 of this 3 part “Group Talk” podcast series, host Carolyn Taketa interviews Steve on the following topics in this exciting interview about 5 things to pay attention to in each season of ministry. How to build a board of directors that can help navigate & sustain life & ministry How to pour into & equip other churches & leaders Learning to trust, yet verify How to be aware of tunnel vision How to stay hungry for the long haul ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Three Seasons of Ministry: What I Wish I Had KnownPart 2: StabilizingSteve Gladen has served as the Global Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church since 1998. He oversees the strategic launch and development of over 7,000 adult small groups on multiple campuses. Steve has authored “Small Groups With Purpose,” which has been translated into eight languages to date, and “Leading Small Groups With Purpose.” Steve is also the Founder of the Small Group Network (SGN) giving influence and oversight to all the SGN initiatives.In part 2 of this 3 part “Group Talk” podcast series, host Carolyn Taketa interviews Steve on the following topics in this exciting interview about 5 things to pay attention to in each season of ministry. Learning to understand and flow with your church culture Creating a blue-print for your ministry and knowing what to focus on Stopping drift and staying true to your metrics Remembering your calling and overcoming insecurities Growing your volunteer leadership team ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually. You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATE And to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by three special guests - Carolyn Taketa, Bill Donahue and Philip Byers to talk about three key ways that leadership coaching can help small group ministry leaders.Shownotes:smallgroupnetwork.com/coachingsmallgroupnetwork.com/pricing Carolyn TaketaCorolyn Taketa Coaching and Consultingcarolyntaketa.comBill DonahueThe LeaderSync Groupdrbilldonahue.comPhilip ByersNorth Coast Churchesbyersp622@me.com ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/ ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, Steve Gladen breaks down 5 areas where ministry leaders can re-imagine how they do coaching for their groups ministry. The following is what will specifically be covered in this show:History of Coaching Staff or volunteers Serve in one Help in another Saddleback's history—building upon, keeping best of… 1.0 version (1998)1:5—I could recruit faster than our growth 2.0 version (2005)—why it changed, it was broken 1:25 paid Introduced not equal care, but strategic care 4 Buckets and Reactive/pro active Name changed from Coaches to CL's because of paradigm shift Care 70% Administration, training, connecting 30%, Get in for right reason, but get out for right reason CL Retreats 3.0 Version (2009)—why it changed, it couldn't scale financially 1:25 volunteered, above same Introduced any span of care a CL could do 4.0 Version (2014) why it changed, they weren't sure what to do Introduced the “Starbuck's” green apron more developmental FRIEND LEADER COACH Hard and Soft data collection Skip Level, Trust but Verify 5.0 Version (2017) why it changed, we discovered other factors not giving maximum alignment Introduced the Village concept Alignment 6.0 Version (2021) why it changed, discovered different types of CL's HOST to Leader to CL to Minister CL Course Training Modules Track training (next gen beyond Starbuck's green apron)  5 Areas to Reimagine Coaching  The Ethos (the environment the CL lives in) the family system (w/o parents it is risky) How's the family (you, coaches and Group leaders) Do you know what you are producing—the end in mind The Reason (for the CL) Directive Disciple MAKING—management and guidance, Space flight PSGWP page 201 Tom Landry quote Baseline, Know the health metrics HA & GHA How will you give course corrections (ideas, curriculum, encouragement, etc.) The Process (finding CL's) The Group Leader pathway HOST to Leader to CL (P3) to Minister Competency and Capacity Retreats Introductory Course The Pathway (growing the CL) The Coach engagement pathway to the HOST; FRIEND—LEADER—COACH The Coach's pathway of growth for them SGP guidance Modules Training Course(s) Retreats The Influences (that help the CL)…what I call the Village Share the Village, who's in helping? Who surrounds the Small Group speaking health? People (primary) Small Group Point Person CL or Coach Senior Pastor Processes (secondary) Training Pathway for the leader Tools (HA and GHA) Training Pathway for the CL Newsletter Small Group Weekend Table connection Small Group Website home page Weekend services Leader Retreats and SGH Streaming content (curriculum and training) Social Media Testimonies FAQ's Shownotes:smallgroupnetwork.com/smallgrouphttps://sb-web.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/saddleback.com/connect/smallgroups/9958-SmallGroupsCL-Booklet_Interior_Interactive_092101.pdf ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve & co-host Derek talk about Evangelism Made Easy for Small Groups.The 6 Fs ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve & co-host Deek talk about 20 ways that you can honor and celebrate the leaders in your ministry this holiday season.Show Notes: smallgroupnetwork.com/lookbook ★ Support this podcast ★