Coach Retreat Summary

Flu is over, Easter was hugely amazing, and now I’m enjoying a breezy & sunny afternoon in New Mexico.  However, in the midst of the tranquil environment I’m plagued by the lack of closure on a few things from my amazing last few weeks.  So, here is the quick summary of the coach’s retreat that you guys will benefit from….

2 Things that the coaches agreed need to be a big push for us in 2008 as we steward God’s blessings for groups here at Journey Church….

1. Group Visioneering is needed to encourage additional participation
   1. Must have consistent vision for ‘effective groups’ throughout
   2. Programs & Resource availability must be purposeful & intentional (not just habit)
   3. Shared vision will be based on telling stories of life change/ improvement in groups
   4. Similar to E-harmony or Cheers…everyone needs a ‘place to belong’
   5. Must speak the same LANGUAGE of groups & benefits of groups
   6. Definition of ‘group’ should be agreed on & allowed to be varied

 2. Connection Process needs to be simplified & non-linear

2. 1. All roads need to lead to connection
   2. GroupLink is a great tool, but maybe tweak options for a 6 week starter large group with spin off groups afterwards for new leaders (those wanting add’l training)
   3. Group Fair option – tons of options/ show off your group
   4. Need to make inviting tools so all group members invite, not just leaders
   5. Need to build vision behind group growth & multiplication, not division.
   6. Need to empower Serving Teams with growth tools.

How do you create consistent vision throughout your group or organization and helping everyone connect?

Back to Work

It is so great to be at work today.  Vacation is one thing, but being home sick with the flu is totally different.  Plus I have so much to blog about the California conference, the Coaches Retreat, & upcoming connection events that being out of commisson for 2 days was challenging.  My ‘afflictions’ were nothing like David’s, but I really enjoyed the Psalms and have to give huge amounts of thanks to my wife for taking care of me & kids for letting me sleep.

Quotable points to ponder

Heading back down for the last day of the conference, and just wanted to share a few quotes of interest from yesterday’s ‘Stages of Faith’ conversation…

* ‘Human-beings’ define us…we’re not called human-doings.  (what is the balance of serving out of yor strengths, carrying your cross, living a life of discipline, accepting responsibility, vs. ‘being.’)

* Measurement is key but we tend to measure only doing tasks…measuring ‘being’ is hard.

* Groups where being is the focus are much smaller, and run the risk of ‘navel gazing’ vs. pursuing Christ.

* Is there a reason for our process driven, linear progression, cookie-cutter process for spiritual growth??? – What about the Industrial Revolution for starters…

* Spiritual growth stages are usually accompanied by a crisis of some kind.  Especially between active ‘doing’ in the ministry and service that comes from surrender to Christ.

? What characterizes each of your group members stage of faith right now? Doing – studying, serving, living or Being – introspective, surrendered, service from humility, life defined by love… (I think we’re a mix of all of them, but ‘hang out’ in one area at a time…) – Herschel

Dinner Cruise…and this is work?

Okay, so I told you that I’d give you more of the inside scoop on celebrities, and tonight we got to go out on a yacht for dinner in the Newport Beach harbor.  This yacht was taken out by the Ducks after the won the stanley cup and the captain said they actually brought the cup with them!  The dinner was great, but the boat never broke a wake or left the harbor.  I was hoping for some waves, but instead got to discuss missions, group leadership, coaching models, & throw rocks into the harbor with some amazing new friends in the group world.  In particular, I had a great visit with Eric Metcalf…his blog is already on the blogroll at right, but you can check it out at Big Idea Groups.

One of the highlights of the discussion from earlier today brought out the concept of training our group members to be ‘fully devoted followers of Christ’ and the process or mechanism for making that happen.  Something I was challenged with was the concept of the leaders’ role in the spiritual growth of the group. 

What do you think?  Who is responsible for spiritual growth opportunities?  What is the role of the group leader in the growth process? 

I’m off to finish my homework…yes, homework at 10:14pm!  blessings – Herschel

Opportunity, Responsibility, Strategy

When you think of leading your group, or family, or co-workers, etc… is it in terms of stewardship?  We were challenged first thing this morning at the Group Life Summit to consider the awesome opportunity before our groups and the potential that each of our groups have.  Then to wrestle with the call to manage well those opportunities by means of a God given strategy. 

The organization sponsoring this event is moving from a distribution of great material focus to a service-oriented mindset that serves churches and finds resources needed by churches and links those churches to resources.  In your group, are you distributing “great” information to them, or really serving your group members by identifying their needs and trying to link them to resources to meet those needs.  I’d love to hear your thoughts…

-Herschel

Retreat #2 in 2 days…

So, I am out Long Beach, CA right now gearing up for what promises to be another great retreat in just 2 days!  The group I’ll be hanging out with are all small group gurus from around the country to discuss some great topics for this year’s Willow Creek GroupLife conference.  Something about my fairy godmother showing up and getting me a premium ticket to the ball!  Anyway, the GL guys will be blogging about the conference at the above link, and I’m sure I’ll put in my 2 cents as well this week on this Journey Groupslog.  If you want to pose a question to the gurus, please leave a comment on the GroupLife link above!

Oh…and here is the weather forcast through Wednesday…

3 Day Weather Forecast for Long Beach
Mon	Tue	Wed
Hi: 76F/ 24C Lo: 51F/ 10C	Hi: 72F/ 22C Lo: 52F/ 11C	Hi: 70F/ 21C Lo: 52F/ 11C

Shout out to my beautiful wife…wish you were here.

Retreat!

Just returned from an overnight retreat at Jacob’s Ladder with our Journey Group coaches & I am always amazed at how God grows our vision for ministry & connection with each other just by getting away for a night!  Good food, chocolate, fun activities, a beautiful setting, & great friends make strategic planning fun!  Whether your ‘1st team’ is your family, church ministry team, small group, or other friends let me encourage you to set aside some time get away together to pray, wrestle with the issues God has put before you, & have some fun together.  It will be time, money, & energy well spent.

For you Journey Group leaders don’t worry, we are still planning our annual Group Leader Retreat on July 18-19, 2008 so save the date!   You won’t want to miss it.

New ideas in small group ministry…

I love to be included.  I think everyone does.  That’s why open groups (groups where new people can join any time) seem so appealing to me.  So when I read Creating Community by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits, I was surprised to find out that their church had only closed groups.  Now, they are not trying to be exclusive or leave people out, they have just found that closed groups result in stronger community and more spiritual growth among members.  Here’s how it works.  People who want to join a group go to Grouplink (we just had our first Grouplink in January).  At Grouplink they are able to find people in the same stage of life or with similar interests and form a group.  That group commits to an 8-week dating period during which they do a prescribed study that introduces basic vision, group life, importance of community, and areas of spiritual growth.  After 8 weeks, groups can decide that they don’t mesh very well and can disband, go to the next Grouplink and try again with a different group.  However, most groups decide to continue on together and commit to each other for 18 months.  At the end of 18-24 months, that group would have at least one other leader or apprentice who will be ready to start a group of his/her own.  The members would form 2 or more groups and they would add members at the next Grouplink.  That way, more and more people are able to experience true Biblical community.  Obviously growth in numbers happens slowly at first, but the depth of the ministry is much greater. 

Would this work at Journey?  I don’t know, but at least I was challenged to think beyond what I have always been comfortable with.  I wonder what you as leaders think. – Alison

Back in the Saddle Again

What do you do for fun, exercise, or to explore God’s creation?  Lately for me it has been road biking.  I rode another 16 miles today on the road, and then went offroad with a neighbor, & the kids (2 of which were in a trailer) on my mtn bike and it was great.  Let me encourage you to pursue the value of taking care of your body (God’s temple) & pursue growth opportunties that are fun.

Another growth opportunity that I have pursued the last few days is reading Leroy Eims’, The Lost Art of Disciple Making.  It is a fabulous read, solid Biblically, & methodical.  For a process-oriented relational leader like myself it is a perfect balance.  The “aha” moment came as I was reading about how you can tell when people are ready to pursue God more seriously in their lives, and I came across this quote, “the church must adapt itself to meet the needs of non-Christians, new Christians, lukewarm Christians,  & committed Christians in different ways.” p.51.  If you have read much of the REVEAL study you’ll recognize the four-fold ministry focus areas listed above.  The funny thing is, this book was written in 1978!

Either in ‘78 or now, consider your group members in their current spiritual status.  What are their needs?  How can you encourage them regardless of where they are at on their journey?

Here are some other notable quotes from the book…

* True growth takes time and tears, love and patience.

* When you start spending individual time with another Christian with the purpose of having a ministry in his or her life…something happens in your own life as well.

* Jesus’s Earthly ministry touched thousands, but he trained 12 men.

* His dual purpose in training the 12 was that they would help Him in the ministry & that they would carry on the ministry after He left.

* We cannot drop people into a program and see disciples emerge at the end of the production line.

Let me know what you think about ‘making disciples’ in your groups?