Group Talk - Small Group Network

Challenging seasons of life are inevitable. It is never a question of "if" they will occur, but rather "when". When life gets tough, it is often how we respond to the challenges we're faced with that shape us more than the situation itself. Particularly as a leader, it is in those times when living with vulnerability and authenticity can have the biggest impact on leading with vulnerability. In this month's Group Talk, Carolyn Taketa talks with Laura Copeland about what it means to live and lead authentically in the tough seasons and when life hurts. Laura Copeland has been serving on staff at churches, mostly in small groups ministries for almost 10 years, and she has a desire to see honest, authentic community where people are being transformed by the truths of God. She has an MA in New Testament Studies from Talbot School of Theology and recently joined the small groups team at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. Laura also serves on the SGN Communications team, overseeing the SGN Facebook page.★ Suppo

Summer is a time when is seems like everyone’s schedule gets turned upside down, making it hard for your groups to meet consistently. However, with just a little creativity and planning, the Summer months could present your groups with a unique opportunity to focus on outreach and connect with the local community in extremely effective ways An effective outreach strategy could very well be lying right in the middle of your current groups and their relationships. In this month’s Group Talk, Nick Lenzi shares some creative strategies his groups recently used to make a significant impact in reaching their community, as well as practical ideas for how your groups can do the same. Nick Lenzi is the Groups Director at Hoboken Grace in Hoboken, NJ. Prior to moving into full time ministry, Nick worked on Wall Street as a Trade Support Analyst. He spends his free time with his wife Erika of 4 years, together they enjoy attending comedy shows, concerts and people watching in New York City. Nick has a passion for seeing

Kay Warren is the co-founder of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA with her husband Rick Warren as well as the founder and advocate of the HIV & AIDS initiative at Saddleback and around the world. She is an international speaker, best selling author, and bible teacher. Kay’s latest book, “Choose Joy, because happiness isn’t enough” was published in 2012. After their son, Matthew, took his life in 2013, the Warrens revealed that Matthew had a lifelong struggle with mental illness. Since then, Rick and Kay are committed to raising awareness about mental illness, reducing the stigma many experience and equipping local churches, groups, and families to effectively minister to those living with mental illness. Conference: The Gathering on Mental Health and the Church (Oct. 7-9, 2015) http://mentalhealthandthechurch.com/ blog: kaywarren.com Twitter: @kaywarren1 Facebook: Kay Warren   ★ Support this podcast ★

Many of us have stepped into existing small groups ministries to add new support, leadership and vision to what was already there. But what about creating a groups ministry at a church where one didn’t necessarily already exist?   Ministry buzzwords are a dime a dozen, but actually having to implement ideas and vision to relaunch a groups ministry can be a real challenge. It’s crucial to get your finger on the pulse of a particular church’s culture enough to define reality, contextualize vision and properly frame the conversation around shared desires and goals. But how do you do that?  This month, Andrew Mason breaks down the process he used in relaunching a groups ministry from “ground zero”, sharing practical concepts and actionable strategies that can be scaled for any size church or ministry. Andrew Mason oversees Small Groups at Real Life Church, a multi-site family of churches in Northern, CA. Andrew is the Northern CA Regional Leader for the Small Group Network and founded the website, SmallGroupChur

Are you looking for the silver bullet for your groups ministry? Then keep looking, because this isn't the Group Talk for you. But if you're willing to sit and listen, learn, and digest, this edition of Group Talk will help you think outside of your box. You have something to learn from the Mid-Sized Community movement. Get your notepad ready.★ Support this podcast ★

The sage prophet Benjamin Franklin once said "a failure to plan is a plan to fail." Every day of every year, teams and leaders across the world read that perennial quote in bewilderment, wondering "how did he KNOW?!?" If you've ever been there and felt the weight of the failure to plan, this month's Group Talk is for you! The million dollar question is always "how do I establish goals, plot my path there and keep my team excited, engaged and moving toward them?" This month, Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church and Founder of Small Group Network, shares practical strategies on how to do just that. From tips on carving out ministry goals to actionable steps to staying focused to accomplishing them, this month's Group Talk is packed full of wisdom on how to prepare your team for a year of effective ministry!  Connect with Steve on Twitter @stevegladen.★ Support this podcast ★

Listen to the host of Group Talk, Carolyn Taketa interview Mark Howell, the Pastor of Communities at Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada.   ·      ★ Support this podcast ★