Reviews
"Leadership releases people ... When I reviewed Carl George's new book, I shouted to myself, "This is what we've been looking for!" I've already decided to buy them in quantity and use them as our primary training tool for our Grace Group ministry."
- Gary D. Kinnaman, Senior Pastor, Word of Grace Church, Mesa, Arizona
"When Carl George writes a book, I read it. This is no exception ... This book shows you how to develop empowered leaders and small groups that multiply - and minimize failures."
- Bill Easum, Executive Director, 21st Century Strategies, Port Arkansas, Texas
"Carl George knows the power of a church when people are put to work. This book shows how to put that power to work in your church."
- Elmer L. Towns, Dean, School of Religion, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
"The landscape in which the church carries out its mission increasingly resembles the Apostolic era. Every congregation, whether it knows it or not, is now a frontline missionary training and staging center. Models for being the church and raising up leaders within the church are desperately needed ... Carl George has done it! With words written not for speculation but for action, he has put into the hand of every growing believer in Christ a practical and Biblical game plan ...
God will use this tool to grow His kingdom and make an eternal difference in countless lives!"
- John Messmann, Senior Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fort Worth, Texas
"A practical, readable, down-to-earth book that will give small-group leaders foundational keys to empower them for an effective, life-changing ministry."
- Colin Noyes, Director, Direction Ministry Resources, Queensland, Australia
"Finally, a map through the small-group maze that offers not just hope, but concrete help! The aim is singular: The people of God equipped and set loose for ministry. A must-read for 21st-century church leaders!"
- Michael W. Foss, Senior Pastor, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville, Minnesota
Excerpt
Part 1
Introduction to Part 1
Would you like to play a part in making your church a body where significant life-changing events can occur regularly? Every congregation, including yours, already has the necessary ingredients, especially in your small groups of people who meet in the name of Jesus Christ within a context that encourages ministry one to another - and to others beyond the group.
I am convinced that effective small-group ministry must accomplish three goals:
- Providing nurturing relationships in the presence of Jesus Christ.
- Invite others to faith in Jesus Christ.
- Reproduce a new set of leaders so new groups can be formed.
Most small-group ministries accomplish the first objective. It's exciting to realize that every time a group convenes in Jesus' name, it becomes a place where Christ shows up and ministers through His body.
The second objective is met spontaneously in about one-fourth of the cases I've encountered. My prayer is that by acting more intentionally, this evangelism rate will be doubled so that at least half of North America's small groups will see conversion growth during the course of any 12-month period.
The third objective is approached haphazardly in most churches. In reality, perhaps the most strategic thing a church's leadership can do is to help raise another generation of leaders. They, in turn, will make the growth of even more small groups possible.
This book, therefore, has a twofold objective: helping small groups produce both new believers and new leaders. If you want to see more people come to Christ, you must create more places where people can see and meet Christ. If you want to multiply the number of people becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, you have to multiply the number of disciplemakers.
