Small Group Pastors

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Summertime and Small Groups: Ideas to Help You Stay Connected

Summertime is almost here and many of our Small Groups are deciding to take a break!  This year, give them a plan and help them stay connected during the summer months.  Here is a sample of an email that I sent out to all of our Small Group Leaders.

Summertime Email to our groups:

For many people, summer is a time for camps, sports, vacations, and just being out of our normal routines.  With the many activities, we sometimes miss out on some amazing opportunities to do community with our Small Groups.  Don’t miss out on what could be the best summer yet for you and your Small Group!  Here are a few ideas that can make all the difference for an INCREDIBLE SUMMER:

  • Jump Back In!  You may have received this email and you are currently not hosting or leading a Small Group anymore.  Well, here is your opportunity to jump back in!  All you have to do is contact the Small Group office at (Your # here) and let us know you are back in!  We will help you with the rest.
  • Plan Ahead! Take the time before summer arrives to have a Calendar Planning Session.  Ask all of your Small Group Members to bring their summer calendars and set up the Small Group Schedule for the entire summer.  Remember, you don’t have to have everyone present but at least try to accommodate as many as you are able.
  • Meet at the Park a couple of times this summer.  This allows your Small Group to get out of their normal routine and allows you to have some fun!  It doesn’t have to be elaborate and you can meet at your normal time and ask everyone to bring some food and do your study.  Another addition to add to the fun is to pick a park that has a water feature and a large play area.  The kids will love the water and the adults can get together for a game of kick-ball!  Have fun!
  • Have a BBQ at someone’s house.  Instead of having the BBQ in the backyard, move it to the front yard and invite the neighbors to join in.  This would be an amazing way to invest in your 1Life.
  • Take a Hike!  Yes, we live within driving distance to some of the best hiking opportunities around.  Plan a day where you and your Small Group can go together.  Don’t forget, take plenty of water!  You may also choose to make it a camp-out!
  • Plan a Guy’s/Gal’s Night Out.  This is a great way to build relationships.  You can plan a game night, bowling, golf outing, or maybe attend a sporting event together.  Be creative and enjoy the company of your Small Group members.
  • Serve together!  There are several opportunities where you and your Small Group can serve together in the community or at Central.  You can call our Care Department for some ideas on where you can serve. It amazes me how close a Small Group gets just by serving together.
  • Dive-in-Movie!  Find someone in your Small Group that has a pool at their home or in their community. Get a projector and set up a movie screen or just a white sheet and watch your favorite movie.

Whatever you do, spend your summer making some great memories that will last a lifetime!  Also, mark your calendars for some upcoming events this Fall!

  • Saturday, August 18 at 4:30pm or Sunday, August 19 at 10:20am:  JUMP Leadership Gathering (Time to look at Fall Events @Central)
  • Saturday & Sunday, August 25/26:  Kick-Off Weekend @Central  
  • Sunday, September 16:  Small Group Connection BBQ @Henderson Campus
  • Sunday, September 23: BIG NIGHT OUT

Be sure to mark your calendars and drop by our website (Your Website Here) for more information!  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks again for your leadership!

If you have any other ideas, please let us know about what you are doing this summer with your Small Groups!

May 30, 2012 Posted by | Central Christian Church Las Vegas, Connection Event, Small Group Ideas, Summer and Small Groups | , , , , | 2 Comments

Looking for an INCREDIBLE Opportunity in Vegas?

Looking for an INCREDIBLE opportunity in Vegas?  Central Christian Church is hiring a Young Couples Small Group Pastor (ages 18-29), Young Adults Small Group Pastor (18-29), and searching for incredible Interns.

Central is a rapidly growing church of over 17,000 attendees located in the Las Vegas Valley, and seeks a full-time Young Couples Small Group Pastor and Young Adults Small Group Pastor. Also, if you are interested in an internship, we are seeking people who are ready for the adventure.  This is a volunteer internship but the experience will be invaluable.  Read here for more details:

Young Couple’s & Young Adult Small Group Pastor: (These are TWO separate positions)

We are seeking someone who is:

  • Passionate about  reaching young couples or young adults in the age range of 18 – 29
  • Has a calling for Small Group Ministry
  • Gifted in leadership
  • Is excited to live in Las Vegas
  • Has the ability to communicate in front of large and small groups
  • Flourishes in serving with a team

Our ideal Small Group Pastor will possess leadership and equipping gifts, administrative and communication skills, and have experience in Small Group ministry. He/she will serve in helping advance the Kingdom of God through Central’s mission, core values, purposes and strategic plan.

Must have at least three years of experience in a Small Group based large church setting, have biblical education and be a licensed or ordained pastor. For more information, please visit our website at www.centralonline.tv or attend one of our online services, check the website for service times. If you would like to be considered for the Young Couple’s or Young Adult Small Group Pastor position, please email your resume to tracey.smith@centralonline.tv.  If you are interested in an internship at Central, your next step is to send me an email to tracey.smith@centralonline.tv requesting more information.

Also, if Vegas is not your next step, I am networked with several other mega-churches who are seeking similar positions and I would love to get you connected.  If you are a church or ministry seeking a Small Group Pastor or a similar role, I would love to hear from you!  I have several contacts who are just waiting to hear from you!  Email me your info and let’s talk.  tracey.smith@centralonline.tv

May 11, 2012 Posted by | Central Christian Job Opening, Central Christian Small Groups, Central Christian Videos, Internship Opportunities, Ministry Jobs, Small Group Pastors | , , , | Leave a Comment

Empty Promises: A MUST Read!

Ever felt “if I get that promotion…” or “if only I had married my soul-mate…” then my life would be so much better?  Pete Wilson, author of Plan B and Lead Pastor of Crosspoint Church in Nashville, does it again in his latest book Empty Promises.  Empty Promises lead us through all of the myths and misconceptions we have that we think will bring us the satisfaction and fulfillment that we all seek for in our lives.  As Pete unpacks the discontentment that we experience, he points out to us the fact that total fulfillment and satisfaction can only be found in a daily relationship with Jesus Christ.  Empty Promises is a must read for anyone!  Thanks Pete for your contribution to so many leaders!  Great job my friend!

April 12, 2012 Posted by | Books, Withoutwax.tv | , , , , | Leave a Comment

What’s So Good About This Friday?

April 6, 2012 Posted by | Central Christian Videos | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Looking for Your Next Small Group Study? 1LIFE

Looking for a Small Group study that teaches people how to share their own personal “God Story” to others? Here it is:  1LIFE Small Group Study.

Trying to save the world for Jesus can be overwhelming. Even just trying to talk to people at work or on your neighborhood block about God can be intimidating. This three-week DVD based curriculum focuses on 1LIFE; build a relationship with just one and then share the love of Christ. Offer the love, grace, and peace you have. Join Pastor Jud Wilhite as he teaches practical tips on how to share your faith while partnering with God.  This resource is a must see for those who want to challenge their Small Group’s to pass on their faith.  The cost is only $3 for the DVD and can be purchased online.

March 29, 2012 Posted by | Central Christian Church Las Vegas, Central Christian Small Groups, Evangelism, Small Group Curriculum, Small Group Ideas, Small Group Studies | , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Caring for Your Small Group: Part 2

One of the privileges I have serving at Central Christian Church is I get to serve with some amazing leaders.  One of those leaders is Rhonda Baker, Pastor of our Women’s Ministry.  Rhonda is going to be our guest blogger today as we continue the Caring for Your Small Group:  Part 2.  The topic she writes about is close to her heart: How to care for a woman who is in your Small Group and has an unbelieving spouse.  Thanks Rhonda for sharing!  If you would like to follow her, click here and keep up with what is happening in her life and ministry.  Here is the article she wrote:

Caring for a Woman Married to an Unbelieving Spouse

Women who are not married to a believer often become frustrated and reach out for support in Small Groups. As leaders, it is helpful to be familiar with some practical care guidelines for a woman in this particular situation.

Don’ts:

  • Don’t assume because she is not married to a believer that she was willfully disobedient to God (She may have become a Christian after marriage, or her husband may have professed to be a Christian but was not.).
  • Don’t assume she doesn’t love her husband, wants to leave him, or is seeking to snare a Godly man from another woman.
  • Don’t encourage her to seek divorce if her husband wants to remain married (1 Cor. 7:12-17).
  • Don’t encourage male small group members to meet with her privately.
  • Don’t judge her if she is not consistent in her attendance to Small Group or church in order to keep peace in the home.
  • Don’t condemn her for not completing homework assignments when her husband is jealous of her relationship with God.
  • Don’t condemn her husband for not being at the same place on his faith journey as she is.
  • Don’t give her books or Scripture that you want her to place in their home to influence her husband (She can be a strong influence by the way she lives her life).
  • Don’t expect her to be able to contribute to financial commitments that believing couples can make.
  • Don’t allow Small Group members to counsel her but instead encourage them to listen and pray with her.

Do’s:

  • Guide her to read the Scripture regarding her circumstance (1 Cor. 7:12-17), as well as other helpful resources (i.e., Beloved Unbeliever by Jo Berry).
  • Do connect her with a mature Godly woman in your Small Group for accountability to stay faithful in her marriage and commitment to God.
  • Do encourage her to attend church on a regular basis as much as possible and to continue to grow in her faith and relationship with God even if there is some persecution that happens when she returns home (note there is a difference between persecution and abuse).
  • Do remind her that her husband’s reaction to her church attendance and time in study may be jealousy. It is normal for an unbelieving husband to be jealous of his wife’s relationship with God and her relationship with other believers.
  • Do encourage her to use her spiritual gifts for the Kingdom of God without pulling her away from time she needs to be with her husband.
  • Do encourage her to be obedient to God’s Word (which may mean if her husband asks her to commit a sin, she does not submit to his request).
  • Do encourage her to communicate with God and to continue to pray for her husband to become a believer.
  • Do encourage her not to lose hope but to continue to show her husband respect, treat him with kindness, and love him by the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Do encourage her to practice patience and forgiveness.
  • Do remind her she can witness to her husband by the way she lives her life.
  • Do encourage men in your Small Group to reach out to her husband in ways that will help him connect with God in a non-threatening way.
  • Do remind her that she is not responsible for changing her husband (This is the job of the Holy Spirit).
  • Do connect her with a Small Group or Support Group for women who are not married to believers if there is one available.
  • Do encourage her to have a plan of departure if she has revealed or it is evident that her husband is abusive.

Always remember to extend mercy and grace with the awareness each woman’s circumstances may be unique according to her circumstances. When it doubt, it is always wise, to seek the counsel of a Pastor or Spiritual Leader for guidance.

March 27, 2012 Posted by | Care, Central Christian Small Groups, community, leadership, Small Group Leadership, Women in Leadership | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Inmates and Church:God Behind Bars

Inmates and Church: What an AMAZING story of how God’s radical grace and the Central weekend service is reaching inmates behind bars. Check out this short documentary shot by a local group that had heard of the ministry of God Behind Bars at Custer County Jail and the life-change that is occurring in the lives of the inmates. For more info on God Behind Bars or how you and your ministry can play a part, click HERE.

March 22, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , , , | Leave a Comment

Ten@Ten Prayer

Oswald Chambers once said,

Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.

How many times as leaders have we missed such a greater work because we didn’t have time to pray.  The challenge was given out yesterday for all our Central staff to take 10 minutes to pray at 10am on Thursdays. Beginning today, I am going to take ten minutes of every Thursday at 10am to spend time intentionally praying.  Praying for people, needs of others, for churches, and anything God brings to me to pray for.  I am posting it here because I really think it would be AMAZING to see people all over the world take the challenge and join the 10@10 time of prayer.  So, if you are interested in being a part of it, here is how 10@10 works:

  • At 10am (Wherever you are) stop and pray.  You can pray silently or to yourself.  You can pray with a group, your spouse, or your family.  If 10pm would work better for your schedule then feel free to do it! The key is to stop what you are doing and pray.
  • Pray for 10 minutes.  Yes, you can pray longer, but our goal here is to get people to pray.
  • Pray for specific needs.  Ask God to show you who or what to pray for and make a list of the specific needs that He brings to your mind.  Another thing is to listen to those around you.  See who may need prayer.  If appropriate, let them know you are praying for them by sending a note or maybe letting them know over a cup of coffee.
  • Create a Movement:  Encourage your friends, co-workers, small groups, and your staff team to join the 10@10 prayer time.  It would be incredible to see God’s people intentionally praying and then see God working in and through our lives.
  • Email, FB, DM, leave a comment, or text me your prayer request.  I would love to take the time to specifically pray for YOU!  So, let me know and you can count on it!  I will be praying for you!  Also, I will tweet on next Thursday to remind you it is time for 10@10.
  • Pray expecting God to show up!  Here is a promise that was given in the Old Testament that I like to claim for this time of prayer:

Then if my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven… 2 Chronicles 7:14

Ask me and I will answer you and show you remarkable things you do not know about…Jeremiah 33:3

Here is a thought to think about when we consider to pray:

The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but prayer unoffered. ~F.B. Meyer

March 15, 2012 Posted by | Central Christian Church LV, Central Christian Small Groups, Small Group Ideas, Small Group Leaders, Tracey Smith | , , , , | Leave a Comment

Relationship Bootcamp: The Manslater

This weekend, we kicked-off the Relationship Bootcamp message with a little help for the guys:  The Manslater!  Helps sometimes to have a translator to help understand what she REALLY means.

March 5, 2012 Posted by | Manslater, Marriage, Relationship Bootcamp, Small Group Ideas | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Caring for Your Small Group Part #1

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

~John 13:34-35

Caring for people in your Small Group is a natural part of community, but sometimes our good intentions don’t always produce the desired result.  Over the next few posts, I would like to give helpful tips to how a Small Group can actually provide care in a way that will not only help the member who needs care but will be able to be blessed in the process.  Let’s start with someone who is ill and finds themself in the hospital.  So, how do you care for a Small Group member who has just been admitted?  Provide a plan for your Small Group and use these simple guidelines to help them be sensitive to that person during their time of need.  Here are some simple Do’s and Don’ts:

Don’ts:

  • Don’t leave home without knowing their FULL LEGAL name.  There have been many times that I have arrived at the hospital only to find out that they do not have a person listed by that name.
  • Don’t just walk into the room.  Always knock and wait for an answer.  If no one answers, you can always leave a note for them at the nurse’s station.
  • Don’t bring anything such as food, balloons, or flowers without checking with the family first. They may be allergic or may not be able to have them in the room.
  • Don’t sit unless they invite you to sit.  Sometimes a person may be having a bad day and just not feeling up to company.  Please be sensitive to the patients illness and how they are feeling.  If they do invite you to sit, never sit on a patients bed.
  • Don’t visit the person if you are sick.
  • Don’t preach to them.  Be sensitive when or if you need to use Bible verses.
  • Don’t share your own personal hospital stays or illness.  People feel bad enough and you are there to encourage the patient.
  • Don’t be negative about hospital, hospital food, or the professional services being provided.
  • Don’t touch the medical equipment or ask them what medications they are taking.
  • Don’t stay too long.  Even if they ask you to stay, be sensitive of their time.  I usually try to keep my visit down to 10-15 minutes.
  • Don’t twitter or Facebook any information concerning the patient and don’t “check-in”on your Facebook account and let everyone know where you are an who you are visiting.  There is a patients bill of rights.  Be sensitive to the patients privacy.

Do’s:

  • Do use breath mints or gum when making the visit.
  • Do be upbeat and encouraging to the patient.
  • Do  a lot of listening and not very much talking; unless the patient cannot speak.
  • Do turn off your cell phone during your visit.
  • Do sit where the patient can comfortably see you at their eye-level.  Only if they ask you to sit.
  • Do adhere to any special instructions posted on the door.
  • Do respect visiting hours.
  • Do offer to pray with the patient and/or their family.

Remember, be sensitive to the person who needs care.  Many Small Group members will greatly appreciate your acts of kindness and it will also train your Small Group members how to care for others.  What are some other ways you can care for people who are in the hospital?

February 24, 2012 Posted by | Care, Central Christian Small Groups, community, discipleship, Small Group Ideas, Small Group Leaders | , , , | 2 Comments

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