Too often leaders feel ill equipped in training their discipleship leaders. For reasons such as budgeting,  or the lack of knowledge of what's available to them, obstacles stand in the way of training and equipping leaders to truly make disciples. Well today we have good news for you! On today's episode Melita Thomas, Dwayne McCrary, and Zac Workun joins us to share some of Lifeway's best, free, and mostly free resources for every area, kids, students, adults, and more! This episode is rich with amazing resources and you can find all the links to them below! 

Melita Thomas serves as Lifeway’s VBS and Kids Ministry Specialist. Melita holds a masters degree in Childhood Ministry from Dallas Baptist University. A passionate advocate for kids ministry in the local church, Melita enjoys teaching kindergartners and preteens at Nashville First Baptist Church. She also enjoys cheering on Nashville's hockey team and spending time with her two nephews.

Dr. Dwayne McCrary serves as Lifeway's Manager of Adult Ongoing Bible Studies. Duane teaches from preschoolers to adults at his local church and is an adjunct professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In his spare time you can find Dwayne on a date with his wife, reading books on history, playing with his grand kids, or riding his bike.

Zac Workun serves as the Student Ministry Training Specialist for Lifeway. Zac is one of the co-founders of Youth Ministry Booster, Lifeway Students’ collaboration and training network. He has served the local church in various youth ministry roles for over 15 years. He is a graduate of OBU with degrees in business management and religion and received his Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity with a certificate of Baptist Studies. Zac and his wife Karen have two wild boys—Isaiah & Gideon. Zac is an Okie, black coffee drinker, comic book nerd and an Enneagram 7. On Saturdays you can find him brunching outside or chasing toddlers across a playground.

We hope you are filled with confidence to train your leaders as you dig into these resources! You are not alone, and Lifeway loves partnering with you!

SHOW LINKS:
Farsighted
Building Leaders
KIDS Ministry training resources
Kids Ministry Blog
Kids Ministry Podcast
Kids Ministry Magazine subscription
Lifeway VBS
Lifeway VBS Director's Club
Lifeway Student Ministry
Youth Ministry Booster
The Student Ministry Podcast
His Glory Her Good Podcast
Adult Ministry
Group Answers Podcast

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show. 

Welcome back to another season of Disciple-Making Community with Ken Braddy! We believe that the best discipleship happens in small groups and each season we tackle a different topic, from different perspectives. This Season we'll focus on training group leaders, and on today's show, Ken discusses with two friends the importance of training group leaders.

Bradley Linkins is the Assistant Director and Discipleshop Strategist for the Nevada Baptist Convention. Bradley has his MDIV from Northwest Baptist Seminary, and has been in pastoral ministry for 22 years. He's pastored in Seattle and Las Vegas and is currently a group leader at his church. He enjoys watching hockey, roasting his own coffee, and spending time with his wife and kids.

Dr. Joseph Brasher, or "Dr. J,” is the Adult Pastor at New Vision Baptist Church near  Nashville, Tennessee.  He oversees groups and ministry for adults from young families to senior adults. He enjoys bass fishing, duck hunting, and any kind of sports in Tennessee. He has his Ph.D. and loves discussing and teaching the Bible. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, kids, and dog!




Mentions:
Breathing Life Into Sunday School
Connect with Ken Braddy
Breakthrough

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show. 

Starting new groups in Kids Ministry has always been tough, but since COVID-19 churches across America have struggled more than ever to recruit and retain small group leaders in Kids Ministry. As leaders we know how important it is to the safety and discipleship of kids to have the right volunteers. On today’s episode I sit down with three Kids Ministry experts as we discuss the challenges around recruiting volunteers, starting new groups, and how churches can practically support the Kids Ministry needs.

Delanee Williams serves as Content Editor for The Gospel Project. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Jennifer Howington is part of the Texas Baptists’ Center for Church Health as the Preschool and Children’s Ministry Specialist. She brings nine years of experience in children’s ministry and previously served as Minister of Preschool/Children’s at Field Street Baptist Church in Cleburne. Jennifer helps minister and resource Children’s Pastors all over the state of Texas. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University and earned a Master of Arts in Children’s Ministry from Dallas Baptist University. She is in pre-residency for a doctorate in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Lisa McCrary is the Preschool Ministry Associate at Northside Baptist Church in Tennessee. She’s been in the role for over 6 years. Lisa is an expert in recruiting, training, and managing volunteers in Kids Ministry. Lisa also consults churches around the southeast and gives helpful and practical advice on how to improve the overall safety and discipleship process for kids attending children’s ministry. 

Links:

My Hyfi

Connect with Ken Braddy

Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show. 

From Moses to Jesus we see life happening in small groups all throughout the pages of scripture. Starting new groups are crucial and beneficial to the overall health and growth of the church. On today’s episode I discuss with Dr. Dwayne Parker and Daniel Edmonds 6 major benefits to starting new groups.

After years of experience on the pastoral level at youth, education, and missions, Dr. Dwayne Parker now serves as the director of the Discipleship/Sunday School Department at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. He holds a doctor of ministry in pastoral care degree from Southeastern Seminary.

Daniel Edmonds is the Director of the Office of Sunday School and Discipleship for the Alabama State Board of Mission. He has served in pastoral ministry in many roles ranging from pastor for education and youth, to associate pastor, and several state convention conference leaders. He holds a Master of Divinity and Religious Education from Southern Seminary. 

Links:

Connect with Ken Braddy

Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show. 

One of the most strategic things a leader can do is to invest in future leaders. Whether your church’s primary discipleship model is Sunday Schools or small groups, raising up apprentices can be a determining factor in a church’s ability to multiply additional classes or groups. I’m joined today by two men who have served “in the trenches” of discipleship and leadership development.

Dr. Todd Tanner is a graduate of Texas A&M University. He has a Masters in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor in Education degree from Southern Baptist Seminary. Additionally, Dr. Tanner has more than 20 years of vocational ministry experience, including as the Senior Pastor of two churches.

Jason McNare serves as the State Missionary for Strengthening Churches in the Utah-Idaho Convention. Recently he served on the VBS Preview Team as Guest Trainer.

If you desire a thriving pipeline of growing and multiplying leaders, apprenticeship is the key. Jesus modeled this by choosing twelve men who didn’t appear “qualified,” but whom he trained and then released for great kingdom work. It is always “less about us and more about what he does through us.”

 Links:

Connect with Ken Braddy

Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders Bible Studies for Life  

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show. 

As critical as starting new groups is to a church’s discipleship mission, pastors across the country still find groups and leaders resisting multiplying and starting new groups. On today’s show Dr. PJ Dunn and Ray Sullivan join me in a conversation about the complexities of this issue. 

With over 15 years of local church service, PJ now Dr. PJ Dunn serves as a Discipleship Consultant in North Georgia with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, helping churches make disciples and reach their community. He is passionate about reaching and equipping single adults through discipleship. As an advocate for singles, he travels nationally, speaking, coaching, and creating content for singles and the local church. 

My second guest is Ray Sullivan. He is the counterpart to PJ serving in the Southeast Region of Georgia Southern Baptist Mission Board. He is a graduate from Southern Seminary and an avid dog lover. 

As followers of Christ it’s essential we are leading others to Christ and making disciples. While the reasons for resistance are valid, we believe by keeping our members focused on the greater mission we can see group multiplication.

Links:

Connect with Ken Braddy

Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders

Table for One Ministries

Sunday School Essentials Conference

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show. 

While starting new groups can be an exciting time in a church, it can also prove to be a huge task! Arthur Flake’s five step process, KEEP, is critical in starting the right groups for the right people. In today’s episode Phil Todd and Dr. Doug Matlock join me to discuss the 5 step process in effectively starting new groups: 

1. Know your people 

2. Enlarge the organization 

3. Enlist and train the workers 

4. Provide space and resources

5. Go after the people

Phil Todd joined the Southern Baptist Texas Convention team in January, 2022. Prior to joining the team he served churches in Texas and Louisiana for 30 years. He has served the local church as student pastor, small group pastor, and executive pastor during that time. He is passionate about discipleship and is eager to support the local church in accomplishing the mission of making disciples. 

Dr. Doug Matlock serves as the Discipleship and Small Groups Ministry Partner for Oklahoma Baptist, serving Baptist churches across the state and helping strengthen discipleship ministries. Prior to working for Oklahoma Baptists, Doug served in the local church in Oklahoma for over eighteen years. He also loves music, coffee, food, traveling with his family, hiking, sports, and great stories. His greatest passion is serving others to help them grow in their relationships with Christ. 

While there is no full proof method for starting new groups, we believe Arthur’s Formula is a great process to start effective groups that will expand your reach in the community and help more people grow closer to God!

Links:

Arthur Flake

My Hyfi

Connect with Ken Braddy

Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show. 

There are at least five times in a given year when churches are best positioned to launch new small groups.  While some of these are related to calendar rhythms, others include capitalizing on opportunities that exist within a church’s unique framework.  In today’s podcast I sit down with two individuals with experience “in the trenches” of launching and leading healthy small groups.

Bobby Howard is the Director of South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Generations Group and Adult Discipleship. He has a background in student ministry and has also served as an Associate Professor at Charleston Southern University.  He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Seminary and an EdD degree from Southern Seminary.

Adam Davis is the Associate Pastor of Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN.  He has served at Belle Aire for sixteen years and currently oversees the church’s group ministry, among other things. He has a B.A. in Christian Ministry from Union University, a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Seminary, and a PhD in Foundations in Christian Education also from Southwestern. 

When it comes to launching healthy small groups, no time is without its challenges.  But by combining strategic planning with Spirit-led responsiveness, leaders can maximize the opportunities that come their way.  

Links:

Connect with Ken Braddy

Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders

Go Explore the Bible

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show. 

Studies show that new groups are the lifeblood of any church’s group ministry, yet too often churches aren’t starting new groups on a regular basis. On today’s episode I sit down with two brilliant discipleship strategists, Sean Keith and Dr. Scott Sullivan.

Sean Keith is the Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist for Louisiana Baptist. He has been in ministry for almost 40 years and served in denominational roles in the local church in Youth Ministry, Education and Outreach Ministry, and as Interim Pastor. Sean has also published 2 books personally and co-wrote dozens of additional books, articles, and blogs.

Dr. Scott Sullivan is the Discipleship Catalyst at Georgia Baptist Mission Board where he interacts with pastors, lay leaders, and small group leaders all over the state of Georgia. He currently leads the Spark Conference that attracts thousands of church leaders every year. Dr. Sullivan has served as equipping pastor and was also a discipleship consultant for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. He has authored two books – “Impact: Student Leadership Devotional,” and “Together We Equip.”

Today we take the opportunity to break down the reasons that hold churches back from starting new groups and the benefits to overcoming those excuses in any church setting.

Links:

Connect with Ken Braddy

Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders

Spark Conference

Man In The Mirror

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show. 

Welcome to the Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy podcast, an ongoing
conversation with church leaders that focuses on important issues in disciple-making through
ongoing Bible study groups.

Your host, Ken Braddy is Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School, a group leader, author,
blogger, and has been a discipleship pastor and 30-year champion of disciple-making through
ongoing groups in the local church.

Today Ken welcomes Alan Raughton and Jon Huff to discuss best practices for retaining group leaders.

Mentioned:

First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN

Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, FL

KenBraddy.com

Lifeway Research article, “5 Tips for Getting a Yes in a Culture of No”

Please click HERE for more information about Deep Discipleship, mentioned in the show.