SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups

Q What is the difference between small groups and support groups? How do we care for the people in our small groups in ways that are healthy without becoming therapists for them? How do we keep small groups on track for their intended purpose? If you or anyone on your team is wrestling with these questions, you've come to the right place!

Jon Noto serves as Community Life Pastor at one of Willow Creek Community Church’s regional campuses. Jon coordinates discipleship and pastoral care, bringing his insights as a therapist to unite both ministries. Prior to serving at Willow Creek, Jon was a clinical therapist in a variety of settings, including Christian private practice and community mental health. Jon also writes for a number of online publications including the Small Group Network, smallgroups.com, along with his own website, theunwavering.com

In part 2 of this month’s “Group Talk” podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa asks Jon the following questions and addresses the following topics in this exciting interview…

• How do you council leaders to handle broken & hurting people?
• Knowing when group members should give special care to someone in the group
• How long is an appropriate period of time to deal with a crisis during a group?
• The three categories of "Needy" people

Just click the play button at the top of this post to enjoy this insightful discussion! To subscribe to our Group Talk Podcast, click HERE

Q What is the difference between small groups and support groups? How do we care for the people in our small groups in ways that are healthy without becoming therapists for them? How do we keep small groups on track for their intended purpose? If you or anyone on your team is wrestling with these questions, you've come to the right place!

Jon Noto serves as Community Life Pastor at one of Willow Creek Community Church’s regional campuses. Jon coordinates discipleship and pastoral care, bringing his insights as a therapist to unite both ministries. Prior to serving at Willow Creek, Jon was a clinical therapist in a variety of settings, including Christian private practice and community mental health. Jon also writes for a number of online publications including the Small Group Network, smallgroups.com, along with his own website, theunwavering.com

In part 2 of this month’s “Group Talk” podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa asks Jon the following questions and addresses the following topics in this exciting interview…

• How do you council leaders to handle broken & hurting people?
• Knowing when group members should give special care to someone in the group
• How long is an appropriate period of time to deal with a crisis during a group?
• The three categories of "Needy" people

Just click the play button at the top of this post to enjoy this insightful discussion! To subscribe to our Group Talk Podcast, click HERE

Q What is the difference between small groups and support groups? How do we care for the people in our small groups in ways that are healthy without becoming therapists for them? How do we keep small groups on track for their intended purpose? If you or anyone on your team is wrestling with these questions, you've come to the right place!

Jon Noto serves as Community Life Pastor at one of Willow Creek Community Church’s regional campuses. Jon coordinates discipleship and pastoral care, bringing his insights as a therapist to unite both ministries. Prior to serving at Willow Creek, Jon was a clinical therapist in a variety of settings, including Christian private practice and community mental health. Jon also writes for a number of online publications including the Small Group Network, smallgroups.com, along with his own website, theunwavering.com

In this month’s “Group Talk” podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa asks Jon the following questions and more in this exciting interview…

• How would you define a support group?
• How can small groups help people differently than support groups can?
• What do support groups do well that we can apply to small groups?

Just click the play button at the top of this post to enjoy this insightful discussion! To subscribe to our Group Talk Podcast, click HERE

Q What is the difference between small groups and support groups? How do we care for the people in our small groups in ways that are healthy without becoming therapists for them? How do we keep small groups on track for their intended purpose? If you or anyone on your team is wrestling with these questions, you've come to the right place!

Jon Noto serves as Community Life Pastor at one of Willow Creek Community Church’s regional campuses. Jon coordinates discipleship and pastoral care, bringing his insights as a therapist to unite both ministries. Prior to serving at Willow Creek, Jon was a clinical therapist in a variety of settings, including Christian private practice and community mental health. Jon also writes for a number of online publications including the Small Group Network, smallgroups.com, along with his own website, theunwavering.com

In this month’s “Group Talk” podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa asks Jon the following questions and more in this exciting interview…

• How would you define a support group?
• How can small groups help people differently than support groups can?
• What do support groups do well that we can apply to small groups?

Just click the play button at the top of this post to enjoy this insightful discussion! To subscribe to our Group Talk Podcast, click HERE

Daniel Thomas is the Campus Pastor & Director of Adult Ministries at Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon, Virginia. Prior to that role, Daniel served as Highland's Small Groups Director and Leadership Development Pastor. He is the Small Group Network Regional Leader for the Atlantic Coast.

In this month’s “Group Talk” podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa talks with Daniel about the following topics in this exciting interview…

• The differences between small group models & finding the right one that fits your church culture
• What essential qualities to look for in prospective leaders
• Thinking differently & changing your methods to find new leaders
• The value of being connected to a network of small group point people
• The importance of creating easy on ramps when recruiting new leaders

Just click the play button at the top of this post to enjoy this insightful discussion!

Daniel Thomas is the Campus Pastor & Director of Adult Ministries at Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon, Virginia. Prior to that role, Daniel served as Highland's Small Groups Director and Leadership Development Pastor. He is the Small Group Network Regional Leader for the Atlantic Coast.

In this month’s “Group Talk” podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa talks with Daniel about the following topics in this exciting interview…

• The differences between small group models & finding the right one that fits your church culture
• What essential qualities to look for in prospective leaders
• Thinking differently & changing your methods to find new leaders
• The value of being connected to a network of small group point people
• The importance of creating easy on ramps when recruiting new leaders

Just click the play button at the top of this post to enjoy this insightful discussion!

If you are interested in learning about how online groups can help you & your church fulfill its mission of reaching the un-churched & making disciples, then you've come to the right place!

Jay Kranda is the Online Campus Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. The Online Campus includes over 20,000 people every week and 1,800 small groups, of which 40% are online. Jay is also the author of "Social Media Made Easy: Inexpensive Online Marketing Guide for Non-Profits" and hosts the podcast, "Social Media Church."

In this month’s "Group Talk" podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa talks with Jay about the what, why & how of online small groups! Jay hits on the following topics in this exciting interview…

• How online groups can be used to reach millennials.
• The primary benefits of having online groups.
• When churches should consider launching online groups.
• How to use Facebook groups to begin experimenting with online groups.
• What platforms & software to use for online groups.

If you are interested in learning about how online groups can help you & your church fulfill its mission of reaching the un-churched & making disciples, then you've come to the right place!

Jay Kranda is the Online Campus Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. The Online Campus includes over 20,000 people every week and 1,800 small groups, of which 40% are online. Jay is also the author of "Social Media Made Easy: Inexpensive Online Marketing Guide for Non-Profits" and hosts the podcast, "Social Media Church."

In this month’s "Group Talk" podcast, Host Carolyn Taketa talks with Jay about the what, why & how of online small groups! Jay hits on the following topics in this exciting interview…

• How online groups can be used to reach millennials.
• The primary benefits of having online groups.
• When churches should consider launching online groups.
• How to use Facebook groups to begin experimenting with online groups.
• What platforms & software to use for online groups.

The world is becoming increasingly complex, while at the same time becoming increasingly interconnected. The reality is that with each revolution the planet Earth makes around the sun, our countries, cities and communities look less and less like they used to. The world is a very different place than it was 50 years ago. There is a great migration taking place in many parts of the world, and the beautiful thing about these changes is how much smaller the world has become in the process. Exponential urban and immigration growth has given us unprecedented exposure and access to diversity, varied ethnicities and cultures and with it all, opportunities to learn from one another. 

Increasingly, the churches in our cities are becoming microcosms of the cities themselves. Along with the beautiful array of culture and diversity can also come challenges in terms of meeting the wide range of ministry needs for diverse people groups, understanding other cultures and serving those we may not completely understand.

 In this month’s Group Talk, Carolyn Taketa welcomes Mark Nam, to talk about these challenges and opportunities. Does your ministry have a plan and system to welcome and minister to refugees, foreign domestic workers and diverse ethnicities? How can your church address issues of justice and reconciliation? Is your church even a place where those of different cultures would feel welcome to worship and experience community? These are all questions that must be addressed by the 21st century church that desires to grow and thrive in today’s culture. Because this isn’t the world that we used to know.”

Mark Nam is the Community-Life Pastor at The Vine Church, an international church in Hong Kong. He is originally from the UK where he graduated from the University of Wales with an honours in law. Mark began working at The Vine as a worship pastor in 2007, recording three albums with Integrity Music under The Vine Band and was instrumental in establishing Worship Central Asia, a school of worship originating from Holy Trinity Brompton in London.

Since 2013, Mark has been responsible for the spiritual-development and care of The Vine’s Small-Group communities, that meet across Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories and out-lying islands. He also spearheads Family-Life, a ministry of The Vine that aims to bring practical teaching and training focused on Christian values.

The world is becoming increasingly complex, while at the same time becoming increasingly interconnected. The reality is that with each revolution the planet Earth makes around the sun, our countries, cities and communities look less and less like they used to. The world is a very different place than it was 50 years ago. There is a great migration taking place in many parts of the world, and the beautiful thing about these changes is how much smaller the world has become in the process. Exponential urban and immigration growth has given us unprecedented exposure and access to diversity, varied ethnicities and cultures and with it all, opportunities to learn from one another. 

Increasingly, the churches in our cities are becoming microcosms of the cities themselves. Along with the beautiful array of culture and diversity can also come challenges in terms of meeting the wide range of ministry needs for diverse people groups, understanding other cultures and serving those we may not completely understand.

 In this month’s Group Talk, Carolyn Taketa welcomes Mark Nam, to talk about these challenges and opportunities. Does your ministry have a plan and system to welcome and minister to refugees, foreign domestic workers and diverse ethnicities? How can your church address issues of justice and reconciliation? Is your church even a place where those of different cultures would feel welcome to worship and experience community? These are all questions that must be addressed by the 21st century church that desires to grow and thrive in today’s culture. Because this isn’t the world that we used to know.”

Mark Nam is the Community-Life Pastor at The Vine Church, an international church in Hong Kong. He is originally from the UK where he graduated from the University of Wales with an honours in law. Mark began working at The Vine as a worship pastor in 2007, recording three albums with Integrity Music under The Vine Band and was instrumental in establishing Worship Central Asia, a school of worship originating from Holy Trinity Brompton in London.

Since 2013, Mark has been responsible for the spiritual-development and care of The Vine’s Small-Group communities, that meet across Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories and out-lying islands. He also spearheads Family-Life, a ministry of The Vine that aims to bring practical teaching and training focused on Christian values.