Community U Speakers
Community U Speakers
Steve Gladen – Prime Track – (Worship Center)
Steve Gladen is the Pastor of the Small Group Community of over 3500 small groups at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California; an author; founder of the Purpose Driven Small Group Network, a network of North American small group pastors and point leaders; featured speaker at conferences around the world; and developer of numerous small group resources (www.smallgroups.net.) In six sessions over two days you will go through how you can start and grow a healthy small group, can’t-miss principles, and how to connect your community and your church for spiritual health.
Ron Wilber – Advanced Planning Track – (kidZone Right)
Ron Wilbur is the Director of Small Group Operations at Saddleback. In four years he has held various roles including Area Leader over 300 small groups, director of small group operations and affinities, team leader, and head of online small groups. He is a graduate of Rockbridge Seminary. He and his wife Faye have taken several PEACE trips to West Africa, working among Muslims. This two-day track will take you and your leadership team through a facilitated planning exercise that ends up with a 12-18 month action plan for your ministry, tailored to your church and ready to implement.
Saturday Leader Rally Breakouts
Rick Howerton – How to Build Authentic Community – (10:15 & 11:45 (repeated) kidZone Left)
Rick Howerton is the Small Group-ologist/Trainer at Serendipity by LifeWay. He honestly believes that small groups can and will change the world. He has been a small-groups pastor for many years, and he currently serves as the senior pastor at The Bridge in Nashville, Tennessee—a church plant started by Rick that is built around healthy small groups. In Rick’s workshop he will teach you how to help your group members be more transparent. You will explore how to create an environment where members genuinely care for each other.
Terri Parker -The Life of the Leader – How to Keep Yourself Alive and Growing –(10:15 kidZone Center)
Terry is the Director of Small Groups at Zion Church in Largo, Maryland. She has been on staff there since 2006 and has also served as the Director of Volunteers. Her passion is to see others grow closer to God. Along with her Group Coaches she invests heavily in the lives of Zion’s many group leaders. Terry believes that the best way a leader can insure their small group will be healthy is to invest in their own relationship with God. She is going to share some great insights in how we can stay connected to Jesus in this fast paced environment we now live.
Jay Daniell - Increase Commitment - Engaging Everyone – (11:45 kidZone Center)
Jay comes to us from the North Central US where he serves as the Regional Director for the Small Group Network. Jay spent the last several years on staff at Our Savior Lutheran Church as Small Group Ministry Director before recently stepping out to plant a new church, Renewed Hope Christian Community. If you are having problems with irregular attendance or surface level participation in your groups, don’t worry. Every Small Group experiences these symptoms from time to time. In this workshop you will explore and experience strategies to increase the commitment level and more fully engage the members of your Small Group. Successful Small Group Leaders often accomplish more by doing less.
Gordon Nock – Dealing with Difficult Group Members – (10:15 Warehouse)
Gordon has been a Senior Pastor, a church planter, and now is the Small Groups Pastor at Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Salisbury, Maryland. After years of being a commercial waterman, a truck driver, and being in the recycling industry, God directed Gordon’s life toward full-time ministry. “It brings me great joy to be a part of helping people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.” Gordon will be equipping us in his workshop to deal with some of the most challenging people that often find their way into our groups. He will demonstrate for us how to show the love of Christ without losing control of your group.
Adam Workman – Small Group Leader’s Crash Course - (11:45am Warehouse)
Adam is the Small Groups Pastor at LifePoint Church, a large congregation in the Baltimore suburb of Reisterstown, Maryland. On his twitter page, Adam describes himself – “ Pastor of Small Groups, Husband to Melody...my favorite singer, Dad to Elijah and Addison...my world changers, Full-time follower of Jesus...my discipler.” Adam’s “Crash Course Workshop” is designed for someone who has just been handed the keys to a group. It will answer their question, “What do I do now!” You will explore 11 essential ingredients necessary for the group and the leader to succeed
Q & A Lunch With the Trainers – (1:15 Saturday)
Grab your lunch and sit in wherever you desire
Steve Gladen – Warehouse
Ron Wilber – kidZone Right
Rick Howerton – kidZone Left
Jay Daniell, Gordon Nock, Terri Parker, Adam Workman – kidZone Center
Main Page Schedule Speakers Details
