The April 17^th Saddleback Small Group conference is almost here!

In preparation for your participation in this event, please review the following list and descriptions of the breakout groups that will be offered and begin thinking about which two sessions you would like to attend.

If you are from LifePoint Church and would like to register, or need additional information on this event, please contact Charity Smith at charity.smith@lifepointchurch.org .

Workshop options for Saturday:

10:30am -12:15pm

*  Guiding your group to spiritual maturity, Eddie Christenberry. Starting with the end in mind is the key to seeing small group members grow in the faith journey.

* Outward Focused Living: Developing Missional Small Groups, Mike Thomas. Helping your group see and reach out to the unchurched around them.

*  A Well-Rounded Small Group, Jon Weiner. Learn how to share the load of leading a small group.

*  Developing a Relational Community I, Lyman Coleman. techniques and practices to help your group build unity and transparency.

*  Tribal…The New Dynamic, Rick Howerton. Looking at the future of small groups and how people are getting connected and are experiencing spiritual transformation in your community.

*  From Here to There: Making Small Groups Work in a Sunday School World, Terry Hadaway. Do you want to extend the reach of your educational ministry by using both on-campus and off-campus strategies?

1:30pm – 3:00pm

*  How to Build Authentic Community, Rick Howerton. Help your group be transparent and caring.

*  Making Social Media Work,  Ron Edmondson. What do Twitter, Facebook, Websites and other social media opportunities do for your ministry?

*  Handling Difficult People, Mark Mehlig. How you can maintain group unity while helping these people grow.

*  Developing a Relational Community II, Lyman Coleman, continuation of morning session.

*  Support your Small Group Leaders, Jon Weiner. How to care, support and build trust in your leaders.

SPEAKERS:

*  Lyman Coleman is small groups pioneer, trainer and consultant for church leaders and denominations.  Founder and CEO of Serendipity where he wrote and edited many small group studies.

*  Mark Mehlig has served in pastoral ministries over 30 years specializing in counseling and family therapy. He was Senior Consultant with Employee Assistance Program for professional athletes in the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals organizations.  Currently he serves as Small Groups Pastor at Calvary Church, St Peters, MO and area point person PDSG Network South Central Region.

* Ron Edmondson is a pastor and church planter bogging regularly about church, leadership and family at ronedmondson.com

*  Rick Howerton is one of the unheralded leaders in the small group movement.  He honestly believes that small groups can and will change the world.  He serves as the Serendipity by LifeWay Small Groups trainer and consultant.

*  Eddie Christenberry is a trainer, church planter and facilitator of small groups. For the last five years he has served as Executive Pastor, Ridgeview Community Church in Franklin, TN

*  Terry Hadaway is Small Groups Pastor at Longhollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville TN. He holds a PhD in Adult Education and has written Bible studies for Charles Stanley, Max Lucado, John MacArthur, Sheila Walsh, John Maxwell, Billy Graham, and others.

*  John Weiner has been in GroupLife ministry for 21 years and just completed his tenth year at Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY.   He now oversees new and developing Small Group Leaders at Southeast.

*  Michael Thomas, Small Group Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN