JoeWindham.com

Small Group Leadership Huddle: 12 Great Yearly Topics

2011-11-18T11:06:00.004-07:00

Ive found that a great way to have successful monthly small group leadership huddles with all your leaders is to be prepared by planning way in advance. It's also very helpful to have a huddle planning team made up of some of your creative small group leaders. Often, it would be easier to have your coaches/CL's plan the huddle, but Ive found that when group leaders are involved in the planning, a lot more group leaders attend. Plus, it takes a lot of the busy pressure off you and your coaching/CL team. Depending on the size of your team you can choose different venue types for your huddles. Some months you may host them at your church but other months you might have a few coaches lead different venues in homes. Women's Group leaders all at a Women's Coach's home and so on. Men's, Married, & Mixed Group Leaders. One fun idea is to create some competition among your coaches seeing who can get the best attendance at their huddle. Be sure to give a way a good prize though. My wife has won this numerous times because she not only has all her ladies leaders there, she will have their apprentices and many times other ladies that our considering leadership. She normally blows everyone away, but it's great because it challenges the rest of our coaches to go after it more and more. Back to the topics; these topics can be repeated yearly, but be sure to give them a new face creatively and title them differently. From time to time I will throw in an additional topic if its something that keeps coming up in a our coaches meetings. I normally write my huddle outline using the Willowcreek Coaching Handbook huddle planning guide template. Its simple, easy, and its not reinventing the wheel every time.

12 Huddle Topics

Jan: Vision

Feb: Shepherding

March: Spiritual Growth Plans

April: Local and Global Outreach Projects

May: Navigating the Summer Successfully

June: Prayer

July: Communication

August: Great Group Meetings

September: Apprenticeship

October: Evangelism

November: Navigating the Holidays

December: Christmas Party for all Small Group Leadership

Recent Church Visits: An Eye for Excellence

2011-11-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

I recently visited three churches that definitely have an eye for excellence. Those churches all being in Southern California; Saddleback, North Coast, and Mariners Church. Here's a few of my findings.

Saddleback definitely connects in an excellent way on the everyday life issues. Their most recent being health and fitness, better known as the Daniel Plan. I had the pleasure of meeting with Dee Eastman, the director of the Daniel Plan. I'll write a future blog on my interview with her.

Next up is North Coast Church and ohhh do they have on campus venues going on. They've got it down to a science. Their mantra is pick the worship service & style that works for you. At the main campus in Vista they offer a variety of different worship service options varying in style, location, and time slot. The worship music styles vary from traditional hymns and choruses to contemporary songs, from Country Gospel bluegrass to THE EDGE, a cutting-edge experience incorporating electric guitars and high energy worship.

Here's a listing:
1) North Coast Live: Full worship band and live teaching.
2) Edge: An edgier atmosphere for worship.
3) Video Cafe: Contemporary gospel worship.
4) Traditions: A mix of classic hymns and old favorites.
5) Country Gospel: Featuring gospel/bluegrass worship.
6) Live @ 12:45: Contemporary worship service with live teaching.
7) Early Bird Cafe: Contemporary worship service with no childcare provided. 730am
8) The Message: Simply the message.
Located in the Corner Cafe.
9) Venue en Español: Live worship and teaching all in Spanish.
10) Last Call: Extended, reflective worship time after the message.
Sunday 5:30pm
11) Sunday Night Encore: Features contemporary worship.
Sunday 5:30pm
12) Encore 4 Singles: A video venue sponsored by our Singles Ministry.
Sunday 5:30pm

Lastly, is Mariners Church. This place will just about ruin any pastor out there when it comes to pride and the campus the Lord has blessed you with. #1 the campus is located smack dab in the middle of Newport Beach. If you haven't been there, picture Beverly Hills with the ocean right down the street. #2 this church's signage, streets, parking lots, buildings, streams and rivers, chapel, and more blow away the highest end malls you've ever been too.
#3 and most importantly, mariners is definitely intentional about ministry. They don't have 200 ministries to be involved with. They've narrowed it down to a few, they're definitely pursuing being a simple church.

Solace

2011-11-15T01:09:00.000-07:00

Solace
1 : alleviation of grief or anxiety
2 : a source of relief or consolation

At this moment I'm sitting In Solace. I'm alleviating myself of grief over things, people, and situations that can so easily weigh us down and steal our joy and livelihood. Things like the mental addiction of staying so tethered to the constant information stream through all of my social interactive tools (iPhone, Twitter, email, etc...) I found myself this morning so quickly like a programmed robot checking my email as I got up out of bed. Like it couldn't wait, right? So, finally, as I sit in solace with the Lord this morning, I'm receiving from him relief and consolation. Don't we so need it on a regular basis. Moments of complete alleviation. I'm so thankful that the Lord is my helper, my alleviator. His Word says, "Where does our help come from, it comes from the Lord the maker of Heaven and Earth." Ps. 121:1&2. Thank you Lord for being my comforter, counselor, strength, peace, joy, solitude, my stream to sit by and receive a fresh wind in my sails for today.

Always Learning!

2011-11-12T19:48:00.001-07:00

Years ago as a youth pastor, I came across this leadership saying by Doug Fields, "Leaders are Learners." That phrase has stuck with me over the years. Learning early in ministry that if i want to continue to get better as a leader, I'd better continue learning.

I'm so thankful to have begun this practice at my first full time church position in Athen, OH, back in 1995. Early on, I couldn't wait to listen to my "Injoy" Leadership Tapes by John Maxwell. I would take a ton of notes on the provided note sheets. I also loved to get my monthly Group Magazine subscription. I would read it over and over. This week, almost 17 years later, Im in California learning. I'm really here for a Small Group Network Regional Leader retreat. But in the midst of the retreat and surrounded by so many great leaders, I'm learning. Listening to so many with so many experiences, I cant help but learn and continue to grow as a leader.

Sermon: Scars

2010-10-28T11:06:00.002-06:00

Scars from Joe Windham on Vimeo.

Sermon: Being God's Best

2010-10-09T13:45:00.009-06:00

Being God's Best from Joe Windham on Vimeo.

The Five Live - Starting Small Groups Right!

2010-08-02T11:57:00.003-06:00

Small Groups - Starting Right Week 1 from Joe Windham on Vimeo.

Reflections of Russia

2010-07-02T10:16:00.000-06:00

From My Blog

Wow! Already one week since our team returned from Russia. It's so hard sometimes to put into words all that you experience on a mission trip. So many aspects of your life are effected - spirit, soul, and body! I think that's why returning from such an objectively successful missions trip is so difficult. You are completely exhausted spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. But that's the way it should be shouldn't it? Giving your all, being completely poured out for the Lord for His purpose and glory. I better understand more and more why Jesus was so tired at times. It was because he so poured himself out for people and their needs spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

From My Blog

Great missions trips challenge me to live more like this everyday in normal life. Poured out for Christ at home as a husband and father, at work with my co-workers and congregation, in my neighborhood, at the gym, everywhere with all people. So at the end of each day I collapse exhausted from being used of the Lord in the lives of all. Pray for me in this, it's so easy to slip back in the rut of selfishness though, well at least for me!

You know, for as long as I can remember, since way back to 1990 when I gave my life completely to Christ, I have had a special love in my heart for Russia. Somewhere along the way God dropped his love for this very special country in my heart. Maybe it because of the 180 million, less than 2% know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

From My Blog

Our teams objectives for our trip to Belgorod were:
*To be used of God in all ways he wanted to use us
*To partner with Holy Trinity church
*To help them reach the unchurched neighbors of their congregation through kindness evangelism
*To help them with their church building through various projects
*To train the pastors and leaders of the Belgorod and Kursk region in small group ministry

Each of these objectives were successfully accomplished. Enjoy the pictures below of our time in Belgorod. I invite you to consider praying about a trip to Russia with us another time or to consider financial support of our teams as we go each year.

Me leading small group training with the pastors

From My Blog

Our Team

From My Blog

Holy Trinity Pastor and Family

(From left to right: Nadia, Pastor Alexander, Alla, Luba, Andrew)
Please pray for them with me on a regular basis. They have such a wonderful congregation and you can tell the congregation loves them so much. They need so much prayer support though, financial monthly support for their family, and finances to finish their church building.

From My Blog

Some of the Church Congregation and our team at the train station!

From My Blog

Church Building

From My Blog

These two guys will be missionaries one day!

From My Blog

Russian Cuisine

From My Blog

A Russian Small Group Dinner

From My Blog

Praying over the pastor and family

From My Blog

My dear friend and interpreter, Denis
He translated my entire small group training into Russian. See pick below Denis's picture.

From My Blog

Any comments, questions about Russia, or how to financially support feel free to email me, joewindham@gmail.com

My Russian Home

2010-06-21T23:35:00.000-06:00

The Russian hospitality has been wonderful. My missionary friend, Don Buege and I are staying at the home of our host church pastor. His name is Alexander and his wife is Alla. They have three children: Andrew 20, Luba 15, and Nadia9. Each day they take such good care of.

Yesterday Pastor Alexander took me on a tour of there church which has been under construction for 8 yrs. Finances have caused them to have to build the church slowly. They have an incredible plan though. The church has a great location in the city. It's located on one of the most busy main streets. 1000's of cars pass it everyday. Last night P Alexander showed me the archetectual plans and what they have left to do to finish it. I'm excited for our church to be able to possibly assist in helping building this great church and partnering with them for the years to come.

Our team is continuing to have such great ministry times each day. We also concluded our small groups conference. It went very well and all the pastors were greatful for such good training to help there churches. I had a an opportunity to sit with the two bishops that oversee the two regions we are working with. Bishop Alex and Bishop Piotor. They both over see around 50 churches combined. They had so many questions and are equally excited to partner with us for the years to come.

The day ended with having tea with pastor Alex and his son Andrew. We sat on his patio that over looked their beautiful green garden where they grow cherries, blue berries, pears, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, various spices, and strawberries. After tea we headed off to bed around 10pm. Another great productive day being about the Lords kingdom work.

Port O Prince Devastation

2010-03-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

The day started early at 7am. After a night of listening to a barking dog convention, a rooster crow-off, a fireworks demolition at 2am, and a 20 baby synchronized crying contest, I got a little bit o sleep. Not complaining because it gave me a wonderful real-time experience with Haitian cultural. Had some good coffee and our team headed over to the orphanage. We had breakfast together, prayer, and orientation of our day. Ever since we've been here Ive been trying to work out flying to Port O Prince to visit with another orphanage, so we can take future teams from Grace Family there also. It is only 1 hr north of Port o Prince. Well, God worked things out for me, and I got to fly to Port O Prince this afternoon. Normally its an 8hr drive over mountains from Ouanaminthe, where Danita's Orphanage is, to Port O Prince, but by plane its only 30 minutes. Danita was great and arranged a driver to take me to the airport in Cap Haitian. When I got to the smallest airports ive ever seen in my life, we walked in, told them where i wanted to go, and they said i could leave in 5 minutes. I said sure, and was in the air in 15. Flight was in a small 14 seater, I could see the pilots as they flew. Anyway, we were in the air about 25 minutes and then landed in Port O Prince. I got off the plane and walked into the airport to be flogged by 50 people wanting drive me wherever I needed to go, but my new orphanage buddy, Gary Walker was on his way to pick me up. He got there in about 30 minutes and we took a very shocking drive through Port O Prince. The tv news veils the reality of the situation here completely. There were immediately as you leave the airport 1000's of tents anywhere and everywhere you looked. Children packing the streets begging for food, water, money, anything! And then the devastation of the pancaked buildings and houses was everywhere. Huge buildings 5 and 6 stories high lying flat, floor upon floor stacked on each other. Rubble everywhere you looked. Many of the buildings they have not even gotten to yet. They sit as a pile of rocks. They stopped counting the dead after an estimate of 300,000. After Gary took me through town we headed north out of the city and he showed me where just recently 50,000 were buried in a mass grave. They were taken there by 100's of dump trucks. The only thing that sat near the grave was a parked bull dozer. It was unbelievable. Tomorrow morning I will fly back to Cap Haitian and then be picked up and driven back to Ouanaminthe to rejoin our team. We will then drive back to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where we will spend the night and then fly back to Tampa Friday afternoon. Its been a quick trip. We will need at least 7-8 days next time. Pray for our safety tomorrow. Joe

Danita's Children Orphanage

2010-03-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

WoW! Is all I can say! This lady has got it going on when it comes to loving some precious children. What a vision from God. Danita's Orphanage is 11 yrs old, but you would think by the size and impact its making in the community it would be much older. It goes to show you, if God gives you a vision, run with it. God told her to go to Haiti yrs ago. She started the orphanage in a small rented house with 6 children. Today she has over 150 in the orphanage and 500 that attend her school. www.danitaschildren.org. Here's a pic of me with some of the children. Checkout her website, support if you can. It is definitely a very worthy cause!

Jacarte' & Jacarta

2010-03-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a day. Started at 3am this morning. Left home at 330am headed to the church. Team was all there ready to roll to Tampa International. Left the church at 4am. Check in at the airport was smooth, everyone made it through security screening good. Our flight was on time and we departed for San Juan, Puerto Rico at 6:30am. As we were preparing to land in San Juan I heard a noise behind me and to the right. It was a young African American mother freaking out as if her ears were killing her as we were landing. She was shaking her head back and forth. A few seconds later she screamed get me off this plane and she vomited all over the seat in front of her. Now the hard part was she had 2 precious twin boys that I would learn later were 1.6 yrs old. They both were strapped in small infant carriers. Anyway, we landed, I said a brief prayer and got off the plane. Later as our team was sitting together we heard a commotion going on near us. It was this mother still acting pretty crazy. My heart started to break for these dear twins. I was wondering how in the world this mother was taking care of them adequately. Plus, they were both crying, like they just wanted out of those carriers, were hungry, wet, and just wanted to be held. So my brave self asked one of our girls to go over and check on the mother and see if they could help her. So, two of my awesome lady team members got up and went over for a few minutes. They came back and reported that she seemed high on drugs possibly, didn't want help, and didn't want prayer. As I continued to hear the children cry, I finally got up and walked over to them. One of our girls was still there trying to help. I said hello to the mom and asked could I hold one of the boys, his name was Jacarte'. I unstrapped him from his carrier, his little legs hung over the edge because he was much to big for it. I lifted him up into my arms and as I was holding him and he was looking into my eyes, no longer crying by the way. I noticed he was completely soaked through his clothes. By that time a couple more of our ladies came over and before you knew it, the mother was allowing us to help her get her babies out, the ladies took them to the bathroom with her, they both had soaking wet and soiled diapers. I ran and bought pampers because she had none. I brought them back, one of our girls ran them into the bathroom where the other girls were washing and changing the boys. Shortly they all came out and I took Jacarte' back into my arms. His eyes lit up as he ate some pops cereal. He would eat one and then feed me one. I thought to myself, it's already started and we're not even to Haiti yet. Anyway, I ended up having a conversation with this mother. She had been in a shelter in Tampa with the 2 boys and finally was going to try to take the boys to their father in St Croix. Sad fact was the father didnt even know he had 2 boys. She had left St Croix when she was pregnant. She said he's either going to be really mad or really happy, but either way she had to do it. Finally, it was time for them to load their plane. I stooped down to place Jacarte' back in his little carrier, I strapped him back in, all the while he stared into my eyes. And as I pulled away, his arms shot out to me, with a panicked look on his face. I put my hand on his head and prayed for him. He began to cry and I said goodbye. What a start huh? And we're not even to Haiti yet. Lord help me please! This is going to be tough. Have a good night or day. God bless. Pray for us.

Leaders Love People!

2009-09-13T18:00:00.005-06:00

I continued learning something very special from my wife today. It's one of those things that in ministry leadership you'd think is a given, but it's not. What I'm referring to is having a real genuine Christ centered "love" for people. I believe more and more that as people sense your sincere love for them, they will follow as you lead them pretty much anywhere. True sincere love can only originate from a sincere love relationship with Christ. It is out of that relationship that love will precede ones leadership. I'm grateful to lead a team of leaders that I can truly say lead like this, and one of them happens to be my beautiful bride.

Last Few Days

2009-07-08T12:31:00.005-06:00

Hey everyone! Sorry, got really busy and tired and didn't keep up with the blog. So anyway, I'll try to catch you up. Wednesday the team went out to an assisted living center and did various service projects in the morning and then we all went back to Kenchee Park for our last VBS day with the children. What a day it was! So many of the children that I had given bibles wanted me to sign them and write something in them since I had done for one child already. So I did for about twenty children. I tried to be sensitive to what the Lord wanted me to write, because I knew what I wrote could be possibly life altering for a child. A couple of children forgot their bibles and wanted me to come back that night for the Celebration Time. I was already busy due to being scheduled to speak to the youth ministry of the church where we were staying. Luckily we got done around 8pm and I had a driver come pick me up and take me back to the park so I could sign and write in these two children's bibles. They all wanted my email address so i gave it to them. I have received a number of emails already from them.

Thursday we headed for Moose Pass and phase 2 of our trip. On our way we stopped at Portage Glacier Park and a few randon scenic sites along the way. We arrived in Moose Pass around 7:30pm, set up our bedding areas on the church floor, and went over to the local motor lodge for a bite to eat. Somehow a few of our team members caught a stomach virus ad I awoke throughout the night to the louds sounds of violent sickness if you know what I mean.

Friday a few of the team that were sick slept in and tried to recover throughout the day. The rest of the team went out to do ministry in 2 locations. One two man team went to cut fire wood for an elderly gentlemen from the church while the rest of team joined me in remodeling the new church locations basement. We sanded dry wall, washed the walls down, swept a bunch, and then painted the walls with primer preparing them for their final coat. What a blessing it was to know that our work would help one make it through the winter warmer and also help the church house more teams that would come in the future and stay in the area that we remodeled.

Saturday morning we got up early and prepared to drive to Whittier, our 3rd phase of the trip. Whittier is a port city that was having a large celebration due to it being the 4th of July. We teamed with the Chamber of Commerce and hosted a bbq lunch for over 500 in attendance. Our team not only cooked and served, but also was able to meet many of these 500 and share some of their testimony with them. Late that afternoon we headed back to Anchorage for some down time, souvenir shopping, and headed to the airport for our 1am flight back to Orlando.

All of our flights went great. I slept both flights back. We made it back to the church by about 630pm. And we all headed off to our wonderful homes.

Here Am I

2009-06-30T20:17:00.011-06:00

The Lord said who will go for me to the ends of the earths, and Isaiah said, "Here am I Lord, Send me!" This passage in Isa. 6 was what our prayer as we prepared to go to Alaska. This morning it has been our prayer again as we go deep into the "bush". Laying it all down for the sake of the call of God on our lives.

530am came early, but it was pretty easy to get up because of what was in store. I was able to take three team members with me onboard three small engine planes into the Alaskan Bushlands. We flew 55 miles SE of Anchorage to a very small village called, "Tyonek". It is only accessible by small plain. due to there not being ant roads in Alaska. While there we had breakfast with the former village chief. We also listened to the story of his tribe and how there is desperate need for God. I hope to partner with GraceWorks for many trips in future years back into the bush to help people experience the love of Christ.

The other half of our team helped clean up a city park and painted over all the graffiti walls.

After returning from the morning outings the team ate lunch and then headed back out to Kanchee Park where we have been each day this week. We shared the story of Jonah and made big blue whales and mini Jonah's for al the kids. These kids are so in need of love. Our prayer is that the love of Jesus will touch them so powerfully that they will serve him for the rest of the lives.

My craft partner today was Kaitlyn. What a precious little 4 year old. She reminded me of my little Elly.

We also challenged a few girls to learn John 3:16 from the gospel of John booklets we gave them. They did great. They were actually huddled up at one time all looking at their bibles together, talking with such excitement about what they were reading.

Tonight I had dinner with Scott & Connie Kirby (Photo Top-Graceworks Director). What a wonderful time we had. He praised our team and said he loved all of our servanthearts and the love we exude to one another and to the Lord. He hopes we will team with them for many more mission trips next Spring and Summer.

Janey's Hope

2009-06-30T03:21:00.008-06:00

What a day! Shower at 5am, in the Word and coffee from 530-7:30, team devotion at 7:30, breakfast at 8am, orientation at 9am, Walmart for supplies till noon, Lunch 1230, left for ministry site at 130pm, Cleaned up the park where we would be doing ministry, prayer walked to neighborhoods and invited kids to come out, & ohhh did they start coming around 2pm. We ministered to over 50 children today. Played games with them. I learned Chinese Jumprope-they laughed at me most of the time. Had lunch time with them. Many were so hungry! The children were from age 1 - 13. Most of the younger children were under the care of their young themselves siblings. One that really got attached to me was little "Janey". A one year old Mong child (descendants from Laos/Thailand).

The team had a blast loving all these kids the Lord drew to us. We had a bible story about Noah's Ark and the Flood, sang songs, played more games, made crafts, and then did a story review and gave away food and toy bags to each child. They are all excited to come back all week. Check out a couple more pics from today!

Operation Alaska

2009-06-29T03:53:00.009-06:00

Seven months ago 8 courageous disciples chose to join me on a missions trip to Alaska. Cool thing about this trip is that everyone that has been training with me over these 7 months wants to lead a trip in the future. I love this because it will allow us to help more an more GFCers have an incredible missions experience which is life changing.

Today we are finally here! Its 2am in the morning and I'm wired because I slept 5 hours on the plane. But that's a good thing, because it sure made the 7.5 hr flight a lot more enjoyable. It was amazing to wake up and look out on endless miles of mountain peaks covered with snow and the sun on the far horizon in the background. It was a worshipful moment.

Anyway, the morning started today by waking up at 4:30am, showering, dressed, loaded bags, andddd realized a few miles down the road that I forgot my coffee that I prepped to brew the night before, sooo I stopped at Racetrac and got a cup. Made it to the church by 5:20am to find my wonderful team all on time and ready to go.(If you'd like to pray for us by name; Joe, Jerry, Michael, Ed, Paul, Scott, Brian, Connie, and Jane) And a great big thank you to Pastor Doug for going with us to drive the van back to the church.

So we loaded up and headed to Orlando International. Made great time, were there by a little after 7am. Oh I forgot to tell you that I ran over a parking cone in the church parking lot and soon discovered that we were dragging it underneath. So we pulled over and luckily got it out. Anyway, we got through security, and made it to our gate by 8ish to await our 9 something flight to Atlanta.

Got to Atlanta safely, had a 3 hr layover, ate at Chili's, met and talked with a nice alaskan native, loaded plane for Alaska, taxied out, andddd turned around, mechanical warning light. So, we had another 4 hr layover. Loaded new plane at 7pm and arrived in Anchorage at 11:20pm Alaska time, 3:20a, Florida time.

Were greeted by our wonderfully nice drivers, John and Butch. They had a big sign with "GRACE" on it so we didnt miss them. We got our luggage, loaded up, and drove to our lodging which is here at Muldoon Rd Baptist Church.

We saw our first form of wildlife on the way, a very large moose on the side of the road eating grass.

We have all bedded down on nice inflatable mattresses, and will wake up early for a devotion at 7:30 and breakfast at 8am. We're excited for the day ahead. Ready to minister the love of Jesus to all.