Ministry News - Updated Wednesday, March 5, 2008

 What's New Online?

My New Blog  -  If you'd like to read and comment on my current thoughts, research, and writing projects, visit my blog... www.randallneighbour.com. A new blog post is created each Monday for comments and discussion throughout the work week. Right now, I'm giving readers a sneek peek each week at various chapters of my next book (see details below).

Small Group Friends  -  TOUCH is pleased to announce a wonderful new web site designed to learn, grow, and share all things small group and cell group! At no charge to you, the user, you can connect privately with your leaders, keep a church calendar, interact with other pastors doing small groups, and enjoy free blogging, forums and classified ads. YES, it's totally free for every member . Check out the features of using it with your groups and leaders by visiting www.smallgroupfriends.com and reading the welcome box.

When you sign up, remember to include as much personal information as you can in your member profile. With the right privacy settings (also easily found in your profile) you can connect with pastors and other church leaders all over the world free of concerns about privacy.

This spring, someone on that site is going to win a iPhone or iPod Touch. I think it should be YOU. Sign up today and start making small group friends to win!

 Overseas Partner Focus

TOUCH Hong Kong  -  Our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong need your prayer support! Ben Wong is the head of a network of cell-based churches throughout Hong Kong and numerous house church networks inside Mainland China. He maintains a large volunteer staff and a small paid staff (but they don't make much, I assure you).

TOUCH HK has published a number of our resources in Simple Chinese, a written form of Chinese read all over the world. These faitful saints work as if it their last day on earth and we love them dearly.

Check out their web site by clicking here.

 Upcoming Speaking & Training Events

March -  We will host the first Making Cell Groups Work Pastor's training of the year in Houston on the 13th and 14th. There is still room for you, so register today by calling 1-800-735-5865! I will also be returning to Bone Gap, Illinois again this year to work coaches, group leaders and potential group leaders for a church's annual leadership retreat.

April - April is open for a training event, so if you'd like to schedule time with your leaders or a teambuilding workshop for your groups, do give me a call. In the last few days of April, there is a strong possibility I will be in Atlanta at the 2nd location of the Saddleback Small Group Conference.

May - The tickets have been purchased, and Etna and I will travel to South Africa and Malawi for nearly three weeks of missions work and training. While in South Africa, I will be teaching pastors, doing teambuilding workshops for a local church's cell groups, and preaching here and there. While in Malawi, I will be teaching pastors, working with our translators, and visiting villages to film a documentary on their amazing church planting process (believe it or not, planters live in a village until someone dies, then they pray hard and the person comes back to life from the dead and the whole village experiences revival. Really!)

October - Willow Creek will have another small group conference in October and they've asked me to do an invitation-only "point leader workshop." This is a 3-hour workshop for senior pastors, which I have never been asked to do before. The crowd is far smaller than their "open" workshops that anyone can sign up for. I will have 2.5 hours with senior pastors who have failing small group ministries. Hopefully, they will be "all ears" for what I have to share from my book, which should be released by September (see below for details).

 New Resources now available

Launch Into Community Life -  We have just released the first book in the Community Life Series of small group curriculum. This book precedes the four previous releases, and helps a new group begin with a vision and a clear mission. One powerful feature of this four week curriculum is how it helps the new leader delegate many components of small group meetings and group life to prevent burnout. Written by Michael Mack.

Recovery Cells -  We've discovered a wonderful new book on how to create and support small groups for those who struggle with alcohol and substance abuse. Written by Dr. Michael Erickson.

Knocking Over the Leadership Ladder -  Have you ever read a book that permanently changed you? I found this book incredibly challenging. The chapter on tearing others down through sarcasm to build one's self up was shockingly frank. Written by Paul Ford.

Got Accountability?   Tony Stoltzfus has released an excellent DVD set, facilitator's guide and student workbook to develop accountability partnerships called Peer Coaching. If you want more and better accountability among your small group members, this weekend resource is excellent. Check it out by clicking here.

 Future Resources

The Naked Truth about Small Group Ministry: When it won't work and what to do about it -  I am now working on my next book, which will be a practical guide for implementing and expanding holistic small groups (cell groups). This book will be based on observations I've made over the last six years while consulting with pastors. It should be released by September of 2008.

Life Basic Training (Bootcamp for sit-and-soak church members ) -  This six week personal workbook by Ralph Neighbour will take a "sit and soak" believer and move them into a new understanding of God's values vs. man's value system. Each week has daily growth guides like our discipleship resources. Also included is a weekly devotional and questions the believer can use in a small group environment at the end of each week to talk out what they are learning about themselves. It should be released by September of 2008.

Small Group Leader's Toolkit: 10 Tools Every Effective Leader Needs -  This new book by Dave Earley will be another best-seller, providing more practical bits of help just like his previous books, 8 Habits of Effective Small Group Leaders and Turning Members into Leaders. Look for this book in September 2008's catalog or featured on the front page of our site.

Encounter God - Small Group Guide -  This six week agenda book will help a small group prepare for an Encounter God Weekend in the first three week's of study and sharing. Then, it will be used for three weeks after the weekend to help group members process what happened and walk in freedom from ungodly strongholds. This agenda book will be released in the fall of 2008.

God is Powerful In You -  This six week agenda book was originally slated for January of 2008, but we ran into some publishing snags that are now sorted out. Look for it this fall!

Praise Reports, Prayer Requests and Ministry Needs

Praise the Lord!  - My 78 year old dad and the founder of TOUCH Outreach underwent quadruple bypass surgery in December and made it through the seven hours of surgery with flying colors. He's now completed his medicare-mandated physical therapy and is going to the gym three or four times a week. Watch out world, Ralph Neighbour has a new lease on life!

Praise the Lord!  - We continue to praise God for the way He brings amazing authors to us with powerful manuscripts. We're also excited about a new program we're offering to publish curriculum designed by pastors. Interested in wring for TOUCH? Learn more by clicking here.

Praise and Prayer Request  - Praises first! God provided $5000 for airline tickest to Malawi this year. However, we covet your prayers for the trip! We are also actively raising funds for the translation project being done there for the church planting going on in the villages. If the Lord prompts you to give, your donation will be tax-deductible. Contact us at 800-735-5865 if you wish to donate toward the $2000 need we have for this translation work, which will print a thousands books for use in villages!

Blessings on you, your family, and ministry this day!

Randall Neighbour, President