Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy

Welcome back to another season of Disciple-Making Community with Ken Braddy! We believe that the best discipleship happens in small groups and each season we tackle a different topic, from different perspectives. This Season we'll focus on training group leaders, and on today's show, Ken discusses with two friends the importance of training group leaders. Bradley Linkins is the Assistant Director and Discipleshop Strategist for the Nevada Baptist Convention. Bradley has his MDIV from Northwest Baptist Seminary, and has been in pastoral ministry for 22 years. He's pastored in Seattle and Las Vegas and is currently a group leader at his church. He enjoys watching hockey, roasting his own coffee, and spending time with his wife and kids. Dr. Joseph Brasher, or "Dr. J,” is the Adult Pastor at New Vision Baptist Church near  Nashville, Tennessee.  He oversees groups and ministry for adults from young families to senior adults. He enjoys bass fishing, duck hunting, and any kind of sports in Tennessee. He has his Ph.D. and loves discussing and teaching the Bible. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, kids, and dog!Mentions:Breathing Life Into Sunday School Connect with Ken BraddyBreakthrough

Starting new groups in Kids Ministry has always been tough, but since COVID-19 churches across America have struggled more than ever to recruit and retain small group leaders in Kids Ministry. As leaders we know how important it is to the safety and discipleship of kids to have the right volunteers. On today’s episode I sit down with three Kids Ministry experts as we discuss the challenges around recruiting volunteers, starting new groups, and how churches can practically support the Kids Ministry needs.   Delanee Williams serves as Content Editor for The Gospel Project. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.   Jennifer Howington is part of the Texas Baptists’ Center for Church Health as the Preschool and Children’s Ministry Specialist. She brings nine years of experience in children’s ministry and previously served as Minister of Preschool/Children’s at Field Street Baptist Church in Cleburne. Jennifer helps minister and resource Children’s Pastors all over the state of Texas. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University and earned a Master of Arts in Children’s Ministry from Dallas Baptist University. She is in pre-residency for a doctorate in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.    Lisa McCrary is the Preschool Ministry Associate at Northside Baptist Church in Tennessee. She’s been in the role for over 6 years. Lisa is an expert in recruiting, training, and managing volunteers in Kids Ministry. Lisa also consults churches around the southeast and gives helpful and practical advice on how to improve the overall safety and discipleship process for kids attending children’s ministry.  Links: My Hyfi Connect with Ken Braddy Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders  

From Moses to Jesus we see life happening in small groups all throughout the pages of scripture. Starting new groups are crucial and beneficial to the overall health and growth of the church. On today’s episode I discuss with Dr. Dwayne Parker and Daniel Edmonds 6 major benefits to starting new groups. After years of experience on the pastoral level at youth, education, and missions, Dr. Dwayne Parker now serves as the director of the Discipleship/Sunday School Department at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. He holds a doctor of ministry in pastoral care degree from Southeastern Seminary. Daniel Edmonds is the Director of the Office of Sunday School and Discipleship for the Alabama State Board of Mission. He has served in pastoral ministry in many roles ranging from pastor for education and youth, to associate pastor, and several state convention conference leaders. He holds a Master of Divinity and Religious Education from Southern Seminary.  Links: Connect with Ken Braddy Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders  

One of the most strategic things a leader can do is to invest in future leaders. Whether your church’s primary discipleship model is Sunday Schools or small groups, raising up apprentices can be a determining factor in a church’s ability to multiply additional classes or groups. I’m joined today by two men who have served “in the trenches” of discipleship and leadership development. Dr. Todd Tanner is a graduate of Texas A&M University. He has a Masters in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor in Education degree from Southern Baptist Seminary. Additionally, Dr. Tanner has more than 20 years of vocational ministry experience, including as the Senior Pastor of two churches. Jason McNare serves as the State Missionary for Strengthening Churches in the Utah-Idaho Convention. Recently he served on the VBS Preview Team as Guest Trainer. If you desire a thriving pipeline of growing and multiplying leaders, apprenticeship is the key. Jesus modeled this by choosing twelve men who didn’t appear “qualified,” but whom he trained and then released for great kingdom work. It is always “less about us and more about what he does through us.”    Links: Connect with Ken Braddy Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders Bible Studies for Life    

As critical as starting new groups is to a church’s discipleship mission, pastors across the country still find groups and leaders resisting multiplying and starting new groups. On today’s show Dr. PJ Dunn and Ray Sullivan join me in a conversation about the complexities of this issue.  With over 15 years of local church service, PJ now Dr. PJ Dunn serves as a Discipleship Consultant in North Georgia with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, helping churches make disciples and reach their community. He is passionate about reaching and equipping single adults through discipleship. As an advocate for singles, he travels nationally, speaking, coaching, and creating content for singles and the local church.  My second guest is Ray Sullivan. He is the counterpart to PJ serving in the Southeast Region of Georgia Southern Baptist Mission Board. He is a graduate from Southern Seminary and an avid dog lover.  As followers of Christ it’s essential we are leading others to Christ and making disciples. While the reasons for resistance are valid, we believe by keeping our members focused on the greater mission we can see group multiplication.   Links: Connect with Ken Braddy Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders Table for One Ministries Sunday School Essentials Conference  

While starting new groups can be an exciting time in a church, it can also prove to be a huge task! Arthur Flake’s five step process, KEEP, is critical in starting the right groups for the right people. In today’s episode Phil Todd and Dr. Doug Matlock join me to discuss the 5 step process in effectively starting new groups:  Know your people  Enlarge the organization  Enlist and train the workers  Provide space and resources Go after the people   Phil Todd joined the Southern Baptist Texas Convention team in January, 2022. Prior to joining the team he served churches in Texas and Louisiana for 30 years. He has served the local church as student pastor, small group pastor, and executive pastor during that time. He is passionate about discipleship and is eager to support the local church in accomplishing the mission of making disciples.    Dr. Doug Matlock serves as the Discipleship and Small Groups Ministry Partner for Oklahoma Baptist, serving Baptist churches across the state and helping strengthen discipleship ministries. Prior to working for Oklahoma Baptists, Doug served in the local church in Oklahoma for over eighteen years. He also loves music, coffee, food, traveling with his family, hiking, sports, and great stories. His greatest passion is serving others to help them grow in their relationships with Christ.    While there is no full proof method for starting new groups, we believe Arthur’s Formula is a great process to start effective groups that will expand your reach in the community and help more people grow closer to God!   Links: Arthur Flake My Hyfi Connect with Ken Braddy Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders  

There are at least five times in a given year when churches are best positioned to launch new small groups.  While some of these are related to calendar rhythms, others include capitalizing on opportunities that exist within a church’s unique framework.  In today’s podcast I sit down with two individuals with experience “in the trenches” of launching and leading healthy small groups. Bobby Howard is the Director of South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Generations Group and Adult Discipleship. He has a background in student ministry and has also served as an Associate Professor at Charleston Southern University.  He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Seminary and an EdD degree from Southern Seminary. Adam Davis is the Associate Pastor of Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN.  He has served at Belle Aire for sixteen years and currently oversees the church’s group ministry, among other things. He has a B.A. in Christian Ministry from Union University, a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Seminary, and a PhD in Foundations in Christian Education also from Southwestern.  When it comes to launching healthy small groups, no time is without its challenges.  But by combining strategic planning with Spirit-led responsiveness, leaders can maximize the opportunities that come their way.     Links: Connect with Ken Braddy Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders Go Explore the Bible  

Studies show that new groups are the lifeblood of any church’s group ministry, yet too often churches aren’t starting new groups on a regular basis. On today’s episode I sit down with two brilliant discipleship strategists, Sean Keith and Dr. Scott Sullivan. Sean Keith is the Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist for Louisiana Baptist. He has been in ministry for almost 40 years and served in denominational roles in the local church in Youth Ministry, Education and Outreach Ministry, and as Interim Pastor. Sean has also published 2 books personally and co-wrote dozens of additional books, articles, and blogs. Dr. Scott Sullivan is the Discipleship Catalyst at Georgia Baptist Mission Board where he interacts with pastors, lay leaders, and small group leaders all over the state of Georgia. He currently leads the Spark Conference that attracts thousands of church leaders every year. Dr. Sullivan has served as equipping pastor and was also a discipleship consultant for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. He has authored two books – “Impact: Student Leadership Devotional,” and “Together We Equip.” Today we take the opportunity to break down the reasons that hold churches back from starting new groups and the benefits to overcoming those excuses in any church setting.   Links: Connect with Ken Braddy Disciple-making In Community Season 1 – Enlisting and Onboarding Group Leaders Spark Conference Man In The Mirror    

Welcome to the Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy podcast, an ongoing conversation with church leaders that focuses on important issues in disciple-making through ongoing Bible study groups. Your host, Ken Braddy is Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School, a group leader, author, blogger, and has been a discipleship pastor and 30-year champion of disciple-making through ongoing groups in the local church. Today Ken welcomes Alan Raughton and Jon Huff to discuss best practices for retaining group leaders. Mentioned: First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN   Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, FL   KenBraddy.com   Lifeway Research article, “5 Tips for Getting a Yes in a Culture of No”

Welcome to the Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy podcast, an ongoing conversation with church leaders that focuses on important issues in disciple-making through ongoing Bible study groups. Your host, Ken Braddy is Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School, a group leader, author, blogger, and has been a discipleship pastor and 30-year champion of disciple-making through ongoing groups in the local church. Today Ken welcomes Bruce Raley and Peter Burmeister to offer 13 places we can look to find new group leaders. Mentioned: First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN   First Baptist Church, Pensacola, FL   Bruce’s book, Extreme Sunday School Challenge: Engaging Our World Through New Groups   BruceRaley.com

Welcome to the Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy podcast, an ongoing conversation with church leaders that focuses on important issues in disciple-making through ongoing Bible study groups. Your host, Ken Braddy is Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School, a group leader, author, blogger, and has been a discipleship pastor and 30-year champion of disciple-making through ongoing groups in the local church. Today Ken welcomes Allan Taylor and Chris Surratt to brainstorm ways to help people overcome hurdles when considering serving as a new group leader. Mentioned: First Baptist Concord, Knoxville, TN   Allan’s book, The Six Core Values of Sunday School and Sunday School in HD: Sharpening the Focus on What Makes Your Church Healthy   Harvest Church, California   Chris’ books, Leading Small Groups: How to Gather, Launch, Lead, and Multiply Your Small Group and Small Groups for the Rest of Us: How to Design Your Small Groups System to Reach the Fringes   The Group Answers podcast

Welcome to the Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy podcast, an ongoing conversation with church leaders that focuses on important issues in disciple-making through ongoing Bible study groups. Your host, Ken Braddy is Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School, a group leader, author, blogger, and has been a discipleship pastor and 30-year champion of disciple-making through ongoing groups in the local church. Today Ken welcomes Brian Gass, Ron Brown, Chris Johnson, and Tod Tanner to discuss enlisting and onboarding new group leaders in the normative church environment (100 people +/- 50). Mentioned: Article featuring Brian Gass, “A Normal Tennessee Baptist Church”   Crestmont Baptist Church, Burleson, TX   Grace Church, Hendersonville, TN   Tennessee Baptist Foundation

Welcome to the Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy podcast, an ongoing conversation with church leaders that focuses on important issues in disciple-making through ongoing Bible study groups. Your host, Ken Braddy is Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School, a group leader, author, blogger, and has been a discipleship pastor and 30-year champion of disciple-making through ongoing groups in the local church. Today Ken welcomes Carrie Burrows, Jay Gordon, and Joseph Brasher to discuss the challenges in enlisting and onboarding new group leaders in the megachurch environment. Mentioned: First Baptist Church, Woodway, TX   Carrie’s book, The Fields We Called Home   The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, AL   The Great Groups podcast   New Vision Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, TN   Joseph’s book, The Little Book on Small Groups

Welcome to the Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy podcast, an ongoing conversation with church leaders that focuses on important issues in disciple-making through ongoing Bible study groups. Your host, Ken Braddy is Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School, a group leader, author, blogger, and has been a discipleship pastor and 30-year champion of disciple-making through ongoing groups in the local church. Today Ken welcomes Brian Fillingim and Josh Conner to the show to continue discussing the 13 principles for enlisting group leaders.

Welcome to the Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy podcast, an ongoing conversation with church leaders that focuses on important issues in disciple-making through ongoing Bible study groups. Your host, Ken Braddy is Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School, a group leader, author, blogger, and has been a discipleship pastor and 30-year champion of disciple-making through ongoing groups in the local church. Today Ken welcomes Dwayne McCrary and Jerry Ross to the show to discuss the 13 principles for enlisting group leaders.

Welcome to the Disciple-making in Community with Ken Braddy podcast, an ongoing conversation with church leaders that focuses on important issues in disciple-making through ongoing Bible study groups. Your host, Ken Braddy is Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School, a group leader, author, blogger, and has been a discipleship pastor and 30-year champion of disciple-making through ongoing groups in the local church.

Welcome to the final episode of Season 3 of Disciple-Making Community. This season we have tackled the important topic of training group leaders in our local churches. If you're just joining us, be sure to go back to episode 1 of this season. On today's show Ken Braddy discusses the why, how, and applicable practices of training adult group leaders with Harland Cason and Allan Taylor. Harland Cason has been a church planter, revitilizer, and church pastor earning degress from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Harland currently lives in Pensacola, Fl with his wife and three children. He currently serves as the pastor of Ministry of Education at Olive Baptist Church, the church where he grew up. Harland loves spending his off time in both the mountains and beaches. Allan Taylor is the Executive Pastor at First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, Tennessee. Allan has previously served as Director of Sunday School and Church Ministries at Lifeway. Allan conducts many Sunday school and leadership conferences nationally and internationally. Alan is also an author of several books and has been married for over 44 years. He's an avid football fam and loves cheering on the Vols on his free time! Thanks for listening to Season 3. Be sure to describe and go leave us a review so other group leaders can find us!  SHOW LINKS:Connect with Ken BraddySunday School Done Right Forward From HereSunday School MattersThe Inspired Teacher Episode2 of Season 3

This season we've been tackling the topic of training group leaders. Over the course of this season we've exstablished the "why" behind training, shared free resources group leaders can take advantage of, and discussed effective strategies in training kids, adults, and small group leaders. On today's show, Chad Higgins and Cory Liebrum  join Ken as they discuss student ministry leaders training. Chad Higgins serves as the cofounder of Youth Ministry Booster and is the Parent Ministry Specialist at Lifeway Students. Chad lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma with his wife and daughter. He has served the local church for over 20 years leading student ministry and adult discipleship, and as campus pastor. He enjoys watching the Red Sox and playing competitive chess.  Cory Liebrum is the Youth and Family Ministry Specialist on the Discipleship team with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Cory has over 21 years of experience serving youth and families in the local church. He loves the Dallas Mavs and spending time with his wife and two kids.Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with a friend!SHOW LINKS: -Connect with Ken Braddy -The Gospel Project

Church leaders know how important it is to have well trained and equipped group leaders in our kids ministry settings. On today's show Delany Williams and Sandy Coelho join Ken Braddy to discuss the most effective ways they've trained leaders, how new technology can be helpful in training leaders, and practical baby steps in starting ongoing training in settings that currently have none.Delany Williams serves as a Specialist with Lifeway Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and a master graduate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delany has served in kids ministry settings for over 20 years in Texas, Tennessee, and Wyoming. She currently teaches preschoolers in her church in the Nashville area and is  passionate about developing, equipping, and encouraging kids ministry leaders. Sandy Coelho is the lay Leadership Director of the Baptist Convention of New England. Sandy has served in leadership development since 1988. She is a first time guest to the Disciple-Making in Community. Sandy is passionate about equipping leaders and pouring into kids at her local church. SHOW LINKS:Connect with Ken BraddyETCH Conference HyFiKids Ministry 101Teaching PreschoolersWholly Kid

Welcome back to another great episode of Disciple-Making in Community. This season we're tackling the topic of training group leaders in the local church. The last few episodes have focused on the importance of training group leaders, resources to do so, and strategies around effective training. Today, Frank Monts and Keith Lowry, join me in discussing how to overcome obstacles that any church will face when implementing training.  Frank Monts serves as the Education Director at Live Oak Baptist Church in south Louisiana.  Frank is a master's graduate and currently a doctorate student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married for over 30 years and is an avid Star Wars fan. Keith Lowry serves as the Discipleship Pastor at Park City Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. He's served in ministry for almost 50 years and has been at his current church for over 20 years. He and his wife have three adult children who are all over the world making a Kingdom difference.  Thanks for listening to this episode and sharing it with a group leader! SHOW LINKS:Connect with Ken BraddySeason 1Season 2The Lot ProjectCS Bible Lifeway's Best and Mostly Free Resources