Author: Todd Engstrom
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Group Formation Process Graphic
I’ve written in the past about the different stages of formation and growth that groups tend to go through on their way to becoming missional communities. The chart below summarizes the process and provides a few points for those of you who are more visually oriented. I hope it serves you well!
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Strategies I Use to Share the Gospel
I’ve been teaching a Theological Survey course at The Austin Stone this past fall and spring, and it has been a great experience in equipping the saints to think deeply about God, to love Him with a whole heart, and obey His commandments with willing hands. Yesterday, one of the class participants asked me about…
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My Doctoral Thesis on Missional Communities
This past few years, I have had the joy of participating the Doctor of Educational Ministry program at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I participated in a cohort of five executive pastors under the supervision of my friend Dan Dumas, and the product of that time was a thesis entitled “Missional Community as a Model for Integrated Discipleship…
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Building a Disciple-Making Culture
This post was originally published at the SEND Network website here. Building a Disciple-Making Culture Many people much smarter than me have wrestled with the question “what is culture?” At the heart of it though, culture is composed of beliefs, values and practices shared by a group of people. Building a disciple-making culture in the…
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The Essentials of Disciple Making
The following article was originally posted on the SEND Network site here. I am ecstatic that much of the conversation in church planting and church leadership has been moving towards the topic of discipleship. Books are being written, conferences are being themed and leaders are calling the church to consider the core mission of the…
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Aren’t Missional Communities Just Small Groups?
Recently I was asked by a reader on this blog and partner in our church: Is the bar so high in missional community that no one can reach it? Or, only a few groups can reach it? In the end, don’t you essentially have a small group ministry with different terminology? In healthy churches, aren’t…
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Top 5 Posts of March
For the month of March, the Missional Communities Practices Series continues to be the most read series on the blog. Apparently practical is good! As for content posted in March: Making Disciples is the Job Building a Staff Team The Basic Process of Hiring Understanding the Position Assessing Candidates – Calling If there are topics…
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Assessing Candidates – Character
Over the past few weeks, I’ve focused on staffing in the local church. This series will focus primarily on assessing candidates who emerge for potential roles on your team. There are four primary areas of assessment that are crucial in assessing someone for a position on our staff: Calling Character Capacity/Competency Culture/Compatibility This series will…
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Assessing Candidates – Calling
Over the past few weeks, I’ve focused on staffing in the local church. This series will focus primarily on assessing candidates who emerge for potential roles on your team. There are four primary areas of assessment that are crucial in assessing someone for a position on our staff: Calling Character Capacity/Competency Culture/Compatibility This series will…
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Verge 2014
This week we begin our yearly Verge Conference at The Austin Stone. For me, it is a chance to process through the past year as we pursue Christ and His mission, and connect with others who are doing the same. If you are joining us in Austin, I’d love to connect with you! You can…
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Recruiting Candidates
After understanding your core philosophical convictions, building a healthy staff team requires an interview and hiring process. At The Austin Stone, we have a process of candidacy, interviewing, assessment and hiring: Do We Need To Hire? What Role Are You Trying To Fill? Identifying Candidates for Your Team Recruiting Candidates for Your Team I pray these posts…