Ask the Author: Michael C. Mack
Answered Questions (7)
Michael C. Mack
Thanks for asking, Joel. It's a really long story, but it all started right after I became a Christian and found a great church. Some people about the same age as me invited me to their small group, and it was literally life changing. I wrote that story in an article I wrote for SmallGroups.com here: http://www.smallgroups.com/articles/2....
That transforming group and many others after it have developed a passion within me for the power of Christ-centered, authentic community, which had led me to write about small groups even early on in my Christian life, to lead groups, to write my Master's Thesis about group life, and to work in several churches leading the small group charge.
I've looked back and seen my life as a journey that God is directing, step-by-step. I have no idea where he's taking me next most of the time, and that's exciting! Today, writing blog posts, magazine articles, books, and studies about groups—not to mention speaking, teaching, training, consulting, and coaching about small group ministry—is where God has me on this winding path. Some people would call it a "calling"; I call it following.
That transforming group and many others after it have developed a passion within me for the power of Christ-centered, authentic community, which had led me to write about small groups even early on in my Christian life, to lead groups, to write my Master's Thesis about group life, and to work in several churches leading the small group charge.
I've looked back and seen my life as a journey that God is directing, step-by-step. I have no idea where he's taking me next most of the time, and that's exciting! Today, writing blog posts, magazine articles, books, and studies about groups—not to mention speaking, teaching, training, consulting, and coaching about small group ministry—is where God has me on this winding path. Some people would call it a "calling"; I call it following.
Michael C. Mack
Making an impact on someone's life through the power of written words.
Michael C. Mack
Typical question that, truthfully, I don't understand. I don't get writer's block. I have folders of ideas just waiting to be explored. I save emails and web pages and am constantly writing notes to myself (on paper, my phone, or my iPad). I look out my back sliding door and see a dead tree leaning up against live tree and have several ideas about how that applies to life circumstances. These are all natural writng prompts. They are all I need.
Michael C. Mack
Everyone says that to be a writer you must be a reader, and that is very true. But I believe that to be a writer who truly makes an impact, you must be an acutal liver of life and a lover of people. My best ideas come from real experiences as I'm out of the house doing something: riding my bike, having a conversation with a friend, helping someone with a need, and so forth.
Michael C. Mack
I'm currently working on several new projects. One is a history of the small group movement, hearing from the pioneers opf this movement to learn lessons for today and our future in groups.
Another project is completely outside the area I've written books about in the past. I have lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 42 years and I am currently blogging at www.michaelcmack.com about this part of my life. I am beginning to outline a book of stories that will help people like me to live life to the full despite the highs and lows of this disease--or any other life circumstance. Keep following my blog for more information!
Another project is completely outside the area I've written books about in the past. I have lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 42 years and I am currently blogging at www.michaelcmack.com about this part of my life. I am beginning to outline a book of stories that will help people like me to live life to the full despite the highs and lows of this disease--or any other life circumstance. Keep following my blog for more information!
Michael C. Mack
I don't think a writer "gets" inspired. I believe that the true Creator of all is our ultimate source of inspiration. Also, inspiration develops as we are engaged in life, not just sitting in front of a white piece of paper or blank Word document.
Michael C. Mack
Several years ago, the senior pastor of our church, Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, asked me if our groups were healthy. I could tell him why I THOUGHT they were healthy and tell him some stories about healthy groups, but I could not give him a quantifiable answer. That led me and our adult team leader, Murphy Belding, to start asking ourselves how to measure group health. I developed and utilized an assessment tool and then used the findings to work with our groups to make them stronger and healthier. The seven "Vital Signs" of a healthy group are discussed in this book, and I share plenty of stories to help small group champions and group leaders increase the health of their groups. The big win for us--and for readers--is that healthy things grow, produce fruit, and multiply themselves. We reaped the fruit from my senior pastor's question, and so can you.
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