Community Is Messy: The Perils and Promise of Small Group Ministry

by Heather Zempel

Heather Zempel oversees the community life at a multisite church in Washington, D.C., a challenging population with one of the highest relocation rates in the United States. And yet under her leadership, National Community Church has become a model for creative, dynamic, deep small group ministry. Drawing from her background as an environmental engineer (including such bizarre experiences as monitoring a pig lagoon and the unintended slaughter of a hundred innocent fish), Heather Zempel assesses the perils and possibilities inherent in small groups and other environments for Christian community. The book helps leaders begin to see the inherent "mess" of such gatherings as raw material for arriving at something beautiful. Read this book and discover fresh insights into how we can support one another's unique paths to maturity in Christ while maintaining cohesion as a community and blessing the world around us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

203 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2012

About the author

Heather Zempel is the discipleship pastor at National Community Church in Washington, DC where she oversees small groups, directs leadership development training, and serves on the weekend teaching team. She is the author of Sacred Roads: Exploring the Historic Paths of Discipleship and Community is Messy.

Reviews

[Todd McGlinchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather Zempel keeps small groups real. She knows the struggles and pinpoints how to deal with them. We are all unique in our approach to growing in Christ. Her illustrations help identify and support the people in our groups.

[Bryan Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book on Small Group ministry. If you are leading a small group or leading the small group ministry at your'e church . . . this is a must read.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the idea of viewing everything as an experiment you can learn from!

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heather had pointed out some perils and promises in this book that I have experienced over the last few years of ministry. I will be finding myself re-reading sections going forward. More to come here soon...

[Justin Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://justinfarley.blogspot.com/2012...

[Randy Elster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight on small group ministry and discipleship from the discipleship pastor at Mark Batterson's National Community Church in D.C.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost gave up in this book. I thought it made a weak start. But it got much better. I was underlining something on every page by the end.