Friday Experiences

Onsite Events

Visit Ticket Exchange if you have questions about these Friday experiences.

North Point Connection Experience with Bill Willits and Stephen Redden
Want to see how North Point connects people to small groups? You can participate in a mock “GroupLink” to see how the experts do it!

Evangelism and Seeker Small Groups with Garry Poole
Have questions for the guy who wrote the book on questions? Come ask Garry!

Meet the Authors with Dr. Will Miller and Dr. Glenn Sparks
Will Miller was a stand-up comedian for 16 years and is an ordained minister, author, and hospital and police chaplain. He is campus minister at Purdue University where he lectures on media effects. Professor Glenn G. Sparks is the associate department head for communication at Purdue University. He teaches courses in the theory and effects of mass media, children and television, and research methods. Drs. Miller and Sparks collaborated on Refrigerator Rights: Creating Connections and Restoring Relationships (White River Press, 2007). Their second book is currently in progress and will address the “seven temptations of popular culture” and how knowing them can help us to live better.

Meet the Neighborhood Pastors with Steve Gillen and the Willow Creek Neighborhood Life Team
In this informal Q&A about neighborhood ministry you can learn how hospitality and missional outreach go hand-in-hand. Chat with one of the Willow Creek Area Pastors or ask Steve Gillen, associate director of Neighborhood Life. Click here to learn more about Willow Creek Community Church Neighborhood Life and “Table” gatherings.

Cups of Coffee

Have a very specific need you’d like to talk about with others facing a similar challenge? Want to network with some other leaders from your city/state/region? Want to meet someone in the same role at another church from your denomination? Cups of Coffee are limited-availability opportunities that will be posted here… see the list below for current choices. Held in the Activity Center from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. with only six participants per table. To join a coffee listed below, go to Ticket Exchange.

Topic: The Relational Way: Starting or Transitioning to Missional Small Groups
Host: Scot Boren

Topic: Problem Solving in Group Life (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Greg Bowman

Topic: Hosting a Multi-Church Training Event (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Sherry Burnam

Topic: Spiritual Formation in Small Groups (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Mindy Caliguire

Topic: Experimental Mission (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Alan Hirsch

Topic: Creating Group Life Momentum in Large Churches (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Chris Lagerloff & Jeff Pries

Topic: Building a Staff Team (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Ben Lockyer

Topic: Transforming Small Groups (and Small Group Ministries) from Good to Great (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Mike Mack

Topic: Q & A with NorthPoint Community Church (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Jason Malec

Topic: Small Groups in Community Care (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Kaleen Marshall

Topic: Small Groups in Sports Ministry
Host: Wally Marshall

Topic: Shaping Ministry, Theological, & Leadership Education (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Ron Martoia

Topic: Beyond Literacy: A Radical Strategy to Empower Bible Readers
Host: Thorsten Moritz

Topic: Cell Groups – Holistic Small Groups
Host: Randall Neighbor

Topic: Serving Small Groups: Partnering with Civic Organizations (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Steve Pate

Topic: Digging Deeper Into The Seven Deadly Sins (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Russ Robinson

Topic: Small Groups in Transitional Churches (Moving to Small Groups Model) (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Barry Sink

Topic: Training Small Group Coaches (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Tony Stoltzfus

Topic: Developing a Hands-On Social Justice Ministry
Host: Mark Van Steenwyk

Topic: Covenanters attending (Evangelical Covenant Church)
Host: Kirsten D. (Nelson) Wagenius

Topic: GroupLife™ Assessment Tool for Small Groups Ministries (Sorry, this coffee is full.)
Host: Beth Leonard

Geographic Area: Point Leaders – Canada
Host: Bryan Bylsma

Geographic Area: Point Leaders – Chicagoland
Host: Eric Camfield

Geographic Area: Point Leaders – Mid-Atlantic Region
Host: Jack Dyson

Geographic Area: Point Leaders – Southern Ontario
Host: Jeff Jantzi

Geographic Area: Missional Churches - Atlanta
Host: Nathan Ledbetter

Geographic Area: North Iowa – Southern Minnesota
Host: Amy Palmer