The Small Church Small Group Guide

A combination of leader’s and manager’s guides written especially for ministry in small congregations. It is realistic about small church challenges and builds on small church tradition. Written and edited by those with experience in small parishes, it will speak to you.

The Rev. David Stark, M. Div. Has extensive experience in small group development and small group leader training. As a respected congregational consultant in small group ministries, the Rev. Stark has offered churches across the nation proven methods for developing effective small group ministries in a variety of congregational settings. Rev. Stark has been the Director of Outreach Ministries, an Associate Pastor of Small Group and Spiritual Formation, Pastor of Membership and Membership Involvement at Presbyterian churches in Seattle, Denver and Minneapolis. A noted author, Rev. Stark worked with Lyman Coleman on a series of projects at Serendipity, and has been the co-author of several well-known small group manuals and booklets.

The Rev. Dr. Patrick Keifert, M.Div., Ph.D. is a nationally-noted lecturer, author and theologian. He is a frequent public speaker on the topics of changing church paradigms, leadership and hospitality. Dr. Keifert is the creator and co-director of the project for Worship and Evangelism, a Professor of Systematic Theology at Luther Seminary and President of Church Innovations Institute. Dr. Keifert has been a congregational consultant for over 15 years, assisting congregations in vision setting, long range planning and transitions. He is the author of numerous articles and publications, including Worship and Evangelism: A Pastoral Handbook and Welcoming the Stranger: A Public Theology of Worship and Evangelism.

Judy Stack-Nelson, M.A. was the developmental editor for Church Innovations at its inception. She has worked extensively with congregations of different sizes and denominations as a lay teacher. She received her B.A. in English from Hamline University and an M.A. in New Testament Studies from Luther Seminary. She is the co-author of both the Working Together Manual and the Small Church Small Group Manager’s Guide. She lives in Southern Minnesota where her husband is a pastor.