Small Group Leaders' Handbook: Developing Transformational Communities

What do we mean when we talk about small groups? And more importantly: what do we expect to happen when people gather in this way? The small group that wrote this book-made up of current and former campus ministry professionals with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship-explores these questions and gives you everything you need to know about small groups, including foundations, key components, life stages, planning, communication, conflict, leadership and more!

Seven people with backgrounds in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship met and corresponded over the course of a year to mine each other's diverse stories and expertise. They arrived at the principles and methods described in this book. Alex Kirk led the small group, which includes Jay Anderson, Myron Crockett, Úna Lucey-Lee, Janice McWilliams, Tina Teng and Sandra Van Opstal.All seven survived.

Jay Anderson is a senior campus staff worker for InterVarsity at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He lives with his wife and kids in Eau Claire.

Sandra Maria Van Opstal (MDiv, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is a Chicago-born, second-generation Latina and a leading practitioner of multiethnic worship. A preacher, trainer, liturgist and activist, she is passionate about creating atmospheres that mobilize for reconciliation and justice. She served as the worship director for the Urbana Student Missions Conference and has led worship for the Willow Creek Association, the Christian Community Development Association, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Evangelical Immigration Table. Sandra regularly consults as both a worship leader and a mission trainer with Christian colleges, conferences and local churches, and she serves on the board of Evangelicals 4 Justice. She and her husband Karl minister at Grace and Peace Community in Chicago, and she is the author of The Mission of Worship.

Janice McWiliams provides staff training and spiritual formation for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Úna Lucey-Lee is associate divisional director at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in Southern California.

Tina Teng is an InterVarsity staffworker with Harvard-Radcliffe Christian Fellowship, and a Harvard chaplain.

Myron Crockett was an InterVarsity staffworker for nine years at University of New Orleans and Tulane University. The former director of the Katrina Relief Urban Plunge, he is now a graduate student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and daughter.