SmallGroups.com's Newest Digizine Addresses Common Problems in Small-Group Life

Contact: Sloan Skinner, Christianity Today, 630-260-6200 ext 4207

CAROL STREAM, Ill., Aug. 12, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ --SmallGroups.com, a ministry of Christianity Today, has released the newest issue of its free digital magazine (digizine). This issue, entitled "Troubleshooting: Solutions to common problems in small-group life," explores how to maintain group harmony in the face of several of types of conflict. 

Featured is an article by Les Parrott, who sheds light on his experiences dealing with relational rifts between small-group members and shares steps leaders can take to restore respect and repair relationships. Joel Comiskey writes We got the Theology Blues, which lists five methods for approaching doctrinal strife in your group. 

Editor Sam O'Neal says, "This issue of the SmallGroups.com Digizineaddresses how to handle 'problem' people, what to do with misbehaving children, and how to confront uncommitted members. These are issues that are often considered taboo, but that are realistic challenges to small-group ministry. I think it will be helpful for people to gain insight on how to deal with the difficult situations we address in this issue." 

O'Neal contributes The Blessing of Problem People to this issue. He includes practical steps to deal with specific types of group members, such as those who dominate the group, offer others too much advice, or rarely participate. There are also videos throughout the issue, including a video case study and link to an interactive discussion area where readers can share how they would handle difficult situations.

Harness group harmony and learn practical ways to confront conflict in small groups with this issue of the SmallGroups.com Digizine. Click here to get this issue for free: 
christianitytoday.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vsmgr11/i3/p1

SmallGroups.com provides high-quality and up-to-date resources relevant to small groups. With membership comes complete access to hundreds of articles and a large archive of downloadable, training tools and Bible studies that help to support, equip, and train small groups and small-group leaders. 

Christianity Today (www.christianitytoday.com) is a not-for-profit communications ministry that serves the global church through print magazines, digital publications, websites and blogs which together reach over 2.5 million people each month.

Christians Remember John Stott

John Stott, an avid bird watcher,
 was a pastor's pastor. He is now with
 the Lord he served for decades.

England (MNN) ― The Christian Church has lost one of its greatest leaders: John Stott. Uncle John, as many called him, went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, July 27th at 3:15 in London. He was 90 years old.

"The evangelical world has lost one of its greatest spokesmen, and I have lost one of my close personal friends and advisors," said Billy Graham, paying tribute to Stott in a press release.

Stott pastored the All Souls Church on the outskirts of London from 1950 to 1975.  It was the only church in which he served.

President of Cornerstone University Dr. Joseph Stowell says, "When you think of evangelism, you think of Billy Graham. When you think of preaching, writing, encouraging pastors, scholarship, exegesis, reliability, and moderation in the midst of crisis, you automatically think of John Stott."

Stowell says, "He could hold his own with the best of theologians, and yet he could speak a sermon in a church that would reach a whole cross-section of people who came off the streets of London to sit under his ministry."

As a pastor, Stott believed that a local church should be a primary agency of evangelism and that all its members should be involved.

While he was a friend of pastors, he was also beloved by young people.Stott spoke six times at Urbana, the world's largest student missions event between 1964 and 1979.

President of HCJB Global Wayne Pederson says Stott had an incredible impact on evangelism as chair of the Lausanne Theology and Education Group between 1974-1981. In 1974, "He was the main architect of the Lausanne Covenan. It's still being used today as the philosophy, theology and strategy for global evangelism."

Stott also spearheaded the drafting of the Manila Manifesto, a document produced by the second International Congress in 1989. It was an elaboration of the Lausanne Covenant.

Pederson says, "Many of us remember hearing his messages from Lausanne, where he poured out his love and his passion for Christ. I think his connection with Lausanne and the connection with the Urbana conferences--particularly with international students--is going to be the lasting hallmark of his life."

The World Evangelical Alliance says, "Although there are many of the 620 million evangelical Christians who have never heard of John Stott, almost without exception they will have been unconsciously changed through his presence in much of what they or their pastors have read from his pen. He will be greatly missed, but his ministry continues. The whole of the leadership of the WEA acknowledges with great thankfulness to God the legacy that John Stott has left behind to encourage and guide us."

Stott viewed his lifelong singleness as a gift from God. He wrote more than 50 books which have been translated into 65 languages. "Basic Christianity" was the best known, which has sold more than 2.5 million copies.

Stott also formed Langham Partnership International to see Majority World churches being equipped for mission and growing to maturity through the ministry of Christian leaders and pastors who sincerely believe, diligently study, faithfully expound and relevantly apply the Word of God.

While he was a great theologian and speaker, John Stott was also a kind, gentle man. Biographer Dudley-Smith wrote, "To those who know and meet him, respect and affection go hand-in-hand. The world-figure is lost in personal friendship, disarming interest, unfeigned humility--and a dash of mischievous humor and charm." By contrast, Stott thought of himself as "simply a beloved child of a heavenly Father; an unworthy servant of his friend and master, Jesus Christ; a sinner saved by grace to the glory and praise of God."

Stott died listening to Scripture and Handel's "Messiah."