Hi, I am Allen White, and AllenWhite.org is my blog.
Thanks for visiting! Over the last 30+ years as a pastor, I have tried a lot of small group strategies. Some were frustrating. Others were big successes. After coaching hundreds of churches across the country, I’d like to help you Take the Guesswork Out of Groups.
Who my blog can help
I launched this blog in 2007, first to train my own small group leaders, and then to help pastors and small group directors around the world. Churches of all sizes in a wide variety of denominations are coming together to learn how to Take the Guesswork Out of Groups.
What I value
- The potential in every disciple to make disciples.
- Embracing the lessons of the past while remaining curious.
- Respecting the uniqueness of every church in its culture, tradition, doctrine, and location.
- Helping pastors get unstuck and succeed.
- Appreciating every pastor’s acceptable level of risk.
- Considering every possible small group solution to accomplish the church’s mission, even if that means referring the church to another consultant.
- Regarding unforeseen circumstances as opportunities rather than obstacles.
- Celebrating every working model and type of group.
What I blog about
I help small group pastors and directors learn how to effective recruit, train, coach and lead group leaders and how to develop the support structure which will help groups last for the long term.
Below are some of the topics I write about:
Small Group Strategy for Pastors and Directors
Online Small Groups
Small Group Skills for Group Leaders
Effective Small Group Coaching
Case Studies of Successful Churches
My Most Popular Posts
Before Robin Williams Shows Up in Your Sermon, Think Again (over 1 million views on my site, pastors.com, and churchleaders.com)
Start Leading the Church You Have (Stop Leading the Church You Lost)
The Rise of the Microsite Church
Sermons Don’t Make Disciples
What is Rooted?
What’s Wrong with Rooted
When Your Pastor Gets Fired
Why Reconnect Members Who Are Already Connected?
Why I blog
Pastors often feel groups are harder to form and manage than they really are. From personally handpicking leaders to asking prospective members to fill out sign up cards to placing the prospective members into groups, it can be an administrative nightmare. The bad news is strategies like this are both labor intensive and ineffective. There are better ways.
Pastors are often frustrated with group strategies that don’t connect all of their church and don’t last for the long term. They want something that is steady, but not stale. One thing I’ve learned is no single strategy will connect a whole church and no single strategy works well in every church. By putting more tools in the pastor’s toolbox, we can accomplish a pastor’s goals for connection and growth.
Pastors need strategies that work and don’t require a lot of extra time. Rather than reading 20 more books on small groups and attending another dozen seminars, I can walk you from where you are to where you want to go. I’ve done this with churches from 42 to 42,000. I can help you.
My Bio
I have devoted the last 30+ years to helping people find Christ, make meaningful connections, grow in their faith, and find fulfillment in ministry. I have successfully launched hundreds of groups at two churches as the Associate Pastor: New Life Christian Center, Turlock, CA for 15 years and Brookwood Church, Simpsonville, SC for four years.
I have had the privilege of coaching over 1,500 churches of all sizes and denominations over the last 16 years. In my coaching, I’ve been truly amazed at seeing thousands of groups launched with tens of thousands of people connected. It has been a great privilege and a wild ride both. I host a monthly podcast, the Exponential Groups Podcast. I offer online courses and have taught workshops for local churches as well as speaking at the Purpose Driven Church Conference at Saddleback Church, the BASS Church Workers Convention, the Willow Creek Association – Canada, and The Dave Ramsey Group’s Success with Groups Conference.
I have written four books: Exponential Groups: Unleashing Your Church’s Potential (Hendrickson 2017), Leading Healthy Groups: A Guide for Small Group Leaders (2018), the Exponential Groups Workbook (Hendrickson 2020), and Leading Online Small Groups: Embracing Your Church’s Digital Future (2020).
I have earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies and Missions and an M.Div. in Christian Education. Most of what I have learned has come through the school of hard knocks. Many lessons have been learned through trying new things, failing, and trying again. But, now I know what works and can help you take the guesswork out of groups. Allen, his wife Tiffany and their four children live in Greenville, South Carolina.
