
A while ago, before we went on our ‘reunion’ trip back to Cairo, an old friend of our asked us if we would come up to his church in Bundaberg, just North of Brisbane, to talk to his congregation about small groups. read on

A while ago, before we went on our ‘reunion’ trip back to Cairo, an old friend of our asked us if we would come up to his church in Bundaberg, just North of Brisbane, to talk to his congregation about small groups. read on
I’m delighted to post this update from our good friend Dave Quak about the ‘new births’ that are in his life
read on
Pastor Wes Jessop worked with Bill on a pastoral team in Australia in 1989, so after Bill and Beryl returned to Australia in 2008 Wes contacted him to help in the development of Beachside’s home groups. Bill was able to quickly identify a small groups champion (Jess Quak) from within Beachside to train, equip and coach. Two days per week consulting work with Beachside commenced in February 2009.
Jess Quak, together with other pastoral staff members joined together to facilitate Small Groups Development training with existing and new home group members. Feedback received from the pastoral staff and those who had undergone training underscored the discovery of many valuable small group principles contained in CCI’s Small Groups Development training program. Existing groups were strengthened and new groups were added. Although Bill’s “hands on” work with BCC ended in November 2009, he continues to follow-up the progress of Beachside’s home groups work.
Wes Jessop, former Senior Pastor and founder of Beachside says:
“Small groups are the backbone of any church. Without them ministry cannot expand effectively. Jesus’ model of selecting just 12 people to invest 3 years into is a shock to those of us who are hoping for big Sunday attendances. It underscores the fact that big numbers that last in the macro events are attained through excellence in the micro gatherings. Get this method right and both church and Kingdom expansion is inevitable.
If you want numerical growth with integrity you need to sit with Bill Joukhadar of Cell-church Consultants International. Bill has the clearest understanding, the most realistic strategy and a solid biblical method to get you there that you can find. He is a theorist, a practitioner and a trainer. His church in Cairo expanded in 8 years from 400 hundred people to over 4,000! He started with a handful of small groups and finished with over 400 groups, lead by people who Bill personally trained. I can’t imagine where you would find a more credentialed person than that!
At the beginning of 2009, our church, Beachside Christian Church, had the opportunity to hire Bill Joukhadar as a consultant to our small group ministry. We jumped at the chance because of his outstanding track record. Bill has coached our staff, and now, just six months down the track, the results are beginning to become evident. Our staff is performing efficiently, we have doubled the number of trained small group leaders and by the end of the first year of this transition we will have at least a 30% expansion in our total number of groups operating. These groups ministering to around a hundred new people.
I really would encourage you to take the time to hear Bill. He has got something to say that will bless and grow your people in the depth of their relationships with God. This will in turn overflow into effectiveness and success in your community. He is not teaching a new, fast growth fad but a solid, time tested, biblical method that produces fruit that will last.”
Wes & Jenny Jessop
Former Senior Pastor, Beachside Christian Church
Being in Egypt wasn’t my idea – I was busy planning my retirement on the Gold Coast in Australia when the Lord disturbed “my” good plans and called my wife and me to this far away desert land. What did the Lord have in mind for an old, worn out, geriatric foot-soldier like me?
I’ve finished reading the material on Small Groups Development. Who am I to comment on material lauded by Christians in Cyprus, Egypt, Nigeria, Finland etc! It’s first class and it obviously works, works in the sense that this is how the Lord meant His church and people to function and these are the time-honoured principles that bear good fruit in the Holy Spirit.
Something you said on page 5 of the “Small Groups Develeopment” booklet seems to sum it all up: “Small groups complements and completes the weekly large body worship celebration experience.” So many of the listed points – and I marked a fair selection of them – are applicable to congregational life in general and the emphasis on lay-ministry, leadership and body life/relationships is spot on.
The “Small Group Development” booklet is excellent. Many of its points reiterate the best principles of church growth and body-life, proven, God-honouring, Spirit-blessed principles. I loved that stuff on page 46 about “everyone having potential – so what’s your excuse?” I’ve taken a similar approach in some sermons I’ve preached on “earthly spirituality.” I think the more we are confronted with principles of group-dynamics and individual characteristics such as those outlined on page 48, the more we can be open and constructive and blend together in love in what is often described superficially as “Christian fellowship.”
My new work at North Canberra Baptist (Australia) will be very modest at the beginning, but many of these principles can be put into practice right from the beginning as a guarantee that the kind of new congregation we will be growing, will be “healthy” and “full of love.”
Thanks again for your ministry and thanks to God for the fruits of that ministry already experienced overseas. May God continue to bless that ministry here in Australia.
John Bracht
John is the Pastor of North Canberra Baptist Church in Australia
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