While Pastoring at Maadi Community Church, Cairo, Egypt, it was an amazing ride. My wildest dreams of what God would do in and through the ministry were all exceeded. We saw thousands of lives impacted for Christ. And on the way, my life, my beliefs, and my ideas about what it means “to do church” have been reshaped forever.

I have always been committed to the necessity of small groups as a means of creating an environment for spiritual growth. After all, making a biblical, theological, practical, and even sociological case for small groups is not much of a stretch. However, for many years of ministry I made the mistake of viewing small group ministry as just one important ministry of many. And because of that mistaken view, I spent years evaluating the health and dynamics of the church based primarily on weekend attendance.

The last five years (2003-08) of ministering along side Bill Joukhadar has radically changed my view. I have come to understand that small group ministry is not as just “one of many programs” but is an essential, foundational component of a church’s DNA. I have also discovered that observing the health of those small groups often offers a more accurate snapshot of the church’s health and vitality.

When we first started working together Bill asked, “What would you think if people with limited time constraints chose to attend their small group rather that attend the weekend service in which you would be preaching?” I recall that my response was defensive – after all, the real acid test for any church is weekend attendance, right? Wrong!

I have since come to appreciate the exciting dynamic that is created when a church is equally committed to both “celebration” (weekend worship services) and “cell” (small groups). Churches that equally prioritize both weekend services and small groups grow – they grow upward, inward, outward, and forward.

Bill is a rare find. He is the most deeply committed, hardest working person I have ever had the privilege to serve with. He has committed his life to see the Great Commandment and the Great Commission fulfilled. I believe that Bill is one of today’s leading experts in biblical small group ministry. You will find his teaching anchored in God’s word – the success God has blessed him with, speaks for itself.

I pray that as you begin to implement God’s plan for small groups in your church with love, patience and sensitivity, the Lord will give you the privilege of experiencing the ride of your life.

Larry Boss

Larry is currently serving as the Senior Pastor of Kamloops Alliance Church in British Columbia – he was formerly the Senior Pastor at Maadi Community Church in Cairo.