When an author writes a book, she/he is motivated to get a message out, create a conversation, or simply make some money. To be honest… I know few authors who write for the money. I know few who write for the money because, to be honest, for the average person like us, there’s not much money to be made. I know many who sit in front of a computer screen for hours upon hours because there is a message they believe needs to be presented or a story to be told.
And so… I passionately wrote A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic. I believe so deeply in the content of this book, I asked my publisher if I could give it away. NavPress was so very gracious and we determined that it would be free on Kindle April 9 and 10. That is, tomorrow and Wednesday.
I would be so very honored if you would consider reading it yourself and, if you’re a small group pastor, emailing your small group leaders and letting them know it’s available.
If you’re wondering if anyone who knows what they’re talking about thinks of the book, some of the leaders in the small group movement were gracious enough to write endorsements. You can read those in the paragraphs below.
“This book is a must-read for church leaders who want to build life-transforming small groups that can reach the lost and radically change this generation.”
— Pete Wilson, senior pastor, Cross Point Church, Nashville; author of Plan B and Empty Promises
“It’s about time Rick shared his rich experience and wisdom about groups! But he’s given us more than that. He’s called us to renew a timeless value: communal life in the church. This book is a keeper, and I recommend that you read it carefully if you plan on being neck deep in building biblical community through small groups.”
— Bill Donahue, PhD, best-selling author of Leading Life-Changing Small Groups
“Rick Howerton has been a consistent voice of encouragement and guidance in both my personal discipleship and the strategic decisions I make to mobilize the communities of transformation that I lead. I’m grateful that his unique voice is now only an arm’s length away on my shelf as he invites us to abandon programs
in favor of relationships. A Different Kind of Tribe is not simply a handbook; it is an invitation to play a role in the greatest challenge ever given: to make disciples.”
— Heather Zempel, discipleship pastor, National CommunityChurch, Washington, DC; author of Community is Messy: The Perils and and Promise of Small Group Ministry and Wineskins for Discipleship
“Rick Howerton continues to challenge and shape our thinking when it comes to what small groups look like in our ever-changing world.”
— Margaret Feinberg, speaker; idea wrestler; author of The Organic God
“Rick weaves a beautifully accurate picture of ‘idyllic’ America that has been dismantled by postmodern society. And instead of simply railing against it, he gives a compelling, biblical, Christ exalting, and community-centered call to action for the church. I’ve been leading small groups and training small-group leaders for years. Rick has put words to what I have found to be the successful aspects of group life. This will prove to be an indispensable resource for group leaders.”
— Ben Reed, small-groups pastor, Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee: marketing and communications director, The Small Group Network
“Imagine someone dumping ten gallons of ice water on your head. That’s how I felt reading the first chapters of this book. Rick exposes our broken and post-Christian society (and our failed attempts to reach it) with shocking clarity. Then he offers a
Christ-centered, relational, and biblical warm towel in the form of an in-depth explanation of Christian micro-communities and their potential impact on our society if we’ll just do church differently. What an excellent, practical, and motivational read!”