Heather Zempel oversees the community life at a multisite church in Washington, D.C., a challenging population with one of the highest relocation rates in the United States. And yet under her leadership, National Community Church has become a model for creative, dynamic, deep small group ministry. Drawing from her background as an environmental engineer (including such bizarre experiences as monitoring a pig lagoon and the unintended slaughter of a hundred innocent fish), Heather Zempel assesses the perils and possibilities inherent in small groups and other environments for Christian community. The book helps leaders begin to see the inherent "mess" of such gatherings as raw material for arriving at something beautiful. Read this book and discover fresh insights into how we can support one another's unique paths to maturity in Christ while maintaining cohesion as a community and blessing the world around us.
Community Is Messy
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"If you could somehow blend equal parts Bonhoeffer, Mr. Wizard and 'Unsinkable' Molly Brown, you'd get something close to Heather Zempel. It would be a fascinating experiment, like those she describes in Community Is Messy. Stories of what worked (and what didn't) provide countless examples of how discipleship in community is usually nonlinear, often random and always messy. With deep insight and ample humor, Heather proves that 'mess' is actually a catalyst for spiritual growth." (Dave Treat, small groups leader, Asbury UMC, Madison, Alabama, and chief innovation officer, thinkingsmall.net)
"Honest, practical and rooted in experience, Heather's direction takes us to those earthy places that we face in day-to-day relational ministry. Her words go beyond platitudes and lead us down paths that point to wholeness in the midst of the reality of messy community. This book offers a fresh angle and creative hope to group leaders and pastors. Embracing this counsel will advance your community forward into deeper expressions and experiences of community. Buy it! Sit with it. Pray through it." (M. Scott Boren, consultant, trainer, and author of Missional Small Groups)
"Community Is Messy offers a fresh perspective on the challenges all leaders face in building biblical community. Zempel draws on multiple disciplines to stretch our thinking on strategy, growth and discipleship. It is immediately in the top five on my must-read list for small group pastors and leaders!" (Greg Bowman, author, Coaching Life-Changing Small Group Leaders)
"Honest, practical and rooted in experience, Heather's direction takes us to those earthy places that we face in day-to-day relational ministry. Her words go beyond platitudes and lead us down paths that point to wholeness in the midst of the reality of messy community. This book offers a fresh angle and creative hope to group leaders and pastors. Embracing this counsel will advance your community forward into deeper expressions and experiences of community. Buy it! Sit with it. Pray through it." (M. Scott Boren, consultant, trainer, and author of Missional Small Groups)
"Community Is Messy offers a fresh perspective on the challenges all leaders face in building biblical community. Zempel draws on multiple disciplines to stretch our thinking on strategy, growth and discipleship. It is immediately in the top five on my must-read list for small group pastors and leaders!" (Greg Bowman, author, Coaching Life-Changing Small Group Leaders)
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I've had the privilege of doing ministry with Heather Zempel for the past decade. She's the real deal. Heather is one of the most gifted leaders and humble servants I know. She's also brilliant. Her heart for and mind for discipleship are a rare combination. This book is a must read for anybody who is serious about small groups. It's a dose of encouragement, and I think readers will walk away with insights that will change the way they lead.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
People are messy.
You're a mess. I'm a mess.
Everybody's a mess.
A small percentage of people have cleaned up their mess pretty well. Most have cleaned up all the visible mess but have mold growing in the walls. A few folks' mess is on display for all to see.
In other words. People are broken. There are things deep inside that cause stress, breed resentment, elicit fear, that-simply put-hurt.
Now, take two or three or ten messy people and put them together...
You've got a mess on your hands. Mess from wrongdoing, mess from personality differences, mess from past hurts...
But you've also got opportunity for growth, healing, deep friendship, and real love.
That's what Heather Zempel-Discipleship Pastor at National Community Church-writes about in Community is Messy. If you're going to develop real relationships, let people into your life to know you and dive into their lives and know them, it's not going to be a clean enterprise.
Heather dives head first into the mess, drawing on 10+ years of experience on staff at NCC, a masters in biological engineering, and many attempts at intentionally creating community among small groups of people. I cannot recommend her book to you highly enough.
Now for a caveat and a counter to it. Heather is my boss on NCC's Discipleship Team, so I'm sure my recommendation is biased. But the fact that I work for Heather also means that I know she's the real deal. She has opened her life-allowing others into her mess-and has willingly dove into the mess of the lives of others... including myself.
You're a mess. I'm a mess.
Everybody's a mess.
A small percentage of people have cleaned up their mess pretty well. Most have cleaned up all the visible mess but have mold growing in the walls. A few folks' mess is on display for all to see.
In other words. People are broken. There are things deep inside that cause stress, breed resentment, elicit fear, that-simply put-hurt.
Now, take two or three or ten messy people and put them together...
You've got a mess on your hands. Mess from wrongdoing, mess from personality differences, mess from past hurts...
But you've also got opportunity for growth, healing, deep friendship, and real love.
That's what Heather Zempel-Discipleship Pastor at National Community Church-writes about in Community is Messy. If you're going to develop real relationships, let people into your life to know you and dive into their lives and know them, it's not going to be a clean enterprise.
Heather dives head first into the mess, drawing on 10+ years of experience on staff at NCC, a masters in biological engineering, and many attempts at intentionally creating community among small groups of people. I cannot recommend her book to you highly enough.
Now for a caveat and a counter to it. Heather is my boss on NCC's Discipleship Team, so I'm sure my recommendation is biased. But the fact that I work for Heather also means that I know she's the real deal. She has opened her life-allowing others into her mess-and has willingly dove into the mess of the lives of others... including myself.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Heather Zempel's writing is so much fun to read. Her real, raw stories of messy community is very engaging! She gives practical steps how to navigate mess in your life, small groups, and whatever community you find yourself in. This is a must-read for small group pastors and group leaders, but everyone could benefit from reading this book because we ALL encounter messy community. 2 thumbs up!!
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