Rick Howerton spent 13 years as the small group specialist at LifeWay Church Resources, three years with NavPress as their Small Group expert, and five years consulting churches for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Prior to these experiences, he served as a campus minister serving two campuses, a staff member at a perpetually growing church, and planted The Bridge Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Presently Rick is the Global Group Pastor and trains and mentors church leaders at Lakepointe Church in Rockwall, Texas. Rick has authored or coauthored multiple books, studies, and leader training resources including Lead to Revitalize: 15 Practices of a Church Revitalization Leader, The Deacon Ministry Handbook: A Practical Guide for Servant Leadership, A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic, Destination Community: Small Group Ministry Manual, The Gospel and the Truth: Living the Message of Jesus, Small Group Life Ministry Manual: A New Approach to Small Groups, Redeeming the Tears: A Journey Through Grief and Loss, Small Group Life, Small Group Kickoff Retreat: Experiential Training for Small Group Leaders, Great Beginnings: Your First Small Group Study, Disciples Path: A Practical Guide to Disciple Making, and Countdown: Launching and Leading Transformational Groups. Rick's varied ministry experiences as a collegiate minister, small-group pastor, teaching pastor, elder, full-time trainer and church consultant, as well as a successful church planter gives him a perspective of church life that is all-encompassing and multidimensional. Rick is a highly sought-after communicator and trainer.