Tribal Church: Lead Small. Impact Big.
About this ebook
Today, leaders don’t fail because they lack vision. They fail because they neglect their tribe. It could be a father losing sight of his family, a lead pastor failing to leverage the strengths of his staff, or a small group coordinator ignoring a tiny but important process.
Tribal Church helps pastors recognize the potential and power of various tribes within their congregations—one family, a network of small groups, maybe an entire age group—and then recalibrate ministry efforts to maximize the impact of each. Steve Stroope has spent three decades mastering the art of leading small in a church that has multiplied from dozens to over ten thousand. He explains why big impact does not come from any sort of mega-church ambition. It rather comes by attending to the little details and the smallest tribes.
Endorsements:
"Steve Stroope has done us a favor by collecting three decades of experience into one book. One glance at the manuscript and I thought of a dozen uses for it. First, it will strengthen my leadership skills. I can envision our leadership team reading it as a group. Seminaries should tap into its wisdom. Thank you, Steve, for living out an example of godly leadership."
Max Lucado, pastor and best-selling author
"Steve Stroope is one of the finest pastor-leaders of our generation. In his candid look at Lake Pointe Church's first 30 years, Steve shares helpful insight, wisdom, and practical experience that can help churches become more fruitful in fulfilling Christ's Great Commission. With a heart for local and global missions, Steve has modeled leadership methods that have been tested in the modern church world and can be great tools for equipping leaders in the days ahead."
Bryant Wright, senior pastor, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church of Marietta, GA, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention
"Steve Stroope is one of the most quietly influential voices in the growth and robustness of American Christianity. He is a collector of good ideas, what he calls 'little things,' the small but essential acts that cumulatively demonstrate the character of Christ in American church leadership. This book is by a leader I admire."
Bob Buford, founder of Leadership Network and author of Halftime and Finishing Well
"I've known Steve for 15 years and he's the real deal. His life and leadership inspires me and so does the tribe of Lake Pointe Church. The straightforward, practical wisdom in this book will recalibrate any leader and any church at any stage of the game."
Bill Hybels, senior pastor, Willow Creek Community Church
"Steve Stroope is more than knowledgeable about leadership and ministry. He is wise. He leads with strategic skill, discernment, and intuition. Every conversation with Steve has marked me and impacted my ministry; therefore, I am eager to read anything he writes."
Eric Geiger, acting vice president, Church Resources Division, Lifeway Christian Resources
"Steve Stroope is the wisest and most effective pastor I know! This book is a treasure chest of godly wisdom for church leaders. Steve gives us an inside look at the actual tools and methods he's used to lead Lake Pointe from a handful of people to a thriving and healthy multi-site church of thousands. Every pastor needs this book in their library."
Nelson Searcy, lead pastor, The Journey Church
About the author
Steve Stroope is lead pastor of the multi-campus Lake Pointe Church near Dallas, Texas. Under his leadership, the congregation has grown from 57 members in 1980 to a current attendance of more than 11,000. He is also a sought-after speaker and church consultant and the co-author of Money Matters in the Church and It Starts at Home. Steve and his wife have two grown daughters and several grandchildren.
Kurt Bruner is pastor of Spiritual Formation at Lake Pointe Church and president of HomePointe Inc., a network of church leaders creating a culture of strong family tribes. A former vice president with Focus on the Family, Kurt is the best-selling author of more than a dozen books. He and his wife have four children.
Rick Warren founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, in 1980 with one family. Today it is an evangelical congregation averaging 25,000 weekly attendees. He also leads the Purpose Driven Network of churches, a global coalition of congregations in 162 countries. He is the author of the international bestselling books The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, and bestselling church campaigns 40 Days of Purpose and 40 Days in the Word.
