Bill Donahue

Host Adam Erlichman welcomes small groups expert Bill Donahue to The Build Group podcast, where Bill shares his background from Philadelphia through marketplace work, seminary, and leadership roles including Willow Creek, and his current consulting with churches. They discuss Donahue’s 30th anniversary edition of his small group leader manual, how it originated, and why it has remained widely used with over 250,000 copies in print. Bill frames small groups theologically through the Trinity as the “first small group” and connects community to Imago Dei, addressing the modern loneliness epidemic and how groups can help people be known, healed, and supported. He identifies unhealthy leadership motives like pride and “fixing,” emphasizes apprenticeship as a biblical pattern, offers practical ways to start developing an apprentice, and outlines principles for naming reality and working through conflict, concluding that love is the key shift for life-changing groups.

What is The Build Groups Podcast?

How do you build groups? Are you building or maintaining your small groups ministry? We seek to start, spark, and spur on thought trails you otherwise wouldn't have to get you asking questions you normally wouldn't because you get to hear to some of the best church leaders in Groups ministry across the country. Tune in to learn and explore areas of Groups ministry you've never considered before or need reminders.