1. One Day Vs. Overnight Training - Overnight and extended travel for retreats seems to be fading due to economy and fear of travel and leaving family because of volitile nature of our world.  One day - usually a Saturday - or in some communities a weeknight - because people are protecting weekends. 

2. Online Learning - The web is a valuable tool.  I'm finding more and more deacons and church leaders using web based resources.  My website and newsletter are traveling in more places that I could imaging.  Archives for learning.  My site has many links to various organizations and churches who have various deacon models in place or who produce resources.   www.transformingsolutions.org 

3. Audio/Visual Learning at Home - Videos and Audio recordings are in vogue. Saves time, travel, expense and you get the benefit of learning.   

4. Teleclasses save time, money and they get the job done without travel - I'm using more and more telephone conferences to get my work done.  I average about 4 to 5 telephone classes or conferences each month.  I am finding that we get much done and people like the convenience and low cost.  You might want to visit www.mrconference.com and get a telephone number for phone bridge.  

5. Finding Effective Training Opportunities that may not be targeting deacons specifically but they offer the skill set or perspective deacons need.  I try to highlight such events regularly on the calendar on my website.   

6. READ, LISTEN, DIALOGUE - Peer learning is a great learning tool for most adults.  Adults learn when we have to learn.  Enlist a group of peers to read, do online learning, surf the web for information, listen to tapes or videos then share that via phone, email or face to face with peers.  This is one of the most effective learning tools I've found.  Learning Communities offer relevancy, focus, friendship, networking, support.  Build your community and don't wait on someone to do it for you.  www.hollifield.org has many learning community opportunities you might want to explore.  

Eddie Hammett

Congregational Coach

Senior Leadership Consultant

Baptist State Convention of NC

www.ncbaptist.org

http://deaconministry.ncbaptist.org