High Tech, High Touch ... The Surprising Relational Impact of a Digital Tool | Small Circle

The session opens with an introduction to the Small Circle app and its role in enhancing disciple-making, not replacing it. The speaker, Steve McCoy, sets the scene at a conference dedicated to this topic, emphasizing the relational nature of disciple-making and how technology can serve as a tool. Attendees are encouraged to download the app beforehand. The discussion also touches on the importance of relational depth—seeing, hearing, and knowing others—within the context of disciple-making.

Steve McCoy highlights the importance of relational depth in disciple-making, aiming for deep, one-on-one relationships that focus on being seen, known, and heard. He discusses how the Small Circle app supports this by providing tools for intentionality, ongoing communication, prayer, and tracking progress. The app aims to facilitate continued connection and support between disciple-makers and disciples even outside of face-to-face meetings, fostering a culture of multiplication.

The podcast provides a detailed walkthrough of the app’s features, including its tutorials, customizable homepage, Bible reading plans, and various discipleship tools such as 'Next', 'Exchange', and 'Mix'. The app supports deep relational work by allowing shared notes, goal setting, prayer tracking, gospel movements, life stories, and even offline capabilities for persecuted regions. The 'Meeting Hub' feature is especially highlighted, enabling disciple-makers to track conversation points, prayer needs, and action steps between meetings, thus maintaining relational intentionality.

Steve emphasizes the importance of intentionality, including pairing strategies, ongoing communication, accountability, and biblical literacy. He advocates for a culture shift from superficial attendance to deep, multiply-oriented disciple-making, with the app serving as a catalyst. He discusses metrics like discipleship family trees and multi-generational growth, explaining how these tools help churches and leaders cultivate multiplying disciples.

Concerns about confidentiality, safety, and the potential risks of digital disciple-making are addressed. The app is designed with security features like personal IDs and emergency modes, especially for persecuted regions. McCoy reassures listeners that, based on years of experience, risks are minimal when relationships are deep and genuine, and that the app only shares content between paired individuals. The importance of balanced input and output in spiritual growth is also underscored.

The session concludes with encouragement for participants to embrace the app and the methodology for cultivating a disciple-making culture. Attendees are urged to join webinars for deeper training and to implement the app’s features for ongoing disciple-making, both locally and globally. The overarching message is to leverage technology as a relational tool, fostering authentic, deep spiritual mentorships.