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Sharon Turner holds a degree in interpersonal and group communications from Trinity International University in Chicago. Her undergraduate degree from Moody Bible Institute is in Bible and Christian education.

In 1972, Sharon joined the Navigators, a Christian ministry that emphasizes discipleship and teamwork. As a full-time staff person, she has served college students, and, for nearly two decades, business people and professionals in the suburbs of Chicago. In recent years, Sharon has continued full-time with the Navigators while also partnering with churches in her area of expertise, leadership development. Her goal is to equip Navigators staff members and other followers of Christ to be life-long learners and servants.

Beginning in 1988, Sharon served for five years as the director of small groups and equipping for the young Willow Creek-style Park Community Church in Chicago. The church’s small-group ministry began with 90 people and grew to 350 during Sharon’s tenure as leader. Park Community Church, located in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago, now meets in the Francis Parker School.

During the following five years, Sharon was interim director of small groups at an established, ethnically mixed inner-city church on the north side of Chicago, Evangelical First Free Church. Under her leadership, five small groups exploded to more than 30 as the church’s leaders grew in their ability to develop people. After Sharon left, a full-time pastor was called to continue this vibrant ministry.

While at First Free, Sharon also taught evening school at Moody Bible Institute, creating a series of courses to equip women church leaders for service in their local communities and churches.

Since joining the Navigators’ leadership team in Metro Detroit in the year 1998, Sharon has focused on strategic planning and staff development. The team’s mission is to advance the gospel by living among and mentoring those outside of the faith. Sharon serves as a mentor to people she meets through neighborhood and workplace groups, as well as among the city’s ethnic networks. She also continues to partner with churches and other Christian organizations to develop small-group leaders who can minister in their own neighborhoods and workplaces.

In all of these capacities, Sharon’s heartfelt desire is to help others grow in their passion for developing people. When leaders catch this vision, great things happen.

From the leadership at Canton Friendship Church, Canton, MI - June 2006

Our partnership with Sharon in leadership development for our small groups comes at a time when we want to be more intentional about how our small groups function. We also will be working with her to determine how we can better meet adults’ needs to learn about life issues from a biblical perspective. Sharon’s core focus this year will be to develop leaders who can help disciple and coach other small group leaders.

In January 2004, Sharon began meeting monthly with a training/planning team of four people at Canton Friendship Church. She also mentors them individually. They are working together to identify the core practices in which our small groups must excel in order to be aligned with the church’s mission and ministry.

Small-group leaders can become a community who model attitudes and relationships as well as biblical principles to others. This happens within the groups, as well as through growth in the number of groups. We want the small-group experience to be so good that others will want to experience the relationships and growth in Christ that we have known. We are excited to work with Sharon and with you to accomplish this vision.