Pruning, Vitality, and Abundance in Ministry
It seems counterintuitive, but the abundance we see in all aspects of our lives has as much to do with strategic deletion as it does
Vibrant Faith Articles
Vibrant Faith Coaching - Articles
Change and Conflict Part 2
In my previous article, I focused on change and how it affects our lives. I also mentioned that change and conflict are important, if not
How Daylight Saving Time & Reconciliation Are Related
We’ve just moved through the collective jet lag we call Daylight Saving Time, and we’re all adjusting to life in exhaustion-overdrive. We know it’ll all
What I’m Learning In Vibrant Faith’s Coaching School
I’m four weeks into Vibrant Faith’s Ministry Leadership Coaching School, led by Jim Ladoux and Dr. Felix Villanueva. Mondays and Wednesdays are a full in
Learning from Light and Dark
As someone who is sensitive to sunlight (especially its lack), and who lives in the Pacific Northwest where winter sunlight is rare, this time of
Why I’m Investing Myself In Coaching School
One night in late December, the plans I’d cooked up for 2023 evaporated before the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve. With the decks cleared
Faith Formation - Articles
Thriving in the Middle of Your Trials
At the end of March, I traveled on a pilgrimage to El Salvador, walking in the footsteps of the martyrs. Along with my fellow pilgrims,
Practicing Everyday Pilgrimage
By Denise UtterVibrant Faith Coaching Team I get a little restless at the first signs of spring. I want to hike. I want to plan
Living Our Baptism, the Lenten Way
To thrive during the season of Lent, we remember our baptism and prepare for living it out. In baptism, we’re called into the three-fold ministry
A Cold Splash of Water for Your Personal Worship Time
We need new and creative ways to practice our personal worship during Lent—a bracing splash of water on the face of our familiar Lenten practices.
5 New-World Keys from Moses
To put an exclamation point on this series of posts related to our new 4th Soil Parenting Initiative, here’s a reflection that I wrote a
Lent is for Living
It’s Transfiguration Sunday as I write this, and after reading the gospel, my pastor told a story about Mother Teresa of Calcutta. On a long
Vibrant Faith Research - Articles
Surviving Isn’t Thriving
There’s no question that our post-pandemic church life is different… We have shifted yet again, and not toward consistent church attendance or support of faith-formation
Thriving Grows Out Of Our Uniqueness
We have just come to a new realization in our Thriving Congregations Project. Because of it, we moved our 27 Thriving Congregations churches from cohort
5 New-World Keys from Moses
To put an exclamation point on this series of posts related to our new 4th Soil Parenting Initiative, here’s a reflection that I wrote a
Why Are You Engaging Parents?
A blog dropped into my inbox this week with a lead-off question: “Why is it so hard to engage parents?” The blogger followed that with
The Faith Life of Parents
How are you currently engaging the faith life of parents at your church? That’s the next big question, isn’t it? As Vibrant Faith Executive
What We’re Learning: 4th-Soil Parenting
At Vibrant Faith we’re grateful to begin 2023 with a big announcement… Thanks to a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, we’ll be leading a
Vibrant Faith Leadership - Articles
The Weakness We Need
Our most effective ministry tool isn’t what you think it is… The great weight of impact we offer those we serve is not delivered by
What Thriving Is & Isn’t
Our Vibrant Faith Team has been deeply invested for more than two years with a cohort of churches that have committed to a growth path
Prioritizing Flexibility In Faith Formation
Robert Gelinas is pastor of one of the largest multi-ethnic churches in America—Colorado Community Church in Aurora, a suburb of Denver. He’s an author, jazz
Pruning, Vitality, and Abundance in Ministry
It seems counterintuitive, but the abundance we see in all aspects of our lives has as much to do with strategic deletion as it does
A Way to Live
Four years ago a publisher approached me about a percolating idea for a book project. They suggested pairing me with a psychologist to write a
The Power of Stories
Last week, our Vibrant Faith team hosted “project teams” from 20 churches at a downtown Denver hotel—all gathered for a kickoff training event tied to
Vibrant Faith's writing team of certified coaches, ministry leaders, and researchers publishes three times a week on leadership development, coaching for ministry leaders, and applied ministry research.