Move Ministry Leaders from knowledge to Action

We’re living out our calling to ministry in a time of rapid change. We know we need to be nimble, but how do we keep up with new realities and put the latest research into action? Bridging the gap between learning and action is what Vibrant Faith MasterClasses are all about.

Over the course of two 90-minute interactive online sessions, MasterClass Instructors distill new learnings into training experiences that make it easy for participants like you to learn, practice, and use new tools to fuel ministry reinvention.

A MasterClass Includes:

Two 90-minute, interactive sessions led by an expert Instructor
An office hour with the Instructor after the second session—to ask deeper questions and dialogue about the topic.
Access to a community of collegial support- Coming Soon!

What You Gain from a MasterClass:

New paradigm shifting insights into a topic.
A clear path to implement what you’re learning, with a tool-kit of action steps
Renewed energy and momentum for ministry reinvention
New colleagues in ministry who share your same concerns and are driven by your same hopes.

ENJOY ALL 8 CLASSES FOR THE CURRENT SEASON

Access for you and up to 14 team members to all classes in the season
A private Course Page for each course
Access to all recordings and resources from each course in the Spring/Fall 2023 season for a year.

Course Catalog - 2023

Helping Parents Maximize Their Faith Influence With Their Kids

Wednesdays, March 8 & 15, 2023

12:00 - 1:30 PM EST

According to multiple sociological studies, the most important factor in passing on faith to the next generation is surprisingly not a family’s regular worship attendance, their church’s programming, or even the parents’ own religious practices. The simple fact of parents talking with children about questions of faith—in ordinary ways throughout the week—has a bigger influence on young people’s future faith lives than any other factor. How can church leaders help parents to start and deepen conversations with kids about faith, God, and religion? What simple practices can families bring into their everyday lives to grow in faith together? We’ll explore practical, pastoral strategies for helping parents deepen their own awareness of God’s presence within family life to encourage these small yet transformative conversations with children and teens about what matters most.

Increasing Engagement In Congregations

Wednesdays, March 22 & 29, 2023

12:00 - 1:30 PM EST

Thriving congregations anticipate and adapt to changing ministry landscapes. Church leaders must help their members and ministry partners understand the rationale for change, create a sense of urgency, and walk alongside leaders and members as they navigate new ways of being and doing church. This course will focus on how to build a guiding coalition that will increase:

awareness of the church’s opportunities, strengths, and challenges,
clarity about the need for change and how the transformation process will unfold, and
agency among members.

This course will help participants unleash a culture of creativity and spark a continuous cycle of reinvention that includes:

Listening deeply to God and others,
Observing what is and isn’t working in ministry, and what’s present and what’s missing,
Experimenting with new ways of being the church, and then
Reflecting on recent results and refocusing efforts based on new learnings.

You’ll get a better understanding of the change process and how to lead in disruptive times.

Leading Faithful Innovation

Thursdays, April 20 & 27, 2023

12:00 - 1:30 PM EST

“Innovation” is a term not typically associated with religious institutions, which tend to be oriented toward conserving and maintaining tradition. Yet at its heart, the Christian church is about innovation—embodying God’s new life, hope, and community for the world. It is time to claim this identity amidst powerful disruptive forces in today’s world. We live in a moment of profound social and cultural change fueled by digital technology, globalization, and the lingering impact of a worldwide pandemic. Organizations of all types are struggling to adapt to new patterns of belonging and participation. Many churches seem unsure what to do as established practices break down and people disengage. What does this mean for local churches that find their communal life eroding amid these seismic cultural shifts taking place? We look to Jesus, who relies upon the hospitality of the world as he embodies an alternative kingdom.

Post-Covid Shifts and the New Normal

Thursdays, May 25 & June 1, 2023

12:00 - 1:00 PM EST

One of the (few!) positives of COVID was discovering we and our churches could adapt faster than we thought or knew. We simply had to. Most of us had assumed that the changes would be here for a while and then we would go back to normal, to how things were. But we were wrong. Change is the new normal, and it seems to be here to stay. The training many of us had was designed for church in a much more settled and stable world. This workshop will explore ministry in this new-normal. We will explore theological resources as guides—this is not the first time God’s people have adapted to a world in turmoil. And then, alongside that, we will give you some tools, practices, and practical skills to help navigate, adapt, respond and even enjoy this new environment.

The Engine of a Thriving Congregation: Living the Way of Jesus Together

Wednesdays, September 13 & 20, 2023

12:00 - 1:30 PM EST

The American church is in the middle of a two-decade decline, and the angle of the slide is trending vertical as Gen Z moves fully into young adulthood. By every measure, religious engagement is weakening and a secular/neo-pagan norm is fast gaining traction in the culture. Ministry leaders and religious observers are worried about where this momentum is taking the church, and are scrambling to find solutions. The root cause is a church, like the sheep Jesus compares us to, that has wandered away from “the way of Jesus.” We have edited Him to fit our unexamined expectations and preferences. When this happens, God’s pruning shears come out. In this course we’ll dive into ways the church has subtly edited Jesus, and experience together many practical ways to shift our congregational practices to re-focus on renewal. We’ll explore what living the way of Jesus looks like in our contemporary context.

A Hybrid Approach to Transformational Leadership

Wednesdays, October 11 & 18, 2023

12:00 - 1:30 PM EST

We’ll explore an approach to ministry that combines the discipline of spiritual direction with the discipline of coaching. Do you ever feel bogged down by the details and grind of ministry life? Do you long to recover the passion and spirituality that brought you to ministry in the first place? Do you long for a deeper relationship with Jesus and the people in your care? Are you feeling stuck in your leadership or have team members who are stuck? Most church leaders are at least aware of the disciplines of Spiritual Direction and Coaching, and have a sense of the transformation they promise. But what are they really? How could spiritual direction and/or coaching help me as a ministry leader? What might they bring to our leadership teams, staff, and lay discipleship ministries? How might we engage these practices help equip, sustain, and provide for spiritual depth for our leaders? In this course we will explore the similarities and differences of coaching and spiritual direction and share stories and wisdom as to how they have helped us in our work and life. You will also experience both approaches and engage in group coaching around how you might use these practices in your ministry context.  

Enriching Your Congregational ‘Soil’ for Deeper Faith Relationships

Wednesdays, November 8 & 15, 2023

12:00 - 1:30 PM EST

Tired of wondering if your faith-forming ministry is reaching your people? This class is digging into what we’re discovering in our 4th-Soil Parenting project, a new learning community that Vibrant Faith began leading in 2023 with a group of 20 diverse churches. We have known for almost a generation that our age-segregated, church-focused programs are not helping kids or parents to connect to Jesus in ways that sustain deep faith or regular practices. Led by Dr. Nancy Going, project director for Vibrant Faith’s 4th-Soil Parenting Project, this class will help you learn from our experiments with churches and parents to focus ministry on the 4th Soil–where the seeds are scattered and bear much fruit (Matthew 13).

Emotionally Healthy Spiritual Formation

Wednesdays, November 29 & December 6, 2023

12:00 - 1:30 PM EST

In a culture where so many feel unsteady, disoriented, even crushed in their relationship with the church and faith in general, the “good news” we’re offering people no longer seems so good. An endless string of scandals, divisiveness, and a perceived lack of compassion make the church feel like an unsafe option for community and faith growth. This is not what Jesus wants for his people. But how can we move toward the kind of environment He did intend? Anglican bishop Todd Hunter is no stranger to betrayal and pain in the church. But there is hope—spiritual formation and discipleship can be healing while simultaneously deepening faith. More than ever, Jesus is who the world needs, and it’s this laser focus that is central to emotionally healthy spiritual formation. We’ll explore pathways out of the rubble of bad religion, and rebuilding faith among a community of sincere believers. By unpacking the purposes of Jesus, we can expose twisted, toxic religion for what it is and embrace the true aims of the gospel. Help your people find the environment of healing and goodness they’re longing for in a church.

Meet Our Instructors

Shannon Hopkins is the co-founder and the Lead Cultivator of RootedGood, a nonprofit based in the U.S. that empowers institutions, social enterprises and entrepreneurs to create systemic change. A Texas native, in 2004 Shannon moved to London and founded the nonprofit Matryoshka Haus. In 2020, Matryoshka Haus became three organizations, including the U.S.-based RootedGood. Hopkins has launched or influenced the formation of 15 campaigns, projects, and organizations and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and the UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for “The Truth isn’t Sexy,” a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking.

Jim LaDoux lives in Burnsville, MN and is on the Vibrant Faith leadership team since 2003. He currently oversees our coaching program. Jim has been a coach since 1992. He has a Master of Management Arts specializing in organizational development and is a certified PCC (Professional Certified Coach) in Training. Jim has been part of church staff for Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations. In his spare time, Jim likes to travel, go hiking, and biking. Jim is author of Surface To Soul: Coaching Spiritual Vitality in Congregations, and he created the Vibrant Faith Coaching School Manual.

Rev. Dr. Nathan Swenson-Reinhold, D.Min, lives in Fairfax, Virginia. He is the lead pastor of a multi-site congregation in Northern Virginia. A coach for nearly two decades, he holds an International Coach Federation credential as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He has a Doctor of Ministry in leadership, culture, and change. Nathan is a coach/trainer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Coach Coordinator for the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod, and the owner of Summit Coaching and Behavioral Consulting LLC. Nathan is also a Certified Behavioral Consultant (DISC), and enjoys pen-turning, car-detailing, reading science fiction, and playing acoustic guitar.

Jonny Baker has spent his life innovating, training, and enabling others to build entrepreneurial ministries out of what they see and imagine. He set up the Pioneer Training at Church Mission Society (CMS) in England, which has catalyzed all sorts of wonderful pioneering mission initiatives. He is Director of Mission at CMS in Britain. During the pandemic lockdown he wrote the full-color book Pioneer Practice and is looking forward to sharing some of the ideas and stories from that. The book is available from getsidetracked.co

Dr. Nancy Going is Vibrant Faith’s Director of Research and Resource Development—she was the organization’s Executive Director for six years. She’s one of the directors of Vibrant Faith’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, funded and guided by the Lilly Foundation. She has spent her career in ministry leadership with youth, and she still loves working with kids as a volunteer any chance she gets. Nancy came on board the Vibrant Faith team in 2014 after teaching and providing leadership at Luther Seminary in the Children Youth and Family Ministry Masters Degree Distributed Learning Program. She has authored articles, curriculum, and contributed to books. Nancy lives in Nashville with her husband Art, an Anglican priest. They have launched two new families from their children. You can connect with Nancy at ngoing@vibrantfaith.org

Laura Kelly Fanucci is an author, speaker, and founder of Mothering Spirit, an online ecumenical project on parenting and spirituality featuring essays and prayers from mothers across diverse denominations and backgrounds. She earned her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and her Master of Divinity from Saint John’s School of Theology, where she spent over a decade working on ecumenical projects on theologies of vocation at the Collegeville Institute. Laura has authored seven books, including Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting and Grieving Together: A Couple’s Journey through Miscarriage. Laura’s work has been featured on the Hallow and Ritual apps, and in popular outlets including NPR’s Morning Edition, On Being, and the Kelly Clarkson Show. She writes frequently for online and print publications, including OSV News Service, Grotto Network, and Give Us This Day. Laura is a trained catechist in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and serves as a faith formation teacher in her local church. She and her husband live in Minnesota with their five children.

Denise Utter is a speaker, coach, writer, and the author of Engage Every Family! A Parish Guide to Integrated Faith Formation (from Twenty Third Publications available late summer 2022). She works with church leaders at the diocesan and parish level, exploring new approaches to faith formation that promise to encourage, empower and equip parents, and invigorate faith communities. Her other publications include articles for Catechetical Leader, Catechist Magazine, Take Out: Our Faith on the Go! (OSV) and Vibrant Faith’s online Catalyst. She has written online curriculum for Our Sunday Visitor, Center for Ministry Development, and the Archdiocese of Chicago. She has over 30 years of experience in field of education and ministry, having a B.S. in Education and a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Denise lives in Chicago with her husband, Rob. They have three adult children and one grandson.

Rev. Erik Samuelson, PCC, is a Vibrant Faith Coach and Coaching School faculty member, who has served in a variety of contexts including as Director of Vocational and Spiritual Formation at Trinity Lutheran College in Everett, WA.  He brings experience and stories from transitional ministry, young-adult ministry, vocational discernment, culture and system change, ministry renewal, formation, and leadership development. 

Rick Lawrence is Executive Director of Vibrant Faith, and an award-winning author, journalist, cultural researcher, editor, and national speaker. He creates and leads interactive training for church and cultural leaders, parents, and teenagers and creates interactive online training courses. He’s authored hundreds of magazine articles and is the author, co-author, or editor of 40 books and curriculums. He’s the general editor of the #1 bestselling Jesus-Centered Bible, the recently released devotional Jesus-Centered Daily, and his latest book (co-authored with Dr. Daniel Emina) titled The Suicide Solution. In early 2024 his next book, Editing Jesus: The Last Temptation of the Church, will be published. He created and hosts the popular podcast Paying Ridiculous Attention to Jesus, now in its seventh year. Rick is married to Beverly Rose and has two daughters, Lucy Rose and Emma Grace.

The Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile is Vice President of Innovation and Associate Professor of Congregational Mission and Leadership at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Dwight has authored multiple books and essays on innovation, leadership, and adaptive change, working extensively with congregations, judicatory systems, and institutions of higher education. He’s an explorer, pursuing how our faith-informed imagination can shape our vision for the future.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd Hunter is the founding bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others, founder of The Telos Collective, and founder of the Center for Formation, Justice, and Peace. He is past president of Alpha USA, former national director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, and retired founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, CA. He’s the author of the upcoming book What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion. His previous books include:Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others, Giving Church Another Chance, The Outsider Interviews, The Accidental Anglican, Our Favorite Sins, Our Character at Work and Deep Peace. Todd holds a Doctor of Ministry degree and serves as an adjunct professor of evangelism, leadership in contemporary culture, and spiritual formation at a variety of seminaries. Todd and his wife, Debbie, have two adult children and live in Franklin, Tennessee.

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Move Ministry Leaders from knowledge to Action

A MasterClass Includes:

What You Gain from a MasterClass:

ENJOY ALL 8 CLASSES FOR THE CURRENT SEASON

Course Catalog - 2023