NEW and Noteworthy

• Scholarships: Eligible congregations can now participate in our scholarship program.
  
  
• Online training brings Faith Leader training directly to you.
  
  
• Free Web Seminars: All you need is a Windows computer and a telephone. Ask for details.

Faith Leader provides a 26 week small group process that will raise up new leaders in your congregation. Based on biblical models of leadership and reclaiming spiritual practices from the Christian tradition, Faith Leader trains participants in discernment, both of their own call to ministry and the spiritual life of their particular congregation.

As a result of this program, participants craft a new vision of spiritual leadership based on their spiritual gifts and their call from God to unique, spirit-filled ministries.

Faith Leader allows participants to look beyond administrative models of leadership to name and implement ministries of teaching, hospitality, justice, vision, discernment, administration, and compassion. Faith Leader will provide you with more than someone to chair the board or session. Instead, lay people will be empowered to serve God as only they can!

Leader Training Workshops
We train one church staff person and one lay leader from participating congregations in the Faith Leader program. These leaders are equipped to conduct the Faith Leader program in their own churches after completing our online training or a 2½ day workshop.

Faith Leader Small Groups
Participating congregations select a group of twelve members each year for the Faith Leader program which includes weekly meetings (75-90 minutes), an opening and closing retreat, and reflection/practice assignments between sessions.

The Faith Leader program includes:
:: Biblical models of leadership
:: Spiritual gifts identification
:: Spiritual type assessment
:: Spiritual practices from six streams
   of Christianity
:: Building a personal Rule of Life
:: Discernment of your congregation's
   spiritual style
:: Articulating a personal plan for
   ministry

The Personal Plan for Ministry
At the closing retreat, each participant will present his or her Personal Plan for Ministry. Utilizing the entire year's study and reflection, participants articulate a timely, step-by-step plan for implementing the ministry to which God calls them.

The Personal Plan for Ministry will be as individual as the participants who craft them. Some may entail very visible ministries; others will reflect more quiet types of service. In either case, the participant will find a life-giving ministry that celebrates his or her individual gifts.