November 5, 2026
Not Just on Sunday
Lonetta McKee
Ministries & Organizations
Cohorts
Cohorts highlights organizations and ministries that develop leaders through small, focused groups built around shared learning, coaching, and accountability. This organization type includes programs where participants move through a defined season together often with mentoring, guided training, and peer support to grow in character, competence, and ministry effectiveness.
9 organizations
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CohortsConnections Recovery NetworkConnections Recovery Network equips churches to develop Jesus-centered recovery ministries through launch resources, Scripture-based curriculum, leadership…Cohorts · Independent Christian Church
Connections Recovery Network
Connections Recovery Network — Organization Profile Connections Recovery Network (CRN) is a Christian recovery-ministry network that equips local churches to launch and sustain recovery ministries centered on discipleship, relationships, and Jesus. The network grew out of the recovery ministry at…
Connections Recovery Network — Organization Profile Connections Recovery Network (CRN) is a Christian recovery-ministry network that equips local churches to launch and sustain recovery ministries centered on discipleship, relationships, and Jesus. The network grew out of the recovery ministry at Mt. Gilead Church in Mooresville, Indiana, where church leaders developed a ministry culture for walking alongside people affected by addiction and supporting their movement toward recovery and spiritual growth. CRN takes that experience and shares it with other congregations through a church-to-church, practitioner-to-practitioner model. Rather than asking participating congregations to adopt a centrally controlled or franchised ministry, CRN emphasizes local church ownership of recovery ministry. Its approach is built around ten distinctives: Jesus Is Our Solution, Grace Over Shame, Truth…
Connections Recovery Network — Organization Profile
Connections Recovery Network (CRN) is a Christian recovery-ministry network that equips local churches to launch and sustain recovery ministries centered on discipleship, relationships, and Jesus. The network grew out of the recovery ministry at Mt. Gilead Church in Mooresville, Indiana, where church leaders developed a ministry culture for walking alongside people affected by addiction and supporting their movement toward recovery and spiritual growth. CRN takes that experience and shares it with other congregations through a church-to-church, practitioner-to-practitioner model.
Rather than asking participating congregations to adopt a centrally controlled or franchised ministry, CRN emphasizes local church ownership of recovery ministry. Its approach is built around ten distinctives: Jesus Is Our Solution, Grace Over Shame, Truth With Love, Authenticity Over Image, Progress Not Perfection, Community Is Essential, Confidentiality Builds Trust, Servant Leadership, Multiplication Matters, and Hope Is Louder. Together, these principles shape how participating churches develop groups, train leaders, create environments for honest relationships, and connect recovery with Christian discipleship.
Connections Recovery Network serves churches seeking to establish or strengthen recovery ministry in their own communities. Its model was developed in Mooresville, Indiana, but the network is designed for churches beyond that local setting and states that churches of different sizes can participate. CRN says it partners with churches that identify Jesus as Lord and are serious about recovery, while emphasizing unity rather than requiring every participating congregation to operate identically. The goal is to help churches develop ministry that fits their community while retaining the network's core recovery and discipleship culture.
Churches joining the network receive several practical resources. CRN provides a 90-Day Launch Resource that covers steps from recruiting leaders through holding an initial recovery meeting. Participating churches also receive one year of Scripture-based meeting curriculum organized around themes including identity, inventory, community, and freedom. A further component is one year of leadership development and coaching, designed to help churches develop healthy recovery-ministry leaders who can eventually train and support others. CRN describes its approach as practitioner-led, meaning churches learn from people with experience operating recovery ministry rather than primarily from outside consultants.
The process for churches begins by contacting Connections Recovery Network and explaining their congregation's current situation and interest in recovery ministry. A CRN practitioner then schedules a conversation to learn about the church, answer questions, and determine whether the network is an appropriate fit. Churches that move forward as Founding Churches begin using the launch resources, curriculum, coaching, and practitioner community. Through this process, CRN seeks to help congregations create relational, reproducible recovery ministries that connect recovery with ongoing discipleship in Jesus.
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CohortsCovenant Connection Soul Care GroupsCovenant Connections for Pastors, Inc. connects pastors and ministry staff in confidential soul care covenant groups,…Cohorts · Independent Christian Church
Covenant Connection Soul Care Groups
Covenant Connections for Pastors — Organization Profile Covenant Connections for Pastors, Inc. is a ministry that connects pastors and ministry staff in soul care covenant groups designed for candid, confidential community. The organization’s stated mission is to foster fellowship, mutual…
Covenant Connections for Pastors — Organization Profile Covenant Connections for Pastors, Inc. is a ministry that connects pastors and ministry staff in soul care covenant groups designed for candid, confidential community. The organization’s stated mission is to foster fellowship, mutual support, and spiritual growth among pastors and ministry staff—especially within the Restoration Movement—through biblical unity, mutual accountability, and shared mission. Its vision emphasizes “intentional, disciplined communities” where leaders develop “soul strength” and help one another serve well and finish well. Covenant Connections operates from Carmel, Indiana, and serves ministry leaders across the United States through a model that blends in-person and virtual connection. The organization describes covenant groups as a healthy community where members commit to one another’s long-term well-being,…
Covenant Connections for Pastors — Organization Profile
Covenant Connections for Pastors, Inc. is a ministry that connects pastors and ministry staff in soul care covenant groups designed for candid, confidential community. The organization’s stated mission is to foster fellowship, mutual support, and spiritual growth among pastors and ministry staff—especially within the Restoration Movement—through biblical unity, mutual accountability, and shared mission. Its vision emphasizes “intentional, disciplined communities” where leaders develop “soul strength” and help one another serve well and finish well.
Covenant Connections operates from Carmel, Indiana, and serves ministry leaders across the United States through a model that blends in-person and virtual connection. The organization describes covenant groups as a healthy community where members commit to one another’s long-term well-being, making space to process both the “hard hits” and “heart hits” leaders carry. This approach is built for depth and trust over time rather than quick-fix support.
At the core of the ministry are three-year covenant groups. Participants gather for two in-person retreats each year and also meet virtually (one video meeting per month), creating a consistent rhythm of connection and encouragement. The group fee is set for the full three-year cycle; the site lists a 2026 group fee of $2,500 (with scholarship eligibility available by request). Covenant Connections also notes that participants cover their own travel, meals, and lodging associated with retreats.
Covenant Connections places special weight on the role of trained covenant group facilitators, describing the facilitator as a crucial element of the ministry. Alongside group leadership development, the organization offers a prayer-focused dimension through its prayer ministry, which aims to support pastors and pastoral staff through coordinated prayer and prayer teams. The site also provides resources connected to its soul-care emphasis, including the book Soul Strength by Dr. Alan Ahlgrim and a companion Discovery Journal designed to help readers engage the principles more deeply.
People can engage with Covenant Connections by registering for a group, connecting through the contact form, giving financially through the ministry’s donation options, and participating in or supporting the prayer ministry (including submitting prayer requests and subscribing to the monthly prayer letter). For churches and leaders seeking long-haul resilience, Covenant Connections presents covenant groups as a structured, relationship-centered way to pursue spiritual and emotional health while continuing to serve faithfully.
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CohortsCovenant GroupsCovenant Groups is a men’s discipleship initiative using small-group covenant friendships and the Covenant Group Discipleship…Cohorts · Independent Christian Church
Covenant Groups
Covenant Groups — Organization Profile Covenant Groups is a discipleship initiative focused on helping men grow spiritually through two core practices: walking daily with God in His Word and walking deeply with other men in honest, accountable relationships. The ministry…
Covenant Groups — Organization Profile Covenant Groups is a discipleship initiative focused on helping men grow spiritually through two core practices: walking daily with God in His Word and walking deeply with other men in honest, accountable relationships. The ministry frames this approach as a shift away from discipleship that is primarily program- or curriculum-driven and toward training in lifelong habits that shape character and obedience. At the center of the Covenant Groups model is the belief that spiritual maturity is best nurtured in secure relationships—both with Jesus and with faithful brothers. Covenant Groups describes its small-group environment as “highly relational,” where men pursue maturity through shared honesty, encouragement, prayer, confidentiality, and voluntary accountability. Group leaders function as facilitators who…
Covenant Groups — Organization Profile
Covenant Groups is a discipleship initiative focused on helping men grow spiritually through two core practices: walking daily with God in His Word and walking deeply with other men in honest, accountable relationships. The ministry frames this approach as a shift away from discipleship that is primarily program- or curriculum-driven and toward training in lifelong habits that shape character and obedience.
At the center of the Covenant Groups model is the belief that spiritual maturity is best nurtured in secure relationships—both with Jesus and with faithful brothers. Covenant Groups describes its small-group environment as “highly relational,” where men pursue maturity through shared honesty, encouragement, prayer, confidentiality, and voluntary accountability. Group leaders function as facilitators who model faithfulness and care, helping the group stay focused on the commitments members make to one another.
To support consistent spiritual formation, Covenant Groups provides a structured set of tools called the Covenant Group Discipleship Series. The series is organized into training journals designed to develop devotional habits and spiritual disciplines alongside foundational Scripture. The journals are arranged in the Adventure Series (Journals 1–3) and the Challenge Series (Journals 4–6), with companion journals that can supplement either series. Covenant Groups notes that each journal is commonly structured around a roughly 12-week pace, making them practical for churches or ministries that want a repeatable discipleship rhythm.
A central “life skill” in the series is the daily Appointment With God (AWG)—a pattern of Scripture reading, reflection, application, and prayer. Covenant Groups pairs that daily rhythm with weekly meetings, where men share what they are learning, apply Scripture in real life, and support one another through encouragement and prayer. The goal is not simply accumulating information, but training in habits that sustain spiritual growth over the long haul.
Covenant Groups also provides guidance for ministry leaders who want to integrate this approach into an intentional discipleship pathway. The ministry encourages leaders to clarify a memorable discipleship “profile,” understand where men are in the discipleship process, and then choose tools that fit those needs. In that context, the Covenant Group journals function as a pathway for “growing disciples” who want to strengthen their walk with Christ through disciplined habits and covenant friendships.
For individuals and churches, engagement options are straightforward and evergreen: start or join a covenant group, use the journals as a structured discipleship plan, and reach out for training or ministry planning support. The ministry also invites partners to support the work financially, noting that giving helps expand opportunities to equip men in these practices.
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Church of ChristKite Center for MinistryKite Center for Ministry at York University equips local church leaders through conferences, resources, cohorts, ministry…Church of Christ · Cohorts
Kite Center for Ministry
Kite Center for Ministry — Organization Profile The Smith and Mary Kite Center for Ministry is a ministry-focused initiative of York University in York, Nebraska. The center exists to equip and empower men and women for ministry and leadership in…
Kite Center for Ministry — Organization Profile The Smith and Mary Kite Center for Ministry is a ministry-focused initiative of York University in York, Nebraska. The center exists to equip and empower men and women for ministry and leadership in local churches, with an emphasis on making disciples by supporting and encouraging congregations. Its work is connected to York University’s long-standing relationship with churches and its commitment to Christ-centered education and service. The center is based in York, Nebraska, and serves churches, ministry leaders, congregations, and ministry families across a wider regional network. One of its stated program areas, the Ministers’ Wives Retreat, describes its region as the Midwest, Rockies, and Great Plains states, and the center’s events also draw…
Kite Center for Ministry — Organization Profile
The Smith and Mary Kite Center for Ministry is a ministry-focused initiative of York University in York, Nebraska. The center exists to equip and empower men and women for ministry and leadership in local churches, with an emphasis on making disciples by supporting and encouraging congregations. Its work is connected to York University’s long-standing relationship with churches and its commitment to Christ-centered education and service.
The center is based in York, Nebraska, and serves churches, ministry leaders, congregations, and ministry families across a wider regional network. One of its stated program areas, the Ministers’ Wives Retreat, describes its region as the Midwest, Rockies, and Great Plains states, and the center’s events also draw participants from multiple states and Canada. Its ministry focus includes local church leadership, small and rural congregations, ministry training, pastoral support, and practical resources for people serving churches.
Kite Center for Ministry operates through conferences, cohorts, resource sharing, church support, and service connections. Its Equip Conference provides worship, teaching, and ministry tracks for church leaders. The Storehouse blog offers articles and practical ministry resources with a small and rural church lens. The center also maintains ministry openings, request-help forms for congregations seeking short-term or specialized ministry support, and volunteer opportunities for preachers, teachers, song leaders, and other ministry workers.
A significant part of the center’s strategy is to connect churches with people and resources they may not easily access on their own. Congregations can request help from trained ministry workers for needs such as preaching, teaching, worship leading, or workshops. Volunteers can offer ministry skills for churches that need support. Additional resources point churches toward partner organizations and ministries that provide training, consulting, interim ministry, women’s ministry resources, and rural and small-town church support.
The center’s work also includes ministry-family care and leadership development. Its Ministers’ Wives Retreat is designed for women who have served as ministers’ wives for at least five years and are in the region. The program is sponsored by the Smith and Mary Kite Center for Ministry at York University, which is a partner of the Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative facilitated by Pepperdine University. Through these efforts, the center seeks to strengthen local churches by supporting both congregational leaders and the people who serve alongside them.
People can engage with Kite Center for Ministry by attending events such as Equip Conference, reading and sharing Storehouse resources, applying for eligible programs, posting or searching ministry openings, requesting help for a congregation, volunteering to serve churches, or giving through York University’s giving platform. Churches and ministry leaders can also contact the center directly for questions about programs, partnerships, and opportunities to support local congregations.
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Church of ChristMarriage RadioMarriage Radio provides online marriage education, coaching, workshops, assessments, and support resources for couples and individuals…Church of Christ · Cohorts
Marriage Radio
Marriage Radio — Organization Profile Marriage Radio is a United States-based marriage education and relationship-coaching resource connected with Lee Wilson, also known publicly as Coach Lee. The organization provides articles, online courses, coaching options, assessments, and digital resources for people…
Marriage Radio — Organization Profile Marriage Radio is a United States-based marriage education and relationship-coaching resource connected with Lee Wilson, also known publicly as Coach Lee. The organization provides articles, online courses, coaching options, assessments, and digital resources for people who are trying to understand, strengthen, or repair a marriage. Its public content focuses on topics such as emotional distance, reconciliation, divorce prevention, limerence, affairs, anxiety, and communication within marriage. The core focus of Marriage Radio is helping couples and individuals navigate marriage crisis with practical guidance, structured learning, and relationship-recovery strategy. Its website presents Coach Lee as a marriage coach and relationship educator who works with couples facing disconnection, resentment, loss of trust, separation, and the fear that a…
Marriage Radio — Organization Profile
Marriage Radio is a United States-based marriage education and relationship-coaching resource connected with Lee Wilson, also known publicly as Coach Lee. The organization provides articles, online courses, coaching options, assessments, and digital resources for people who are trying to understand, strengthen, or repair a marriage. Its public content focuses on topics such as emotional distance, reconciliation, divorce prevention, limerence, affairs, anxiety, and communication within marriage.
The core focus of Marriage Radio is helping couples and individuals navigate marriage crisis with practical guidance, structured learning, and relationship-recovery strategy. Its website presents Coach Lee as a marriage coach and relationship educator who works with couples facing disconnection, resentment, loss of trust, separation, and the fear that a marriage may be ending. The organization’s approach is educational and coaching-oriented rather than congregational, with resources designed for people who need clarity before making major relational decisions.
Marriage Radio is based in Nashville, TN and serves people primarily through online delivery. Its resources are available through web articles, video content, courses, workshops, coaching sessions, and online community links, allowing people outside one local area to participate. Coaching information on the site notes that sessions may take place by phone or Zoom and that times are listed in the U.S. Central Time Zone, making the service accessible to clients who can connect remotely.
The organization operates through several distinct pathways. Marriage Radio publishes ongoing articles on marriage-related issues, offers a Free Mini-Course To Save Your Marriage, provides marriage coaching sessions, and points users to the Relationship Reignite Workshop, also known as Marriage Reignite. The Relationship Reignite Workshop is described as an online workshop for marriages in serious crisis, including situations involving anger, lies, affairs, loss of feelings, limerence, sexual disconnection, or the possibility that one spouse may not be willing to participate. The site also offers a temperament assessment for marriage, designed to help couples understand behavioral patterns and relational dynamics.
Marriage Radio’s public resources are closely associated with Coach Lee’s broader relationship education platform. The site describes him as the creator of the Relationship Reignite Workshop, the Free Mini-Course To Save A Marriage, and other structured resources for people in relationship crisis. It also references his academic study in marriage and family at Freed-Hardeman University and Trevecca Nazarene University, along with more than two decades of experience working with individuals and couples facing separation, breakup, and reconciliation concerns.
People can engage with Marriage Radio by reading its articles, subscribing to Coach Lee’s video content, taking the free mini-course, booking a marriage coaching session, exploring the Relationship Reignite Workshop, or connecting through the Love Dynamics support community. Those who want help evaluating next steps in a difficult marriage can use the coaching and workshop links, while those wanting introductory education can begin with the free course, assessments, blog content, and social media channels.
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Church of ChristMission Alive — Discipleship CohortsMission Alive Discipleship Cohorts are small, structured groups that meet regularly to help Christians practice listening…Church of Christ · Cohorts
Mission Alive — Discipleship Cohorts
Mission Alive — Discipleship Cohorts — Organization Profile Mission Alive is a nonprofit ministry that equips leaders and communities to live on mission with God, with a particular emphasis on developing innovative communities of faith and resourcing disciple-making. Based in…
Mission Alive — Discipleship Cohorts — Organization Profile Mission Alive is a nonprofit ministry that equips leaders and communities to live on mission with God, with a particular emphasis on developing innovative communities of faith and resourcing disciple-making. Based in Dallas, Texas, Mission Alive describes its work as equipping leaders for God’s mission, including church planting support, coaching, and discipleship resources that can be used across a wide range of ministry contexts. Mission Alive’s Discipleship Cohorts (often shortened to DCs) are small groups of Christians that meet regularly to encourage spiritual growth through shared rhythms of listening to God and following Him. Mission Alive describes the heart of Christian living as learning to hear God’s voice and follow into the…
Mission Alive — Discipleship Cohorts — Organization Profile
Mission Alive is a nonprofit ministry that equips leaders and communities to live on mission with God, with a particular emphasis on developing innovative communities of faith and resourcing disciple-making. Based in Dallas, Texas, Mission Alive describes its work as equipping leaders for God’s mission, including church planting support, coaching, and discipleship resources that can be used across a wide range of ministry contexts.
Mission Alive’s Discipleship Cohorts (often shortened to DCs) are small groups of Christians that meet regularly to encourage spiritual growth through shared rhythms of listening to God and following Him. Mission Alive describes the heart of Christian living as learning to hear God’s voice and follow into the world as disciples, and DCs are built as a reproducible tool that supports spiritual growth, church renewal, and leadership development.
A key distinctive of the Discipleship Cohorts model is its intentional structure paired with relational accountability. Participants meet weekly in a small group setting, encouraging one another in consistent practices of listening to God through prayer, Scripture, and mission. Mission Alive presents DCs as appropriate for both newer believers and seasoned Christians, emphasizing that the steady cadence of meeting together helps form habits that shape a sustained walk with God.
Discipleship Cohorts are also designed as a pathway that grows leaders over time. Mission Alive outlines multiple levels: Level 1 focuses on foundational disciple-making rhythms and group accountability; Level 2 develops leadership skills for those preparing to lead Level 1 cohorts; and Level 3 functions as an ongoing community for leaders who are multiplying groups, raising other leaders, and practicing spiritual discernment together. Many cohorts meet online in a consistent rhythm, making participation possible across geographic boundaries while keeping the group experience personal and interactive.
Because Mission Alive aims to help churches build lasting disciple-making culture, the Discipleship Cohorts are supported by training and materials. Mission Alive’s broader story notes that Discipleship Cohorts were developed to model basic discipleship principles as part of the organization’s expanding work to equip leaders beyond church planters. In addition, Mission Alive offers learning and training opportunities through its Stream Equipping platform, which includes Discipleship Cohorts-related courses and facilitator training options.
People can engage with Mission Alive Discipleship Cohorts by joining a cohort, pursuing facilitator training, and introducing the cohort rhythm within a ministry team or local church setting. Supporters can also partner through giving to help Mission Alive continue equipping leaders and resourcing disciple-making communities.
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CohortsRDN Shift GroupsRDN SHIFT Groups are small, online coaching cohorts led by proven disciple-making pastors, helping church leaders…Cohorts · Independent Christian Church
RDN Shift Groups
RDN SHIFT Groups — Organization Profile RDN SHIFT Groups are a coaching-based, online community built by the Relational Discipleship Network (RDN), a missions organization focused on helping churches recover and live out disciple-making as Jesus modeled it. SHIFT Groups are…
RDN SHIFT Groups — Organization Profile RDN SHIFT Groups are a coaching-based, online community built by the Relational Discipleship Network (RDN), a missions organization focused on helping churches recover and live out disciple-making as Jesus modeled it. SHIFT Groups are designed for pastors and ministry leaders who want practical support as they work to lead cultural change toward relational disciple-making in their churches. At the core of SHIFT Groups is a simple premise: you’re not meant to do ministry alone, especially when you are trying to shift a church from program-centered activity to relationship-centered disciple-making. RDN describes SHIFT Groups as online groups led by proven disciple-making coaches, where leaders gain practical tools and resources while also building strategic relationships with…
RDN SHIFT Groups — Organization Profile
RDN SHIFT Groups are a coaching-based, online community built by the Relational Discipleship Network (RDN), a missions organization focused on helping churches recover and live out disciple-making as Jesus modeled it. SHIFT Groups are designed for pastors and ministry leaders who want practical support as they work to lead cultural change toward relational disciple-making in their churches.
At the core of SHIFT Groups is a simple premise: you’re not meant to do ministry alone, especially when you are trying to shift a church from program-centered activity to relationship-centered disciple-making. RDN describes SHIFT Groups as online groups led by proven disciple-making coaches, where leaders gain practical tools and resources while also building strategic relationships with other leaders.
SHIFT Groups meet in a consistent rhythm that emphasizes peer learning and coached accountability. RDN outlines a coaching format using live, interactive Zoom meetings with small group sizes, typically 4–6 leaders, led by pastors who have already made the “shift” in their own ministry settings. These sessions are structured to help leaders talk through real ministry challenges, share tools, learn best practices, and move from ideas to implementation.
RDN also frames SHIFT Groups as role-specific pathways. In its coaching overview, RDN notes that SHIFT Groups are designed for a range of ministry roles—senior pastors, executive/associate pastors, discipleship and small group leaders, youth and young adult pastors, and other ministry leaders—so the conversations and coaching can be applied directly to the responsibilities leaders carry week to week.
An important part of the SHIFT Groups model is that it is connected to RDN’s broader training ecosystem. RDN notes a prerequisite for joining a SHIFT Group: participants should have attended a DiscipleShift training (or be registered to attend). That link between training and coaching reinforces RDN’s intent to move leaders from an initial learning experience into an ongoing coaching relationship where change can be supported over time.
Because SHIFT Groups operate online, their reach is nationwide, connecting leaders across churches and regions without requiring travel. RDN’s team leadership includes staff members who serve from different locations, and the coaching environment is intentionally built to foster connection across geographic boundaries while keeping the group small enough for trust, transparency, and application.
For churches and leaders who want to engage, SHIFT Groups can be a practical “next step” after training: register for DiscipleShift, join a SHIFT coaching group, and access RDN resources that support disciple-making culture change. Churches can also partner with RDN financially to expand coaching and resourcing for leaders who are working to build relational disciple-making pathways in their contexts.
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CohortsRENEW.org Learning CommunitiesRENEW.org Learning Communities are invitation-based cohorts for senior leaders, meeting in bi-monthly rhythms for focused study,…Cohorts · Independent Christian Church
RENEW.org Learning Communities
RENEW.org Learning Communities — Organization Profile RENEW.org Learning Communities are small, leader-focused cohorts within the RENEW.org Network, created to help senior church and ministry leaders grow in disciple making through relational learning. RENEW.org frames these communities as a place where…
RENEW.org Learning Communities — Organization Profile RENEW.org Learning Communities are small, leader-focused cohorts within the RENEW.org Network, created to help senior church and ministry leaders grow in disciple making through relational learning. RENEW.org frames these communities as a place where leaders connect, learn, and sharpen both character and ministry practice while staying anchored in the teachings of Jesus. Learning Communities address a common challenge for ministry leaders: isolation. RENEW.org describes the experience as a trusted circle of peers where ministers under pressure can find encouragement, practical counsel, and accountability rather than carrying complex leadership burdens alone. The emphasis is not simply on information transfer, but on relationships that support faithfulness and perseverance in long-term ministry. A key element of the…
RENEW.org Learning Communities — Organization Profile
RENEW.org Learning Communities are small, leader-focused cohorts within the RENEW.org Network, created to help senior church and ministry leaders grow in disciple making through relational learning. RENEW.org frames these communities as a place where leaders connect, learn, and sharpen both character and ministry practice while staying anchored in the teachings of Jesus.
Learning Communities address a common challenge for ministry leaders: isolation. RENEW.org describes the experience as a trusted circle of peers where ministers under pressure can find encouragement, practical counsel, and accountability rather than carrying complex leadership burdens alone. The emphasis is not simply on information transfer, but on relationships that support faithfulness and perseverance in long-term ministry.
A key element of the Learning Communities model is a consistent rhythm of interaction. RENEW.org describes these groups as bi-monthly cohorts in which leaders invest five focused hours of study, prayer, and discussion. The goal is to cultivate leaders who can renew Jesus’ teachings in their own lives and in the culture of their churches—especially as they work to build healthier disciple-making pathways.
RENEW.org also positions Learning Communities as part of its wider online events ecosystem. Learning Community sessions function as live, interactive gatherings (typically accessed through a RENEW.org account), allowing leaders from different places to participate without the demands of travel. This online structure expands access while preserving the small-group focus that makes peer learning and honest discussion possible.
Participation in a Learning Community is invitation-based. RENEW.org notes that these communities are intended for senior leaders (or point leaders of a ministry), and those who are unsure about fit are encouraged to reach out to RENEW.org to connect with a leader or Regional Director. This helps keep cohorts aligned around shared leadership responsibilities and the kinds of challenges that senior leaders uniquely face.
For churches, Learning Communities can be a practical way to invest in leadership development over time. Leaders can engage by joining a cohort, applying what they learn with their leadership teams, and using RENEW.org resources to reinforce disciple-making clarity. Supporters can also strengthen this work by partnering financially with RENEW.org, helping expand resourcing and coaching that equips leaders to renew Jesus’ teachings and pursue disciple making with faithfulness and endurance.
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Church of ChristSiburt Institute for Church MinistrySiburt Institute (ACU) cohorts include the Contemplative Ministers’ Initiative and the Selah Certificate in Spiritual Direction,…Church of Christ · Cohorts
Siburt Institute for Church Ministry
Siburt Institute (ACU) Cohorts — Organization Profile The Siburt Institute for Church Ministry is a church-serving center at Abilene Christian University that exists to equip and serve church leaders for God’s mission in the world. Based in Abilene, Texas, the…
Siburt Institute (ACU) Cohorts — Organization Profile The Siburt Institute for Church Ministry is a church-serving center at Abilene Christian University that exists to equip and serve church leaders for God’s mission in the world. Based in Abilene, Texas, the Institute supports churches and leaders through formation, resourcing, networking, and reflection, offering programs that strengthen both spiritual health and ministry practice. Among Siburt’s offerings are cohort-based experiences—structured journeys where leaders learn in community over time. These cohorts are designed to pair guided instruction with practical formation, helping participants cultivate habits and frameworks that can sustain faithful ministry in demanding contexts. While Siburt hosts a wide range of gatherings and tools, its cohort pathways stand out for their emphasis on intentional…
Siburt Institute (ACU) Cohorts — Organization Profile
The Siburt Institute for Church Ministry is a church-serving center at Abilene Christian University that exists to equip and serve church leaders for God’s mission in the world. Based in Abilene, Texas, the Institute supports churches and leaders through formation, resourcing, networking, and reflection, offering programs that strengthen both spiritual health and ministry practice.
Among Siburt’s offerings are cohort-based experiences—structured journeys where leaders learn in community over time. These cohorts are designed to pair guided instruction with practical formation, helping participants cultivate habits and frameworks that can sustain faithful ministry in demanding contexts. While Siburt hosts a wide range of gatherings and tools, its cohort pathways stand out for their emphasis on intentional community, spiritual practices, and long-term growth.
One of the Institute’s best-known cohort models is the Contemplative Ministers’ Initiative (CMI), a two-year program that helps ministers develop a contemplative life with the aim of serving as a calm, spiritually centered presence in their churches. CMI follows a multi-retreat structure across two years, with retreats designed to form ministers through stages that include differentiation, contemplation, incarnation, and integration. Siburt notes that each year CMI launches a cohort of 12 ministers, with a focus on lead ministers in the first half of their careers.
CMI is led by Houston Heflin and was founded by Randy Harris, who remains actively involved in spiritual direction and teaching connected to the initiative. Siburt also notes that Eddie Sharp serves as a conversation partner with each participant’s elders or leaders, supporting the relationship between the minister’s formation and the congregation’s leadership context. This combination of retreat-based formation and leadership support is intended to help ministers build spiritual stamina for long-term service.
Another cohort pathway is the Selah Certificate in Spiritual Direction, a 15-month program grounded in Christian contemplative disciplines. The Selah cohort is designed for those who sense a call to spiritual direction and who already have regular spiritual practices and a reputation for maturity and companionship. The program includes directed readings, connection with a spiritual mentor, residential retreats with other participants and staff, an integrative paper, and a supervised internship in spiritual direction. Siburt also clarifies that the certificate is not academic credit and should not be considered equivalent to a degree credential; it is intended to develop professional skills and spiritual knowledge for the practice of spiritual direction.
Taken together, Siburt’s cohort pathways reflect a consistent theme: formation that is relational, disciplined, and sustainable. Whether a minister is seeking deeper contemplative practices or training for spiritual companionship, these cohorts provide structured learning in community, supported by the Institute’s broader ecosystem of resources such as its podcast and publications.
Leaders and churches can engage with Siburt’s cohort opportunities by exploring program details, contacting the Institute for guidance on fit, and partnering financially to support the Institute’s mission. For ministers and leaders who want more than a one-time event, Siburt’s cohort model offers a repeatable way to pursue spiritual depth while remaining anchored in the realities of church leadership.
