Greetings and blessings ministry partners, 

This week’s blog is specifically focused on the upcoming Innovating for Love Cohort Experience beginning in January of 2023. This six-week cohort experience will be facilitated by Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy-Dean, the Mary D. Synnott  Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, and will occur virtually on zoom. Click here to learn more from Kenda about why we are really excited about this opportunity. (Hint: it’s because this experience is the only one scheduled to be facilitated live by Kenda.) 

What the Cohort Covers

The sessions in this cohort will cover sections of Kenda’s book, Innovation for Love: Joining God’s Expedition through Christian Social Innovation. In addition to learning from Kenda, each participant in the cohort will be blessed to walk alongside other ministry leaders who are journeying on their own path to innovation. This unique environment provides the opportunity to learn from different leaders as they apply the principles of the book to their contexts. The individual and group work, cohort conversations, and practical assignments will help you better understand and clarify your next steps in the journey. 

Who Is It Designed For?

Designed for clergy, lay leaders, and would-be-innovators, the cohort includes a companion workbook that will help you capture key insights, learnings for the journey, and best practices to help make sure your innovation project is a success. Additionally, you and your ministry team can sign up for coaching sessions to supplement your Innovating for Love Experience. “Why coaching?” you may ask. Click here to hear from Dr. Aqueelah Ligonde, Ministry Incubators’ Vice President of Coaching and Training. As we all prepare to say goodbye to 2022 and welcome 2023, this Innovating for Love Cohort Experience might be what you need to start the new year off right. 

What’s the Catch?

Finally, you might be wondering, “how much does this cost?” It’s a fair question and we believe that this is a great deal for a ministry leader and his or her team. The cohort is a six–session interactive experience for pastors and 3–5 lay leaders to explore how their communities can get unstuck, make a fresh impact, and follow God’s dream for the world. Participants will discover The Map for Innovation, How to Determine the Church’s Readiness for Innovation, Having Empathy Conversations, Chasing God’s Dreams, Determining What Makes a Good Idea and More! The sessions will run approximately 90 minutes once/week and the cost is $270 per group + the cost for books. This cohort and group experience will definitely help you get you plans for 2023 off the ground. 

Is This for Me?

If you’ve been sitting on an idea, wondering how to implement it, this cohort may be for you. If you are a ministry leader in need of fresh ideas to bring to your congregation, this may be for you. If you are in a context that what you’ve done before is no longer serving the people in your community, this cohort might be for you. Click here to hear from Ministry Incubators Innovation Coach, Rev. Kerwin Webb as he offers his thoughts on the cohort experience. After hearing from Dr. Dean, Dr. Ligonde, and Rev. Webb, click here to register for the Innovating for Love Cohort Experience. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did! Merry Christmas and many blessings to you and your family during this holiday season.