LEAD Cohorts

LEAD Cohorts are online meeting places for small groups of MB pastors and leaders – or anyone interested in learning more about a specific topic or gathering with like-minded people.

LEAD Cohorts are FREE to all participants. The only cost is for books or materials, if recommended by the cohort leader. LEAD Cohorts typically last three months and meet online every two weeks for about an hour.

The next session of LEAD Cohorts will begin this January and February. View our spring lineup below. Sign up by clicking the "Register" button below the cohort you are interested in joining, and the cohort leader will contact you with more information. If you have additional questions, please email Janae Shafer.

Please note: The registration method for LEAD Cohorts has changed, but cohorts remain a free resource for you. To register, select a ticket, then click "Continue." After filling in your contact information, click "Complete order." Please note: There is no charge for LEAD Cohorts.

About nothing for those who want to talk about something - Luke LeViere and Jason Quiring
For male pastors: In community we can dream of fun possibilities, have a context to handle difficult stuff and celebrate each other’s victories. Out of relationships ministry partnerships happen. This cohort is about building and strengthening relationships through organic conversations – what’s on your mind this week? This cohort is for people looking for friends, real friends who love the Lord and want to build His Kingdom together. No other agendas, please.

Luke LeViere is pastor of Good News Fellowship in Ferndale, Wash. Jason Quiring is lead pastor of Greenhouse Community Church in Saratoga Springs, Utah.

Cohort will meet every other Wednesday at 3 p.m. CST beginning Feb. 5.
Feb. 5 & 19, March 5 & 19, April 2, 16 & 30, May 14

Anabaptist Essentials: Jesus. Community. Reconciliation. - Joanna Chapa
While growing up, I remember being asked what being Mennonite Brethren meant and to explain how it was different from other churches or denominations. This "concise, informative and insightful" book, Anabaptist Essentials, gave me tangible and applicable language and understanding about our Anabaptist roots as Mennonite Brethren and also why and how we can "live out a more radical commitment to Jesus" today. This cohort is for anyone who wants to “come to the table” around the conversation (and implications) of our Anabaptist roots as MBs, especially as the Anabaptist movement commemorates its 500th anniversary in 2025, and all for the sake of his kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!

Required Reading: Anabaptist Essentials by Palmer Becker

Joanna Chapa is a Multiply Regional Mission Mobilizer for the USMB churches east of the Rockies. She grew up in the Rio Grande Valley in deep south Texas, surrounded by mucha familia and being a part of the GracePoint Church in La Grulla, Texas. She graduated from Tabor College in 2009 and lived and served with Multiply in Peru for close to 5 years.

Cohort will meet every other Monday at 7 p.m. CST beginning Feb. 3.
Feb. 3 & 17, March 3, 24 & 31, April 14 & 28, May 12

"The Art of Neighboring: Developing 'Love your neighbor' muscles" – Stephen Humber
We'll pray for, practice and debrief opportunities to love our neighbors over the eight sessions using Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon's book as a framework. In addition to discussing the book, there will be practical homework experiences in your neighborhood as well as short videos and podcast excerpts to learn from.

Required reading: The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon

Stephen Humber is the U.S. Mission Team leader for Multiply. He lives in Denver, Colo.

Cohort will meet on select Tuesdays at 3 p.m. CST beginning Feb 4.
Feb. 4 & 18, March 4 & 18, April 1 & 15, May 6 & 13

Contemplative conversations – Chandelle Claassen
This cohort will be reflective and interactive within a relaxed setting meant to care for your soul. We will immerse ourselves in various scriptures in a personal way via a spiritual practice called Lectio Divina or "Divine Reading."

Chandelle Claassen is a trained spiritual director and certified life coach and member of the USMB LEAD Coaching team. Chandelle lives in North Newton, Kansas.

COHORT POSTPONED UNTIL FALL 2025

Critical Journey book discussion – Chandelle and Russ Claassen
Chandelle and Russ Claassen, trained spiritual directors, will co-facilitate this cohort and book discussion over The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich which is used in many formational training programs. Over eight weeks, we will discuss the following faith stages: Recognition of God, the Life of Discipleship, the Productive Life, the Journey Inward, the Wall, the Journey Outward, the Life of Love, plus other chapters. The cohort will be one of enrichment and increased awareness and not necessarily diagnostic in nature, although we hope there will be stages that are recognizable for each participant. We’d love to have you join us.

Required reading: The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich

Chandelle is a trained spiritual director and USMB LEAD Coach. Russ is the district youth minister in the Southern District and is also a trained spiritual director. They enjoy holding sacred space to listen to others and hear about their transformational lives and God’s presence and invitations in them. They have two adult sons and a future daughter-in-law attending Tabor College.

Cohort will meet on select Thursdays at 11 a.m. CST beginning Feb. 6.
Feb. 6 & 20, March 6 & 20, April 3 & 17, May 8 & 22

Ethiopian pastors and leaders – Samson Endale
የኢትዮጵያ ቤተክርስቲያን መጋቢዎችና መሪዎች
ይህ ህብረት የኢትዮጵያ አብያተክርስቲያናት መጋቢዎችና መሪዎች በመደበኛነት
በጋር በመሰባሰብ ግንኙነታ ቸውን የሚያጠናክሩበት ፣ ስለ አገልግሎት
መረጃዎችን የሚለዋወጡበት ፣ በጋራየሚመካከሩበት ፣ የሚጸል
ዩበት፣ ቃሉን የሚያጠኑበት ና የሚወያዩበት ፣ በየ ወሩ የመጨርሻ ማክሰኞ
የሚደረግ ልዩ የአንድነት ፕሮግ ራም ነው።

Ethiopian Pastors and Leaders: (English translation) This cohort is geared for Ethiopian pastors and church leaders who desire to network and fellowship online on a regular basis to strengthen relationships, discuss and exchange information and ideas for ministry, pray together and much more. The discussion will be held on the third Tuesday of each month in Amharic and sometimes English.

Samson Endale is pastor of Ethiopian Christian Fellowship in Santa Clara, Calif.

Cohort date and time TBD.

Everyday spiritual practices for everyday people –Tom Byford
In this cohort we will explore and practice spiritual disciplines found in Scripture. The cohort will discuss and encourage both personal spiritual disciplines as well as corporate and small group opportunities.

Tom Byford is lead pastor at Parkview MB Church in Hillsboro, Kan. He also serves on the Southern District Board of Faith and Life. He lives in Hillsboro with his wife, Nicole, and four children.

Cohort will meet every other Thursday at 11 a.m. CST beginning Feb 6.
Feb. 6 & 20, March 6 & 20, April 3 & 17, May 1 & 15.

Growing together in friendship as we see God's Kingdom come and His will be done in our lives, churches, cities, country and world –Fred Leonard
This cohort will work to facilitate a greater Kingdom impact in our spiritual growth as children of God and leaders of others. We want to join together as friends to see a greater kingdom harvest in the churches we serve.

Fred Leonard is lead pastor of Mountain View Community Church in Fresno, Calif. Fred has a passion for developing church vision and equipping and releasing men and women into ministry.

Cohort will meet every other Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. CST beginning TBD.

Intentional leadership development –Aaron Box and Kyle Goings
Leadership development is integral to the health of the church. Everyone in the church has been given a spiritual gift to use, and many people have leadership gifts that are not being exercised to their potential. The question is, how do we help people develop as leaders? This cohort will focus on developing an intentional leadership development process within your church. This conversation will be most helpful for senior leaders, but anyone seeking to develop leaders in their church is welcome. We will explore topics such as funding, various models and opportunities available, and how to shift church culture to deeply value the development of young leaders.

Aaron Box is the USMB National Director. He lives in Eugene, Ore., with his wife, Jenn, and has two children. Kyle Goings has nearly 20 years of experience in youth ministry and has worked as the NextGen Pastor at Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kan., since 2014. He is also the director of USMB NextGen, a ministry for U.S. Mennonite Brethren youth and young adults. Kyle and his wife, Katie, have two daughters.

Cohort will meet the second and fourth Wednesdays at Noon CST beginning Jan. 22.
Jan. 22, Feb. 12 & 26, March 12 & 26, April 9 & 23, May 14

Pastors' wives – Kelsey Ensz
While every situation is unique, the wives of church leaders have much in common―and much need for support. We will go over a devotional chapter in the book Partners in the Gospel and jump into conversation from there. Purchasing the book is not required. Whether you are new to being a pastor’s wife or have been in that role for decades, you know what joys and challenges can fill your days. We look forward to a time of encouragement, challenge and prayer.

Kelsey lives in Oregon and is married to Nathan, pastor of Kingwood Bible Church in Salem. Her favorite time of year is autumn, when the air is moist and cool, and leaves in every hue and form mingle in heaps on the ground. Her recent interests are barefoot shoes, natural fiber textiles and remineralizing toothpaste (yes, really). Having been married to a pastor for 25 years, she values connection with other ministry wives who understand the unique challenges and joys of this calling.

Cohort will meet every other Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CST beginning Feb. 6.
Feb. 6 & 20, March 6 & 20, April 3 & 17, May 1 & 15

When you are not the lead – J.L. Martin
Join other church staff members as we discuss the unique opportunities and challenges when you are not the lead pastor. This cohort is for any ministry leader (paid, volunteer, full- or part-time) who would like to discuss areas such as vision, budget, conflict and recruiting and training volunteers. We will spend time in discussion as well as prayer for one another. Join us as we learn how to best support our lead pastor and become the most healthy staff we can be.

J.L. Martin is the Bookkeeper/Event Planner/Social Media Coordinator for USMB. Previously, he served as Pastor of Children and Family at Hesston (Kan.) MB Church. J.L. served in children and youth ministry contexts for more than 20 years. He enjoys coffee, Spartan races, reading and working out. He and his wife, Bethany, have four children and live in Hesston.

Cohort will meet every other Thursday at 1 p.m. CST beginning Feb 6.
Feb. 6 & 20, March 6 & 20, April 3 & 17, May 1 & 15

Youth ministry realities – Russ Claassen

Get to know other youth workers as we engage in passionate discussion focused on the realities we face as youth workers. We will explore topics relevant to the group. Sessions may include anything related to youth ministry--from personal leadership development and spiritual growth, to recruiting and training volunteers, parent ministries and talking about Jesus with teens. The possibilities are endless. This cohort is for anyone who works with youth in your local church—volunteers, small group leaders, youth pastors, etc.

Russ Claassen is Southern District Conference youth minister. Russ lives in North Newton, Kansas.

Cohort will meet every other Thursday at 11 a.m. CST beginning Jan 30.
Jan. 30, Feb. 13 & 27, March 13 & 27, April 10 & 24, May 8

PLEASE NOTE:
Dates and/or times on registration forms may not be accurate. The correct information is listed in the descriptions to the left. Once registered, you will be contacted by the cohort leader with more details and information. Thank you.

LEAD Cohorts

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