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 cohorts listed below began in January, 2018. If you are interested in joining a future LEAD Cohort, please email Lori Taylor.
* Some cohorts meet weekly.
Coffee Shop Talk – Patrick Coyle
Grab a cup of coffee and sit down with some of your ministry peers to talk about common issues and challenges in ministry. Each gathering will be focused on a specific topic such as “balancing ministry and family”, “personal spiritual growth” or “dealing with conflict.”
This cohort will be led by Pat Coyle who has been the Senior Pastor of Shafter MB in Shafter, California, since 2001.
Cohort meets every other Thursday at 1:30 pm (PST) beginning January 18 for six sessions.
Creating a Multicultural Church – Terry Hunt
This cohort will explore ways to change the atmosphere in your church so everyone feels welcome and wanted. We will discuss the affects of racism, both systemic and individual, and how they affect the environment in your church. We will also discuss misconceptions and/or common mistakes about reconciliation.
This cohort will be led by Terry Hunt, North Carolina district minister and lead pastor of The Life Center in Lenoir, North Carolina.
Cohort meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7:00 pm (CST) beginning January 23 for eight sessions.
Leading into Discipleship: Equipping the Church for Ministry
Everyone agrees that the church is called to make disciples. We agree, and we aspire, but we also struggle to get it right. This cohort provides an opportunity to engage with other ministry leaders who share the challenges of doing discipleship well, and of creating a church environment that leads to healthy followers of Jesus. Join us as we learn from Scripture, authors of relevant materials, and one another.
This cohort will be led by Bob Davis and Stephen Humber. Bob and Stephen serve on the mobilization team of MB Mission and desire to see healthy churches engaged in making disciples.
Cohort meets every other Thursday at 1:00 pm (PST) beginning January 18 for eight sessions.
Refreshing Your Pastoral Counseling – John Oelze
This cohort will focus specifically on the heart of the counselor. Through personal counseling interactions that take place as a cohort, we will be reminded and refreshed with the move of the Holy Spirit as He guides us in examining our own hearts to bring about change in others. This model and example will provide a great context and guide for working with others through everyday struggles of life.
This cohort will be led by John Oelze, the executive pastor at First MB Church in Wichita, Kansas.
Cohort meets Mondays or Wednesdays at 7:00 pm (CST) beginning January 15. (Day and time is flexible depending on need.)
The Disciple-Making Power of Expository Preaching – Jared Pulliam
This cohort is intended to inform and enhance the practice of expository preaching, aiming to demonstrate how expository preaching fits with the preacher’s calling to lead their congregation and disciple them from the Word of God. This cohort is designed specifically for participants to refine Bible teaching skills in community with others, and in so doing, further develop their abilities in the service of Christ and his Kingdom.
This cohort will be led by Jared Pulliam, lead pastor of Christ Church Sellwood in Portland, Oregon.
*10 weekly sessions. Dates and times to be determined.
Youth Ministry Realities
Get to know other youth workers and engage in passionate discussion focused on the realities we face as youth workers. We will explore topics relevant to the group, such as personal leadership development and spiritual growth, recruiting and training volunteers or talking about Jesus with teens in the iculture. The possibilities are endless.
This cohort will be led by Russ Claassen, SDC district youth minister. Russ lives in North Newton, Kansas.
Cohort meets Thursdays at 10:00 am or 3:30 pm (CST) beginning January 25. (Time and dates are flexible depending on need.)
Introduction to Spiritual Formation – Chandelle Claassen CANCELLED
We regretfully announce this cohort has been cancelled for the Spring session. We hope to offer a future cohort in the near future.
This experiential cohort serves as an introduction to biblical and Christ-centered spiritual formation, or the maturing of one’s relationship with God. We will explore the importance of soul care practices with the intent to embrace who we are uniquely created in Christ to be. Participants will be equipped with and experience application of various tools and spiritual exercises. The cohort focus will be contemplative in nature. Group sharing will be an enriching component of our time together.
This cohort will be led by Chandelle Claassen, a trained spiritual director and certified life coach and member of the USMB LEAD Coaching team. Chandelle lives in North Newton, Kansas.
