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 Fall. Watch your email inbox for registration information later this summer. If you are interested in joining a future LEAD Cohort, please email Lori Taylor.

Below is an example of some of the cohort topics we have offered, look for these and more this Fall!

Becoming a Good and Faithful Steward – Jon Wiebe and Dennis Fast
Money is often a difficult topic for pastors to address. This cohort will help leaders become familiar with Biblical instruction on money and stewardship, develop tips for faithful stewardship and provide resources to help your congregation take hold of real life!
Recommended Book: Good and Faithful by Gary Hoag (provided by MB Foundation)

This cohort is led by Jon Wiebe, MB Foundation president and CEO, and Dennis Fast, MB Foundation church relations director. 

Contemplative Conversations - Ongoing Spiritual Transformation – Chandelle Claassen
Are you ready for an ongoing spiritual transformation accountability group? In this experiential cohort, 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, take a deeper dive into the Enneagram, and spend time in Scripture together. The cohort focus will be contemplative in nature. Group sharing will be an enriching component of our time together.
Recommended Books: The Holy Bible by God;  The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self- Discovery  by David Benner, and The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth by Christopher Heuertz

This cohort is 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.

Discipulado en la Iglesia (Discipleship and Evangelism) – Daniel Rodriguez
Estaremos discutiendo la importancia del Discipulado en la Iglesia y como los hermanos pueden crecer y equiparlos para ser lideres de la Iglesia. Los pastores y otros lideres pueden tomarse la tarea de equipar a los nueveos creyentes y miembros de la iglesia para que puedan llegar a ser lideres y discipulos que hacen discipulos de Jesus. Tienes un plan para asegurarte que los nuevos creyentes estan creciendo? Tienes un plan para desarroyar mas lideres que puedan ayudar a crecer el ministerio? Tienes una cultura de discipulos que hacen discipulos? Estan seran algunas de las preguntas que estaremos contestando juntos.

La cohorte está dirigida por Daniel Rodriguez, pastor de la Iglesia Agua Viva en Omaha, Nebraska.

(This cohort, led by Daniel Rodriguez, pastor of Iglesia Agua Viva in Omaha, Nebraska, will discuss the importance of discipleship in the church. Pastors and key leaders will be challenged to learn how to grow and equip new believers and other members of the church to become leaders who make disciples of Jesus.)

Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery – Chandelle Claassen
Cohort participants will embark on a personal journey of self-discovery using a personality assessment tool called the Enneagram (a study of nine interconnected personality types that help us understand ourselves and others.) This tool is helpful as we learn to recognize and respond to God in our life stories. Participants will better understand how they respond under stress and learn how to make choices that lead to a healthier and authentic life.
Recommended Book: The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile

This cohort is 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.

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. Potential sessions may include anything youth ministry--from personal leadership development and spiritual growth, to recruiting and training volunteers, to talking about Jesus with teens in the iculture. The possibilities are endless. This cohort is for anyone who works with youth in your local church--volunteers, small group leaders, youth pastors, etc.

This cohort is led by Russ Claassen, SDC district youth minister. Russ lives in North Newton, Kansas.