Empowering Families for Discipleship

Want to join the Empowering Families for Discipleship cohort? Complete this application by August 1, and our team will reach out with more details.

What is a Cohort?

CFC learning cohorts are supportive and collaborative learning communities of 10-15 ministry leaders, all committed to ministry with children in the church. As a cohort participant, you will develop long-lasting relationships and discover new ideas and innovative ways of doing ministry, capturing a vision for reimagining church where a child’s faith flourishes.

Join us for the Empowering Families for Discipleship Cohort! In this fully online children’s ministry training, you’ll participate in transformative conversations and learning experiences focused on how ministry leaders can encourage, empower, and equip parents to take an active role in their children’s discipleship.

Logistics

Meeting Location:

Online
2025 Meeting Dates:

September 29; October 13, 27; November 10, 2025
Meeting Time:

7:00 - 9:00 p.m. CST
Collaborative Consulting:

Up to three collaborative consulting sessions with our team
Max Number of Participants:

15 people
Cost:

$500 per person

Notes From Your Hosts

Help us build amazing cohorts! As our cohort experience grows, we ask that you complete a detailed post-program evaluation. Your valuable feedback will be instrumental in enhancing the cohort experience and ensuring its long-term success.

Objectives

In this online community, join other ministry leaders as we:

Learn about the current state of families and their needs and desires.
Explore how the church can empower, equip, and encourage families to be the center of faith formation.
Discover discipleship in everyday life and develop a “family at the center” approach.
Engage with leading experts in the field of family discipleship to identify best practices and proven strategies.

FAQs

Each online session is 2 hours.

In addition to the online cohort meetings, you have the opportunity to sign up for up to three collaborative consulting sessions with CFC Staff.

Please note: In addition to our live cohort meetings, we expect participants to engage in complementary readings and activities between sessions to deepen their understanding and maximize their learning experience.
Yes! We will be in communication with you regarding any necessary materials or items you will need for the course.
We do not have scholarships available at this time.
Yes! The CFC team is happy to provide additional consulting hours. You can learn more about personal coaching and ministry consultation by contacting our team here.
Our innovative collaborative consulting sessions offer you the opportunity to learn from colleagues and from CFC staff about various topics. These sessions are only open to current cohort participants and are tailored to your questions, concerns, and current challenges in ministry. After you register, you will have the opportunity to sign up for three collaborative consulting sessions.
A full refund policy with relevant dates will be provided as part of your registration materials. Below is a brief summary of our refund policy.

Refund Policy Summary – CFC Learning Cohorts

Refund Eligibility and Deadlines:
1. Full Refund (100%): A full refund is available if you cancel your enrollment before the resource box ships. A full refund is available if the cohort is cancelled by the organizers.
2. Partial Refund (50%): A 50% refund is available if you cancel your enrollment after the box shipping date, but before the cohort start date.
3. No Refund: No refunds will be issued after the cohort start date. This includes cancellations due to personal circumstances, changes in availability, or dissatisfaction with the program content after this point.

Meet the Facilitator

Lindsey Goetz

Lindsey Goetz has a decade of experience working in ministry with children in various churches and is the co-author of The Gospel Story Hymnal. Lindsey’s understanding of practical ministry and children’s spirituality, along with her creativity, makes her ideal to coordinate the center’s resources and projects. Lindsey loves to collaborate with children’s ministry leaders to engage children as full participants in the church in innovative ways. Lindsey enjoys reading, studying the Bible with children, and doing creative projects. She also serves her local congregation as the Pastor for Children’s Formation. Lindsey is the mom of five amazing girls.

Meet our Guests

The Rev. Traci Smith is the Program Director of Family Faith Every Day. Traci is an ordained pastor, parent, and author of Chalice’s Faithful Families book series. Traci’s personal and professional mission is guided by a simple statement that can be found on page one of Faithful Families: “Faith is learned when it is woven seamlessly through the fabric of everyday life.”

Joy Wendling has spent over twenty years in ministry with children, youth, and families. Holding a Master’s in Youth, Family, and Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary and an early childhood Christian education background, Joy founded Created to Play, a ministry to share the potential of play in spiritual formation. Joy is currently a PhD student in Educational Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Sarah Cowan Johnson is a ministry trainer, consultant, and coach who leads seminars for parents on family discipleship. She served as the executive pastor for Sanctuary Church in Providence, Rhode Island, and is the author of Teach Your Children Well, the 2023 Christianity Today Marriage & Family book of the year. Sarah lives in Providence with her husband, two sons, and her niece.

Tanya Campen regularly writes and teaches on topics related to children’s spirituality, intergenerational ministry, and faith formation. Her recent book, Holy Work with Children: Making Meaning Together, invites ministry leaders, parents, and caregivers to recognize and support the theological insights of children as they grow in faith. Tanya’s ministry continues to inspire and equip leaders to embrace intergenerational discipleship, fostering communities where faith is formed and transformed across all ages.