Inspiring Faith and Faith-Sharing
Over the last month, the Sharing Faith Initiative team has had the opportunity to participate in multiple events: the Annual Gathering for the Strengthening Ministry with Children Coordination Program, the Progressive Youth Ministry Conference, and our own Sharing Faith Workshop with Carol Wehrheim.
We are excited to bring what we are learning from these conferences and conversations into our cohorts and workshops in the new year and beyond. We have several opportunities open right now and we hope you can join the conversation.
We are looking for pairs of participants - - a children’s minister and senior/worship pastor - - from various churches to join a 6-month-long cohort community to explore the role of children in worship through guided conversations. These small groups will meet twice monthly on Zoom and create a supportive space where participants can reflect on how faith is experienced and shared within their congregations.
The Children in Worship Cohort requirements:
One pair of church staff members willing to commit to twice-monthly meetings together. This pair will be composed of (a) your congregation's children's ministry leader and (b) the senior pastor/worship leader.
Each member of the pair needs the ability to meet online through Zoom.
In order to facilitate conversation, churches in the cohort should plan to schedule a Listening Tour visit if they haven’t already hosted one.
Applications will close on December 1, 2025 and the cohort will be announced by December 15, 2025. A church’s application to the cohort is not complete until both applications have been submitted. The plan will be to hold twice-monthly meetings from January to June 2026.
Earlier this year, we were delighted to welcome two experts in their fields to lead workshops for each of our grant programs.
Our thanks to Rev. Dr. Alyce McKenzie for leading “Show, Don’t (Just) Tell! Fiction Writing Strategies for Sermons” in-person at Austin Seminary and Carol Wehrheim for leading “ Telling the Bible Story in Worship” online.
If you’d like to watch recordings of any of the Sharing Faith Initiative workshops, click here to access our YouTube playlist.
We are excited to announce two new workshops, hosted on campus at Austin Seminary at the beginning of 2026.
"Holy Curiosity: Wonder Stories to Engage All Worshippers through Lent"
with Rev. Jen Kindsvatter
Saturday, January 17, 2026 from 9 am to noon
In-Person in Wright Hall on Austin Seminary campus
Rev. Kindsvatter will lead the group through creating story-telling blocks that can be used in worship during Lent. All workshop participants will receive lesson plans and a block kit so that the Wonder Story can be taught by adults or older children during worship. A complimentary boxed lunch will also be provided at the end of the workshop. This is a wonderful opportunity for faith-sharers of all ages to create, wonder, and share.
Please note, we are happy to offer this workshop for free. However, due to the individualized nature of this workshop, cancellations within 48 hours or no-shows to the day of the event will be asked for a $30.00 supply fee.
“Compelled to Preach: Convictional Preaching in a Divisive Time”
with Dr. Jared E. Alcántara
Friday, February 20, 2026 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
In-Person in Wright Hall on Austin Seminary campus
What does it mean to preach with conviction, to be “compelled to preach” (First Corinthians 9:16) in a divisive time? Convictional preaching requires belief and commitment, an abiding belief that resurrection is still possible in the face of death and a renewed commitment to a cause greater than ourselves for the sake of a mission greater than our lives. In this seminar, participants will reflect on what they believe, consider how they might cultivate lives that preach, and discover how to preach recognizably Christian sermons in a divisive time. This workshop is free and open to the public - water, coffee, and snacks will be provided.
Scenes from Listening Tours
We have had a wonderful time in our Listening Tours thus far! After visiting three churches in Central Texas, we have already learned some great information from children about their experiences in worship. One of the best pieces of data that we have gleaned so far is that our kids want to be asked to be involved in worship! Feel free to contact our team to learn more, or join one of our upcoming cohorts or workshops to find more creative ways for all ages to share faith.