Opportunities for sharing faith
Through the work of two grant programs - - Faithful Preaching Project and Children’s Sermons by Children - - the Sharing Faith Initiative seeks to empower preachers and congregations in Texas and beyond to deepen their faith-sharing practices. We have some awesome opportunities in 2026 for both preachers and children’s ministry leaders.
Are you a lay preacher interested in connecting with other lay preachers? Join a one-year cohort to learn more about faith-full preaching with your peers! Through discussion and sermon-sharing twice a month over Zoom, lay preachers in this group gain a community of peer-coaches who can encourage and support one another, all with the goal of cultivating more faith-full preaching.
Eligibility Requirements for Lay Preacher Cohort:
Commissioned and/or licensed by a church or denominational governing body to preach
Currently serving a small congregation (< 100 in attendance)
Ability to connect to online through Zoom
Applications are due by July 31, 2026, with the cohort announced by August 5, 2026. The cohort will meet from September 2026-May 2027.
Want to hear what past members of a Lay Preacher Cohort have to say about the experience? Hear in their own words:
"I am so grateful for the Faithful Preaching Project! Sometimes the work we do is very isolating and it is such a blessing to be a part of a group that expands my church community and to learn from such valued leaders. I believe my preaching skills are expanded by hearing the voices of others and by sharing input and feedback. I know the churches that I preach at are benefitting from better, stronger, more focused messages because of what I am learning here." - Sharon Curry, Commissioned Pastor and Regional Ministry Associate in the Grace Presbytery of the Synod of the Sun
"It has been a joy and a privilege to be included in this program. I have learned a lot about preaching from the teachers and from my fellow students. Having the chance to receive and give constructive feedback on a sermon or two has been very helpful. Overall, it has been a satisfying and highly educational course." - Teddie McConnell, Commissioned Pastor serving churches in the Denver Presbytery
Understanding that most churches will not immediately change their culture around Children’s Church time – what are the best practices within each framework? Do you want to learn more to reinforce your current model or do you want to explore how other churches do it? Perhaps you want to move the needle/point in a different direction, and need more information to guide the conversation. Join us for a virtual panel and small group conversations on the current research for Children’s Church models from active ministry leaders.
A Sharing Faith Online Workshop
Children’s Church: No Perfect Model
Thursday, September 24, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (CST)
Virtual-only (After the panel, participants will be sent to Zoom breakout rooms based on interest, chosen during registration.)
Looking for ways to breathe new life into your Advent and Christmas season preaching? Join us for this upcoming workshop with Anna Carter Florence and Jake Myers from Columbia Theological Seminary as we explore the upcoming lectionary texts together.
An Advent and Christmas Season Preaching Workshop
Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2026
at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church
Cost: $40.00 per person, which includes a book, meals & both sessions
Brought to you by the Faithful Preaching Project at Austin Seminary and the CTS Preachers’ Studio for Renewal
If you'd like to find out more about this workshop, please click here to visit our website. Spots are limited for this workshop, so sign up to attend today!
The Children's Sermons by Children grant is wrapping up a 6-month cohort this summer, and looking ahead to Fall where we'll visit different congregations throughout Texas to interview children and those working with children. We call these "Listening Tours", and we're scheduling them now!
A Listening Tour is our first step in connecting a church with the programs of Children's Sermons by Children, and the first step in connecting your church more deeply with the worship abilities of the youngest among you. Click here to learn more about Listening Tours. We can set up the interviews when it doesn't interfere with your Sunday morning routine; ideally the Listening Tour will not interrupt the flow of your morning in any way. We plan to visit churches this fall between Labor Day and Advent, so please reach out to schedule your visit today.