Resource Library

To help others through the re-opening of in-person congregational life, it is important to have a basic understanding of what is potentially going to happen when we start gathering face-to-face. Rev. David Howlett and Elain Howlett, creators of The Mourning Center at Christ UMC in Independence, Missouri, offer thought about how to minister with those who are grieving in the attached document.

This week we’re in conversation with Rev. Tadd Kruithoff to discuss how Trinity UMC in Piedmont, Missouri, does discipleship. Instead of focusing on facts alone, Kruithoff and his team lean into the relational aspect of discipleship through Holy Listening. This method allows kids to lead the conversation and share about their own lives in their own words while volunteers simply guide the conversation, teaching children to see God in everyday life.

What would it look like to have a youth program that was easy to maintain and had a primary focus on daily discipleship? That’s exactly how Becca Boren, director of youth and young adult ministries at Good Shepherd in Kansas City, has her program aligned. Becca shows us how to turn the standard youth ministry model on its head and allow youth to mentor youth in a meaningful way. At Good Shepherd, Becca has created a system of accountability and growth in her program that has allowed youth to ...

What would it look like to have a youth program that was easy to maintain and had a primary focus on daily discipleship? That’s exactly how Becca Boren, director of youth and young adult ministries at Good Shepherd in Kansas City, has her program aligned. Becca shows us how to turn the standard youth ministry model on its head and allow youth to mentor youth in a meaningful way. At Good Shepherd, Becca has created a system of accountability and growth in her program that has allowed youth to take on meaningful leadership roles while making their faith their own. If you want to learn how she did it and how you can lay the groundwork for a mentoring program of your own, listen in.

In December 2018, Missouri UMC, under the leadership of Rev. Charity Goodwin, started a new service called The City Worship Movement in concert with The Neighborhood college ministry led by laywoman and staffer Madi Denton.

Saint Paul’s UMC in Joplin and Carl Junction, Missouri has an active and growing caring ministries that focuses on missional leadership. Missional leaders are discipling and mentoring others as this ministry area grows and connects with those in need. Rev. Dixie Wynne built Congressional Care Ministry with guidance from Church of the Resurection's CCM program. Rev. Wynne loved the idea that people could use their experiences and spiritual gifts to lead others to an active faith. Over time, they have built a ministry with 30 Congregational Care ministers who serve our community by visiting the sick, praying for prayer concerns and serving in many church ministries. Mentoring is a key component of the ministry.

Trinity UMC in southeast Missouri has a history for developing strong lay leadership. Investing in the lives of children in order to grow their own discipleship and leadership was an easy next step. Capitalizing on a strong Vacation Bible School, Krista Kruithoff and Tonya Pinkley built a Kids Leadership Team where kids receive additional mentorship and spiritual formation and are expected to mentor other peers.

Discipleship coaching offers a model for creating a transformational, multiplying discipleship culture within a ministry context. Through this coaching model you can develop a focused vision for where you’re going and a creative plan for getting there.  

Discover what is included in mentoring, including questions to ask yourself as you discern whether you are called to be a mentor and idea starters on initiating a mentoring conversation.  

“From Here to There” is a 28-page full-color graphic novel that tells the story of John, Naomi and Sam as they try to figure out living a life with purpose. This is a great resource to share with youth and young adults as they consider the ways God might be calling them into service. The digital PDF is available for download. If you would like more information, or access to print copies, contact Jenny Gragg at jgragg@moumethodist.org, from the Center for Leadership Excellence.