The Healthy Church Initiative
The Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) is a process designed to renew, revive, and reignite churches to accomplish God’s mission together. The focus is on providing resources and strategies to pastors, staff, lay leaders, and congregations so that they will be able to reach new people for Christ and activate the church for mission. Many churches today are stagnating or declining, so HCI provides the training, coaching, and support needed to see vibrant church renewal take place. The HCI resources are available to any congregation whose pastor and church board are interested in taking the HCI journey together.
The Key Components
Prayerful Ministry Action Planning. Every year, churches will be resourced to lead their congregation through a 21-day journey of prayer leading up to an annual leadership retreat for planning the next year’s Ministry Action Plan. Resources for the prayer journey, leadership retreat, and ministry action planning process are available on the HCI website.
Saturday Learning Groups. Pastors and Leaders are invited to participate in a Pastoral Learning Group for peer support and discussion of the basics of spiritual leadership and organizational dynamics.
Healthy Church Cohorts Churches can apply to join a Healthy Church Cohort at the request of the pastor and with the approval of the church board. Churches send their pastor and several laity to four one-day training events over a period of 12 months. Participants meet monthly via zoom to follow-up on executing their ministry plans and for support and encouragement. Participants will learn new ideas for: outreach/evangelism, worship planning, assimilation/discipleship, and children/youth ministries.
Link to online form application for the next Healthy Church Cohort
Focused Cohort Option: New this year, churches can apply to join a Focused Cohort Option that fits specific needs:
Preaching Collaborative (English and Spanish) - In Partnership with the Church of the Nazarene Preaching Collaborative. Florida District pastors are invited to participate in the Preaching Collaborative, offered in both English and Spanish cohorts across the Florida District. The Preaching Collaborative is centered on transformational preaching—“creating more effective evangelistic preachers to transform communities.” For more information see this link: https://usacanadaregion.org/preach
To apply, CLICK HERE
Discipleship Cohort – The Florida District is partnering with Vision Partners to equip pastors to personally practice disciple-making, build contextual discipleship pathways within their local churches, and cultivate peer-based encouragement and accountability across the district with this 12-month cohort. Grants are available for churches selecting this option, as it counts as coaching. https://www.visionpartners.church/
To apply, CLICK HERE
Worship Leader Cohort - A Year of Growth, Community, and Empowerment for Worship Leaders. Are you a worship leader longing to grow your gifting, strengthen your skills, and connect with others who share your heart for worship ministry? Then this 12-month cohort is for you.
To apply, CLICK HERE
Children’s Leader Cohort - Do you serve children and families and want to grow in your calling, gain new ideas, and connect with other leaders who share your heart for helping kids know and follow Jesus? This year long cohort is designed to encourage you, equip you, and remind you that you’re not alone as you partner with families to nurture faith in the next generation.
To apply, CLICK HERE
NYI Leader Cohort - Do you walk alongside students and families and want to grow in your calling, sharpen your skills, and connect with other leaders who share your heart for helping teens know, follow, and live out their faith in Jesus? This year long cohort is designed to encourage you, equip you with practical tools, and remind you that you’re not alone as you invest in the next generation.
To apply, CLICK HERE
Coaching and Consulting Churches can apply for a $1,200 church health coaching grant from the Mission Development Board to assist in offsetting the cost of an approved church health coach or consultant to help them address a needed area of revitalization. Grants can be extended for up to 2-years upon approval of the MDB.
Contact District Resource Center for a list of approved consultants.
Counseling and Spiritual Direction Support Leading church revitalization is challenging and needs the support of friends, mentors, and counselors. Tod Bolsinger has said, “any pastor who leads without a spiritual director or counselor should be considered to be committing spiritual malpractice.” The Florida District provides no-cost and low cost spiritual direction and mental health support to pastors and their families as a part of the Healthy Church Initiative through Care for Pastors.
Ministry Development Grants
Churches may apply for Ministry Development Grants who:
Submit an Annual Ministry Action Plan AND
EITHER participate in the Pastors Learning Group while working with an approved Church Health Coach or Consultant,
OR who are participating in the Healthy Church Cohort.
Ministry Development Grants assist with the implementation of church revitalization initiatives. A maximum of 10 matching grants are available each year.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
"There's great value in sitting down with the leaders of your church and discussing 'where are we?' and 'where are we going?' ministry action planning has been a tool to help us move the church forward on mission." Andrew Barker, Winsor COTN
"The cohort has challenged us to think outside the box. We were not aware how broken our systems of ministry were. We have changed and implemented ways of doing ministry with more of a purpose and structure to carry the vision out.” Tim Alford, Ocala West COTN
“While the systems we focused on are used as a Church Health strategy, it is also a great recruiting tool among the members/attendees. It is fun to watch individuals using their God-given gifts and talents to make a difference in the lives of others. As each respective event is successfully attended, more people want to be a part.” Dennis Woods, St. Cloud COTN
“The cohort has been helpful. It's made me aware that learning never stops. Each of us is dealing with our own set of challenges, but together, we can work things out, encourage one another, and realize that we are not alone.” Tim Hancock, Lake Gibson COTN
"After the unexpected passing of my father, Care for Pastors offered the support and hope our family needed.” Dwayne Adams, Center Pointe Community COTN
“The cohort has become a way of doing ministry together like I have not experienced in 30 years of ministry. The ideas, the challenges, the new people attending with support and encouragement has been exhilarating for this pastor and our leadership team.” Peter Migner, Deland COTN