Join us this November at Collective Gathering, the annual ‘watering hole’ moment in our network’s year!
At Collective Gathering, ministers, elders, staff, chaplains, and key leaders of our churches of Christ ministries across NSW & ACT converge at Stanwell Tops for two days of connection, conversation, and collaboration.
This event is a dedicated moment in our year to connect relationally with each other, attend to our spiritual health as leaders, and strengthen our partnership as a network. We spend two days relishing God’s presence amongst us and affirming our unity and diversity together!
The event will begin at 4-5pm with dinner on Wednesday 12 November and conclude with lunch at 2pm on Friday 14 November.
Attendance can be used for endorsement OPD points but is not compulsory.
Learn More About Collective Gathering’s Three-year Cycle:
This Year at Collective Gathering
This year, as part of our three-year cycle of Collective Gathering (learn more about this cycle here), we are inviting voices from beyond our network to lead us in season-specific input and reflection that will expand and sharpen our collective thinking.
About Michel and Claudia Hendricks
Michael and Claudia are passionate about helping leaders nurture communities which grow thriving, emotionally healthy, joyful disciples.
Having both worked in church leadership, spiritual formation, and cross-cultural ministry contexts for decades, Michel and Claudia hold a wealth of experience in developing effective, spiritual formation models in complex communities. Michel is co-author with Jim Wilder of The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation. Michel serves as Director of Life Model Consulting with Life Model Works and has trained leaders internationally in spiritual maturity and community building. Claudia brings a diverse background in missions in closed nations, speech pathology, education, and inner healing ministry, which she draws on to equip leaders in cross-cultural and emotionally healthy ministry. Drawing on the Life Model Works training developed with Jim Wilder and their extensive cross-cultural ministry experience, Michel and Claudia offer deep insights for churches with complex communities seeking to cultivate mature, joy-filled disciples.
To learn more about Michel and Claudia, their ministry and their story, visit their full bio at https://thrivetoday.org/hendricks-bio/
Resources
Buy The Other Half of Church online:
The Other Half of Church – Bio:
Why does true Christian transformation seem fleeting? And why does Church often feel lonely, Christian community shallow, and leaders untrustworthy? For many Christians, the delight of encountering Christ eventually dwindles-and disappointment sets in. Is lasting joy possible?
These are some of the questions Michel Hendricks has considered both in his experience as a spiritual formation pastor and in his lifetime as a Christian. He began to find answers when he met Jim Wilder-a neurotheologian. Using brain science, Wilder identified that there are two halves of the Church: the rational half and the relational half. And when Christians only embrace the rational half, Churches become unhealthy places where transformation doesn’t last and narcissistic leaders flourish.
In The Other Half of Church, join Michel and Jim’s journey as they couple brain science with the Bible to identify how to overcome spiritual stagnation by living a full-brained faith. You’ll also learn the four ingredients necessary to develop and maintain a vibrant transformational community where spiritual formation occurs, relationships flourish, and the toxic spread of narcissism is eradicated.
Listen to three free audiobook chapters on The Other Half of Church Podcast
Click this flyer to print or digitally share with church staff, elders, and volunteer leaders to invite them to Collective Gathering this year!
Keep your eyes peeled here, on your emails, and our social media for more updates about Collective Gathering this year.
