In this workshop we will read and write all the brilliance and beauty of what we have survived and what we are building. Using prompts, free-writes, the magnificent muck of our lives, and the full wing-span of our imaginations, we will create new writing across genres. Be prepared to dig deep. In our writing, we …
View course details “Gay Magic: Writing Down Our Queer and Trans Lives”

Martin Luther University College and the Institute for Christian Studies will present the conference, “Beyond Culture Wars: Fostering Solidarity in an Age of Polarization.” Hosted at the campus of Martin Luther University College (Wilfrid Laurier University), this event will be an education and discussion forum for faith communities, and for the larger public, to counter …
View course details “Beyond Culture Wars Fostering Solidarity in an Age of Polarization Conference”

“Striving for transformation in a personal sense requires unflinching honesty about our own thinking, and a willingness to change our mind.” (Tara Swart) Human transformation and growth are common themes in the Gospels. New Testament conversion narratives tell of people who changed their lives as a result of encountering Jesus or the message of the …
View course details “A Journey of Transformation”

In these challenging times, leaders like you are facing far more than just the day-to-day responsibilities of ministry. As our communities and congregations grapple with disease, division, and disaster, it’s no surprise that you might feel yourself at the epicenter of a storm, with your personal well-being on the back burner. The numbers speak for …
View course details “Burned Out and Overwhelmed: Experiencing God’s Healing Presence on the Ancient Paths”

Although despair is not a new phenomenon, the rates of suicide and mental distress keep increasing. As people of faith, we must proclaim hope for the hurting in ways that are action-oriented, Christ-centered, and clinically appropriate. Join us this Spring for an empowering look at suicide, mental illness and distress, and the role the Church …
View course details “Understanding Suicide and Mental Health”

Join Roger Hutchison, bestselling author and Christian educator, on a transformative Lenten journey that is sure to inspire and encourage. In his book, The Art of Calm: Spiritual Exercises for the Anxious Soul, Hutchison chronicles his personal journey following a severe mental health crisis. Roger embarks on a transformative journey that not only reignited his …
View course details “Broken Places, Learning to See, and The Color Blue – A Lenten Journey”

Lent is a season of preparation for Easter and the celebration of new life. It is a season for self-denial and repentance. But what if we were to see Lent as a time of letting go instead of giving up? Lent is a time to let go of all that inhibits our ability to live …
View course details “Letting Go –- A Forgiveness Lenten Retreat”

We live in a fast-paced society with a seemingly endless list of demands. Life naturally brings its share of challenges and stress. The key is to move forward so that stress doesn’t impact other areas of your life. Stress affects us all, but why exactly do we feel it and what causes it? This Workshop …
View course details “GOOD BYE STRESS- HELLO LIFE!”

Many who have served in various ministry capacities (e.g., as pastors, missionaries, lay church leaders, etc…) are intimately familiar with the potential dark realities of the ministry environment. Ministry is often fraught with many difficulties and challenges, imposing significant stress upon one’s spiritual life, marital and family relationships, and upon one’s emotional and physical well-being. …
View course details “Spiritual & Emotional Formation for Christian Leadership: Research and Practice”

Integrative Approaches to Christian Spiritual and Mental Health Formation Is migration a form of trauma? How does the migration experience of the first generation continue to affect the second and third generation family members? How do these formative social conditions challenge our Christian practices of spiritual formation, discipleship, and leadership for the Asian American faith …
View course details “Intergenerational Wholeness for Asian Americans”