We are disciples who educate and form…

The work of Christian Education at Disciples Home Missions goes back many years. The same is true for the work of Merger Staff* responsible for this service to the church. Christian Education and Faith Formation are siblings in our walk with God, but not identical twins. Institutional practices like Sunday School, Vacation Bible Schools, liturgies, Bible studies, camp songs, corporate prayers, scripture recitation, and even predictable components of worship are all forms of Christian Education that many of us have come to know and value. 

Faith Formation is the intentional development of authentic, relational, vulnerable, communing relationship with God and all God’s creation. Faith Formation is not transactional; it is transcendental. In times of both exceeding joy and deep crisis, our faith formation reveals itself. Often, our faith formation starts with an introduction to some form of Christian Education.  

At DHM, we design resources and experiences for Christian Education and Faith Formation in your congregational, regional, and personal lives. It is our joy and responsibility to grow the capacity of learners and teachers in the Christian Church to strengthen one another spiritually and communally with Jesus as our guide. 

Please help yourself to our many resources and be sure to share them with others.

Resources

Experience Christian Education and Faith Formation

Please find our videos and multimedia productions from/featuring Christian Education and Faith Formation.

Communal Faith Formation for Today

From the Theological Manna series — Communal Faith Formation for Today is a webinar recording featuring Dr. William Crowder, Dr. Young Lan Kim, Dr. Kimberly Johnson, Dr. Bill Kincaid, and Dr. Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano; moderated by Rev. Monique Crain Spells

The Theological Manna Series

Theopoetics: Black Women’s Poetic Writing as Spiritual Practice

Topic: Spiritual Disciplines, Theological Manna · Video · Dec 2024

From the Theological Manna Series — Theopoetics: Black Women’s Poetic Writing as Spiritual Practice with Dr. Oluwatomisin Oredein

Prayer, Uncertainty, and Pastoral Care

Topic: Pastoral Care, Prayer, Theological Manna · Video · Dec 2024

From the Theological Manna Series — Prayer, Uncertainty, and Pastoral Care with Dr. Eunil David Cho

Membership Has Its Privileges: Systems and Equity in the Hebrew Bible

Topic: BIble Study, Theological Manna · Video · Dec 2024

From the Theological Manna Series — Membership Has Its Privileges: Systems and Equity in the Hebrew Bible with Rev. Kimberly D. Russaw

Killing Church Softly: Generational and Identity Formation

Topic: Congregational Transformation, Continuing Education, Theological Manna · Video · Dec 2024

Death, Dying, and Bereavement

Topic: Continuing Education, Theological Manna · Video · Dec 2024

By: Rev. Monique Crain Spells

Death, Dying, and Bereavement — A Theological Manna Conversation featuring Dr. Jamie Eaddy and Dr. Dan Moseley; moderated by Rev. Monique Crain Spells

An Intersectional Gospel: Faith that Moves Beyond Comfort

Topic: Advocacy, BIble Study, Continuing Education, Environment, Theological Manna · Video · Dec 2024

Panel Discussion featuring Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen, Dr. Irie L. Session, Rev. Gabriel Lopez, and Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri; moderated by Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray

Engage with Christian Education and Faith Formation

Please find a full list of upcoming and past events from Christian Education & Faith Formation.

Upcoming Events

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Bowling Green, KY

Date: October 10, 2026 9:00 am – October 10, 2026 5:00 pm (Central)

Location: First Christian Church
1106 State Street
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Storyteller Trainings for Seminarians

Date: October 16, 2026 9:00 am – October 24, 2026 5:00 pm (Central)

Location: Location Depending on Your Date Chosen
October 16 – Kansas City
October 17 – Dallas / Ft. Worth
October 23 – Chicago (AT CAPACITY)
October 24 – Nashville

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training for Seminarians – Kansas City

Date: October 16, 2026 9:00 am – October 16, 2026 5:00 pm (Central)

Location: Smithville First Christian Church
201 North Bridge Street
Smithville, MO 64089
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training for Seminarians – Dallas/Ft. Worth

Date: October 17, 2026 9:00 am – October 17, 2026 5:00 pm (Central)

Location: Creekwood Christian Church
2660 Forest Vista Drive
Flower Mound, TX 75028
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training for Seminarians – Chicago

Date: October 23, 2026 9:00 am – October 23, 2026 5:00 pm (Central)

Location: Community Christian Church
1970 N Riverwoods Road
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training for Seminarians – Nashville

Date: October 24, 2026 9:00 am – October 24, 2026 5:00 pm (Central)

Location: Eastwood Christian Church
1601 Eastland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37206
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Newport Beach, CA

Date: November 7, 2026 9:00 am – November 7, 2026 5:00 pm (Pacific)

Location: Harbor Christian Church
2401 Irvine Avenue
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Disciples Worship Arts Institute

Date: December 8, 2026 4:30 pm – December 10, 2026 11:00 am (Eastern)

Location: Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church
3140 South Atlantic Ave.
Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118

Program: Christian Education & Faith Formation

Past Events

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Auburn, Alabama

Date: October 3, 2026 9:00 am – October 3, 2026 5:00 pm (Central)

Location: Village Christian Church
700 E. University Drive
Auburn, AL 36830
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Enid, Oklahoma

Date: August 29, 2026 9:00 am – August 29, 2026 5:00 pm (Central)

Location: Central Christian Church
1111 West Broadway
Enid, Oklahoma 73703
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Silver Springs, Florida

Date: August 15, 2026 9:00 am – August 15, 2026 5:00 pm (Eastern)

Location: The Retreat at Silver Springs
6455 East Silver Springs Blvd.
Silver Springs, FL, 34488
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Zanesville, Ohio – Postponed

Location: First Christian Church
3000 Dresden Road
Zanesville, Ohio 43701
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Arlington, Texas

Date: August 8, 2026 9:00 am – August 8, 2026 5:00 pm (Central)

Location: First Christian Church
910 South Collins Street
Arlington, Texas 76010
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Shelbyville, KY

Date: August 8, 2026 9:00 am – August 8, 2026 5:00 pm (Eastern)

Location: First Christian Church
60 Disciples Way
Shelbyville, KY 40065
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Elizabethtown, KY

Date: August 8, 2026 9:00 am – August 8, 2026 5:00 pm (Eastern)

Location: Living Faith Baptist Fellowship
951 West Park Road
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Training – Glendale, Arizona

Date: July 18, 2026 9:00 am – July 18, 2026 5:00 pm (Pacific)

Location: Foothills Christian Church
3951 W. Happy Valley Rd.
Glendale, Arizona 85310
(plus Online portions)

Program: Children Worship, Wonder & Welcome, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Families and Children

Black Ministers Retreat – Virginia Beach, VA March 10-12, 2026

Date: March 10, 2026 4:00 pm – March 12, 2026 11:00 am (Eastern)

Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Retreat Hotel: Springhill Suites Ocean Front, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Program: Black Church Ministries, Christian Education & Faith Formation, Congregational Vitality & Innovation

Black Ministers Retreat 2025

Date: March 11, 2025 12:00 am – March 13, 2025 12:00 am (Eastern)

Location: Charleston, SC

Organizer: Disciples Home Missions

Program: Christian Education & Faith Formation, Congregational Vitality & Innovation

Thursdays in Black Summit Day 2

Date: November 20, 2024 1:00 pm – November 20, 2024 2:30 pm (Eastern)

Location: Online Via Zoom

Organizer: Disciples and UCC Thursdays in Black Team

Program: Christian Education & Faith Formation, Disciples Men, Disciples Women’s Ministries, Justice & Advocacy

Thursdays in Black Summit Day 1

Date: November 13, 2024 1:00 pm – November 13, 2024 2:30 pm (Eastern)

Location: Online Via Zoom

Organizer: Disciples and UCC Thursdays in Black Team

Program: Christian Education & Faith Formation, Disciples Men, Disciples Women’s Ministries, Justice & Advocacy