Church Ministry Essentials
Building an Everyone Can Do Something Culture in Your Foster Care, Adoption and Support Ministry
Church Ministry Essentials is an immersive learning experience that will introduce you to the principles, practices and people you need to take your next bests steps forward in foster care, adoption and family support ministry.
CONTENT DETAILS
Get access to 10 modules of content and training all designed to help your ministry grow in sustainable ways.
HOW IT WORKS
Simply subscribe and you’ll immediately get access to all 10 training modules, some coaching opportunities and more!
TIME COMMITMENT
The material is self-paced but you can anticipate 3-4 hours of time per module if you are fully immersed in the whole process.
THIS COURSE IS FOR
All ministry leaders including pastors, staff, volunteers, advocates and organization leaders will benefit!
AN IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
What to Expect In Each Module
Your subscription unlocks the door to resources and relationships that will help you and your ministry grow.

Proven Ministry Principles drawn from
“Everyone Can Do Something"
This easy-to-read and extremely practical guidebook provides principles and practices for you to contextualize and implement in your church’s ministry no matter where you are on the journey.

Deep-dive resources and action guides
for each module
Supplemental resources and strategic guide sheets will help you and your team identify the next steps you can take utilizing what you learned in each section of the module.

Dynamic teachings and insights from leading practitioners
Each module is anchored by video-based teaching segments led by some of the country’s best ministry practitioners on various aspects of launching and leading effective foster care, adoption and family support initiatives.

Personalized coaching sessions & leadership connections
Each module offers the opportunity to schedule a specialized coaching session as well as get connected with other leaders and practitioners from around the country.
You don’t have to wonder if you're focused on the right things.
You can know with confidence.
Each module will help give you the clarity and confidence you need to set the trajectory of your ministry for years to come. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas, new insights and a renewed sense of hope on this journey of mobilizing your church to care for kids and families.

MODULE 1
Leading Teams and Volunteers
The sustainability of your ministry is only as strong as the team that’s leading it. In this module you will explore various dynamics of building and leading a ministry team as well as the unique complexities and opportunities that come with managing volunteers.

MODULE 2
The Gospel is our “Why”
The words we say are important; so is how we say them, when we say them and to whom we say them. In this module you will explore how to communicate the gospel with clarity and conviction as you disciple those in your church to move towards hard places and broken people.

MODULE 3
Everyone Can Do Something
We’re not all called to do the same thing, but we are all capable of doing something. In this module you will explore how the theology of the Body of Christ is central to the “everyone can do something” message and strategy that helps people find their “something” and act on it.

MODULE 4
Communities of Support
No one can walk this journey alone. In this module you will explore various aspects of community – from creating safe spaces centered around shared experiences for foster and adoptive parents to building practical and tangible systems of support around them.

MODULE 5
Strategic Planning
The extent to which your vision will materialize is largely dependent upon how well you plan. In this module you will explore principles of strategic planning and goal setting that can be contextualized into your unique ministry setting.

MODULE 6
The Holistic Continuum of Care
Churches can often default into a “silo” of ministries. In this module you will explore how many justice, mercy and hospitality-oriented ministries are on some level interconnected — all part of the same continuum – and how to most effectively address them at different intersecting points.

MODULE 7
“More Than Enough” Movement Building
When it comes to big problems, real and lasting solutions require all of us working together. In this module you will explore how collaboration with others can result in maximizing resources, optimizing your efforts and impacting the lives of children and families better together than you can apart.

MODULE 8
Trauma-informed Children’s Ministry
There’s kids in your church that have experienced trauma. In this module you will explore the impacts of trauma, practical tools for staff and volunteers working with children in your ministry who have experienced trauma and a plan of action to create safe, welcoming and fun environments for all.

MODULE 9
Engaging Globally, Applying Locally
There’s a direct correlation between your church’s global missions and local ministry efforts. In this module you will explore best practices of global engagement – from short term missions to forming strategic partnerships – and explore what the local application is to your global engagements.

MODULE 10
Strategic Soul Care
The work of justice and mercy will inevitably be short-lived if sustained by passion alone. Ultimately, vibrant ministry springs from healthy souls. In this module you will explore principles and strategies for cultivating a vibrant inner life rooted deep in Christ for yourself, your team and the families you serve.
Learn, grow, and connect through a step-by-step process.
Each module you will have the opportunity to dive into video lessons, supplemental reading assignments, next-step exercises, personalized coaching and leader connection opportunities. Here’s what to expect with each module:
Step One
Work through the training content for a particular module or set of modules.
This part is self-paced – go through the material as quickly or slowly as you would like. Ideally, you’re able to work through it with your team, other ministry leaders or advocates.
Step Two
Formulate questions and thoughts, then sign up for a coaching slot.
Within each module is the opportunity to sign up for a specialized coaching session facilitated by Jason Johnson. You’ll come ready with questions to ask and ideas to discuss!
Step Three
Get connected to other leaders to share ideas and be encouraged.
For those who want to participate, contact information will be exchanged with other leaders so you can connect, learn and grow with other around the country doing similar work.
Learn from the Best

AMBER KNOWLES
Executive Director
Fostering Family (Houston)

CARLY SOUZA
Director
Fostering Hope – Hope Church (Las Vegas)

DR. SHAREN FORD
Director of Foster Care and Adoption
Focus on the Family

GABE FORSYTH
Missions Pastor
Mosaic Church (Orlando)

JAILYN SMILEY
Director of Family Recruitment
CK Family Services (Dallas)

JASON JOHNSON
Director of Church Ministry Initiatives
CAFO

JASON WEBER
Director of Foster Care Initiatives
CAFO

JEDD MEDEFIND
President
CAFO

JOHNNA STEIN
Director of Training
Promise686

LAURA MOBLEY
Director of Foster Care and Adoption
Traders Point Church (Indianapolis)

NICOLE WILKE
Director of the Applied Research Center
CAFO

PHILIP PATTISON
Executive Director
Foster the Bay (California)

TONI STEERE
Director of Legacy685
Houston’s First Baptist Church

MAREN VALLERAND
Ministry Lead
Reach Church

Renaut Van der Riet
Lead Pastor
Mosaic Church (Orlando)
READY TO GROW YOUR MINISTRY?
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MONTHLY
Starting at $10.99/month
Monthly Charge -
Subscription expires
December 31, 2021
SPECIAL LIFETIME ACCESS
$249
Full prepayment only
Gain access to current and future modules
of Church Ministry Essentials for life.
ANNUAL PREPAYMENT
Starting at $99/year
Pay in full at a discounted
rate - subscription expires
December 31, 2021
TEAM/GROUP PACKAGE
Starting at $19.99/month
Teams up to 4.
Annual discount available.
Subscription expires December 31, 2021.
This course is FREE for Champion Church Members.
Free access for current Champion level church members plus their team. Subscription expires December 31, 2021
Not yet a CAFO Member?
Non-CAFO members may still take the course for $119.
But, we would also encourage you to explore all the benefits to membership in CAFO.
Still have questions? Here are some answers.
If your questions are not covered below, please contact us here.
Who is this course material for?
Pastors, ministry leaders, volunteers and advocates in a local church. As well, church engagement staff at local agencies and organizations find value in the content as a way of getting trained on how to help the churches they work with.
How exactly does the subscription work?
You click on the “access now” button and it will take you to our registration page. Once you register, your card will be charged. You will receive a confirmation that includes an access code and a link to a secure page where all of your module content lives.
What can I expect?
You’ll get access to all 10 modules of content at once. You will also have the opportunity to RSVP for a coaching session.
What is the time commitment?
All the material is self-paced. But you can expect around 3-4 hours per module if you are fully immersed in the process. This includes time spent on module content and time spent on coaching calls. The content is designed to be self-paced immersing you in the learning process, while still fitting into almost anyone’s busy schedule. The amount of time you will spend on each module is completely up to you and how much you want to dive into the content and coaching. Some modules you might choose to just read the content on your own and move on, and others you might go all-in, reviewing all the content, completing the exercises, participating in a coaching call and jumping into a connections with other leaders!
How do the coaching group sign-ups work?
You will find RSVP options within each module.
Are classes live? Do I log in at a specific time?
No, all the video lessons from module content are pre-recorded, allowing you to watch them whenever is best for you. However, the coaching calls will be live with a specific time to log on.
Will I get direct feedback from Jason Johnson?
Yes, if you participate in a coaching call.
Will I be able to earn a Certificate of Completion?
If you would like to earn a certificate, please email a 2 paragraph summary of each module to phelan@cafo.org. Please address in the first paragraph any major takeaways you had from this module, and in the second paragraph write about the way you will implement what you learned.
How long will I have access to the material?
Forever.
Do you have a refund policy?
Once you have access to the content we will not be able to provide refunds.