Collaborate Workbook 2026

L I V E

F R O M

A T L A N T A

September 2026

Welcome to Collaborate and the CAFO2026 Summit! My heart is filled with joy at the opportunity to gather with dear friends and colleagues from all over the world. Whether you are joining us in Atlanta, or connecting from a local event, my team is thrilled to be with you. We have been praying for you, your families, and those you serve for many months.

“Every branch that bears fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

JESUS, IN JOHN 15:2

With this same confidence in the Father’s care, we ought to embrace this time to consider what He is inviting us to release and what He longs to grow in us. None of us prunes well alone. We need each other’s eyes to see our own overgrowth. When we collaborate, we can lean into the places where God has called us, while trusting that He is raising up others to shepherd other areas of ministry. We do not walk alone. We are truly Better Together! We trust the Lord to connect us here for this work while deepening relationships within our community.

Our theme this year is LESS. Our lives and our ministries can become woefully overgrown. They can become tangled branches winding every which way, good things crowding out the best things. Pruning is the Father’s work, but He welcomes us to labor at His side, and He often does that labor through the people He places around us. A trusted friend, a wise colleague, a partner ministry across the world — these are the ones who help us see clearly what to keep and what to release. Through pruning, less becomes the path to more: not always bigger numbers, but a harvest that is fuller, sweeter, and more enduring, and one we get to bring in together.

Let us gather this week with open hands, willing to name what needs cutting back in our strategies, our organizations and our personal lives. Let’s do that naming in community rather than in isolation. Let’s join with God and with one another to discern what deserves our focus and what may simply be keeping us busy and shallow. Let’s collaborate, share honestly, and celebrate the good fruit that comes when we make room for what matters most.

Thanks to the Lord for those here in Atlanta, those gathering in their communities globally, and those connecting virtually. May our time together prune away all that hinders, and draw us closer to one another and to the fruitful, focused life He has for us!

& T H E G LO BA L NET WORK T EAM

Meet the Global Network Team

David Hennessey, Director David Hennessey directs the Global Network Initiative. He leads the team and shepherds the network’s vision and implementation.

Contact David at david.hennessey@cafo.org

Sebilu Bodja, Director of Global Network Development Sebilu leads efforts to strengthen and expand CAFO’s global networks, supporting both established and emerging leaders as they grow in vision, trust and impact on behalf of vulnerable children and families.

Contact Sebilu at sebilu.bodja@cafo.org

Laura Cooper, Manager of Network Programming Laura’s role on the Global Team primarily focuses on learning and events.

She manages Collaborate events, learning cohorts, and other programs for Global Network members.

Contact Laura at laura.cooper@cafo.org

John D, Asia Coach John coaches, inspires, and encourages Asian leaders as they seek to build healthy and effective networks.

Contact John at john.d@cafo.org

Hewan Fekadu, Administrative Assistant Hewan assists Global Network members and the Global Network team with administrative tasks. She is your go - to person for registrations, invitation letters, and other important administrative tasks.

Contact Hewan at hewan.fekadu@cafo.org

Onésimo Féliz, Latin America Coach Onésimo coaches, inspires, and encourages Latin American leaders as they seek to build healthy and effective networks. He also serves administratively on our Global Team, managing translation and interpretation projects.

Contact Onesimo at onesimo.feliz@cafo.org

Rephat Nyarenda, Regional Shepherd Rephat mentors and disciples global leaders through the Journey Together and other programs focused on soul health.

Learn more about the Journey Together on the Resources page linked below.

Ade Olowo, Africa Coach Ade coaches, inspires, and encourages African leaders as they seek to build healthy and effective networks.

Contact Ade at Ade.Olowo@cafo.org

Meet Today’s Speakers

Shay Bassett

Sebilu Bodja

Sandra Chikan

Chalmers, United States

CAFO, Ethiopia

ASOHON, Nigeria

John D

Alina Druta

Onésimo Féliz

CAFO, Asia

ACMO, Moldova

CAFO, Dominican Republic

Frank Garrott

Dhan Raj Ghimire

David Hennessey

BEB Global, United States

Next Generation Nepal, Nepal

CAFO, United States

Justin Lonas

Tabitha Kapic

Jedd Medefind

Chalmers, United States

Chalmers, United States

CAFO, United States

Zawadi Morrow

Andrei Nacu

Luis Noda

CAFO Artist in Residence

ACMO, Moldova

Chalmers, United States

Rephat Nyarenda

Ade Olowo

Joshua Silver Oyaide

Zimbabwe Without Orphans, Zimbabwe

CAFO, United States

BEB Global

Alejandra Torrez

Miguel Zayas

Abrazas Bolivia, Bolivia

Lifeline Children’s Services, United States

Tuesday, September 22

8:00 am

Session One | Welcome, Keynotes & Innovate Intro

10:15 am

Break

10:45 am

Session Two | Innovate Workshop Prototype Project

12:00 pm

Lunch Break

1:30 pm

Session Three | Global Glimpses: Collaboration in Action

3:00 pm

Break

3:45 pm

Global Network Roundtable

4:45 pm

Break

5:30 pm

Dinner

We’re delighted to provide dinner for you this evening. Please stay and join us.

These shared meals are among the richest moments of our time together, where relationships deepen, and collaboration takes root.

Wednesday, September 23

Session One | Global Highlights and Ministry Design Principles 8:00 am

10:00 am

Break

10:30 am

Session Two | Innovate & Collaborate

12:00 pm

Lunch Break

Resources Access presentations, resources, and other information by scanning this QR Code.

CAFO.ORG/GLOBAL/COLLABORATE-RESOURCES

Innovate Innovate is a 3-step process.

1. Discover

DISCOVER (look and listen) DESIGN (think and create) DO (test and improve)

3. Do

2. Design

Innovate helps you create interventions that help without hurting by combining God’s story of change, asset based approaches, and design thinking.

Poverty is caused by three things: Broken People Broken Systems Demonic Forces

The Humanitarian Spectrum should guide the interventions we design

Good Resources: people, places, things, skills, knowledge, and events

Churches

NGOs

Children

Communities

Brainstorm How can churches & NGOs work together to create hope with the children we serve?

Prototype: Snapshot 1. DRAW a simple sketch of your favorite idea (include people) 2. WRITE 2-3 short notes describing the idea and how churches and NGOs will work together 3. GIVE the idea fun name

Prototype: Snapshot 3. IDEA NAME

2. DESCRIPTION • • •

1. SKETCH

Discussion Questions FO R M IN IS TRY DES I G NS

Optional overall discussions: (Can be for large or small groups, or for silent reflection.)

1. BEFORE SESSION: What does ministry “success” look like for your organization? How do you know when you’ve gotten there?

2. AFTER SESSION: Which of the 6 areas of ministry design for becoming whole might you need to explore further?

Discussions during session: 1. ON “FORMING KINGDOM COMMUNITY”: What does ministry “success” look like for your organization? How do you know when you’ve gotten there?

2. ON “ADOPTING GOD’S TRUE STORY”: In what ways is the gospel story integrated into your ministry model? Do the families and children you serve see this, too?

3. ON “ADOPTING RESTORATIVE PRACTICES”: Which of the ministry practices in this section do you feel your ministry is doing well? Which ones present an opportunity for growth?

4. ON “MENDING BROKEN SYSTEMS”: Are there areas where you recognize that your ministry might need to be more attentive to the ways social, economic, religious, or political systems in your context affect the families and children you serve?

5. ON “HEALING BROKEN PEOPLE”: In what ways is your program helping people see themselves as whole people, reflecting God’s good design?

6. ON “PURSUING SPIRITUAL VITALITY”: How have you seen God work in your ministry in ways that cannot be explained any other way?

Notes

Now What Take a few minutes and flip back through this workbook and any notes you took over the last two days. As you do, write 2-3 intention statements of your own as indicated below.

In light of [something I have learned during this process], I would like to [action step], with [someone in your community that you want to work with].

I plan to do this by [insert a time frame or deadline date].

HERE’S A FEW EXAMPLES: In light of my desire to build trust, I would like to go to lunch with John and Carla.

I plan to do this by the end of next week.

In light of our community’s need to clearly articulate the problem we are trying to solve, I would like to arrange a conversation with Ivan and Anna. I plan to do this by the end of this month.

In light of my desire to work with others to identify the strengths and gaps of our community, I would like to enroll in CAFO’s next Community Mapping Cohort with Juan, Sofia and Jose. I plan to do this by January 1st.

Now, it’s your turn...

In light of _______________________________________________________________ , I would like to ___________________________________________________________, with ____________________________________________________________________.

I plan to do this by ________________________________________________________.

In light of _______________________________________________________________ , I would like to ___________________________________________________________, with ____________________________________________________________________.

I plan to do this by ________________________________________________________.

In light of _______________________________________________________________ , I would like to ___________________________________________________________, with ____________________________________________________________________.

I plan to do this by ________________________________________________________.

Notes

Notes

Notes

New Release!

Navigate Technology Wisely for the Children in Your Life

Research

A faith-based, science-informed guide for understanding the unique risks digital technology poses to children who have experienced early adversity.

Your Mission is Too Important for Guesswork.

The CAFO Research Center’s new book offers caregivers and practitioners the latest research and hopeful guidance on helping children navigate technology in ways that support long-term healing and resilience.

Core Elements helps leaders serving vulnerable children and families see what’s working and where to grow.

Grab your copy in the bookstore today! cafo.org/digital-age-book

Start with the FREE CareIndex cafo.org/core-elements

THANK YOU TO MULTITUDE LANGUAGES FOR PROVIDING OUR TRANSLATION SERVICES. WWW.MULTITUDELANGUAGES.COM

Foster and adoptive families don’t have to navigate seasons of crisis alone.

BEB envisions a world where every child is known, safe, loved, and home.

Designed to be used with the book When There Is Crisis, the new When There Is Crisis Study Guide offers parents — and those who walk alongside them — guidance along the way.

The study guide offers parents discussion prompts, application tools and an online hub of further resources to be used in groups, as couples or individually.

LEARN MORE Get the study guide and explore turn-key BEBGLOBAL.ORG

resources to help families in seasons of crisis.

@BEBGLOBAL

SUMMIT SPECIAL: BUY BOTH AND GET 25% OFF!

YOU CAN MOBILIZE CHURCHES WHERE YOU LIVE.

NOVEMBER 8 You want to help churches engage more deeply in caring for vulnerable children and families. But where do you start?

Pure Religion Sunday is a day where churches around the world come together to recognize and respond to God’s heart for vulnerable children and families.

Get resources that help your organization leverage Pure Religion Sunday to inspire, equip and mobilize churches in your community — or find resources for your own church!

GET ORGANIZATION RESOURCES

GET CHURCH RESOURCES

CAFO.ORG/PURERELIGIONSUNDAY

erDiscover a better way to help families a better way to help familiesand andchildren children

Innovate Innovate Ministry Design Journey

Ministry Design Journey

From

From

You don’t have to do this alone.

Build meaningful relationships with a global coach and fellow leaders as you pray, reflect on Scripture and grow together in community each month.

Join us for the Journey Together Cohort: A Spiritual Formation Experience for Global Leaders

PICK UP YOUR COPY AT THE CAFO BOOKSTORE! No force today shapes our daily lives and character more than our digital devices. Rule Your Tech offers a practical, hopeful framework to help you flourish in an age of digital distraction and reclaim your attention.

Book Signing with CAFO President Jedd Medefind

AFRICA, EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA

CAFO.ORG/GLOBAL

LATIN AMERICA

THURSDAY, 3:00PM

ASIA

CAFO.ORG/RULEYOURTECH Also available in Spanish and Amharic.

EXHIBIT HALL

For more resources on uniting global networks to work Better Together, visit cafo.org/global

©2026 Christian Alliance for Orphans