HolyCultivatingGround:
Sacred Spaces for Spiritual Leaders to Meet God
JUNE 4, 2024 Spiritual Direction: An Essential Practice for Transforming Leaders
OCT 30, 2024 When the Road Gets Dark and Dim: Navigating the Dark Night, Depression, and Grief on the Spiritual Journey
“Space for leaders that is both safe and sacred.” SACRED
These live learning experiences keep leaders connected to spiritual practices that create space for God in each of our lives.
We offered two in 2024, and both exceeded our attendance goals.
“I couldn’t seem to shake a longing to explore more deeply the topics for this particular oasis (Navigating the Dark Night, Depression, and Grief on the Spiritual Journey). Not only was the training integral for supportively walking with a friend in crisis, but I also experienced clarity around questions from my own story. I find myself using this learning in my everyday ordinary life as a survivor of early life adversity, a parent to adopted children, and a person passionate about trauma-informed living.” –Adi Tilford (TC20)
In this season of Epiphany—a time of revelation and new beginnings—I am reminded of the unexpected ways God meets us on the journey. Your support allows us to continue providing spaces and resources that nurture leaders and equips them to lead with wisdom, courage, and grace.
Just as the Magi’s journey held surprises and discoveries, we are excited to see where God will lead us together in this new year. Thank you for walking alongside us and for being a vital part of this transformative ministry.
Grateful for your partnership in this sacred work, Founder
2024 FINANCES
We wouldn’t be here without your support! 2024 proved to be a challenging year for us as we worked diligently to prepare new digital products to launch in 2025. Through your faithful and generous support, we exceeded our fundraising goals for 2024! Thank you!
$1,564,207
$1,561,816
$1,337,605 $1,256,033
Watch video
SACRED SPACE: PODCAST
Over 300,000 downloads in 2024
4 Seasons
27 Episodes
16 Podcast Contributors
Curt Thompson
Erin Baute
Fr. Ron Rolheiser
Tiffany Childress-Price
Brenda Salter McNeil
David Hughes
Fr. Michael Sparough
Tina Harris
Prince Rivers
Esau McCaulley
Michael Wear
Charity McClure
Colleen Powell
Jeffery James
Dalene Strieff
Enuma Okoro
SACRED SPACE: BEYOND WORDS BLOG
Over 180,000 website visitors in 2024
7% increase over previous year
The Beyond Words blog offers support and encouragement for thoughtful leaders. In 2024 we offered an eight part series titled The Future of Christian Spirituality
One of the most spiritually profitable things we can be and do is to provide a safe space in community to hold the rich diversity that exists in the Body of Christ.
We do not have to think alike in order to be in Christian community together. In transforming community we expect to walk with those who are different than we are, which is a vital spiritual practice.
We welcome different thoughts, perspectives and life experiences in our community; we believe that living with this diversity in loving and respectful ways, and modeling this for others, is the most edifying thing we can do for the body of Christ and its leaders.
SACRED SPACE: TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY
ANTONIO MARSHALL (TC18) UNIVERSITY CHAPLAIN, OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY
Transforming Community has been one of the most significant changes in my life.
Transforming Community has provided me with the opportunity to see, understand and grapple with the profound transformation the Lord desires for my personal and professional life. This community has taught me how to shepherd God’s people from the place where the Lord is shepherding me.
It is through this community that I have learned what health looks like as an African-American male in a predominantly white institution. The diversity of people and experiences within the Transforming Community has enabled me to grow into my authentic self. Through learning about attachment theory, race, and discernment, I have received the gift of health that I would not have encountered otherwise.
2025: Looking Ahead
NEW Alumni Resource launching this March Alumni will soon be able to to revisit the teachings and practices of the Transforming Community experience!
Membership Includes*:
Week 1 - Transforming Community Video Content
Week 2 - Transforming Community Video Content + Handout
Week 3 - Spiritual Practice or Conversation Led by TC Ministry Community Member
Week 4 - Community Connection facilitated by TC Staff Member
*Details are subject to change, but the membership includes weekly content and connection!
HAVEN launches July 13-14, 2025
We’ve been imagining another way to create space for God to transform leaders using digital and in-person components — hopefully a more accessible experience of Transforming Community
Save the dates for Online Oasis Events in 2025
• January 22, 12-1:30pm CST Recalibrate
• February 26, 12-12:30pm CST Preparing for Lent
• May 7, 12-1:30pm CDT TBD
• September, 17 12-1:30pm CDT TBD
• November 19, 12-12:30pm CST Preparing for Advent
2024 DONORS
Generosity creates possibility. Thank you for your generosity. Donna Mikhail Melanie A Minnick Kathleen & Rob Acker Wilhelmina Adua Bahati Aimee Whitney & Phyllis Alexander Suzanne Allmon Marla Amborn Veronica Amundson Karen & Ernie Andrews Ed Ashby Brendan Ashley Friends at Abiding Hope Ministries Friends at Alan Bentley Wright Charitable Fund Friends at New Horizons Foundation Inc Friends at Northern Trust Friends at The Pittsburgh Foundation Friends at Woods Fund Chicago Kim & Ron Avery Leo & Esther Jorge Ayala Jason Badecki Wylene Baker Nina Barnes Karen Barrows Jeffrey and Laura Barton Ruth & Christopher Barton Sue & Ron Beadle Stephanie Beasley Matt and Laura Benton Rebekah Berna Brian Black Phaedra Blocker Scott & Jill Bolinder Stuart Bond Gerard Booy Deborah Borst Debbie Bound Karen & Karen Boyd Christine Boye Colin & Tara Bready Wayne & Beth Bridegroom Steve Brooks Marilyn Brown April Brown-Johnson Molly Brydson Terry Buchan Nina Burgett Roger Callahan Sharon Carlson Barbara & David Carmichael Felicia Carter Emily Cash Wye Choon Cheong Caleb Chou First Presbyterian Church Rachel Clair Melanie Hammond & Chip Clark Stephen Clausen Dan Cochrane Dina & Dan Coffey Carolyn & Ralph Cram Sarah Crass Anne Cregger Jason Danner Ginny Davidson Nathan Davis Vicki & Gerald Degner Degner Aaron & Celinda DeGough Debbie Dewes Joe DiCarlo Diane Diluzio Jenica Donahue Sue & Steve Drake Linda Duim Gil & Keli Dukeman Amy Early Kit & Greg Elmer Margaret Englund Cathie Escorcia Kerry Failoni Myriah Farmer Brad & Karen Burke Farris Kathleen Flood Cynthia & John Fore Dawn & Russel Franceschina Mark Frink Bob & Alice Fryling Julie Gamponia Trena Garrett Stevener Gaskin Susan Geiger Lana & Arnold Gentile Suzanne Goff Emanuel Gonzalez Susan Gopeesingh Ana Graves Emily Gray Thomas & Allison Greenwald Cole Griffin Linn Griffin Anthony Guerrero John Guyer Karen Gygax-Rodriguez Kristen Hagan Paul & Cheryl Hancock Denise Hanson Cherie Harder Marilyn & Larry Hardie Bonnie Harris Tina Harris Marla & William Hartman Cammie Hauser Linda Heaner Becky Helmer Sandy Henkel Gwen & Chet Henry Laura Hinson Tom Hodge Julie Hodges Michael Hogan Lynn Holden Lillye Holley Kathy Holmgren Bill & Linda Hoopes Tom Houser Matthew Howe Valena Hoy Todd Hubers Emily Huff David & Joani Hughes Mark Hughes Mary Hulst Tara Humphreys Molly Inman Heather Isaacson Shari Jackson Monson Jeffery & Clarinda James Heather & Kenneth Jennings Bruce & Margie Johnson Michael Johnson Euan Johnstone Landon and Bethany Justice Debra Kahlenbeck Martha Karam Manuela & Juan Kauer Elizabeth Kim Ron King Herbert C & Jean Kolbe Judy Koontz Jeanne Kuckelman Christine & Mark Labrum Peter Lam Phillip Lane Deirdre & John LaNoue Jane Larson Douglas Lee Jerry & Jim Lee Jessi Lee Manni Lee Trina Lee William Leese Sindy Min Hang Leung Linda Lewis Lauren & Mike Lindberg Kelly Lyn Logue Marcie Long Joseph Longo Mary Beth Ludt Wendy Ludwig Amy Luedtke Hilary Lynch Patricia Mangis Patti Manolakis Bill Marquard Leslie Marquard Antonio Marshall Theodore Martin James Matthews Tonya Maynard Paul McCall Charity & Kyle McClure Kathy & Randy McCready Albert & Donna Mcintosh Jennifer Mead Ken Mentz Greg Michel Janet & David Miles Beryl Miller Nancy Miller Karen Mills Randy & Adele Millwood Katie Montecuollo Dalene Morgan-Strieff Brian Moss Gweneth Mulholland Jeremy Mulholland Bill Munger Jeanne Murawski Sachi Nakamura Viji Nakka-Cammauf James & Stephanie Neill Patricia & Brian Nelson Tim Nelson Susan Faye & Daniel Ness Mike Normoyle Brenda & Burke Norton Gina O’Brien Alana Olson Deb Outlaw Bob & Carol Ann Paddock Haley & Troy Page Jason & Erin Pagel William Painter Jennifer Pearson Lydia Pearson Denise Peckham Flick Pederick Ava Perry Billie Petersen Benjamin Phipps Jennifer Polley Colleen and Tommy Powell Jill & Dennis Prout Grace Redovich Steve Reynolds Sara Richards Caleb Rickard Kathy Risley RuthAnne Roberts Thomas & Judith Rose Heather Ross B.W. & Rhoda Ruffner Susan Ryan Anthony Saturno Steven Schorr Matthew Scott Kenny Shaw Glenda & Stuart Simpkins Hoffman Ryan Smith Michelle Snyder Mike Sobolik Janet & Daniel Sommers Julie Spoelstra Chuck Spong Kirk & Christianne Squires Ann Starrette Diane Stehman Andre Stephens Patricia Stetson-Warning Jennifer Stewart Sharon Stewart Martin Stidham Trudy Stoffel Richard & Jenna Strick Ben and Meri Swoyer Amy Talton Christopher Taylor Gary Thornton Mark Tidd Sibyl & Dick Towner Nancy Tyler Ellen Uebele Clifton & Desrie Van Putten Jack & Robin Vandiver Christine Velazquez Sonia Veliz Alicia Vessey Erica Vinson Imogen Volkofsky Faye Waidley Ann Walsh Mary Jean Walton Cindy Ward Meredith Ward Ann Weaver Jennifer Weaver Nancy Webb Charles & Connie Webber Daniel & Amanda Weber Wayne Wedemeyer Beth Weibling Gloria Weisenberger Bill Wells Vivienne Welters Elizabeth Whatley Lizzie Wheat Kendon & Wendy Wheeler Jordan Wigton Janet Wineman Amy Winkle Grace Wisthoff Jane Wolfgram Shiela Wolford Susan Wolking Lisa Wong Bernardine Wormley-Daniels David Wright Betty Wright-Riggins Steve Yun Heather Yutzy