Cohorts

All pastors are expected to participate in a cohort. There are two options:

• Affinity Cohorts – Larger groups offered through the Conference. 
• Regional Cohorts – Smaller groups for those who do not join an Affinity Cohort. 
   

More information about Regional Cohorts will be shared after Affinity Cohort registration is complete.

Dirt Roads Network – $250/per person

This year-long cooperative, offered through the Shoreline Conference, brings rural pastors together for focused training in rural ministry and sustained peer mentoring across the ministry year. Beginning in September and running through May, the group meets twice a month — with one session in December in recognition of the Christmas season, and one closing session in May. Participants will be equipped, encouraged, and connected with others who share their calling and context. Registration and costs are coordinated through the Shoreline Conference. 

Thriving Leader Cohorts – No cost

Thriving Leader Cohorts (TLC’s) are two year, peer-learning groups designed to equip, empower, and encourage local church pastors. TLC’s focus on building support, resilience, and specialized skill development that will assist each local leader in becoming more “healthy”, allowing them to better partner with Jesus in His mission of creating healthier churches. TLC’s are a “band of brothers/sisters” that meet monthly for support, learning, group discussion, idea sharing, prayer, and collaboration. Topics include: shifting church culture, dealing with difficult church people, the pastor’s heart, courageous decision making, leading change, discipleship structure/system, creating emotional intelligence in the leader, church systems, healthy personal rhythms, and many more.

Discipology – No cost

• The Old Testament
• The Life of Christ in the New Testament
• The Church’s witness

• The Father
• The Son
• The Holy Spirit

Multipliers Journey – $250/per church

Multipliers Journey – The Multipliers Journey (MJ) Co:Lab process is designed to move a church from programs to disciple-making, weekend services to gospel movements, and ultimately from church growth to church multiplication. The Multipliers Journey, developed in partnership with Exponential and Auxano, helps churches build a clear vision and actionable plan to multiply disciples, mobilize leaders, and launch new ministries. Using proven tools from Vision Framing and Vision Planning, this journey equips churches to align mission, strategy, and systems around multiplication. The Co:Lab environment enables church teams (2-6 people/church is required) to learn from one another and build relationships across the Conference.

A Deeper, Richer Life of Prayer – No cost

Prayerful leaders lead prayerful churches. Prayerful churches minister through prayer in their communities. In every level, a “We Pray First” culture is essential to achieve new levels of breakthrough.

In John 15:5, Jesus reminds us that “apart from me (Jesus) you can do nothing.” To attain to the kind of spiritual power that opens the way for God to use us to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons, prayer is most certainly the key. Furthermore, in Matthew 17:21 Jesus casts out a demon which the Disciples cannot. He reminds them that “this kind only comes out through prayer and fasting.” In that moment Jesus did not prayer which reveals that Jesus had to have a deep and rich life of prayer and abiding with the Father so the power was available when needed. This seven-month cohort will navigate a journey into such a prayer life.

We will begin in September 2026 and meet monthly through April, 2027 (taking December off) and learning about and discussing seven topics on prayer.
1. Abiding in the presence of God
2. Surrendering to the will of God
3. Inviting the working of God
4. Engaging the warfare of God
5. Desiring the ministry of God
6. Embracing the ways of God
7. Welcoming the refining of God

In all of these topics we will learn, discuss, engage, journal, and share from our experiences. We will also discuss embedding these ways of prayer into a “We Pray First” culture in our local churches.

Join me, Brett Heintzman, former director of the FMCUSA National Prayer Ministry, and current Prayer Coordinator for the Shoreline Conference as we develop a deeper, richer life of prayer.