Isolation in ministry doesn’t have to be a way of life.
This cohort for ministry leaders is designed to help ease the weight you carry, be a space to be seen and known, all with the goal of encountering the healing power of God through and with fellow ministry leaders.
This unique 9-week cohort starts at the end of January 2026.
Fill Out Brief Application to JoinGeoff Holsclaw (Director of The Center for Embodied Faith) talks with Pastor Evan Snyder and certified therapist Jennifer Stalter about this ministry leaders group.
As a ministry leader,
- Does God feel distant & you feel people only want more and more from you?
- Has the pressure left you questioning your call?
- Are you on the edge of burnout, but no one knows?
- You feel parts of yourself slowly disappearing, and you wonder if anyone else ‘gets it’?
What if you had a space to be with others in the same boat, and this reality wouldn’t be a threat to the system you lead?
This could be the place for you!
Isolation in leadership doesn’t have to be a way of life. We are offering an opportunity to be a part of a group that can help ease the weight you carry—A space seen and known.
While this leaders formation cohort is facilitated by Christian leaders, this is not a Bible study or prayer group (no homework or books to read!).
The group format is a creative integration of Curt Thompson’s work, emotional regulation skills, and Immanuel Prayer Journaling...
….all with the goal of encountering the healing power of God through and with fellow leaders, so that you can reengage your calling and ministry with a renewed vibrancy.
This unique 9-week cohort starts at the end of January 2026.
Fill Out Brief Application to JoinWho is this for?
This is for church, ministry, and nonprofit leaders seeking connection and healing from isolation from God and others.
What will we be doing?
For each of the 9 weeks, in the 90-minute sessions, facilitators will guide you in a time of sharing your story, increasing capacity through embodied practices, and engaging God in prayer.
How many will be in each group?
We are only able to lead two groups, with a total of 6 participants each (plus the two co-facilitators).
So there are 12 spots available.
We will need you to first fill out an application to make sure qualified for the group and able to keep the 9-week commitment.
When will this be?
This leaders group will meet
- on Fridays at 9:00am-10:30am (Eastern),
- from January 23th to March 27th (finished before Easter).
***You must be able to commit to the full 9 weeks.**
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING who have been in a previous Leaders Formation Group...
From a lead pastor:
“As a Lead Pastor, there is a spoken and unspoken expectation that you have the answers. So being in a group where I can be vulnerable—where I don't have to solve everything for other people—has been freeing and transformative.
To be seen, heard, and received without judgment is profoundly healing. It’s a glimpse of how God listens to us—attentive, compassionate, and full of love.”
And another ministry leader:
"For years I have felt alone and held captive to expectations that shaped the words I say and even the emotions I feel.
This group has been an answer to my prayers, helping me sort out my cluttered heart and bring my whole self to my family, friends, and ministry."
And another...
"As we shared our honest stories with one another, God’s loving and tangible presence met us in profoundly meaningful ways. This group has given me courage to trust God more deeply with my own story, while showing me the transformative power of meeting someone in theirs."
What is the cost for this Leaders Formation Group?
Typically, a group like this would be at least $720.
However, as an unofficial polit group, we are going to offer this first cohort at a significant discount of only $225 for the 9 weeks.
This 9-week ministry leaders cohort starts at the end of January 2026.
This leaders group will meet
- on Fridays at 9:00am-10:30am (Eastern),
- from January 23th to March 27th (finished before Easter).
***You must be able to commit to the full 9 weeks.***
Fill Out Brief Application to JoinWho is Facilitating this Leaders Cohort?
Over the last year, pastor Evan Snyder and licensed therapist Jennifer Stalter have combined their
- passion for supporting ministry leaders,
- their collective experiences in Confessional Community and Immanuel prayer,
- and their Doctorate of Ministry project in Spiritual Formation and Relational Neuroscience,
...to create a unique process for helping ministry leaders overcome loneliness and burnout.
The 9-week format they have created has been tested with church leaders (in a beta form) for the last 6 months.
The impact has been significant.
Pastor
Evan Snyder
Evan is a pastor with over a decade of ministry experience in various roles. Evan was trained under Curt Thompson through the Confessional Community Leader Intensive in 2021 and has been facilitating them since.
He co-founded the Redwood Collective to help church leaders, isolated by the nature of their work, find community and experience the transformative power of being known.
He holds a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Currently, he is working on his Doctor of Ministry at Western Theological Seminary with a focus on Spiritual Formation and Relational Neuroscience.
Licensed Therapist
Jennifer Stalter
Jennifer is a licensed therapist with a passion for ministry and serving church leaders since 2008. She has served as an adjunct professor in graduate counseling, trained in spiritual direction, and led intensive groups for leaders.
She currently works in private practice in Indiana, and specializes in applying relational neuroscience and trauma-informed practices—including EMDR and Immanuel Prayer.
Jennifer received her Master's Degree from Purdue University, focusing on Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Currently, she is working on her Doctor of Ministry at Western Theological Seminary with a focus on Spiritual Formation and Relational Neuroscience.
While The Center for Embodied Faith is helping spread the word about this group, and facilitaors—Evan and Jennifer—are part of our Doctoral program, this is not an official activity of The Center for Embodied Faith—but we support and recommend it to you.
Apply for this leaders group now.
It will meet
- on Fridays at 9:00am-10:30am (Eastern),
- from January 23th to March 27th (finished before Easter).
***You must be able to commit to the full 9 weeks.**
Fill Out Brief Application to Join
