We envision an expanding network of rooted, professional, relentless, healthy, and collective executives and entrepreneurs committed to supporting one another as we follow Jesus in our personal and professional lives.

Keeping true to the values of human dignity, biblical faith, cultural identity, and professional best practices, the iSSACHAR Leadership Collective will eradicate isolation and turn like-minded and devoted individuals into a collaborative network, infuse social capital into leaders and initiatives that have demonstrated effectiveness, and promote nuanced leadership that integrates iSSACHAR’s 5 Marks of an urban Christian leader.

1. August 25-26, 2023 in Denver. Collective in Approach
Friday 8:30am – 12:30pm (Optional Histories of Christianity in our City)
Friday 1:00pm – 8:30pm
Saturday 8:30am – 8:30pm

2. November 2-4, 2023 in Denver. Rooted in Christ, Healthy in Relationship
Thursday 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 8:30pm
Saturday 8:30am – 4:30pm

3. February 1-3, 2024 in Birmingham. Healthy in Relationship, Relentless in Justice and Reconciliation.
Thursday 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 4:30
Saturday 8:30am – 4:30pm
(Sunday: Optional Civil Rights History Experience)

4. April 18-20, 2024 in Denver. Professional in Calling. Graduation
Thursday 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 8:30pm
Saturday 8:30am – 8:30pm

The cost for this pilot program is largely underwritten by generous donors who want to invest in urban Christian leadership for the next generation.

We are expecting participants to invest $1,500, which includes all sessions and meals, as well as flights/lodging in Birmingham. Out of town participants will need to pay for flights to Denver; we can arrange no-cost housing for your time in Denver.

A “5 Marks” network of urban Christian leaders is essential for effective Christian leadership in this next generation. The iSSACHAR Leadership Collective (iLC) centers the 5 marks as mindsets and curates a sacred space for urban Christian Leaders to delve deep into these principles and practices.

We have partnered with leaders and organizations who intentionally develop each of the 5 Marks. These facilitators will lead us in both content and in a “lab-type” interactive experience. Each of the 5 Marks will be the foundation of the emphasis for each session:

Professional in Calling: Cornelius Williams is president of the Resurgence Leadership Foundation and has worked for decades in ministry, leadership, and entrepreneurial roles, including Leadership Foundations and Young Life. He is certified in the GiANT content and will use GiANT coaching tools as a “lab” to help iLC participants develop greater professional clarity and health. Guest speakers along with the social capital and network of the group itself will be a significant support for participants in their professional development. Participants will become more clear in their calling, more skilled in their leadership, and more networked for capital and partnership.

Relentless in Justice and Reconciliation: MiDian Holmes (new founder and CEO of the Epitome of Black Excellence & Partnership) will facilitate this enlightening experience aiming to provoke thought and equip this cohort on how to think about and pursue justice and reconciliation with unwavering determination. MiDian provides training and counsel for key-influencing organizations and businesses around Denver and beyond, including her partnership with the Center for Black Excellence in Madison, WI. She will be leading content for us in Birmingham, AL, where the city will be a “lab” for us. Participants will hold tension and build hope as we navigate through current systemic issues with a culturally diverse cohort. Participants will gather clarity in leadership and gain access to a diverse network for continued counsel.

Healthy in Relationships: Jennifer Mote has been an HR executive in corporate (Walgreens) and church (Willow Creek) contexts, is certified in Narrative Focused Trauma Care through the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, and is co-founder of a medical clinic that is doing research and development in various forms of trauma treatment. Jenn will lead the group through an overview and categories of trauma, along with a shalom shattered story assignment that will provide healing for participants and experience to better care for their organizational culture. Participants will gather knowledge to become trauma-informed in their leadership and will gain connections to provide transformational support for themselves and their people.

Collective in Approach: Christy Vines founded Ideos Institute and has partnered closely with Praxis Labs to build an organization designed to build empathy in leaders, especially Christian leaders. Christy will lead our participants through a two-day Dialogue Lab. (The link is a documentary; our participants program will begin with Christy leading us in a Dialogue Lab. Participants will gain experience and become skilled in empathic engagement of diverse perspectives to forge collaboration.

Rooted in Christ: The work for all of our facilitators will be to ground our learning and growth as a faithful response to following Jesus. Scott Lundeen (iSSACHAR CEO) has developed “Called to Govern” content that clarifies the biblical responsibility of leadership. Participants will experience coaching, prayer, lament, worship, Bible study, and community that further sustains them for a lifetime of leadership in urban communities.

The greatest gift of the iSSACHAR Leadership Collective will be the friendships that form between Christian leaders who are leveraging their lives for the sake of others – for ongoing support and collaboration. And to “take hold of that for which they were taken hold…” ~ Philippians 3:12