Forward Movement releases Revive, a small-group discipleship program for lay leaders

A new program offered by Forward Movement seeks to inspire and reinvigorate lay leaders of the church. Created by the Rev. Canon Dawn Davis, Revive is a small-group discipleship program that celebrates the dedicated service of lay leaders and helps them grow into deeper relationship with God.

“Attending to the spiritual health of lay leaders is vital,” said Davis, faith formation coordinator for the Diocese of Niagara in the Anglican Church of Canada. “So often, our lay leaders are focused on the practical needs of the church, making sure the building is in good shape, the bills are paid, and the various ministries run well. Revive is a gift for these devoted leaders, a time for them to explore their faith journey, learn about themselves, and discern their life’s calling.”

The program is designed to run over the course of ten months, bracketed by opening and closing retreats. While the sessions work independently, the program is most effective when there is consistent membership in the small group for a ten-month period.

Each session includes a video presentation and/or live talk from the facilitator. Downloadable guides for the facilitator and participants support the journey through topics that include experiencing and learning how to lead a variety of Bible studies and prayers. By the end of the program, participants will have developed their own personal Rule of Life and become more confident spiritual leaders.

Two dozen churches in the United States and Canada already have participated in the pilot phase of the program, and they report a renewal and transformation within the lay leadership and their congregations. Revive joins other Forward Movement resources, including RenewalWorks, in responding to a spiritual hunger and desire for growth, both in relationship with God and in community with each other.

Revive is more than a program,” said the Rev. Catherine Thompson, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation in Lewisville, Texas, one of the pilot congregations. “Revive is a guide for establishing a meaningful rule of life as a follower of Christ. It is useful for people who are new to Christianity as well as those who have been Christians their whole lives. Revive is a true gift for both the leaders of ministries, as well as the churches in which they serve, as their capacity for spiritual leadership grows.”

Another pilot congregation found that “Revive not only helped us grow in our prayer life but also in fellowship as the group shared their faith stories for the first time,” said the Rev. Hillary Raining, rector of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. “Revive is a great tool for congregational growth and can be used to help take members deeper in their walk with God and each other.”

The full Revive program costs $299. Order online at ForwardMovement.org or 800.582.1712.

Learn more about this transformational discipleship program at Revive.Forwardmovement.org.

Inspiring disciples and empowering evangelists around the globe every day, Forward Movement has been producing excellent, innovative resources to encourage spiritual growth in individuals and congregations for more than eighty years.

Interviews and high-resolution images available upon request.