LeaderWise knows firsthand how faith leaders are often on the “front lines” of trauma, no matter where they are serving: congregations, hospitals, education, city streets, or corporations. It’s why LeaderWise created our Trauma-Informed Ministry Series. Over the course of four (2-hour) workshops spanning two days, we will equip faith leaders with knowledge and best practices to be present in a trauma-informed way to those who are significantly struggling.

“Everything becomes holy as we pay attention,” says Tim Nelson, one of LeaderWise’s spiritual directors. We invite you to learn more about spiritual direction in this interview with Tim and how it helps ground leaders in times of change and uncertainty.

Listen to Tim’s current theme song, Holy Now, from Minnesotan singer/songwriter, Peter Mayer.

Meet Susan Nienaber (LMFT) who has officially joined the LeaderWise team as a counselor and consultant after a history of involvement that began when she met John Davis, our Executive Director, in the 1980s. In this interview with Susan led by Mark Sundby, you’ll learn how Susan is bringing her rich knowledge and 30 years of experience as therapist, mediator, consultant, and an ordained minister to LeaderWise. Plus, you’ll learn how Susan got into axe-throwing!

As an organization committed to the holistic care of our clients, LeaderWise is pleased to be able to provide a new offering that promotes relational health. The Relationship Checkup is a two-session, assessment-based intervention aimed at increasing partnership satisfaction, intimacy, and healthy communication. Just as individuals are encouraged to visit their primary care providers for annual wellness exams, the Relationship Checkup functions in the same way for marriages and romantic relationships.

In this video interview, Kathy talks about how the ability to embrace conflict constructively is a spiritual practice. “If you’re a leader, you have to walk into a storm and navigate it,” describes Kathy. “Spiritual direction,” she says, “is a way for any leader to help center themselves enough in the sacred and their own sense of calling, their own sense of conviction about how to walk into those storms and help other people engage the storms.” (Bonus: Learn what Kathy's "life's theme" music is.)

This interview with LeaderWise spiritual director Laura Beth Buchleiter addresses the questions: What is spiritual direction? With what kinds of issues can a spiritual director be helpful? Why might a leader seek spiritual direction?

We argue that we really care for young families and we want them to have a faith community that enhances their lives. And yes, this is true. Yet, if we truly cared about young families and their concerns, would we be willing to go to where they are instead of asking them to come to where we are? Would we shift our volunteer focus to the spaces and programs of young families at a location that is not connected to our churches, instead of asking young families to shift their volunteer efforts to accommodate the church’s programs and schedules? What if we cared enough for young families that we would devote our resources on their behalf instead of asking them to expend their assets on behalf of religious institutions?

Where in your life you have found safety and connection? How you might be able to create spaces in which others can find safety and connection?

Hear what participants say about experiencing Boundaries Training with LeaderWise.

Retirement is a threshold. It involves leaving one space and entering a totally new way of being in the world. Unfortunately, there are very few programs to help us cross this important threshold. That’s why LeaderWise has created Flourishing in Retirement for those planning their retirement or recently retired.

What does it mean to be trauma-informed in ministry leadership?Attuned ministry leaders seek to be present to their communities in effective, responsive ways, and trauma-informed approach is necessary now more than ever.