The Center for Leadership Excellence presents a 2-part online workshop with Rachel Gilmore and Kris Sledge…

About the Workshops:

Join Rev. Rachel Gilmore and Rev. Kris Sledge for two workshops designed to help churches and leaders better engage young adults today.

Session 1: September 11, 2025 1-2:30pm
The first session will dive into key data around generational trends, the shifting realities of the church, and what the numbers reveal about where we are now.

Session 2: September 25, 2025, 1-2:30pm
The second session will offer practical strategies for making faith more accessible, exploring core values and tangible steps churches can take to authentically reach and be in relationship with younger generations. Together, we’ll move from understanding to action, equipping you to help your ministry thrive.

About the Presenters:

Rachel is a church planter, author, podcaster, coach and currently serves as the Director of New and Vital Faith for the Desert Southwest Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.  She is the co-founder of Intersect: a Co-Planting Network and her most recent co-authored books include Followers Under 40 published by Marketsquare Publishing and Where We Meet, a Lenten devotional published last year by The Upper Room.  She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family.

Kris is the proud husband to Hannah and father to Lydia, church planter, coach and consultant, and founding pastor/lead pastor of The Journey Church, a six-year-old United Methodist Church in urban Harrisburg, PA. The Journey is a diverse and inclusive faith community with a bold vision: to create a space where all people can experience the liberative and transformative love of Jesus. Approximately 65% of the congregation is under the age of 40, and the church’s multi-ethnic makeup (55% white, 45% people of color) reflects its commitment to justice, inclusion, and radical belonging. Kris is a co-founder of Intersect: a Co-Planting Network, and recently co-authored Followers Under 40 with Rachel Gilmore.