Funded by The Duke Endowment, IMPACT explores what it is like to be a smaller membership rural church and builds on rural heritage so that churches thrive.
The next cohort will begin in fall 2022, with sessions facilitated by the Rev. Francis Daniel. We are currently planning in-person sessions; the location will be determined by the geography of the churches interested in participating.
Tuition: While this program is primarily funded through The Duke Endowment grant, participating churches are asked to contribute $250 in tuition across the two years. Churches may choose to pay the entire $250 at the beginning of the program or to divide that payment into two $125 payments across two budget years.
Session Topics
Designed as an 18-month program, sessions are typically scheduled every-other-month, with group coaching for each congregation offered in the alternating months.
| Session | Topic | Date |
| 1 | The Important Role of the Small Membership Church | 9/17/2022 |
| 2 | The Value of Vision | 11/4/2022 |
| 3 | Simplified Leadership Structure for Accountable Ministry | 1/21/2023 |
| 4 | Controlling Maintenance, Capturing Vision | 3/18/2023 |
| 5 | Intentional Faith Development | 5/20/2023 |
| 6 | Moving from Encounters to Relationships | 7/22/2023 |
| 7 | Moving Outside the Walls … Reaching the Next Generation | 9/23/2023 |
| 8 | The Worship Experience | 11/11/2023 |
| 9 | Working through Change | 1/20/2024 |
About Francis Daniel
The Rev. Francis Daniel entered the United Methodist ministry in June of 1978 and served local congregations until 2020. In those four decades, he served as pastor for various types of congregations, from multiple point charges to large membership churches. For six years, he served as a district superintendent and has been trained as an intentional interim, leadership coach, and church consultant. In 2015, he started Compass Point of North Carolina, a dedicated coaching company. Though officially retired, he continues to serve and currently divides his time between Grace UMC in Clinton, NC, and his coaching practice.