Small Congregations Webinar Series Begins Oct. 15
- Steve Welch
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 31
A Free Webinar Series on Evangelism, Hospitality, and Belonging
When you're struggling to get everything done in a smaller congregation with fewer resources and fewer people, adding something new can seem overwhelming. That's where the genius of Invite Welcome Connect comes in.
Unlike those turnkey, one-size-fits-all "church growth programs" out there, Invite Welcome Connect is not a program. It's a ministry that is infinitely adaptable to congregations where they are right now, with the resources and the people available to them today.
The Invite Welcome Connect Small Congregations Webinar Series begins Oct. 15 with a session on Hospitality as our Guide. Drawing on the core values of Invite Welcome Connect—being Prayerful, Intentional, Relational, and Accountable—the webinar also presents practical, adaptable, and useful tips and tactics for making small congregations truly welcoming to our visitors.
Led by Mary MacGregor and Jenni Faires, each of whom have years of experience helping small congregations live into their baptismal covenant, the three planned sessions will be highly interactive and engaging. All registrants who opt-in to our mailing list receive a recording of the session along with downloadable resources to help grow their ministries.
Registering for one session gives you access to all three. You'll also receive a reminder link the day of each session. Join us for one or for all three to help empower your smaller congregation's ministries of evangelism, hospitality, and belonging.
Upcoming Sessions
October 15, 2:00 p.m. Eastern—Small Congregations Series: Hospitality as Our Compass
Presenters: Mary MacGregor & Jenni Faires (Diocese of Southwestern Virginia)
“We are so small we all know each other—and we rarely have guests visit us.” Sound familiar? Mary and Jenni will explore why this mindset can keep congregations from being prepared to welcome the very people God may be sending their way. With practical tools and inspiring examples, they’ll show how small churches can make hospitality their compass for mission and growth.
November 19, 2:00 p.m. Eastern—Small Congregations Series: Walking the Way of Love Together
Presenters: Mary MacGregor & Jenni Faires (Diocese of Southwestern Virginia)
What intentional practices can small church leaders take to help newcomers truly connect? Mary and Jenni will share guiding principles, tested practices, and real-life stories to help small congregations create meaningful pathways for newcomers to become fully engaged members of the household of faith.
January 21, 2:00 p.m. Eastern—Small Congregations Series: Steps for the Future
Presenters: Mary MacGregor & Jenni Faires (Diocese of Southwestern Virginia)
Inviting persons to our churches is a significant act of evangelism for Episcopalians and is critical for our future. Invite Welcome Connect thoroughly looks at what we need to consider when we are about this task and has tools and processes you can utilize as part of this effort. Small churches don’t need to feel overwhelmed as they consider how they can help their parishioners do this critical ministry. Mary and Jenni will discuss the ministry of Invite and share a special assessment tool designed for small congregations to establish a baseline for creating faithful steps for its future.
Meet Your Presenters
Canon Jenni Faires—Canon for Evangelism and Church Vitality, Diocese of Southwestern Virginia
Jenni is the primary staff resource for congregational growth and vitality. As part of her work, Jenni leads vestry retreats, consults with church leaderships, and tracks trends in the larger church. Jenni finds great joy in working with churches and loves to engage God’s people in thoughtful discussion, brainstorming, and visioning.
Mary MacGregor—Invite Welcome Connect On Demand Instructor; Retired Staff, Diocese of Texas
Mary is a nationally respected trainer and consultant for congregational vitality. She served for nearly 20 years on the bishop’s staff in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas as Canon for Congregational Vitality, retiring in 2017. She has trained leaders across more than 40 dioceses in ministry assessment, vestry life, visioning, and new church initiatives. Mary also helped found the Iona School for Ministry in Texas. She holds a BA from LSU, an M.Ed. from Southern University, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Seminary of the Southwest. Today, she continues to serve as an instructor for IWC On Demand and coordinates coaching for congregations nationwide.
Register Now
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