This tool offers existing leaders many practical ways of building an ongoing cohort for continued community, learning and growth, and care.

• • Set Goals: As a group, identify several goals you want to achieve in your own spiritual lives and leadership, in your churches or ministries, and as a group. Write these down and remind each other of them regularly.
  • Growth Assignments: Together, create specific designs that will help you achieve those goals; then keep each other accountable to follow through with those designs.
  • Create a Messaging Group: Launch a message group using WhatsApp or another similar app to streamline communication within the group.
  • Regular Regional Gatherings: Gather together regularly – perhaps for a day every month – for encouragement, prayer, and sharing of ideas and experiences. Do this online if it is not possible physically. Every once in a while, invite everyone to bring their families along for a family day.
  • Intercession: Share your needs with each other, and intercede for one another regularly. Share updates on previous requests, and notify members of the cohort when you are praying for them. Also share prayer requests and updates with intercessors from other nations as possible.
  • Spiritual Friendships: Establish a “spiritual friend” relationship and get together regularly for encouragement, accountability, prayer and spiritual conversations. If possible, do this over a meal or coffee.
  • Reading Assignments: Read writings about living in Christian community; then discuss them.
  • Rest Accountability: Keep each other accountable for getting regular times of rest – weekly, monthly, and annually.
  • Time with Friends and Family: Spend time with fellow cohort members in settings with their family and friends. Get to know them on a personal level in context of the people they love.
  • Build Leaders: Commit to building at least one emerging leader. Regularly reach out to the cohort to share challenges, ideas, and accomplishments along the way.
  • Share Your Progress with Your Church: Share what you are learning in your cohort with your church.
  • Visit Other Churches: Go to the church of another cohort member. Afterward, have a meal with them and offer a listening ear, encouragement, evaluation, and exhortation. Pray together for the church.
  • Pray for the Nations: Regularly share the needs of your nation with the cohort and pray together over them.
  • Start a Study Circle: Meet in person or online to study the Bible or appropriate resources together.
  • Share Resources: Regularly offer new resources that you and your team have benefited from with the cohort. Specifically, share how you have used them and what the result has been. Ask for feedback and ways to improve.
  • Prayer Retreat: Gather together for a retreat specifically focused on spiritual rest and prayer.
  • Have Fun Together: Get together specifically for doing something fun, such as playing games, engaging in sports, or going for a walk in nature. If possible, incorporate physical activity of some sort.
  • Regular Evaluation: At least once a week, evaluate how you’re doing with your goals. Share your challenges and triumphs with your cohort.
  • Counselors and Intercessors: Ask mature Christian leaders that you know (perhaps within the cohort) to be your personal counselors and intercessors. Meet regularly with them, seeking advice, encouragement, and prayer.
  • Leader Care: Meet regularly with your LeaderCare mentor.