Theodyssey Group

Programs: This past year we had 26 small groups, involving more than 300 people, in california, oregon, colorado, and pennsylvania. Independent small groups have also emerged this past year in italy, switzerland, new zealand, canada, england, and south africa. We launched the farmers co-op, a connected community of over 4500 theodyssey small group alumni. The focus is 1) connecting, 2) growing, and 3) equipping. This initiative includes the development of regional leadership groups, along with local gatherings, workshops, and retreats. Additionally, we launched the farmers caf, an on line forum, which includes a virtual resource room, training center, and discussion forum. We built a new website, blog, and on line store, in addition to expanding our communication into different channels of social media.

this past year we graduated ten new leaders from our one-year intensivecertificate in spiritual formation program. Following an initial year as a participant in a theodyssey small group, these leaders undertake a year of intensive training. The goal is to equip competent and confident leaders as catalysts for christian spiritual transformation in their local communities. This process involves extensive reading and study, writing reflection papers, weekend retreats, day-long workshops, leading a small group, psychological testing and follow-up coaching sessions, writing an extensive integration paper and hands on mentoring. We have now trained 110 spiritual directors.

we are about to publish the second edition of the theodyssey spiritual formation curriculum, the basis for our nine-month groups. Streamlined, refreshed, and including new material aimed at new outcomes, we expect the updated curriculum to serve us for the next decade. We are also publishing updated leadership cards, containing the key 88 leadership principles taught in our certificate of spiritual formation program. These will also be made available in a virtual format for media capable devices. We developed the concept of six-week studies as a short-term engagement in spiritual formation. The first two studies complete and available for download on our website (psalm 119:33-40 and living a balanced life), we anticipate a dozen more in the next few years.