Seed to Harvest Ministry Incubation
The Michigan Conference Connectional Ministries Team is offering an in-person ministry incubation event for those with new ministry ideas or looking to revamp existing ministries. As the church, we know when we neglect entrepreneurs, younger adults, and those with new ministry ideas, we lose opportunities to engage in God’s creative process. We lose the opportunity to engage those who have been marginalized, who are not yet part of the church. As the Michigan Conference, we are poised to live deeper into our United Methodist history of starting new ministry. In March 2020, the Michigan Conference launched its first cohort of incubators. At the onset of a pandemic, we risked doing something new, and for that first cohort, ministry incubation was not only life-giving but life-saving.
Presenter
Lisa Batten, Associate Director for Connectional Ministries.
To learn more
Have questions? Please contact:
Lisa Batten
Associate Director for Connectional Ministries
lbatten@michiganumc.org
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Click here to view more Connectional Ministries Team Coming Attractions!
WHAT
Using human centered design, tapping into values and creativity, participants will not only hear how to jump start a new ministry idea but work on the idea while at the event. Participants will leave with concrete next steps and opportunities for ongoing support including how to find funding, building a network of support, outreach, and time management.
WHO
Seed to Harvest ministry incubation invites laity and clergy to bring a “seed of an idea” to put through the incubation process. By the end of a one day event participants will have the basic tools to put their ideas into motion. No idea is too small or too out of the box.
COST
Information Session = No cost
Monthly Cohort = $60
Sprout-A-Thon = $50
*Join the cohort and register for the Sprout-A-Thon and you will be eligible for a start-up grant of $500-$1000. Cost: $100, which includes all meals, resources, coaching, and support from the Seed to Harvest team members between cohorts.
WHERE
Online and hybrid options are available.
WHEN
Select from the upcoming offerings listed below!
Information Sessions
Wednesday, August 13th and Tuesday, August 19th at noon and 6:00 pm eastern. Four offerings, same content. Join the Seed to Harvest Team for one of the four informational sessions and learn about adapting current ministries and launching new ministries. No Cost. Register to join the one hour zoom.
Monthly Cohort
Join the monthly cohort to be part of a peer community, learning and implementing ministry incubation tools to adapt an existing or launch a new ministry. The second Tuesday of each month, either noon or 6:00 pm, starting September 9th. Cost: $60 for seven monthly cohorts, Sept - March and coaching. Register now.
Sprout-A-Thon
The Sprout A Thon is on Saturday, October 18th from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. This hybrid offering will jump start adaption of an existing ministry or launch your new ministry. Participants will learn and implement tools including crating a pitch, drafting a timeline, and exploring funding sources. Cost $50 includes all resources and meals. Registration coming soon.
Last Updated on May 20, 2025