What is Capacity Builder?
Capacity Builder is a 10-week training experience for Christian communities who want to see genuine, Christ-like change in their own lives and for those they serve. The best way to do this is to deepen our capacity to know God’s heart, be with Him always, and participate in His work of restoring the world. Capacity Builder provides practical tools for connecting with God and inviting others into this Kingdom life. The training is designed for small groups of leaders and people in positions of influence within their communities.
Who would benefit from Capacity Builder?
Christian communities who want to have a greater impact
Christian leaders who are tired or burnt-out
People who are seeking practical tools to connect with God
Who should participate in Capacity Builder?
Capacity Builder is designed for groups of Christians who share a common mission and are already serving together. This includes volunteers and paid staff at churches, Christian schools, campus ministries, and parachurch organizations. For example:
Elder teams/advisory boards
Small group leaders
Pastoral staff
Teachers
School administrators
Parachurch volunteers
Church networks/associations
Missionary groups
College student leaders
What does the Capacity Builder experience include?
See our Participant Roadmap for more details, including retreat session topics and follow-up exercises. At a glance, the experience offers:
3 weeks of self-guided foundational exercises that help participants to reflect on their current spiritual life and start thinking about the retreat topics.
1- or 2-day retreat with your local community. It’s more than information – it’s a dynamic, down-to-earth conversation guided by a caring team of facilitators. We create space for people to connect with God and watch Him work.
6 weeks of online follow-up exercises. A Capacity Coach interacts with the participants’ follow-up exercises, giving personalized feedback and encouragement.
How much does Capacity Builder cost?
The typical experience is a flat fee of $2,500 for up to 25 people. It includes spiral-bound participant guidebooks; a facilitated, on-site retreat in your local community; and a Capacity Coach who interacts with participants during the follow-up days. The fee does not include reimbursable expenses, such as flight, travel, meals, and lodging.
How long is the retreat?
1 or 2 days, ideally Friday night and Saturday morning.
Can the retreat be 1 day instead of overnight?
Yes.
Can the training be done remotely online?
Yes. We believe a face-to-face retreat is best, but we can facilitate the retreat remotely if needed. Ideally, participants will still gather together in one location in your local community.
What commitment do participants need to make?
Participants should complete the foundation exercises and attend the retreat, at a minimum. The follow-up days are voluntary but strongly encouraged. Spiritual growth requires effort, and it takes more than a 1-day retreat to see results. The Coach and follow-up days will help participants implement the things they are learning to see real, lasting change.
What do we need to do to host a retreat?
There are two key things to keep in mind:
Identify a retreat site with a room that will comfortably fit a group of up to 25 participants.
Consider ways to show hospitality to your group, like a shared meal, snacks, and coffee. We have a detailed host guide that will help you with the logistics of the retreat.
Do we need to plan any group meetings before or after the retreat?
No. The foundation exercises are self-guided, and the follow-up days are completed online. However, group discussions can make the lessons more meaningful and impactful. Feel free to plan these conversations with your community at your own discretion.
Can you offer your leadership training without the faith-based content?
No, Christ is at the core of all that we do and why we do it.
Are you affiliated with a certain denomination?
No. We partner with a wide variety of churches, organizations, and denominations. Check out our statement of faith and core values.
In addition to biblical foundation, what authors or thinkers enrich Capacity’s experiences?
We love gleaning wisdom from Christians who journeyed before us. Here are a few of our favorites:
N.T. Wright
Ruth Haley Barton
Don Davis
Dallas Willard
Richard Foster
James Bryan Smith
Alan Fadling
G.K. Chesterton
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
A.W. Tozer
C.S. Lewis
Stanley Hauerwas
Hans Urs van Balthasar
Martin Luther
Francis Chan
Scot McKnight
Elton Trueblood
Shane Claiborne
How can I make a financial donation to support Capacity Ministries?
Thanks for asking! We’re a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and donations are tax-deductible according to U.S. law. Please visit our Donate page for more information: www.capacityministries.com/donate
I have another question. How can I get in touch with someone at your organization?
Please email info@capacityministries.com or call 316-285-0832. You can also schedule a Discovery Call with our executive director, Mike Clifford.