Scenario: Two retirees and a school teacher all have some interest in how a devotional/homily takes shape. They read a short workbook and meet for sandwiches after church one day to use new study Bibles and make notes on favorite texts. One Saturday they meet up with four people from other “Plentiful Gifts” church/es at a retreat center; a hired preaching coach spends the morning providing tips on how to sketch their ideas into an outline. After sharing lunch they all spend some time with their texts with the coach chiming in. They go home and write out a message or detailed outline. One more Sunday the three meet after church for lunch again with the congregational mentor and deliver their message to one another with feedback. Two of them agree to be put on the summer preaching schedule. The third saves her devotional to open a session meeting.
Time invested: April-May 2025; two months total; time on own with workbook and writing message, two Sunday lunchtimes with the other two in their church and their church mentor, Saturday workshop.
Grant provided resources: Catalyst, with UDTS support, identifying the workbooks and study Bibles along with a preaching workshop teacher and location that works best for them. Congregational mentor to encourage them, and lunches. The grant pays for the books, workshop leader, and the retreat workshop space and costs of meals and mileage.