Julene TegerstrandWe have plenty of events, and not enough depth.
I help you create formation experiences for your people, and I accompany you as you do it. When leaders go deeper, they can lead their people deeper.
Spiritual formation is central to my work. We are always being formed, by our leadership, our service, and the institutions we work within. Some of that forms us well, and some of it deforms us. Institutions have a responsibility to know how they act on people. And sometimes we need to be unformed so we can be reformed, because who we become inside impacts our capacity to do life together.
Formation is personal. Intentional formation is an organizational necessity. That is why I work with organizations and their leaders.
Not just a retreat leader or workshop presenter.
A season together.
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We listen.
We begin with a conversation. I hear about you, your community, and the people you serve.
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We discern together.
Together we decide what kind of formation journey would fit you personally and your congregation or organization.
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We build it.
I design the retreat, course, pilgrimage, or season around your people, in person, online, or both. I am a curriculum designer, an experiential educator, and a pilgrimage leader. Anyone can make content these days. What I bring is experience in leadership development, spiritual formation, intercultural studies, and conflict transformation, and I use it to shape something your people live into, not only read.
Sacred Seasons is one example of what a team, group or church could use to encourage spiritual formation. Persons are accompanied through daily practices and come together in a shared weekly practice.
Need training in communication, conflict, or dialogue? That is the work of Everyday Peacemaking.
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We run it, and I walk with you.
I lead it with you, and I accompany you in your own leadership and spiritual formation while it happens.
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We look back.
Afterward we assess how it went, what changed, and what comes next.
Imagine a whole group of people whose souls have come out of hiding. What would grow in us and among us?
“The wolf will live with the lamb … and a little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6 (BSB)
Connection. Belonging. Belovedness.
We experience joy in our lives when we feel seen. Imagine what a group could do that was more joy-full.
Where I stand.
I am a Christian, and my faith shapes how I listen. I do not try to convince anyone to believe what I believe. I work with people from many traditions and from none, and I meet you where you are.
No one is asked to pray, believe, or share more than they choose. In a faith community, I am glad to use the language of faith when the group wants it. In other settings, I use plain language.
Contract and partner work.
- Restwork
- Restwork offers care and practice for health care and caregiving teams. I serve as Learning and Evaluation Lead (contract). If you found me through Restwork, expect plain language, and practices that stand on their own, whatever anyone believes. Visit Restwork.
- Everyday Peacemaking
- With Dr. Steve Tumolo, I co-founded Everyday Peacemaking, where I work with organizations on communication, conflict transformation, and dialogue. Visit Everyday Peacemaking.
- StoryCollab
- StoryCollab helps people and organizations use first-person storytelling for social change. Each year I co-lead a two-week faculty training for StoryCollab, on contract, in storytelling and podcasting and in using both in curriculum design. Visit StoryCollab.
- Teaching
- I am an adjunct professor of Christian spirituality at Nazarene Theological Seminary and Northwest Nazarene University.
How we begin.
The first conversation is 30 minutes, and it is free. We see whether this is the right work before anything is decided. If I am not the right fit, I will tell you, and where I can, point you to someone who may serve you better. Once I understand more about what you need, we can imagine what could be possible and what resources (including financial ones) would be needed to do it.
Write a few lines about your church, group, or organization and what you are hoping for. I will reply within one or two days to set up a conversation.
If you would like to know who would be walking with you, here is my story. About me