Discipleship and Leadership Formation equips ministers and congregations by hosting events and providing coaches, collaborators, and consultants to reach out and connect with their local communities.
Discipleship and Leadership Formation includes the Ministry Office and the departments of Intercultural Ministries, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Spiritual Formation, and Organizational Leadership.
Email: DLF@brethren.org
Phone: 800-323-8039 then follow instructions to find staff by name or 847-429-4303
Third Thursday Webinars
The LEAD Conference Planning Team has now planned for quarterly webinars, with the goal of providing church board members, pastors, deacons, Sunday School teachers and any other local church leaders tools to grow in their leadership abilities.
Find the listing of Third Thursday webinars here.
Explore recordings here – now offering CEUs!
L.E.A.D. Conference
Get L.E.A.D. Conference information here.
For My Neighbor’s Good
A Five Week Brethren Evangelism Training
A curriculum focusing on helping Brethren connect the story of their personal encounter with Jesus with the needs of others in their neighborhoods who have not yet met Jesus–plus developing a team approach to evangelism. Go to “For My Neighbor’s Good” curriculum page.
Racial Justice Resources
Intercultural Ministries shares peacebuilding, educational videos, articles, and posts frequently via social media, as well as holding online events. Find out more here.
Find Standing with People of Color resources here.
- ‘Season of Peace’ webinar offers tools to care for mind, body, and spirit during the holidaysby Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford on November 25, 2025 at 11:00 am
“A Season of Peace: Caring for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit During the Holidays” is the topic for a webinar offered by the Church of the Brethren’s Intercultural Ministries on Dec. 16 at 12 noon (Eastern time).
- Ryan Braught to manage the Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church programby Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford on November 24, 2025 at 1:15 am
Ryan Braught began Nov. 17 as an independent contractor to manage the Church of the Brethren’s Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church program for 10 hours per week.
- Richard Wehrle moves from Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church program to Rural and Small Towns Initiativeby Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford on November 24, 2025 at 1:00 am
Richard Wehrle transitioned on Nov. 17 from serving as program manager for the Church of the Brethren’s Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church program to a new role as program manager for the Rural and Small Towns Initiative.
- NYC 2026 Advisor Preview: A time for connection, growth, and planningby Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford on November 24, 2025 at 12:31 am
Twenty-eight youth advisors from across the country gathered at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo., in October for the first-ever NYC Advisor Preview event.
- Rural and Small Town Initiative begins as Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church enters ‘sustainability phase’by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford on November 18, 2025 at 6:26 pm
Through the Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church connections in the Church of the Brethren’s Ministry Office, a partnership with Ashland Seminary has resulted in a grant of almost $1 million as a “pass-through partner” within the Rural and Small Town Initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc.
Contact us
Discipleship and Leadership Formation of the Church of the Brethren
1451 Dundee Avenue
Elgin, Illinois. 60120
Phone: 800-323-8039 then follow instructions to find staff by name
DLF@brethren.org
Founa A. Badet
Director, Intercultural Ministries
fbadet@brethren.org
847-807-6485
Josh Brockway
Director, Spiritual Formation
jbrockway@brethren.org
847-429-4304
Jazmín Góngora
Administrative Assistant
jgongora@brethren.org
847-429-4303
Nancy Sollenberger Heishman
Director, Ministry Office
nsheishman@brethren.org
847-429-4381
Becky Ullom Naugle
Director, Youth and Young Adult Ministry
bullomnaugle@brethren.org
847-429-4385
Nate Polzin
Executive Director of Discipleship and Leadership Formation
npolzin@brethren.org
847-429-4302
Richard Wehrle
Program Manager
Thriving in Ministry
rwehrle@brethren.org
847-429-4365