Cohorts are small groups of practitioners who meet monthly, in person or online, to encourage each other with the Gospel. Facilitators can be laymen, laywomen, or professional church workers.
I have spent more than three decades helping leaders and organizations discover clarity, navigate change, and move toward what’s possible. I serve as a pastor, executive coach, organizational clarity consultant, and, since 2006, a Lead Navigator with Auxano, where I have had the privilege of serving on the leadership team. Through Auxano, I have helped churches cut through complexity, unite around shared vision, and gain the clarity needed to faithfully pursue their God-given mission. I am passionate about helping leaders flourish, churches thrive, and the Gospel move into new places.
Regional
Brandon Bettcher
Napoleon, OH
Northwest Ohio / Southeast Michigan
I am associate pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Napoleon, Ohio.
Regional
Rev. Tim Bayer
Tacoma, WA
Pacific Northwest — Large & Complex Ministry Leaders
I serve as Lead Pastor at Our Savior in the South Puget Sound, Washington, and Vice-President in the Northwest District LCMS.
Affinity
Mary Stafford-Nunez
New Berlin, WI
Greater Milwaukee Area Mission Leaders
I am Director of Missions and Leadership at Brookfield Lutheran Church in Brookfield, WI.
Affinity
Lisa Copeland
Villa Ridge, MO
Growing & Multiplying Leaders
I have a decade of experience as a Faith Journey Director, leading ministry teams and developing leaders who discern their calling.
Affinity
Rev. Joe Ferry
Fort Wayne, IN
Multi-ethnic / Multi-cultural Ministry
I am senior pastor of Southwest Lutheran Church, a multiethnic church in Fort Wayne, IN, and an experienced coach with PLI.
Affinity
Al Doering & Steve Sohns
Houston, TX
Leaders of Church Planting Networks
We lead the Harvest Partnership, a Houston-based network of church planters, and facilitate a monthly cohort for leaders of church planting networks.
Affinity
Jeff Heisner
Cleveland, OH
Church Communicators
I work to use the story telling skills I gained in the media to share how God is working in our communities. I've been in church communications for the last 15 years after a career in television.
Affinity
Adam Finney
Mankato, MN
Revitalization of Congregation
I'm just a poor country preacher that has a hard time coloring within the lines, but loves to see God's Kingdom grow and people following Jesus.
Regional
Derrick Hurst
Galena, OH
Greater Columbus, Ohio Area
I work with pastors and ministry leaders to have real conversations about where they are stuck, what they are building, and what it's actually costing them.
Regional
Tom Marcis
Bismarck, ND
Fargo, Bismarck & Minot, North Dakota
I have served my entire 40 years of ministry in North Dakota in both rural and larger city settings, and served the church at large on Synod's Board for Human Care and the District Board of Directors.
Regional
Todd Jones
Rogers, AR
South Region (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Western Tennessee)
I have been a parish pastor, a church planter, an international mission trainer, a mission executive for two districts, and an assistant professor of a seminary.
Affinity
Jim Richter
Grand Rapids, MI
Outreach (Relational Discipleship, Groups, & Church Planting)
I currently serve at the fourth church plant I have helped plant and pastor, and work with the Harvest Partnership movement in the LCMS to extend church planting in the Michigan District.
Regional
C.J. Luttinen
Wichita, KS
Wichita, KS (and Central Plains Region)
I serve as Lead Pastor at Risen Savior in Wichita.
Regional
Chad Elfe
Hudson, WI
St. Croix River Valley
I'm passionate about reaching people with the love of Jesus.
Regional
Jeff Dorth
Hilton Head Island, SC
Sole or Lead Pastors, Charleston, SC Region
The Lord has given me the opportunity to serve as a missionary, pastor, and adjunct professor in California, Wisconsin, and South Carolina.
Regional
Mauricio Franco
Harlingen, TX
Rio Grande Valley, Texas
I've been involved in ministry since 1995, serving in a variety of ministries, backgrounds, and settings.
Regional
Dave Hormann
Winsted, MN
West Exurb of the Twin Cities, Minnesota
My ministry passion is helping people find their place in God's mission so that they witness to and evangelize those not in Jesus' Kingdom.
Affinity
Sylvan Finger
Willows, CA
Multi-Point Parish
I’ve been serving First Lutheran, Willows, CA and Mount Olive Lutheran, Corning, CA since 2018. We want to collaborate with other multi-point parishes to reach more people with the good news of Jesus.
Affinity
Kirk Douglas
New York Mills, MN
Rural Small Town Ministry
I have had the great opportunity to serve small congregations in small towns in North Dakota and Minnesota. Over time they became thriving mission-minded congregations.
Local
Keith Grimm
Andover, MN
Large Churches in the Twin Cities, MN
I am in my eleventh year serving as Senior Pastor of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Ham Lake. I have been an LCMS pastor for 35 years. I am passionate about team ministry, missions for all ages, helping congregations work through conflict, and doing whatever is asked to help extend Christ’s kingdom.
Regional
Tim Schutt
Fort Myers, FL
Southwest Florida
I am a pastor who loves sharing Jesus with people in loving, meaningful ways. I am willing to try new things and think outside the box to do that. For instance, meeting at a cigar bar or brewery in the area. Smoke cigars, have a drink, and talk about life, faith, etc.
Local
Heath Luehmann
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis, MO
With more than two decades working in education as a church-worker, I understand how mission-driven organizations work, what strains them, and what helps them thrive. While I hold certifications in The Six Types of Working Genius, DiSC, and The Five Behaviors, my best strategy for transformation in an individual or team is to hold space for curiosity in a non-judgmental partnership.
Affinity
Nate Guelzow
Goodlettsville, TN
Leadership Multiplication
I am a seasoned pastor who has worked in many leadership roles, leading teams to disciple all ages toward change in Christ, and multiplying leadership throughout the body of Christ. I have seen that a church or ministry grows at the rate of leadership development.
Regional
Chris Boehnke
Grand Haven, MI
West-Michigan/Grand Rapids Area
I have been the pastor of Lakeshore Lutheran Fellowship since 2010. I am married to Tracy, and we have four children: Joshua, Lauren, Nathan, and Mikayla. I enjoy writing and have recently self-published a book titled, “The Christian Faith: The Original Evangelical View.”
Local
Josh Krepel
Aurora, CO
Denver metro
By the Grace of God, a Husband, a Father, and a Pastor seeking to Join Jesus in everything.
Affinity
Rev. Dr. Randy Duncan
Ann Arbor, MI
Campus Ministry
I am the Pastor of Campus Mission at University Lutheran Chapel Ann Arbor and the point person for the Campus Ministry Network of the Michigan District. Prior to this, I was the Campus Pastor and adjunct professor at Concordia University Ann Arbor for ten years where over 120 students were baptized in that period. My wife, Amy and I live in Brighton, Michigan, and have six children—Joshua, Christopher, Heather, Jackson, Joseph, and Grace.
Local
Joe Casiglia
Harrison Township, Michigan
Metro Detroit (Oakland & Macomb Counties)
My name is Joe Casiglia and I am the Senior Pastor of Faith in Troy, MI. The vision of our church is to Bring Jesus into Every Relationship. My focus is to help inspire people to follow Jesus and His teaching personally and practically each day.
Jeff Meyer
I have spent more than three decades helping leaders and organizations discover clarity, navigate change, and move toward what’s possible. I serve as a pastor, executive coach, organizational clarity consultant, and, since 2006, a Lead Navigator with Auxano, where I have had the privilege of serving on the leadership team. Through Auxano, I have helped churches cut through complexity, unite around shared vision, and gain the clarity needed to faithfully pursue their God-given mission. I am passionate about helping leaders flourish, churches thrive, and the Gospel move into new places.
Join Jeff Meyer Cohort
Goes directly to Jeff Meyer and copies The Go Network.
Brandon Bettcher
I am associate pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Napoleon, Ohio.
Join Brandon Bettcher Cohort
Goes directly to Brandon Bettcher and copies The Go Network.
Rev. Tim Bayer
I serve as Lead Pastor at Our Savior in the South Puget Sound, Washington, and Vice-President in the Northwest District LCMS.
Join Rev. Tim Bayer Cohort
Goes directly to Tim Bayer and copies The Go Network.
Mary Stafford-Nunez
I am Director of Missions and Leadership at Brookfield Lutheran Church in Brookfield, WI.
Join Mary Stafford-Nunez Cohort
Goes directly to Mary Stafford-Nunez and copies The Go Network.
Lisa Copeland
I have a decade of experience as a Faith Journey Director, leading ministry teams and developing leaders who discern their calling.
Join Lisa Copeland Cohort
Goes directly to Lisa Copeland and copies The Go Network.
Rev. Joe Ferry
I am senior pastor of Southwest Lutheran Church, a multiethnic church in Fort Wayne, IN, and an experienced coach with PLI.
Join Rev. Joe Ferry Cohort
Goes directly to Joe Ferry and copies The Go Network.
Al Doering & Steve Sohns
We lead the Harvest Partnership, a Houston-based network of church planters, and facilitate a monthly cohort for leaders of church planting networks.
Join Al Doering & Steve Sohns Cohort
Goes directly to Al and Steve and copies The Go Network.
Jeff Heisner
I work to use the story telling skills I gained in the media to share how God is working in our communities. I've been in church communications for the last 15 years after a career in television.
Join Jeff Heisner Cohort
Goes directly to Jeff Heisner and copies The Go Network.
Adam Finney
I'm just a poor country preacher that has a hard time coloring within the lines, but loves to see God's Kingdom grow and people following Jesus.
Join Adam Finney Cohort
Goes directly to Adam Finney and copies The Go Network.
Derrick Hurst
I work with pastors and ministry leaders to have real conversations about where they are stuck, what they are building, and what it's actually costing them.
Join Derrick Hurst Cohort
Goes directly to Derrick Hurst and copies The Go Network.
Tom Marcis
I have served my entire 40 years of ministry in North Dakota in both rural and larger city settings, and served the church at large on Synod's Board for Human Care and the District Board of Directors.
Join Tom Marcis Cohort
Goes directly to Tom Marcis and copies The Go Network.
Todd Jones
I have been a parish pastor, a church planter, an international mission trainer, a mission executive for two districts, and an assistant professor of a seminary.
Join Todd Jones Cohort
Goes directly to Todd Jones and copies The Go Network.
Jim Richter
I currently serve at the fourth church plant I have helped plant and pastor, and work with the Harvest Partnership movement in the LCMS to extend church planting in the Michigan District.
Join Jim Richter Cohort
Goes directly to Jim Richter and copies The Go Network.
C.J. Luttinen
I serve as Lead Pastor at Risen Savior in Wichita.
Join C.J. Luttinen Cohort
Goes directly to C.J. Luttinen and copies The Go Network.
Chad Elfe
I'm passionate about reaching people with the love of Jesus.
Join Chad Elfe Cohort
Goes directly to Chad Elfe and copies The Go Network.
Jeff Dorth
The Lord has given me the opportunity to serve as a missionary, pastor, and adjunct professor in California, Wisconsin, and South Carolina.
Join Jeff Dorth Cohort
Goes directly to Jeff Dorth and copies The Go Network.
Mauricio Franco
I've been involved in ministry since 1995, serving in a variety of ministries, backgrounds, and settings.
Join Mauricio Franco Cohort
Goes directly to Mauricio Franco and copies The Go Network.
Dave Hormann
My ministry passion is helping people find their place in God's mission so that they witness to and evangelize those not in Jesus' Kingdom.
Join Dave Hormann Cohort
Goes directly to Dave Hormann and copies The Go Network.
Sylvan Finger
I’ve been serving First Lutheran, Willows, CA and Mount Olive Lutheran, Corning, CA since 2018. We want to collaborate with other multi-point parishes to reach more people with the good news of Jesus.
Join Sylvan Finger Cohort
Goes directly to Sylvan Finger and copies The Go Network.
Kirk Douglas
I have had the great opportunity to serve small congregations in small towns in North Dakota and Minnesota. Over time they became thriving mission-minded congregations.
Join Kirk Douglas Cohort
Goes directly to Kirk Douglas and copies The Go Network.
Keith Grimm
I am in my eleventh year serving as Senior Pastor of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Ham Lake. I have been an LCMS pastor for 35 years. I am passionate about team ministry, missions for all ages, helping congregations work through conflict, and doing whatever is asked to help extend Christ’s kingdom.
Join Keith Grimm Cohort
Goes directly to Keith Grimm and copies The Go Network.
Tim Schutt
I am a pastor who loves sharing Jesus with people in loving, meaningful ways. I am willing to try new things and think outside the box to do that. For instance, meeting at a cigar bar or brewery in the area. Smoke cigars, have a drink, and talk about life, faith, etc.
Join Tim Schutt Cohort
Goes directly to Tim Schutt and copies The Go Network.
Heath Luehmann
With more than two decades working in education as a church-worker, I understand how mission-driven organizations work, what strains them, and what helps them thrive. While I hold certifications in The Six Types of Working Genius, DiSC, and The Five Behaviors, my best strategy for transformation in an individual or team is to hold space for curiosity in a non-judgmental partnership.
Join Heath Luehmann Cohort
Goes directly to Heath Luehmann and copies The Go Network.
Nate Guelzow
I am a seasoned pastor who has worked in many leadership roles, leading teams to disciple all ages toward change in Christ, and multiplying leadership throughout the body of Christ. I have seen that a church or ministry grows at the rate of leadership development.
Join Nate Guelzow Cohort
Goes directly to Nate Guelzow and copies The Go Network.
Chris Boehnke
I have been the pastor of Lakeshore Lutheran Fellowship since 2010. I am married to Tracy, and we have four children: Joshua, Lauren, Nathan, and Mikayla. I enjoy writing and have recently self-published a book titled, “The Christian Faith: The Original Evangelical View.”
Join Chris Boehnke Cohort
Goes directly to Chris Boehnke and copies The Go Network.
Josh Krepel
By the Grace of God, a Husband, a Father, and a Pastor seeking to Join Jesus in everything.
Join Josh Krepel Cohort
Goes directly to Josh Krepel and copies The Go Network.
Rev. Dr. Randy Duncan
I am the Pastor of Campus Mission at University Lutheran Chapel Ann Arbor and the point person for the Campus Ministry Network of the Michigan District. Prior to this, I was the Campus Pastor and adjunct professor at Concordia University Ann Arbor for ten years where over 120 students were baptized in that period. My wife, Amy and I live in Brighton, Michigan, and have six children—Joshua, Christopher, Heather, Jackson, Joseph, and Grace.
Join Rev. Dr. Randy Duncan Cohort
Goes directly to Randy Duncan and copies The Go Network.
Joe Casiglia
My name is Joe Casiglia and I am the Senior Pastor of Faith in Troy, MI. The vision of our church is to Bring Jesus into Every Relationship. My focus is to help inspire people to follow Jesus and His teaching personally and practically each day.
Join Joe Casiglia Cohort
Goes directly to Joe Casiglia and copies The Go Network.
A cohort in each of the 50 largest U.S. cities
One of the Go Network's goals is to have cohorts of mission-minded Lutherans in the 50 largest U.S. cities.
Madison, WI · Napoleon, OH · Tacoma, WA · Villa Ridge, MO · Fort Wayne, IN · Cleveland, OH · Mankato, MN · Bismarck, ND · Rogers, AR · Grand Rapids, MI · Hudson, WI · Hilton Head Island, SC · Harlingen, TX · Winsted, MN · Willows, CA · New York Mills, MN · Fort Myers, FL · St. Louis, MO · Grand Haven, MI · Ann Arbor, MI
Don't See One Near You?
A cohort starts with someone willing to gather two or three others for their next faithful step. Tell us your region or area of interest, and we'll help you get started.
Facilitator Tools
Everything a facilitator needs to gather well: a tool for the conversation itself, the basics of the role, and ongoing support from the network.
They do not carry the burden of being the ones in charge. They are peers who serve the cohort in these ways.
Help the cohort choose a gathering date, and send reminders as the day approaches.
Use the Go Network Conversation Tool to frame and direct the conversation.
Encourage collaboration among everyone in the cohort.
Make sure every voice is heard and able to contribute.
Record next steps for reference at future gatherings.
Laymen, laywomen, and professional church workers all serve as facilitators — no special role or title is required to start.
A rhythm cohorts can keep.
Choose a schedule, then protect it
Cohorts choose whatever schedule works for them, though meeting at least once a month keeps next faithful steps from slipping to the back burner behind more urgent tasks.
Meets monthly About two hours Peer facilitated
Scripture and prayer
Begin with Scripture and prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation.
Good questions
Ask each other good questions rather than offering solutions. Questions move people from listening to problem-solving.
Feeling uncomfortable
Wrestling with hard questions is good. Meaningful progress often begins right outside a comfort zone.
Ten questions to guide every gathering.
Open a few below, live, in the gathering itself. Choose what fits the moment.
Three short videos on the basics of facilitating a peer conversation, plus a practice session with a Go Network coach.
Quarterly
Facilitator Check-Ins
Zoom calls open to every facilitator, for ongoing support, encouragement, and training.
Any time
Share Your Highlights
Tell Greg Finke what is happening in your cohort. He shares highlights with the wider network.
Peer Facilitation Training is in the concept stage — the written orientation above (Facilitator Basics, the rhythm, the Conversation Tool) is real and usable today. Videos and the coach-session booking flow are still being built.
