Nebraska Synod ELCA

When youth learn to listen, welcome, care, and help, they shine in your congregation and in your wider community. This two-day Peer Ministry Facilitator Training equips adult leaders and key youth with practical relational skills that move faith from “what we believe” to “how we live love” in everyday relationships. Come ready to sit in a circle, practice together, and leave with tools you can immediately weave into your ministry.

Format and Schedule

This training will be held in person at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on February 4 and 5, 2027. Each day runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with lunch and snacks provided so participants can stay focused on learning and conversation.

The training environment is intentionally simple and relational. We gather in a circle, face-to-face, for conversation and practice rather than presentations. There are no PowerPoints, lectures, or production effects. Instead, you can expect creative, interactive activities that invite you to practice skills, share stories, and learn from one another. You bring your people; we bring the skills; together we discover how to live out peer ministry in your context.

Key details:

• Dates: February 4–5, 2027
• Time: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. each day
• Location: St. John’s Lutheran Church, Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Continuing education: 16 hours for full participation

Cost

The registration fee for this two-day event is $150 per participant. This fee includes the training itself, along with lunch and snacks both days.

There is a separate materials fee for the required Peer Ministry manual, which is not included in the registration cost. After you register, you will receive a link to order the manual directly from Relational Leadership Collaborative. You may choose either a license for unlimited printing or individual printed copies, depending on what best fits your setting. (Cost for manual is $154.95 for unlimited printing or $47.95 for individual copies)

Key details:

• Registration fee: $150 per participant + materials
• Registration deadline: January 31, 2027

Facilitator

The training will be led by Ben Richter, a facilitator with Relational Leadership Collaborative (RLC). RLC is a 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2024 as Peer Ministry Leadership (PML) transitioned into a nonprofit. PML remains at the core of RLC’s work and vision as they continue to develop and share Peer Ministry resources.

RLC’s mission is to educate hearts and empower people to live loving their neighbor. They partner with churches of many denominations, as well as schools, businesses, and other organizations, to nurture a more compassionate society through practical relational skills. Their work centers on skills that are livable, doable, and repeatable, benefiting every relationship, every day, and everywhere. RLC fulfills this mission by teaching relational skills, offering leadership training, developing resources, and speaking with and consulting for a wide range of groups.

Who Should Attend

This training is especially well suited for adults who walk alongside youth and want to deepen their capacity to model and mentor relational skills. Youth leaders and volunteers will gain concrete practices they can bring back to weekly ministry. Pastors will find tools for strengthening a culture of care and peer leadership within the congregation. Key youth who are already emerging as leaders in their youth group will be invited into shared learning that can help launch or strengthen a peer ministry leadership team.

If you are ready to help your congregation move beyond talking about love to practicing it in daily relationships, this event is designed for you.