Question 1

Who may attend?

Accepted Answer

Congregations interested in starting initiatives to minister alongside elementary age children with autism through either worship or prayer practices. Congregations who have attended previous Nurturing Care events in KC will be given first consideration, but other congregations are welcome to apply.

Question 2

Do I make my own reservations with the venue?

Accepted Answer

No, Nurturing Care will reserve you a room when you register and are approved for the retreat.

Question 3

Who is Nurturing Care?

Accepted Answer

Nurturing Care is a Lilly Endowment Grant initiative under the direction of Nazarene Theological Seminary. The overarching goal is to foster experiences of God with elementary age children through worship and prayer. In Kansas City, the ministry focuses on autistic children.

Question 4

Why Maker's Space?

Accepted Answer

The retreat serves much like an abbreviated incubator, using design learning theory but drawing from principles in a Maker Space environment to help you create a prototype to implement in your unique context.

Question 5

Can you tell me more about the process guiding the Maker's Space?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can watch three youtube videos (total run time 1:12) to help prepare for the retreat: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcGJAOjRntbzTcM7aXLba_9Xw9qlyG9kr

Question 6

What happens at the Retreat?

Accepted Answer

Using a modified approach to design learning, congregations identify a challenge that they would like to explore and create a prototype (in or through worship or prayer) that helps them better address the challenge.

Question 7

Do I have to come up with a project/prototype to attend?

Accepted Answer

No, but Nurturing Care does ask that you come planning to participate alongside other congregations during the retreat. Also, churches may attend and participate in the ongoing collaborations and learning events between retreats as approved by Nurturing Care. We hope to build a network of support.

Question 8

Are there resources following the retreat?

Accepted Answer

Churches can request mini-grant funding to support resource development and team learning as they create their ministry prototype. Grants run up to $3000.00 per application and can be negotiated. There are modest reporting and meeting expectations to foster learning and support for one year.

Question 9

Why use the language of care?

Accepted Answer

NTS hopes to encourage prayer and worship practices that engender in children and adults an underlying posture of care. The rationale guides our efforts in Kansas City but also in other diverse settings recognizing that care often helps us mitigate other congregational differences and concerns.

Nurturing Care Maker's Space Retreat