The Tend Fold Initiative
Caring for the local community, together
The Tend Fold Initiative has been funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. The aim of the initiative to encourage the flourishing of congregations by helping them deepen their relationships with God, enhance their connections with each other, and contribute to the vitality of their communities and the world.
Kingdom Partners seeks to create meaningful relationships between pastors, church leaders, and community stakeholders who seek to improve the capacity and ability of their congregations to better serve the needs of their own members and the surrounding neighborhood.
We highlighted the tools and introduced the lead consultant teams who will direct us through course work.
- Frank Brock – The 10 Project – Personalized Executive/Business Coaching
- Thomas Castillo – Strategic Planning for each church
- Dr. David Docusen, The Neighborliness Center – Helping individuals discern their calling to serve
- Gabe LePage, Kingdom Partners – Meet the Need
The Lilly Endowment Inc. grant will enable Kingdom Partners to help church leaders understand the theological imperative of reaching out and caring for those in the local community. By offering extensive training and coaching to church leadership, Kingdom Partners expects to see participating churches flourish.
Churches interested in participating please complete the following application.
2026 Cohort Curriculum and Event Schedule
The Tend Fold Project is designed to equip Pastors and non-profit Administrators to professionally manage and lead their enterprises. In short, we help Pastors and Administrators become leaders of employees, teams, and entire organizations. Evolving from a calling of preaching, care-giving, and administrating for congregants and volunteers to also include managing and leading employees and organizations. The Leadership Development component of the program is delivered over 8 sessions by experienced organizational leaders, supported by a dedicated management researcher and instructional design expert.
Leadership Development Sessions
Speaker: Scott Quatro
Celebrates the fundamental role that business plays in prospering God’s world through the pursuit of profit, while concurrently helping to ensure secure civil society.
Place: Covenant College
14049 Scenic Highway
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
Time: 11:45am to 1:45pm
Speaker: Rodge Piersant
Delineates the heart orientation, mindset, and practices necessary to practice management and leadership focused on others and their success.
Place: Northshore Fellowship
109 Building, 109 Frazier Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37405
Time: 11:45am to 1:45pm
Speaker: Dan Wykoff
Empowers the transition from “doing” to “leading,” focusing on the nuanced practices of effective leaders, and highlighting the central gratification that comes from getting the best out of others.
Place: Branch Technology
1530 Riverside Drive Suite B
Chattanooga, TN 37406
Time: 11:45am to 1:45pm
Speaker: Shannon Weber
Unpacks diversity from a multi-faceted perspective, emphasizing the individual and organizational benefits of embracing individual uniqueness.
Place: Kenco
2001 Riverside Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37406
Time: 11:45am to 1:45pm
Speaker: Lesley Scearce
Covers the complexities and distortions that make even “simple” organizational communications and “minor” conflicts very difficult, and the processes and tools that make both more optimal.
Place: United Way
630 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Time: 11:45am to 1:45pm
Speaker: Scott Quatro
Reinforces the strategic drivers and legal constraints related to attracting, developing, and retaining the best employees.
Place: Common House Chattanooga
1517 Mitchell Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408
Time: 11:45am to 1:45pm
Speaker: Melissa Blevins
Delves into the benefits, and perils, of teams and teamwork, and the characteristics of winning teams.
Place: Chattanooga Area Food Bank
2009 Curtain Pole Rd.
Chattanooga, TN 37406
Time: 11:45am to 1:45pm
Speaker: Greg Pawson
Emphasizes the essentials of strategic planning and execution that lead to individual, team, and organizational success.
Place: Card-Monroe Corporation
4841 Adams Road
Hixson, TN 37343
Time: 11:45am to 1:45pm