Address the broken relationships at the root of material poverty
Apply the design thinking process and principles to your ministry
Develop creative, sustainable solutions to help people
"So, are we doing [this] right?"
When it comes to poverty alleviation we quickly find that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. While we often want a “recipe,” what we actually need is a framework to apply within our unique context.
Learn how to embed Chalmers' DNA into your church or organization and get virtual coaching from the Innovation Team.
How Innovate works
Gather your team
Register a team of 3-7 people from your church, community, or ministry.
Get trained
Join us for 8 live online coaching sessions and breakouts with other leaders.
Test your idea
Design and test a creative idea for helping people in your community.
Iterate!
Get tools to help you keep learning and improving your ministry.
You'll need to set aside about 30 hours to complete your innovation journey.
Meet your guides Learn from experienced innovation experts
You'll be learning from design thinking and innovation experts, Tabitha Kapic and Adrian Reid, and Dr. Brian Fikkert, co-author of When Helping Hurts, Becoming Whole, and founder of the Chalmers Center.
![Brian Fikkert Brian Fikkert](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Brian-Fikkert-circle-b4b81f47c7637ae0242d038f987516b0-60f812136a623.png)
![Tabitha Kapic Tabitha Kapic](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/tabitha-kapic-circle-dd3b4e9858cae02a8ed310f00198c40a-60f812136a624.jpeg)
![Adrian Reid Adrian Reid](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/image6-300x300-circle-285ec0e8045daf786d7ae40f6ef65cd5-glz2jk8qfd6i.png)
Innovate is trusted by 200+ churches and nonprofits worldwide
![image7 image7](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/image7-circle-9d33a06c57e755282a916b000b050d0f-wx6cm9bohyi2.png)
“I appreciate the work you guys are doing so much because it’s causing paradigm shifts that need to happen. So much more Christ-centered, so much more Gospel-centered, and so much more hopeful.”
Susan Moffitt
Director of Family Care
Palmer Home, Nashville TN
![Yaneth Aguirre Yaneth Aguirre](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Yaneth-Aguirre-circle-3313c70efa4065730da89868c1870394-wiujyrgb0nk1.png)
When I took Innovate for the first time in Nicaragua, it was a great learning experience. We were introduced to a new model to carry out initiatives with existing resources in a very creative way, with biblical, easy and reproducible tools, where projects can be developed in a short time, where we can have the opportunity to show God's love.
Yaneth,
Free Methodists
Nicaragua
![image8 image8](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/image8-circle-f86801324a181ee222e6c93796a99dc8-c850srtx4j9n.png)
“I think one of the great things you guys were able to do is somehow guide people through the process who are at very different points. Regardless of where you’re at in the process, if you want to be a good neighbor, this is a fantastic place to start.”
Crystal Davy
Worship Director & Outreach Coordinator
Grace Chapel, Nebraska
![image5 image5](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/image5-1-circle-8d832d81a30cf755db163d2834b00fd9-rs1un60qdzc5.png)
“The idea of working together as a team, bringing out innovative ideas and ways of really ministering to the local church spoke volumes to me. I learned from Chalmers the emphasis of human flourishing. I think that’s really all it is about God’s story of change.”
Evah Mugari
Empowerment/Development
Partners in Transformation, Zimbabwe
![Blake Schwarz Dallas, TX Blake Schwarz](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Blake-Schwarz-Dallas-TX-circle-4076f20ee10e61b08937594cd8dd7d00-60f812136a64c.png)
"The [Innovate] design process led by Chalmers gives me hope because it helps church leaders move from talking about issues to implementing solutions."
Blake Schwarz
Director of Fellows & PCPC at Work
Park Cities Presbyterian Church
Dallas, TX
![Michael Rhodes](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Dr.-Michael-Rhodes-circle-1ae0a05914efc6b294e3dd488a208141-60f812136a69b.jpg)
"This process has really helped me believe that we can equip people to live out the kingdom... I'm more confident that we can help people use their influence to make substantial changes."
Dr. Michael Rhodes
Lecturer in Old Testament
Carey Baptist College, New Zealand
![Sarah Sarah Lockridge-Steckel](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Sarah-circle-603cadcb83a0f8326fb0a0b72de2172e-60f812136a64e.jpg)
"It made me personally think about ideas that are outside the realm of what I would have normally thought about. Trusting each of the steps has been really powerful and has allowed us to create something together."
Sarah Lockridge-Steckel
Co-Founder & CEO
The Collective Blueprint
Memphis, TN
![Laura Green, Atlanta, GA Laura Green](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Laura-Green-Atlanta-GA-circle-bf6e06d28dfc3526e5ebc5d7f4955339-60f812136a650.jpg)
"It's been really encouraging to see our team use this process to center the actual articulated needs of the communities we serve, as the focus of how we help."
Laura Green
Executive Director
Tekton Career Training
Atlanta, GA
Chalmers resources are trusted by:
![love-inc-logo Love INC](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/love-inc-logo.png)
![prison-fellowship-logo Prison Fellowship](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/prison-fellowship-logo.png)
![hope-international-logo HOPE International](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/hope-international-logo.png)
![compassion-international-logo Compassion International](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/compassion-international-logo.png)
![tearfund-logo Tearfund](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tearfund-logo.png)
Schedule
Join Us on Zoom
Mar 5-Apr 23, 2025
Wednesdays 12-2 pm ET
Innovate includes 8 LIVE online coaching sessions with breakout rooms and teamwork assignments designed to align your team around a shared vision and help you brainstorm, design, and test your creative ministry solution.
You'll need to set aside around 30 hours to complete your innovation journey. Each week you’ll spend 2 hours in a session (online via Zoom) and 1-2 hours working on team homework and with your community.
![innovate-mockup Innovate Zoom session](https://chalmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/innovate-mockup.png)
March 5 – April 23
$1195 $995
per team of 3-7
EARLY BIRD ENDS FEB 18
Includes weekly Zoom coaching calls
You're gaining access to:
-
When Helping Hurts and Becoming Whole co-author, Dr. Brian Fikkert.
-
Innovation tools to align your team and build your own effective poverty alleviation ministries.
-
A community of like-minded church and nonprofit leaders learning to improvise the kingdom, together.
-
8 live online sessions that teach your team how to practically help without hurting.
-
Bonus! Additional equipping tools from the Chalmers online-resource library.
Don’t miss the chance to innovate for the Kingdom!
Innovate is the best way for your church or organization to help without hurting.
Sign up for Innovate and start testing creative solutions to problems in your community.