Cohort groups are designed to provide an opportunity for preachers to grow in their preaching by focusing on particular areas of interest within a supportive, encouraging community.
The 2025-2026 cohort group is designed for African-American preachers in any ministry context in which they preach at least every six weeks.
The group is facilitated by Rev. Dr. Rae Karim, with guest speakers joining the group throughout the year.
Participants in the group include:
Pat Carson (Indiana)
Christopher Carter (Virginia)
Deborah Clark (Virginia)
Veronica Fallah (Florida)
Kara Fleurizard (North Carolina)
Zeb Hough (North Carolina)
Tony McLaurin (North Carolina)
LaVetta Ross (MidAmerica)
Luwanna Scott (Indiana)
Cliff Willis (Indiana)
Rev. Dr. Rae Karim is a creative thought leader & visionary with a gift of words. Having graduated this past May with her Doctor of Ministry degree, Dr. Rae pours lived experience into her work. This gift allows her to be an Amazon best-selling author, sought-after writer, poet & speaker. She is a three-time history maker, as the first woman & person of color to pastor non-Black churches in Indiana & Honolulu, HI.
She is also a certified grief coach and founder of Good Grief Now!™ a national 501c3 and full-service grief support organization that helps grievers successfully navigate their grief journey and helps grief supporters be effective and efficient in their efforts.
In all she does, Dr. Rae empowers & transform lives, and is committed to ensuring she ignites courage on purpose for purpose.
In 2024-2025, two theme-based groups met for 18 months, with monthly online meetings and two opportunities for in-person gatherings.
Rebecca Anderson led one of these groups, which focused on the art and craft of storytelling as an essential act of preaching.
Participating in this group:
- Amanda Groves (Illinois/Wisconsin)
- Stacey Nicholas (Illinois/Wisconsin)
- Matthew Harris-Gloyer (Oregon/Southwest Idaho)
- Andrew Guthrie (Indiana)
- Ben Moore (Virginia)
- Darla Goodrich (Indiana)
- Mathew Goodrich (Northern Lights)
- Michael Yandell (North Carolina)
- Stephanie Rolfe (Kentucky)
- Juli Prentice (Northern Lights)
- Monica Cross (Northern California-Nevada)
Rebecca Anderson
The other group, led by Orlando Scott, explored the intersection of technology and preaching as a way of reflecting on the task of proclamation in a digital age.
Participating in this group:
- April McClure Stewart (Illinois/Wisconsin)
- Bonnie Goodwin (Kansas)
- Bryan Elliott (Central Rocky Mountain)
- Ching-Hsin Han (Pacific Southwest)
- Job Cobos (Arizona)
- Nathan Hill (Pacific Soutwest)
- Rebecca Woods (Ohio)
- Rochelle Carr (Southwest)
- Ronnie Hopkins (Oklahoma)
- Tawni Garcia (Arizona)
Orlando Scott
