The sharing of information, stories, real-life ministry situations in the small group cohort, together with the interviews and video lessons are invaluable resources to leaders who want to engage with their cross-cultural neighbors and communities.
The conversations and videos are a huge help for avoiding unnecessary obstacles in ministry, and providing new avenues of thought and mission collaboration.
I will use this in my role with our association/district and will recommend others to participate in the Merging Streams Coalition!
- Dr. Peter Meier, Executive Director for Missions and Outreach, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Florida/Georgia District
You'll have access to a multi-faceted learning experience combining online videos, cohort-based coaching, case study interviews and peer networking.
You'll receive this information on a digestible schedule, moving you beyond mere cognitive understanding to successful implementation.
You'll be part of a six-month small group Coaching Cohort, in addition to ongoing learning and networking resources.
You'll be provided with 3-5 hours of fresh content each month, with recordings of all live sessions posted online to fit your busy schedule.
Is your favorite part of a conference
the keynote speakers, the workshops,
or the people you meet in the lobby?
Coalition members receive access to:
The Merging Streams Forum
(the keynote speakers)
Monthly live interviews with
diverse, cutting-edge practitioners
Cohort-based coaching
(the interactive part of the workshops)
with a small group of peer practitioners
Our signature online course
(video workshops)
Building Healthy
Cross-Cultural Partnerships
The Merging Streams Network
(the people you meet
in the lobby)
Networking opportunities with an interactive community of multicultural peer practitioners
Individual coaching
(one-on-one in the online cafe)
with our Executive Director, focused on your local ministry implementation
Community prayer
(a monthly online gathering)
asking God to multiply healthy cross-cultural partnerships nationally
I’m in a place where I want to be listened to. But I also realize I need to be learning. So the combination of individual coaching, group discussions, and video lessons has been a great fit for me.
- Russell Mann, Cross-Cultural Student Minister, Central Baptist Church, Decatur, Alabama
Register now for the Spring 2024 cohort of
The Merging Streams Coalition
Annual membership fee $199
+ Onetime Cohort registration fee $299
Membership is available at this low price
because of the generous donors of Immigrant Ministry Connections
Register Now $498
Coalition Members Receive Access to...
Building Healthy
Cross-Cultural Church Partnerships
A comprehensive digital course for launching and maintaining healthy relationships between churches of different cultural backgrounds
Foundational Videos
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Finding God at Work through Immigration
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White Supremacy, White Guilt or White Equality?
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Creating Motivation for Cross-Cultural Church Partnerships
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Four Steps to Launch a Healthy Cross-Cultural Church Partnership
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Three Steps to Maintain a Healthy Cross-Cultural Church Partnership
Posted and Upcoming Videos
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Migration and Missions in the Bible
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Developing Collaboration between Homogenous and Multicultural Churches
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The Multi-Congregational Church
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Distinctions between First and Second Generation Immigrants
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Navigating Organizational Differences between Structured and House Churches
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Stewarding Your Facility Well
Your Cross-Cultural Partnership Coach,
John Wesley Yoder
When I returned to the Minneapolis area after 13 years in Beijing, I discovered that nearby immigrant pastors had planted over 700 churches. It saddened me that many of these churches were isolated, with little connection to the American church or one another. I’ve worshipped in over 80 of these churches, taking the pastors to lunch and hearing their stories. At the same time, I’ve been speaking with hundreds of pastors across North America about their relationships with pastors of other cultures.
I gradually discovered principles that cultivate healthy cross-cultural church partnerships. As I shared these principles, most pastors were hearing them for the first time. My practice of individual pastoral coaching developed into small group cohort coaching. It also led to working with denominational leaders for the multiplication of cross-cultural partnerships. I’ve designed The Merging Streams Coalition not only as a place for pastors and denominational leaders to receive coaching, but also to share their stories, resources, networks and prayer support.
You can learn more of my history and credentials in the About Us section of this website.
As a missions pastor, I have had the privilege of watching John Yoder develop into an expert and leading voice in the area of cross-cultural church partnerships.
- Chaz Nichols, Asia Director, Converge International Ministries
Live Practitioner Interview Lineup
Spring 2024
April 2024
Ed Kang
Director, Acts 2 Network
Planting Multicultural Churches through International Student Ministry
May 2024
Jim Olson
Pastor, Bethel Christian Fellowship, St. Paul, MN (retired)
The Journey from Monocultural to Multicultural to Multi-Congregational Church
June 2024
Adam Ramirez
Pastor of smalltown Latino churches across the Upper Midwest
Planting Immigrant Churches across Small-Town America
Previous Interviews available in the Video Vault
Emanuel Roque
Hispanic Multicultural Catalyst, Florida Baptist Convention
Current Trends in Latino Disciple Making
Ebenezer Endiryas
Podcaster, Shaping the CulturePastor, Perazim Church, Bloomington, MN
Realities of Pastoring
the Second Generation
Sam Chacko
Project Manager, Stadia Church Planting
Pastor, Loft City Church, Richardson, TX