The Colossian Forum

The Colossian Forum The Colossian Forum equips leaders to transform polarizing cultural conflicts into opportunities for spiritual growth and witness.

Our vision: Christian communities that behave like Christ.

What if hope in a difficult relationship doesn’t begin with fixing the other person, but with learning to see differentl...
06/02/2026

What if hope in a difficult relationship doesn’t begin with fixing the other person, but with learning to see differently?

We all carry stories about the people who have hurt, disappointed, or exhausted us. Over time, those stories can harden into assumptions that keep us bracing for more pain. But beholding is a different way of seeing.

Beholding means noticing another person through the eyes of love rather than fear, frustration, or suspicion. It’s choosing curiosity over certainty. It’s remaining open to the possibility that God may still be at work in places that feel stuck or hopeless.

Sometimes the first sign of healing is not that the relationship changes immediately, but that something begins to change in us.

Finding Hope in Your Hardest Relationships: A Beholding Workbook.

Coming June 16.

If you’re navigating tension in your church, your team, or your relationships, it's easy to feel like conflict is someth...
05/22/2026

If you’re navigating tension in your church, your team, or your relationships, it's easy to feel like conflict is something to manage or avoid.

But what if it could become a place to see others more clearly and grow deeper in your relationships with others and with God?

Our 2025 Impact Report shares stories of leaders and communities discovering a different way to engage disagreement.

Link in bio to read more.

This prayer is an invitation to stay near to God and others when fear, frustration, or judgment tempt us to withdraw.May...
05/21/2026

This prayer is an invitation to stay near to God and others when fear, frustration, or judgment tempt us to withdraw.

Maybe today that means listening before reacting. Maybe it means asking the Holy Spirit to help you stay open in a difficult moment.

If someone comes to mind who might need this prayer today, we encourage you to send it their way!

One year after a WayFinder training, participants reported growth in five key virtues. When Christians grow in virtues l...
05/12/2026

One year after a WayFinder training, participants reported growth
in five key virtues. When Christians grow in virtues like humility, patience, and wisdom, conflict begins to change.

Churches stay together.
Families have more honest conversations.
People remain present to one another instead of walking away.

This is the kind of formation your generosity makes possible. This spring, we invite you to help more Christians practice hope in the face of conflict by supporting The Colossian Forum.

A $10,000 matching gift means every dollar you give will be doubled.

Make your gift today. Link in the comments!

05/08/2026

Many of us have learned to see conflict as something negative, something to escape or smooth over. But what if it could actually lead somewhere deeper?

Growth often begins in small, imperfect moments of staying present to one another. Sometimes this looks like asking a question, pausing to take a deep breath, or sharing a little bit more of our story. Over time, these small acts of presence can help us see how God is at work in our relationships.

If you want to take a first small step toward navigating conflict with hope, we invite you to sign up for our newsletter. We share stories and simple practices to help you begin.

Link in bio!

This spring, we’re inviting you to choose hope.At a time when many conversations feel tense or uncertain, The Colossian ...
04/30/2026

This spring, we’re inviting you to choose hope.

At a time when many conversations feel tense or uncertain, The Colossian Forum forms leaders and communities to stay present, listen well, and move toward one another, even in disagreement.

Whether you’ve supported this work before or you’re just getting to know us, we invite you to be part of it.

A generous $10,000 matching gift means every dollar you give will be doubled.

Make your gift today — giving link in the comments!

It’s not always easy to tell when you’re reacting from an old pattern versus responding with intention.This prayer can b...
04/27/2026

It’s not always easy to tell when you’re reacting from an old pattern versus responding with intention.

This prayer can become a small but meaningful practice in those moments. It helps you notice what’s happening beneath the surface and invites the Holy Spirit to meet you there, reshaping how you show up over time.

You might return to it after a hard conversation, or right in the middle of one, as a way of re-centering in God’s presence.

If this encouraged you today, consider sharing it with a friend who might need it too.

04/22/2026

How do you start your day?

For many of us, it begins with a scroll. Before we’ve even taken a breath, we’re already carrying the weight of everything happening around us. It’s exhausting. And over time, it shapes us more than we realize.

In this short reflection, Rev. Tanner Smith names that reality and invites us to consider what’s forming us day by day, and who we’re becoming because of it.

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, this is for you.

Watch the full video on our YouTube channel. Link in bio.

04/16/2026

How do you know when it’s actually your place to speak up?

In this episode, Should I Say Something? Discerning When to Speak Hard Truth, Tanner, Chase, and Sarah explore the quiet tension behind hard conversations. They talk about the inner work it takes to show up with clarity, the courage to name what matters, and the humility to stay connected in the process.

If you’ve been anticipating a conversation you’re not sure how to have, this one’s for you. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Link in bio!

Happening this week — join us for a special screening of Leap of Faith on Thursday, April 16 at 8:00 PM at Calvin Univer...
04/13/2026

Happening this week — join us for a special screening of Leap of Faith on Thursday, April 16 at 8:00 PM at Calvin University’s Covenant Fine Arts Center.

This powerful documentary follows twelve diverse Christian leaders, brought together by The Colossian Forum, as they wrestle with some of today’s most divisive issues and discover what it might mean to disagree and still belong to one another.

Our president, Michael Gulker, who plays a central role in the film, will be there in person for a live conversation with director Nicholas Ma following the screening.

This is a unique opportunity to engage these themes together in real time. Seats are limited, and tickets are required.

Grab yours now — link in the comments.

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Grand Rapids, MI
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