Continuous Growth Pathway - CGP

03/11/2026

ELCA Pastors and Deacons! The application process is open for the next Prairie Fire Community 2026-2027. Here's more about it and a link to apply.

https://youtu.be/QRJ8g6M8k68

www.prairiefirecommunity.com

02/16/2026

Calling ELCA Preachers! Year 2 of Prairie Fire Preaching Community is now open for applications!

Prairie Fire Preaching Community is about you. You choose your own goals and we will provide voices from both inside and outside the church to inspire you so you can consider your preaching in new ways. Make the precious time and be part of a trusted community to contemplate your own preaching.

01/13/2026

Prairie Fire retreat #2 is well under way. Anna Carter Florence, Jacob Myers (Columbia Seminary) professors and preachers along with artists The OK Factor and Robyn Sand Anderson have helped preachers experience and experiment with creativity.

10/31/2025

The Prairie Fire Preaching Community just concluded its first retreat. Participants from 4 ELCA synods gathered to learn from one another, a working preacher, and to consider what non-preaching people have to teach us about inspiration and listening.

Thank you to Vanessa Goodthunder, Joe Davis, and David Lose.

Thank you to Hayden Kvamme, Lisa Janke, and Mindy Czycalla for your cohort leadership.

Thank you to this first round of Prairie Fire Participants - you are helping us refine and make Prairie Fire better and better!

And thank you to Mt. Olivet Conference and Retreat Center - the setting for each (quarterly) retreat.

09/03/2025

Opening convocation at Gustavus Adolphus College this past Tuesday. What a gift to be part of this community through my work with Continuous Growth Pathway. Rostered Leaders who are part of CGP know they are cared for by Gustavus - a college of the church.

09/02/2025

Hey Prairie Fire people! This is one of the experts who will be part of our 2026 May retreat. Listeng to voices out in the world is so important for the life of the gospel on our lips!

https://www.vogue.com/article/morgan-riddle-us-open-2025-interview?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMkR7tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHtHhc_f2Zvu9s7lAJK678WNMS9ipmeAwU3i_ZABuQv14tsqg_lqQp5NsgQA0_aem_MZFAE1BBfy24cbpIrBuFgw

Morgan Riddle, the longtime partner of Taylor Fritz, the highest-ranked American tennis player, is bringing a new fandom to the sport.

03/03/2025

Put your hands in the air for Pastor Hayden Kvamme! He serves Gloria Dei in Rochester, MN, and invites you to contemplate small or big changes to your preaching style. Prairie Fire will give you the time you need to actually contemplate a change so you can feel ready to take a risk in such a public and vulnerable act.

And maybe, just maybe, you'll have some fun in Prairie Fire!

**Perhaps the video maker (ME, not Hayden) was getting a little goofy making this video. I mean, maybe.**

Put your hands in the air for Pastor Hayden Kvamme! He serves Gloria Dei in Rochester, MN, and invites you to contemplate small or big changes to your preac...

02/24/2025

Pastor Melanie talks about how important it is to have colleagues to lean on when it comes to preaching. And how important it is to engage with scripture in new ways. Tell your pastor/deacon/chaplain about Prairie Fire!

Pastor Melanie Wallschläger shares that preaching is a consistent place she experiences ministry high points and low points. She talks about her own struggle...

02/20/2025

Another day, another opportunity to post about preaching. It's like it's important or something!

Pastor Mindy Czycalla (that's "Sha-Calla") is Pastor to 3 - count 'em 3! - rural congregations in SW MN. Rural Cosmos, Hector, and Litchfield, if you're into geography. So she's got a leg (or 3?!) to stand on when it comes to valuing the time you can give to your preaching through Prairie Fire.

Watch and listen right here:

Pastor Mindy Czycalla (Sha-calla) is a pastor to 4 congregations in rural Cosmos, Hector, and Litchfield! So she's got a leg to stand on (or 4?) to talk to y...

02/18/2025

You want your preacher to love what they do, right? Prairie Fire Preaching Community will give your preacher the time to tend to this vital task, skill, and craft.

Pastor Justin Boeding invites new and experienced preachers to apply to Prairie Fire!

Justin Boeding, Lead Pastor at United in Redwing MN, invites you to fall in love with the craft of preaching again.

02/17/2025

Baby, it's cold outside. Prairie Fire may not prevent frost bite, but it will fire you up! ;) Take Pastor Bryant Kaden's word for it.

Bryant Kaden, one of the pastors at Gloria Dei in Redwood Falls, takes seriously the task and art of preaching. He takes it so seriously, his phone battery a...