LEARN HOW TO LAUNCH AND MAINTAIN COMMUNITIES ON MISSION
Community on Mission Launch Class
Learn the ins and outs of Communities on Mission and receive coaching through the launch of your first three Communities on Mission.
This class will provide you with everything you need to know about Communities on Mission. We’ll also hold you accountable to ACTUALLY start at least three Communities on Mission in less than eight weeks.
What can you expect from this Launch Class?
You will understand and appreciate the bigger WHY behind Communities on Mission.
We will help you develop the leadership structure for your Communities on Mission so multiplication is easy.
You will learn how the mentoring system behind the Community on Mission works.
We will coach you along the way and help you implement what you have learned.
Each week, you will have practical action steps to launch your Communities on Mission.
We will answer every question and talk about every challenge that you are facing.
Each week, you will report on your progress and accomplishments.
You will gain insights from your peers who are learning alongside you and experiencing similar challenges.
You will actually launch Communities on Mission in your area through this course, because we will hold you accountable.
Who is the launch Class for?
Pastors, pastoral staff and Church leaders that are looking for ways to engage the community around them and re-engage those within their churches who are no longer interested in ‘church as usual’ can meet those goals through this launch class.
Church planters who desire to start something fresh and different that meets the culture where it is and isn’t ‘just another church’ will fulfill those desires with these tools.
Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs seeking to include their faith in their business and community can achieve this target using this training.

Launch Class Overview:
You will receive each week’s class material (videos, documents, handouts and homework) through the membership area. You have the whole week to complete them.
Once a week (Thursday or Saturday) the whole class will meet virtually for a Coaching-Call on Zoom to discuss and apply what we learned.
Weekly time commitment:
3-4 hours self-directed study – Completed prior to the Coaching-Call
90 minutes weekly class time – Coaching-Call on Saturday or Thursday mornings
In the Launch phase, we will move from learning to implementing. You will spend your weekly time actively working toward your launches and we will continue to meet for Coaching Calls each week on Thursdays or Saturdays to help you be successful.
Time commitment:
3-4 hours – Launch preparation per week
90 minutes – Coaching-Call
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Are You Ready To Start?
TOPICS COVERED IN THE
LAUNCH CLASS
- You will understand the bigger WHY behind Communities on Mission. (It is true in any area of our lives: If we don’t know the bigger WHY, we will get frustrated and burn out.)
- You will learn how to set up the structure of Communities on Mission so that true impact and multiplication can take place.
- You will not only get a crystal clear action plan on how to start and develop Communities on Mission, but we will *actually launch* Communities on Mission in your local context during the eight-week class.
- We will show you how to best introduce Communities on Mission in your local church without needing to change anything that you are currently doing. (Communities on Mission are one of the best ways to help traditional churches become more missional without creating frustration or having to get everyone on board.)
- We will help you set up the leadership structure for your Communities on Mission and explain in detail the difference between a “Community Leader” and a “Mission Leader” and outline why both are important.
- We will identify the five biggest needs in your community and how your church can make a difference through Communities in Mission in these areas.
- You will be part of a group of like-minded pastors who experience similar challenges and will encourage each other along the way.
- Since everything rises and falls with leadership, the class will help you identify potential leaders who can start Communities on Mission in your church. (We will also show you how we can easily train your leaders and get them ready to start a Community on Mission.)
- We will introduce you to a tool that helps leaders assess the spiritual journey of the people in their Community on Mission and outlines the next steps on their discipleship journey. (This will help your leaders know how to lead people through a spiritual process.)
- You will learn how to effectively mentor, shepherd and set up goals with your Community on Mission leaders. (The long-term success of your Communities on Mission depends on a mentor who knows how to support their leaders.)
- You will get a prayer structure to guide leaders in praying for the people in their Community on Mission. (This is a great tool that makes sure that leaders pray for the people in their Community.)
- You will receive 20+ videos and 15+ support documents that you can download as reference material for later use.
- We will have live Coaching Calls to discuss and apply what we are learning.
- You will get coaching support along the way and can ask any question that will help you understand Communities on Mission better or will help you implement what you are learning.
- As part of the Launch Class, you will get access to our Resource Library where we are constantly adding new tools, videos, worksheets, stories and documents that help you lead and oversee Communities on Mission.
Meet your Team

Dr. Philip Zimmermann
Founder Church in Action
Dr. Philip Zimmerman is the co-founder and pastor of Church in Action. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Philip is known for strategic thinking and creative problem solving. He is a social entrepreneur, pastor and church planter who has started and led many churches, non-profits, and businesses.
Philip received a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from European Nazarene College, a Masters of Arts in Spiritual Formation from Northwest Nazarene University, a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership from Regent University, and is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. When he is able, Philip teaches university courses in leadership and spiritual formation and speaks at leadership conferences around the globe. Philip has written two books: Problem Solving and Creativity and Time Management.
He loves to read in coffee shops, is working on his golf game to become a single-digit handicap, and his exclamation of choice when cut off while driving is “Aardvark” (yes, he means the animal).
Personal Motto: If you have a problem, solve it. If you cannot solve it, give it to God.

Dr. David Sharpes
Director of the Center for Applied Learning
Dr. David Sharpes has been a local church pastor and district superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene since 1989, serving from Philadelphia to Phoenix and a couple of points between. He married Carol on June 15, 1985. They have two children, Jonathan, his wife Katelyn, and son Campbell, who live in Nashville, TN, and a daughter, Hannah that lives in Olathe, KS.
Dave is a graduate of Mid-America Nazarene University, Nazarene Theological Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. His passion is to join the activity of Jesus in the world, bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to this earth. Currently, Dave is a Professor of Evangelism and Christian Witness and Director of Praxis at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City.
Personal Motto: (With God) It’s never too late to dream a new dream or imagine a new destination.

Dr. Jim G Cooper
Head Coach of the Center for Applied Learning
Dr. Jim Cooper has served as youth pastor, lead pastor, global missionary, and District Superintendent both in Brazil and the United States. His most recent pastoral assignment was 13 years as Lead Pastor for The Point~Church of the Nazarene in San Jose, CA. The Point was an innovative response to ministry in a city with 53 language groups and no majority population. The Point effectively functioned with seven language-based congregations and 22 nationalities.
An advocate of Kingdom impact through church health and missional church focus, Jim has participated in some of the most effective local church experiences. He resonates with the statement of Catherine Booth, “There is no changing the future without disturbing the present”.
Jim’s years of formal preparation focused on Political Science, Sociology, Old Testament, Theology and Parish Ministry. He received his AB in Sociology and MA in Old Testament from Southern Nazarene University, Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary and Doctor of Ministry from Phillips Graduate Seminary.
Jim resides in Oklahoma City with his wife, Betty (Pittenger), and enjoys his California family: daughter Kristan, son-in-law Mike and five grandchildren.
Personal Motto: Humankind’s most binding prison is self-focus; but thanks be to God, Christ sets prisoner’s free!

Ed Dean
Director of Church in Action USA
Ed Dean is the Director of Church in Action USA. Born in Cincinnati, OH, Ed spent the first 27 years of his carreer in Sales and Marketing as the Senior VP of Sales for Westinghouse Lighting and seven years as the Senior VP of Marketing for Dorman Products. In 2004, Ed left the marketplace to serve as an executive pastor and has served at three churches.
Ed has a degree in Sales and Marketing from Cincinnati State Technical College, Graduate School of Sales and Marketing Certificate from Syracuse University, and is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene. Ed is also a certified church consultant and has a Certification in Spiritual Direction.
Ed and his wife Vickie live in Phoenix and have two adult children: Kristopher, and his wife Samantha, located in Queens, NYC; and Kelsey, located in Phoenix. Ed enjoys being an instigator of challenge , and great food, including Skyline Chili and Gates BBQ.
Personal Motto: “The root of all our personal and emotional difficulties is a lack of togetherness…” – Dr Larry Crabb