The church needs passionate spiritual disciples. Here’s how to form them.

With Creating Space, you're invited on a transformative journey into spiritual leadership. Discover practical tools and deep insights to help you create environments where authentic discipleship can truly flourish. Move beyond traditional, program-centered ministry and start cultivating vibrant, relational, and accountable discipleship communities that can spark spiritual renewal and growth.

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Why the church continues to decline in almost every metric is the great contemporary dilemma of pastors and church leaders.

One thing is certain: The root cause for the lack of impact and fruitfulness of the church is a shortage of authentic disciples of Jesus.

Growth requires discipleship—not just any form of discipleship, though, but passionate discipleship.

And passion is a function of environment.

We thrive when we fit, when we have a strong sense of belonging, purpose, and shared mission in a community. When the conditions of mission align, everything changes—instead of pulling and struggling along, we are practically propelled forward.

Creating the right environment is essential if you are hoping to thrive and multiply.

When we begin to discover environments where we can dream about our contribution to the world—when we begin to see ourselves as an essential part of God’s plan—we find
passion and energy to live a deeper sense of purpose and calling. Our work becomes meaningful, and our relationships become powerful.

With Sims and Robertson as guides, discover the transformative power of discipleship environments. Creating Space offers practical guidance on how to create environments
where disciples of Jesus can truly thrive and multiply. Drawing from decades of ministry experience, the authors explore the challenges facing the modern church and provide a
compelling vision for nurturing authentic, passionate spiritual disciples who embody the love and mission of Jesus.

The book emphasizes the importance of deep listening, accountable relationships, and intentional disciple-making environments that can ignite a movement of spiritual renewal
within churches and communities.

Through biblical wisdom, powerful narratives, and actionable tools, Creating Space equips leaders and laypeople alike to shift from maintaining programs to fostering transformative relationships.

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About SLI

Founded in 2000, Spiritual Leadership, Inc. (SLI) is a pioneering organization committed to seeing God transform churches into thriving, healthy, and vibrant communities. At its core, SLI is dedicated to empowering congregations to make a significant impact in their communities and beyond, fostering environments where authenticity, effective leadership, and a clear sense of purpose flourish.

SLI believes that a healthy church community is a beacon of hope, especially in times of deconstruction, malaise, and uncertainty. The organization works tirelessly to equip leaders and communities to walk fully with Jesus, guided by the Spirit, through their greatest challenges toward Kingdom joy and impact to the glory of God, spreading the gospel of Jesus.

Why SLI?

At SLI, we equip individuals and teams to navigate their journey with Jesus, with a clear focus and guidance through the Spirit. We help them confront anxiety and challenges with a sense of purpose and direction, aiming for Kingdom joy and a lasting impact. Our hope is to see every ministry community we work with flourish and make a profound difference in the world.

A Journey of Transformation

Since its inception, SLI has been at the forefront of creating transformative environments in churches and ministries worldwide. The journey began with ministry leaders and has since expanded to support anyone with a desire to lead, whether it be in a large congregation, a family, or a group of friends. Over the years, SLI has developed tools and practices that empower leaders to build effective teams and communities that don’t rely on any single person but thrive through collective strength and unity.

The L3 Framework: Loving, Learning, and Leading

SLI’s innovative L3 framework is the cornerstone of its approach. This model emphasizes that leading well starts with loving well and learning well. The heart of Jesus is cultivated in transforming relationships, leading to the development of healthy hearts that love deeply, learn eagerly, and lead effectively. Each aspect of the framework supports and builds upon the others, creating a cycle of continuous growth and improvement. Through this process, leaders are not only empowered but are also inspired to plant the heart of Jesus in others, fostering a ripple effect of positive change.

Global Impact

SLI has made a significant impact across diverse cultures and settings around the globe. Whether working with newly established ministries, growing congregations, or communities experiencing stagnation or decline, SLI provides the resources and foundation necessary for organizations to make it to their next step. The organization's approach has helped countless ministries become nimble, capable, and resilient in the face of challenges.

A Unique Perspective on Leadership

SLI views spiritual leadership not merely as a position or a set of tools but as an interconnected, purpose-driven journey in Christ. This perspective emphasizes the importance of community and collaboration, focusing on what matters most to help each community achieve its fullest potential.

Through its unwavering commitment to fostering thriving church communities, SLI continues to inspire and empower leaders to create lasting, transformative change, guided by the love and wisdom of Jesus Christ.

Bryan D. Sims

Bryan is the mobilization partner with Spiritual Leadership, Inc. (SLI) and has worked as a leadership and organizational change coach since 2001, where he has trained and
coached leaders, teams, churches, and organizations over extended periods of time to bring spiritual awakening and missional effectiveness. He oversees coach training and
serves on the SLI lead team providing strategic direction. He has coached in Anglican, Methodist, Free Methodist, Wesleyan, Baptist, Presbyterian, and nondenominational
settings.

Bryan is an Anglican Priest and has been a professor of leadership and lay equipping at Asbury Theological Seminary since 2011. His teaching expertise relates to team leadership, equipping, leading change, adaptive spiritual leadership, and the link between leadership and discipleship.

Bryan is a graduate of West Texas A&M University (1998) and Asbury Theological Seminary (MDiv, 2003), and has a PhD in organizational leadership from Regent University (2009). He is the author of Leading Together: The Holy Possibility of Harmony and Synergy in the Face of Change (100M Publishing, 2022) and authored a
chapter in Leadership the Wesleyan Way (Emeth Press, 2016).

He and his wife, MyLinda, have been happily married since 1997 and have four children: Isaiah, Luke, Silas, and Lydia.

Craig W. Robertson

Craig is a founding partner and development director of SLI. This nonprofit organization began its ministry in June of 2000 and has walked alongside thousands of
churches, their judicatories, and leaders. SLI has discovered, developed, and deployed hundreds of specialists and coaches who are serving across the world. Craig’s role works to develop relationships and discover new areas where SLI’s ministry can come alongside leaders to help bring transformation. Craig’s project focus is on large regional
areas and judicatories, coach and project development, and serving on SLI’s lead team providing strategic direction to the organization.

Craig’s leadership experience includes founding and serving as president of Lightpath, Inc., an engineering systems integration firm. This company was purchased by one-time Fortune 500 company Ogden, Inc., an environmental engineering firm where Craig became the national technical director. He was then recruited to serve Ogeta Services, a geographic information services firm as chairman of the board and CEO.

His passion for spiritual leadership and the pursuit of unity, alignment, and fruitfulness contributes to the worldwide effort of SLI to see spiritual leaders living their calling and working for transformation.

Craig and his wife, Jill, married in 1983 and have been blessed with two wonderful children.

Reviews

What people are saying...

In this compelling and insightful book, Bryan and Craig address one of the most crucial yet often overlooked challenges facing the modern church—non-discipleship and the path to overcoming it. Drawing from years of experience as disciples and leaders, they offer practical wisdom for transforming churches into disciple-making communities. Alan and Debra Hirsch, founders of Forge Missional Training Network and Movement Leaders Collective. Authors of numerous books on discipleship, theology, leadership, and organization

Alan and Debra Hirsch

founders of Forge Missional Training Network and Movement Leaders Collective. Authors of numerous books on discipleship, theology, leadership, and organization

It is a true and deep kindness to tell the truth. This is what Greg has offered us, and I pray as you read this book, you’ll catch the courage of honest hope.

Danielle Strickland

Boundless Communications Inc., Women Speakers Collective, IMBY, Brave Global, Infinitum, and Hagar’s Voice (support and advocacy for survivors of abuse)

In this insightful book, Craig and Bryan explore the current state of the North American church, emphasizing the need for specific strategies to address its challenges. They highlight how general conversations about the church’s decline often prevent meaningful change. Drawing from historical and personal experiences, they advocate for spaces where individuals can discover their unique role in God’s plan. Through inspiring stories and reflections, the authors invite readers to shift from passive observation to active participation in God’s transformative work, empowering Passionate Spiritual Disciples to flourish and impact the world.

Romal Tune

VP for Strategic Partnership at TMS Global, author of God Graffiti, Love is an Inside Job, and I Wish My Dad

Do you want to go on a fun adventure? Bryan and Craig are experienced field guides who can lead you on this journey of creating authentic spaces for dynamic disciple-making for Jesus. This book is packed with practical, field-proven, and time-tested methods for creating thriving environments for sustainable change in people's lives. I have been blessed to collaborate with Bryan and Craig for real results that actually matter. Join the revolution!

Matthew Hartsfield

Lead Pastor of Bay Hope Church in Tampa Bay and author of Shouting at Jesus

I still remember the flash of wonderful discovery as our leaders began their journey into the world of spiritual leadership under the capable guidance of Bryan Sims. We learned the value of cultivating health at every level -- emotional, spiritual, corporate and personal -- and the decisions we made even in our earliest days have impacted our community dramatically. Now, Bryan and Craig have made it all so accessible in this volume and I can't recommend it highly enough. It’s more than a book. It is an invitation into the kind of community life we all long for, the kind that welcomes and advances the Kingdom of God.

Carolyn Moore

founding pastor, Mosaic Church

For years, the local church has expended itself in the far-too-small mission of filling volunteer roles within its walls—ushers, kids ministry leaders, etc. Craig Robertson and Bryan Sims have flipped the script and offered us the WHY and HOW to equip Jesus followers to discover their God-calling and to live it out in every area of their lives. Imagine what could happen if the local church were to live into this Kingdom concept! --Mike Schreiner, Lead Pastor, Morning Star Church, St. Louis, MO and author of Stride: Creating a Discipleship Pathway for Your Church

Mike Schreiner

Lead Pastor, Morning Star Church, St. Louis, MO and author of Stride: Creating a Discipleship Pathway for Your Church

For nearly 20 years, I have been a learning and experimenting practitioner of the principles and processes that Bryan and Craig masterfully write about in this very practical book. By God’s grace, I have caught glimpses of called, equipped and released passionate apprentices of Jesus and their teams running loose in our church and community. And as a result, we have gotten a front row seat at life, family, business, and yes, even community transformation.

Jorge Acevedo

leadership coach, writer, speaker, retired pastor and author of Everybody Needs Some Cave Time

How are people moved to a spiritual place of wonder and curiosity? Intentional space must be created for that to happen. The surroundings or conditions in which a person lives or operates directly impact the growth, healing, progress, and functioning of that person and whoever is in that person’s path. That which surrounds us makes a difference. --Sandra Steiner Ball, Resident Bishop, Western Pennsylvania Conference, The United Methodist Church

Sandra Steiner Ball

Resident Bishop, Western Pennsylvania Conference, The United Methodist Church

Creating Space: Cultivating Environments for Disciples of Jesus to Thrive and Multiply is a much-needed work especially as Christians across the world are experiencing challenging environments in which to live out their Christian faith with truthfulness and integrity. Creatively conceived and carefully written, this work will make a lasting difference in the church to the glory of Jesus Christ. I highly recommend it.

Kenneth J. Collins, Ph.D.

internationally recognized scholar in the field of Historical Theology and Wesley studies and author of seventeen books and scores of articles

Consider the benefits of Creating Space:

Practical Tools for Leadership

Gain actionable tools and strategies to shift from traditional program-focused ministry to cultivating environments that foster authentic, relational, and accountable discipleship. These tools are designed to help leaders and laypeople create spaces where spiritual growth can thrive.

Deepened Spiritual Insight

The book offers profound insights into the nature of discipleship, encouraging readers to rethink their approach to ministry and spiritual leadership. By integrating biblical wisdom with real-life examples, you will deepen your understanding of how to nurture passionate disciples of Jesus.

Lasting Impact

You will be empowered to make a significant and lasting impact in your church and community. The book provides a clear vision for how to create multiplying discipleship environments that lead to spiritual renewal, equipping readers to lead transformative change that extends beyond the walls of the church.

Spark spiritual renewal and growth.

Learn to cultivate environments where disciples of Jesus can flourish and multiply, leading to lasting change in the church and beyond.

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