Leadership Development

How We Work

Leadership Development for Health & Social Service Organizations

NBA offers education, companionship, inspiration, and resources to strengthen Disciples leaders including clergy, chaplains, social entrepreneurs, community organizers, nonprofit administrators, and young adults committed to justice work. We support the growth of and care for leaders by offering peer learning and wellness groups, continuing education, mental health and wellness tools, and more.

Our hope is to and invite people of faith into activism and advocacy for communities that are often overlooked and underserved. NBA partners with Disciples leaders in the shared work of creating compassion, healing, and justice for all of humanity.


Program Areas

Strengthen Your Ministry in Partnership with NBA

Explore the ways NBA supports and restores Disciples leaders to continue our shared work of transforming communities.

Leadership Development Stories and News

Health & Social Service Partner New Communion Reflects on the Impact of Working with NBA

As New Communion’s time as an Incubate Partner came to an end, we spoke with David Harrison to learn more about the organization, how it’s changed throughout its partnership with NBA, and what it has meant to have the support of the organization over the last several years.

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NBA Welcomes the first Full-Time Senior Justice Coordinator with Plans to Expand Social Justice Work

We are excited to announce the newest member of our staff and the justice work they'll be involved in.

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Warm Up with This Green Chile Stew Recipe

It’s soup season! Warm up with this green chile stew recipe from Dr. Chad Vickers.

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Grief During the Holidays

As the busy holiday season presses on, Carolina Fuentes, a member of our Mental Health Equity Cohort shares tips for navigating and making space for grief during the busy holiday season.

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Introducing NBA’s Mental Health Equity Cohort’s Holiday Series

Each year, we offer a mental health and wellness holiday resources to encourage you to prioritize holistic wellness during the wintertime and the holidays. This year, our round up of holiday wellness resources is brought to you by NBA’s Mental Health Equity Cohort.

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Connection & Care: A Recap of NBA’s Mental Health Professionals Conference

NBA’s Mental Health & Wellness program brought together therapists from across the country for our first in person conference exclusively designed for mental health professionals.

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A Space to Belong: Mission & Ministry Grant Supports Community Center for Trans & Gender-Diverse Community

In 2022, Galileo Christian Church established Finn’s Place, a community center where trans and gender-diverse people gather, grow, and flourish.

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Camp Sunflower Provides a Place for LGBTQ+ Youth to Soar

Recently, Social Entrepreneur Program Coordinator Rev. Ashley Mayham and NBA trustee Wanda Scott visited Camp Sunflower in Wichita, Kansas to observe how the ministry has grown since they first engaged with NBA in 2019.

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NBA Welcomes Two Social Entrepreneur Cohort Members as Incubate Partners

We are excited to introduce our two new Incubate Partners joining us this year.

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Mission & Ministry Grant Supports Those in Addiction Recovery

The wake up call that lead to a ministry that supports those recovering from addition.

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Meet the 2023 Social Entrepreneur Cohort

Meet our third group of individuals and the ministries they’re building.

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NBA Board of Trustees Fall 2022 Meeting Centered on Partnerships

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NBA Invites Three New Organizations to Become Incubate Partners

Meet our newest Incubate Partners for 2022!

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Wellness, Rhythm & Balance: A Retreat for Peer Groups

In the spring, NBA brought together members of our Peer Learning and Wellness Groups for a weekend of fellowship, reflection, and healing.

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Deepening Connections Among NBA’s Entrepreneurs

Earlier this year, NBA’s social entrepreneurship team planned its first in-person trip for our 2021 and 2022 Social Entrepreneurship Cohorts.

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Celebrating Our Stories of Cultural Resilience: Sharing Diverse Mental Health Stories

Joselyn Spence, NBA Director of Mental Health & Wellness has curated a group of activists, therapists, and pastors to share their stories.

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NBA’s Mental Health Work Heads to Kentucky

Chaplains in Kentucky gather with the Director of Mental Health and Wellness Joselyn Spence.

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Supporting Sustainability: Invested Faith Seeds $10,000 into NBA Social Entrepreneurs

In 2021, we launched our first Social Entrepreneur Cohort with the goal to intentionally and sustainably support up-and-coming social enterprises. Since then, cohort members have gone on to launch and grow their organizations and receive funding from other CC(DOC) partners, including Invested Faith.

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Peer Learning & Wellness Groups Create a Place to Connect, Be Seen and Heard

NBA is in the process of launching several Peer Learning & Wellness Groups that center voices of color. Meet the conveners leading the charge.

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Meet the 2022 Social Entrepreneurship Cohort

Meet the 10 new social entrepreneurs who will spend 2022 growing their new nonprofits as part of NBA’s Social Entrepreneurship Cohort!

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A Year In Review: The Inaugural Social Entrepreneurship Cohort on a Year of Growth

After spending a year working with NBA's Social Entrepreneurship team, the 2021 SENT Cohort reflects on its impact.

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12 Days of Wellness—Mental Health Tips for the Holiday Season from NBA Cares

INTRODUCING: The 12 Days of Wellness! Mental health and wellness tips for the holiday season.

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NBA Announces Fall 2021 Mission & Ministry Grantees

We are excited to announce our Fall 2021 Mission & Ministry Grantees! This program granted a total of $185,500 to 35 Disciples projects working with older adults, children, and youth.

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Reflections on the Impact of NBA’s Executive Leaders Peer Learning and Wellness Group

Read about the impact of NBA’s Executive Leaders Peer Learning & Wellness Group.

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NBA Adds New Staff Members to Aid in Mental Health, Justice, and Development Work

Over the last few months, we’ve added several new faces to our team. Get to know them!

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Mental Health, Wellness, and My Faith Journey

“Focusing on my wellness allows me to embody commandments like Sabbath and prioritize my joy and my rest,” shares Joselyn Spence, NBA’s Director of Mental Health & Wellness. Read about how her journey to deepen her faith and care for her mental health were intertwined.

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Coping with Trauma in the Wake of the 9/11 Anniversary

This September marks the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Here are ways to cope with trauma from these past events.

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Focusing on the Future: An Update on NBA XPLOR

NBA XPLOR update! The traditional residential model will stay on hiatus for 2021 with NBA’s team putting energy towards three exciting new ventures.

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Celebrating 10 Years of Service: A Q&A with President and CEO Mark Anderson

10 years after Mark D. Anderson began at NBA as President and CEO, he's taken some time to reflect on what this ministry has meant to him.

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Social Entrepreneurship: The Good News of Reimagining the Work of the Church

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Learn and Grow with NBA Resources

Mental Health from the Sacred Desk: How Clergy and Leaders Can Address and Incorporate Mental Health in Their Work

Statistics show that clergy are often the first point of contact when congregants are facing mental health concerns, therefore it's important for leaders to know ways to reduce stigma, normalize receiving mental health care, and incorporate wellness practices in what they teach and how they lead.

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Communal Mental Health: How We Care for Our Mental Health Together

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SoulCare Moment: Let Us Breathe

Take a moment to pause, process, and breathe.

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SoulCare: A Guided Breathing Exercise

Join Director of Mental Health & Wellness Joselyn Spence as she walks you through a guided breathing meditation.

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Steward Your Self Care: A Self-Care Plan and Coloring Book

There is never a bad time to start (or update) your self-care practice. Start creating yours with the help of this guide!

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Surviving the Holidays

Wes Parks, a Licensed Professional Counselor shares his tips for maintaining boundaries and mental wellness during the holidays.

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Warm Up with This Green Chile Stew Recipe

It’s soup season! Warm up with this green chile stew recipe from Dr. Chad Vickers.

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Visio Divina: A Mindfulness Practice

Zaemelys Ramos-Rodriguez, a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Student, Research Assistant, walks viewers through Visio Divina (Latin for "Divine Seeing”) a method of praying with images and other media.

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Introducing NBA’s Mental Health Equity Cohort’s Holiday Series

Each year, we offer a mental health and wellness holiday resources to encourage you to prioritize holistic wellness during the wintertime and the holidays. This year, our round up of holiday wellness resources is brought to you by NBA’s Mental Health Equity Cohort.

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NBA Impact Report 2022

Read and download the 20-page PDF of the 2022 NBA Impact Report, featuring stories from NBA programs, partners, and Disciples leaders.

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The Corner: A BIPOC Clergy Retreat Model

The Corner: A BIPOC Clergy Retreat Model

In this 24-page booklet, you'll find research on the importance of clergy wellness, an editable retreat design plan, and a sample schedule and activities to plan your own wellness retreat for BIPOC clergy.

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Pride SoulCare

Celebrate Pride Month and beyond by taking a moment to pause and process with the National Benevolent Association and Alliance Q.

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2023 NBA Town Hall

There have been so many exciting resources, initiatives and partnerships at NBA recently, hear all about it!

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SoulCare: Lunch Break

Feeling stressed in the middle of your workday? Take a moment to pause, connect to your body, and focus on your breath.

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Gun Violence and Mental Health

Resources focusing on the intersection of gun violence, trauma, and ways to care for our mental health and the mental health of our communities.

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The Zillennial Experience: Faith, Justice, and Community

As younger Millennials and the first of Generation-Z are being ushered into adulthood, NBA offers a panel discussion with young adults and young adult leaders, influencers, and supporters.

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Back to the Basics: Self-Care and Wellness for Clergy and Leaders

This webinar provides a new year’s refresher on sustainable self-care and wellness practices and strategies for clergy and leaders who are always on the go.

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SoulCare: Warmth and Wellness

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Mental Health & Wellness Access with Well Watered Soul Inc.

Joselyn Spence sat down to talk to the founders of Well Watered Soul to Discuss the power of mental health access.

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Celebrating Our Stories of Cultural Resilience: Sharing Diverse Mental Health Stories

Joselyn Spence, NBA Director of Mental Health & Wellness has curated a group of activists, therapists, and pastors to share their stories.

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Closing Mental Health Awareness Month 2022: Inspiration for the Road Ahead

As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month 2022, NBA Director of Mental Health and Wellness, Joselyn Spence reflects on our month of resources, creative submissions, and scripture.

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Empowering Others Through Their Mental Health Journey

This post has resources and content that center the topic of empowerment.

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Dealing with Depression

This post has resources and content that center depression.

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Seeking Professional Help

Looking for a professional to aid in your mental health journey? This post has resources on where to find a professional that fits your needs.

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Mental Health and the Brain

This post has resources and content that center mental health and the brain.

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Dealing with Trauma, Anxiety, and Shame

For Mental Health Awareness Month we asked Disciples to respond creatively to this question: Where do you see God in your mental health journey? Today we share resources and content that centers anxiety, trauma, and shame.

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God and Community in Mental Health Journeys

This post has resources and content that center God and community in mental health journeys.

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12 Days of Wellness—Mental Health Tips for the Holiday Season from NBA Cares

INTRODUCING: The 12 Days of Wellness! Mental health and wellness tips for the holiday season.

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Grieving Well: Addressing Grief and Depression for Clergy and Leaders

This webinar explores the foundations of grief: what we grieve, how we grieve, and the ways we can grieve well. We will also explore best practices for grief support.

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Sustainable Fundraising: Building a Community of Support with the New Generation of Donors

Fundraising Consultant Kerri-Ann Appleton shares her tips for building a sustainable community of donors.

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