The following is a list of seminars taught by some of our DOOR staff.  If you'd like a seminar to at your church or group event, please contact Marie Voth via email or call 303-295-3667 for scheduling.

Taking the next step: Service after a powerful mission trip

After returning home on a high of service and learning, how does a church sustain that throughout the year?  This seminar will lead leaders through ways to continue linking back to that experience and also looking forward to service and learning in your own communities.

Understanding racism in the USA requires insight into the role of white privilege.  This seminar will help groups of all ages to understand the implications having rights based on the color of skin. 

During these hard economic times, tent cities have become newsmakers showing the reality of poverty in new ways.  This seminar will help folks see some of the roots of poverty and the cost of poverty on society in ways to involve the church in working with poverty issues.

 Why don’t we travel “across the tracks”?  Why do we label things “black music” or “white music”?  This seminar will help understand notions of culture that go unnoticed and then help outline ways to cross cultures in ways that are healthy, meaningful, and life giving.

Preparing your Youth Group for a Service Learning Experience Weekend – see what the book  Merge-A Guidebook for Youth Service Trips is about

Short Term Mission Teams need ample training and preparation before embarking upon the given trip and task at hand. Without such training short term teams can do more damage than good.  On the other hand, teams with better orientation not only are a greater help to the community but also understand the deeper implication of their presence on the “receiving” community and the impact upon themselves as well as their “sending” community.

To teach and train middle school leaders in appropriate ways to frame and provide meaningful service learning experiences for the very special age group of 12-14 year olds.

What the Heck Just Happened?

Developing activities, and spaces for reflections on group experiences such as service projects, group activities, or common group experiences of trauma of various degrees.

The Mission of your Mission Trip

Mission trips are valuable in shaping both group and personal faith journeys.  Yes, mission trips help to grow disciples.  Is the mission experience in line with the mission of your group? Will your group grow in areas that will further your long term mission or will logistical pitfalls waste both time and effort. This workshop will explore the 'big picture' of preparing a trip to grow your group while highlighting important details not to be over looked in a service learning experience.

U.S. Urban Ministry as Preparation for Cross Cultural Ministry Anywhere

Only so much class-room style learning can prepare your group before a cross cultural mission opportunity.  However urban mission experiences right here at home begin to break down stereotypes of those we engage with in partnership and can prepare your group for a trip abroad. Engage in the discussion of preparing for cross cultural ministry by crossing those cultures in US cities.

Realizing the Gifts of the Poor

Look at engaging your local community with more than charity. The other must be seen as brother and sister.  Realize the assets of the area and its people and begin to break the cycles of poverty.

Bringing Our Gifts; Bringing Ourselves

Mission participation involves the giving of ourselves and our resources. This panel discussion will address ways to keep these important elements of mission in a healthy perspective. The panelists will represent a wide range of mission participation.

Lessons from the City

The urban church in America has much to teach us about healthy ministry.  In the city we find churches working across denominational and social lines as a matter of standard practice.  Urban churches know that collaboration and respect are key to effective ministry.  In this seminar we will share stories and examples of creatively working together without sacrificing distinctiveness.