The Co-Creators Incubator is a two-year integrative program for missional entrepreneurs that helps grow ministry ideas into viable ventures with a Christ-centered mission. The Incubator fosters a spirit of collegiality and collaboration amongst a cohort of Co-Creators, while providing them with resources to enhance and grow their ministries. In pursuit of partnership and sustainability, the Co-Creators Incubator will engage both the missional entrepreneurs as well as Creative Partners who may invest in the work of Co-Creators via financial or other means.

What is a Co-Creator?

Co-Creators are mission-minded, creative, entrepreneurial people eager to put ideas into action. Co-Creators exist at many junctures in their journey — one might be ready to launch an idea or project while another is still in brainstorming mode.

How exactly does this thing work? 

Through the Co-Creators Incubator, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) will bring together Co-Creators and Creative Partners to provide resources and support to nurture the growth of innovative ministry ideas.

Each Co-Creator will receive an initial seed grant and the opportunity to meet with the Co-Creator Cohort for two summits within the first year.

During the first Kickoff Summit, April 12-14, 2021, Co-Creators will be paired with mentors possessing expertise in entrepreneurship, theological framing, cultural competency, leadership development, program development, marketing, administration and law, and strategic partnerships. This time will be one of storytelling, collaboration and experimentation.

At the second Launch Summit, Oct. 18-19, 2021, Co-Creators will participate in Demo Day where they will pitch their ideas to Creative Partners who may choose to provide ongoing support and opportunities for partnership.

Why an Incubator?

It troubles us when we hear things like, The Church isn’t relevant anymore or There aren’t any new leaders.

It troubles us because it isn’t true. God’s work with and through God’s people persists; we may just need to assume a different vantage point. We believe Christian leadership has a vast definition and that ministry can – and often should – look different from how it has in the past. An abundance of fresh ideas wafts through our churches. Innovative thinkers feverishly scribble ideas into notepads. Mission-minded leaders constantly discover new ways to impact their communities for good.

God is planting seeds everywhere; we just need to look for them in some new places. The Co-Creators Incubator exists to water those seeds and help bring them to life.