Orality Journal Volume 3, Number 1, 2014 | Page 17

Creating Learning Communities

5. Finalize the cohort program. The
excitement grows as you see God
bringing together each person
as part of the cohort. At this
stage, the leader-coaches finalize
an outline of the schedule, the
lectures, guest instructors, case
studies, field trips, lodging, and
so forth. Administrative support
with these details is paramount.
Now you are ready to launch
the cohort.

Sustaining a Cohort
Below are four steps to sustaining
the cohort.
1. Pour into the leader-coaches.
Leader-coaches are the
backbone of a cohort. Provide
personal, pastoral presence
with each of the leader-coaches.
Know them. Serve them. Love
them. Pray for them. Find out
their most pressing vocational
and/or personal needs and
make every effort to meet those
needs. Provide backup support.
Be a sounding board. Link the
leader-coaches with logistical
and administrative resources
as much as possible so that
they are free to concentrate
on their main thing. Find
creative ways to say thank you.
Demonstrate how significant
their ministry is in serving the
cohort participants.

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2. Create a positive feedback
loop. Establish a system for
formal and informal feedback.
Formally, provide a survey
evaluation form for the students
to write their reflection on
the quality and impact of
the cohort. Informally, meet
with each cohort member
individually or in a smallgroup context. Engage with
them about their life, ministry,
and experience in the cohort.
Pray with them. Ask them
open-ended questions about
their experience in the cohort.
Make use of stories and the
grapevine. Let some stories
flow freely in and through the
network of interactions both
within the cohort and the
larger cohort community.
3. Innovate and promote.
Healthy feedback can serve
as a catalyst for ongoing
innovation, collaboration,
and buzz. This is huge to
the future sustainability of
a cohort. The word on the
street needs to get out in a
positive way through stories,
testimonies, and sound bites
of God at work in the lives
and ministries of the students
through the cohort. Harness
the web and word of mouth
as much as possible.