Who are we?

We are a relational, healing community of leaders who are seeking to become like Christ.

Relational? What do you mean by “relational”?

We are knit together by our relationships one to another and our relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ. As such, we are committed to facing any barriers to relational wholeness with God and each other.

A community? Does that mean you live and eat together?

By community, we mean that we share life together. We share common purposes and goals. We share our joys and sorrows together. Overtime we are becoming more mature, more resilient, and healthier. We are not a church. Most people in our community attend a church of their choice. At HCI we try to fill in the gaps with what we need to flourish—spiritually, relationally, emotionally, and physically.

 

What is your goal?

Our goal, as leaders, is to become like Jesus. By becoming like him, we mean that we want to be the person he would be if he were, for example, a sixty-seven-year-old woman leading a ministry in Reston, Virginia. Or a thirty-two-year-old man or woman teaching in East Africa. Or a nineteen-year-old college student from China. We ask: How would Jesus live if he were me in my life today as I take care of my family, engage with my co-workers, head a company, lead a ministry, interact with my neighbors, or even manage myself?

 

Become like Christ? What does that look like?

We desire to fully engage with God in every aspect of our lives. To turn toward him, not away. To listen well. To receive each other as we are. To become more whole hearted. We believe that everyone needs healing. We all suffer in this life. Our suffering stirs up buried pain and provides opportunities for deep healing. In healthy community we suffer well together.

 

Why are you focused on leaders?

Our founder, Betsy Stalcup, had a vision about a decade ago where the Lord told her to feed the leaders and they would take care of everyone else. We have learned that leaders need love and support. Leadership can be very isolating. It can be hard to find safe places where leaders can share the reality of their lives and simply be loved and received. We love what God has called us to do!

Who is a leader?

We have a very broad definition of leader. You are a leader if you are leading in any capacity—at home, in the workplace, in the community, in the church, etc. Our desire is to nourish and train leaders so that they are encouraged, strengthened, more effective in the work God has called them to, and have the capacity to minister to those who are in need. Many of our initiatives come from the leaders in our community who see a need and address it.

 

What is unique about HCI?

Over the nearly two decades that we have been in existence, we have developed a distinct culture that is safe and nourishing. Through careful discernment in regard to the greatest needs among Christians today, we have identified and brought together some of the best resources available today (including the Life Model, HeartSync, and the Immanuel Approach) and have developed additional resources as needed. After incorporating those resources into our own lives, we endeavor to train others in how to minister in those areas as well. In practical terms this means that we attune to each other, understand that we are not there to fix each other, and are able to help each other encounter God to know him better, love him more, and become more like him. We also receive healing and comfort from the Lord. We pay attention to grief and sorrow. We practice spiritual exercises and healing prayer.

 

How can I find out more about HCI?

Since we are a relational network, there are many ways to engage with our community. To get to know us better we recommend:

 

If you want to know more about us, you can:

I also see that you have leadership development (LD) groups. Can you tell me about them?

The purpose of our Leadership Development groups is twofold, first, to create small relational community groups where people can share the joys and sorrows of life authentically with each other. We have learned that healing is bolstered by community. The second purpose is to teach our community the relational skills and spiritual practices they need to thrive. We teach them, they teach their communities. In other words, they teach their church small group, their family, their neighbors, their co-workers. Each is called by God to serve in some capacity.

New entry level groups begin each January. To join a group, you must be recommended by someone who is already in a group. In other words, we need to know you! A good way to get to know us is to take a class, or participant in a support group such as Daily Connect or Grief Support.

LD group members are expected to join our network by the end of their first year in Leadership Development.

 

What skills do you teach at your leadership development groups?

  • We have a multi-year curriculum which includes skills such as:

  • Quieting, recognizing overwhelm, and regulating emotions

  • Listening so others feel seen, heard, understood, and loved

  • The Immanuel Approach

  • Maturity Skills

  • Speaking the Truth in Love

  • Healthy Relationships Not Co-Dependency

 

Can you tell me more about your Leadership Retreat?

We host an annual leadership retreat for our community. It is usually held in late June. Our retreat is aimed at those in Leadership Development groups but is appropriate for anyone who is familiar with the Life Model, the Immanuel Approach, or HeartSync.

 

What classes should I take first?

Many of our classes are introductory and can be taken in no particular order. However, we see Forming, Listening for Heaven’s Sake, and the Immanuel Approach as foundational to all we do. Living Relationally is also a good place to start.

 

Great. When will you offer Forming next?

 Oh, how we wish we knew! Our classes are taught by our leaders on a volunteer basis. They are free to teach whichever class God is leading them to teach, as well as develop new material. As a result, we typically do not know what classes are coming until a few weeks before they are advertised on our website and newsletter.


Are there other options?

Yes, you can teach a class. We will help you teach it! We can provide recommendations, support to get you started, or possibly even connect you with someone who can help you facilitate a class for your group. We have several curriculums we have developed or that we endorse. We recommend starting with Forming because it practically teaches itself. For more information on Forming, you can also visit the Forming Course website. The next step would be Listening for Heaven’s Sake, a class developed by Equipping Ministries International. You can also take Listening For Heaven’s Sake directly from the EMI folks. The third step would be to learn the Immanuel Approach. This can be done in a number of ways.

Do you have any resources you would recommend?

Yes! We love to equip people. We offer:

What else should I know?

We recently launched and 11-episode podcast series, A God Worth Knowing, where we introduce especially millennial listeners to many of the key concepts and skills that we embody at HCI. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, as well as through the A God Worth Knowing website.