Speaking and Workshops
Today's emerging generations are the most unique that have ever existed, and earning their trust requires that you do things more differently than ever. We help faith-based and mission-driven organizations engage and connect with young people to create belonging, deepen faith and discover purpose and meaning through dynamic keynotes talks and engaging Sacred Listening workshops where we teach you step by step how to implement and scale relational ministry in your organization. We can also tailor talks and workshops to meet your specific needs.
Engage Emerging Generations with Confidence
Speaking
Belonging Precedes Believing
In order to create true and lasting belief and commitments among people you need to make sure they feel like they belong first. This is time of unprecedented loneliness and younger generations are the loneliest on record. Engaging them in a digital world is a challenge for parents, pastors, and educators alike. In this talk you'll learn how to effectively create a sense of belonging and why it's so important for their flourishing.
Listening is Sacred
The decline of institutional trust is the single biggest social trend impacting how people engage with organizations today, but most leaders don't understand how to respond to this social trend. Instead, we keep using high-trust tools in a low-trust world and moving backward with the people we're trying to reach. Learn how to align the low-trust tools of relationships rooted in listening to build true and lasting impact with broad reach and sustainability for your ministry.
Emerging Generations and the Future of Faith
Organized religion is at a critical moment. The way religious leaders engage Gen Z and Gen Alpha today will determine what the future holds for institutional religion. We know that religion and spirituality are critical for younger generations to thrive in their physical, emotional and mental health. Learn how the pathway to revitalizing the church in America is also the pathway to helping our youngest generation flourish.
I have over 20 years of experience studying new forms of religion and how people make meaning in their lives. First as a professor of sociology where I ran The Dechurched Project, then as the founding Executive Director of Springtide Research Institute and where I helped to create the largest dataset in the country about young people and faith, and at NCEA where I lead our applied insights division and co-founded Future of Faith, I have had the unique opportunity to see the landscape of religion and spirituality from a human and research perspective.
I strongly believe that we have all of the pieces we need to create a vibrant and flourishing world of faith and spirituality for everyone. I've see the data, I know the hearts of the people doing the real work. It's my mission to make sure those two things come together
I'm an award winning speaker and trainer for religious, corporate and non-profit organizations, and I bring research based insights to practitioners in a way that is easy to understand and apply. Researchers often end up speaking a language that only they comprehend, but I believe that good and useful ideas should be able to be communicated simply and plainly.
Josh Packard, Ph.D.
Workshops
Sacred Listening Tools
This workshop is an introduction to Sacred Listening, designed to teach you how to effectively use sacred listening tools to foster deeper, more meaningful connections.
Through a blend of theory, hands-on practice, and practical tips, you will gain the skills and confidence needed to implement Sacred Listening in their personal and community interactions.
Create Your Own Tool
In this interactive workshop, you'll learn our process and theory to design and create your own sacred listening tools tailored to your unique context.
We'll guide you through the principles of sacred listening, help you identify the specific needs of your community, and provide hands-on support as you develop practical, personalized tools. Perfect for anyone looking to foster deeper connections, this workshop empowers you to create effective, context-specific listening practices that enrich and strengthen your relationships.
Megan Bissell, M.A.
I am an applied sociologist and researcher who specializes in the lives of young people, relationships, and group dynamics. I have dedicated my career to turning research into actionable insights that people can use to make a meaningful impact.
I have had the privilege of leading research projects, facilitating workshops, and developing educational programs that help organizations enhance their relational and organizational dynamics. I am driven by a commitment to help people create meaningful relationships, spark wonder in faith and spirituality, and make a lasting impact. I approach my workshops by leading with joy and curiosity, ensuring that each session is engaging and transformative.
My journey includes serving as Head of Research for both the Social Research Lab at the University of Northern Colorado and at Springtide Research Institute and I also served as the Vice President for Research at the National Catholic Educational Association.
I bring research-based insights to practitioners in a way that is easy to understand and apply. I believe that good and useful ideas should be communicated simply and plainly, making research accessible and beneficial to everyone.
Testimonials
"As a sociologist, Josh is as good as they come. He is brilliant at translating research into usable insights, as evidenced by the many who rely on his work to do theirs well. But what sets Josh apart is his heart. He wants to make people's lives better-and he does."
-Angie Thurston, Executive Director, Sacred Design Lab
"Megan was warm and welcoming and quickly made it clear that this wasn't going to be learning from them as much as it was learning with them. She and Josh were interested in hearing our experiences as ministry and organizational leaders. She led us through reflective exercises and data collection that we didn't even know was data collection at the time, because it felt so practical and easy to do. That's what I love about their work and approach - it's practical, applicable, and informative."
-Maggie Smith, Senior Director, Strategy & Implementation, Goodfaith
"Dr. Packard's presentations are consistently eloquent, inspiring, and illuminating. Moreover, his ability to present data in ways that are both accessible and actionable is remarkable."
-Rabbi Elan Babchuck, MBA, Executive Vice President, Clal and Founding Director, Glean Network
"Josh brought data to life that helped us really understand what to do next to engage Gen Z."
-Jeff Neel, Executive Director, Northern Colorado Youth for Christ
