The Get Started in Messy Church is our foundational training event that is highly recommended for any church planning to start a Messy Church. The training is led by Messy Church USA certified trainers.
The Get Started training is both theoretical and practical. Each team will learn vital tools to strongly begin their local Messy Church. They will discover how the five foundational values and four components are used as building blocks to contextualize their own Messy Church. They will participate in a ‘Mini-Messy Church’ that pulls both the theoretical and practical together. In addition, they will have the opportunity to dialogue with their team about specific challenges and strengths facing their distinctive context.
Typical Training Agenda:
- Introduction/ Goal for Series
- Building Blocks of Messy Church
- 5 Foundational Values
- 4 Key Components
- Table Activities
- Questions & Reflection
- Putting it Together
- Mini Messy Church
- How to Basics
- Questions and Reflections
- What is Next?
Training Formats
There are two formats to our Get Started Training. We highly recommend attendance at a regional in-person Get Started training event that is hosted either by a local church or a jurisdictional organization, if possible. We also offer a Get Started Online series of three installments several times a year for those churches who are not able to attend an in-person event.
In Person
Local Church Sponsored:
Have a group in your area interested in starting their own Messy Church? We require a minimum of five registered churches (excluding the host church) to hold a Get Started training in person. Our host church receives free registration for their team to attend the training.
Cost: Individual $125.00,
Team of 2-4 $250.00
$25.00 per person over 4 team members
Our Next Training
November, 1 2025
Locaation:
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
9401 S. Oakley Ave
Chicago, IL 60643
(Use Street Parking)
Time: 9:00 am to 3:30 PM
Cost
Metropolitan Chicago ELCA Churches: $50.00 per team
Contact Rev. Carla Powell cpowell@mcselca.org, for coupon code prior to registering
All Other Churches
- Individual: $100.00
- Team: $150.00
Contact: Johannah Myers
Email: johannah@messychurchusa.org
Online
Online Getting Started in Messy Church
The Get Started Online Training includes a series of three 90-minute sessions held on consecutive days. The content is unchanged from the in-person training with videos used to experience the Mini Messy Experience.
Our Next Training
Thursday November 6, 13, 20, 2025
Time: 7:00-8:30 PM (Eastern), 4:00-5:30 PM (Pacific)
Cost: Cost: $125.00 individual; $250.00 per church team of 2-4, over four team members is additional $25.00 per person.
Contact:
Name: Johannah Myers
Email: johannah@messychurchusa.org
Registration Closes: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Jurisdictional Leaders:
Jurisdictional leaders should refer to Messy Pathways, a program specifically designed to contextualize to fit your needs.
