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

Date of Training: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm- 6:30 pm (Pacific)
Location: Church of the Good Shepherd
805 Ellsworth Rd
Vancouver, WA 98664
 

Contact Info:

Trainer: Roberta J. Egli
 
Email: roberta@messychurchusa.org
Phone: 541-760-3909
Local Host Contact Name:
Linda Stauffer, Children and Family Ministry Director
Church of the Good Shepherd
Email: children@goodshepherdvancouver.org
Phone: 360-892-7770(Mon-Thursday, 9 am-3pm Pacific)
 

Special Notes:

Coffee, tea, light dinner included with registration.
No peanut products permitted on site if you bring your own snack

If you’re interested in hosting an in-person training, please reach out.

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 January 15, 22, 29 2026

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, January 13, 2026

Jurisdictional Leaders:

Jurisdictional leaders should refer to Messy Pathways, a program specifically designed to contextualize to fit your needs.

The words "Messy Pathways" curved over a blue circle. Inside the circle is a location pin with a dashed line leading to a heart.