The Colossian Forum

What The Colossian Forum does

The Colossian Forum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2011 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It develops and delivers Christian conflict transformation resources for faith-based individuals and organizations. The organization's core methodology, branded WayFinder, is a research-backed approach grounded in scripture and evidence-based practices that provides language, habits, and frameworks for navigating disagreement without division. The product portfolio includes organizational workshops (priced $500 to $7,000 across formats from 2-hour virtual sessions to 2-day in-person intensives), small group curricula (One Anothering and The Colossian Way), individual digital resources (Beholding Workbook at $11.99 and a Small Group Bundle at $79.99), one-on-one coaching services, and the Practicing Hope Podcast distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The organization also partnered with Fuller Seminary to offer a three-hour self-paced online course, and was featured in the Leap of Faith documentary (Tremelo Productions, 2021).

The Colossian Forum serves church leaders, Christian school administrators, nonprofit leaders, small group facilitators, and individual Christians across multiple denominations. Its go-to-market combines direct sales for organizational workshops, e-commerce through Shopify and Amazon for individual products, content marketing through a bi-weekly newsletter and podcast, and speaking engagements at churches, schools, and conferences. Revenue is generated through a mix of workshop fees, product sales, coaching fees, and donations from individuals and foundations, with scholarships available to make programming accessible to smaller organizations. The organization operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees supported by a board of directors with executives drawn from healthcare, legal, finance, and academic sectors in the Grand Rapids area.

Name

The Colossian Forum

Legal name

The Colossian Forum

Website

https://colossianforum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Colossian Forum is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based 501c3 nonprofit that delivers Christian conflict transformation through workshops, coaching, curricula, and podcasts to churches, Christian schools, and individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Conflict Transformation Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Feedback, Discussion Forums & Social Learning Communities (EDAFAGAH), Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)

Keywords

• Conflict transformation training
• Christian leadership development
• Organizational workshops
• Small group curriculum
• Faith-based coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Organizational Training and Workshops: Revenue from WayFinder workshops ranging from 2-hour virtual sessions ($500) to 2-day in-person leadership training ($7,000). Pricing uses a sliding scale based on organization size, location, and resource accessibility. Scholarships are available for organizations needing financial support.
2. Product Sales: Sale of physical and digital resources including the Beholding Workbook ($11.99), Beholding Small Group Bundle ($79.99), and One Anothering participant guides ($18.99 on Amazon). Products sold through Shopify storefront and Amazon.
3. Coaching Services: One-on-one coaching services for leaders to equip them with practices for deeper community relationships and increased spiritual health.
4. Donations and Foundation Support: As a 501c3 nonprofit, The Colossian Forum is sustained by individual donors and foundations. Many organizations they serve need financial support to participate, and scholarships are funded through donor generosity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Colossian Forum delivers Christian conflict transformation services through its proprietary WayFinder methodology, offering organizational workshops (2-hour to 2-day formats), one-on-one leadership coaching, small group curricula (One Anothering and The Colossian Way), and supporting digital and print resources such as the Beholding Workbook. It also produces the Practicing Hope Podcast and free downloadable guides to extend its formation-centered approach to churches, Christian schools, universities, and nonprofit organizations.

Product overview

The Colossian Forum offers a multi-format product portfolio centered on Christian conflict transformation. The core methodology is WayFinder, which provides organizational workshops ranging from 2-hour virtual sessions to 2-day in-person trainings. The small group offerings include One Anothering (8-week political engagement curriculum) and The Colossian Way curriculum, both with facilitator resources. Individual products include the Beholding Workbook (56-page digital guide at $11.99) and the Beholding Small Group Bundle ($79.99). Additional offerings include one-on-one coaching, the Practicing Hope Podcast distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify, speaker opportunities, and a partnership with Fuller Seminary for an online course. The Leap of Faith documentary film (produced with Tremelo Productions) extends the brand into visual media. All products and courses can be purchased through their Shopify e-commerce store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WayFinder: Core methodology that helps Christians become a reconciling, visible witness in a divided world. Draws on Christian tradition to align core desires with the heart of Jesus.
• One Anothering
• Beholding
• Practicing Hope Podcast

Products and services

• WayFinder Organizational Workshops Research-based WayFinder workshops and trainings for churches, schools, universities, and nonprofit organizations to create lasting change in conflict culture. Offered in formats ranging from 2-hour virtual sessions ($500) to 2-day in-person workshops ($7,000), with scholarships available.
• One Anothering An 8-week small group program that helps Christians cultivate mindsets and habits to grow in Christian virtue while holding political differences without abandoning relationships. Participant guides sold via Amazon and Shopify.
• The Colossian Way A small group curriculum providing formative practices to transform cultural conflicts into opportunities for growth. Includes facilitator training and video introduction courses. Topics include creation/evolution, human sexuality, politics, and gender roles.
• Coaching Services One-on-one coaching services equipping leaders to see conflict as an opportunity rather than a threat, providing practices that invite deeper community and increase spiritual health.
• Beholding Workbook A 56-page digital guide designed to help individuals practice 'beholding' — an attentive, loving way of noticing another person — in one specific difficult relationship. Available as a digital download for $11.99.
• Beholding Small Group Bundle A bundle including 10 digital copies of the Beholding Workbook plus a facilitator guide with additional conversation prompts, designed for small groups, book discussions, or spiritual formation groups. Priced at $79.99.
• Beholding Workshop An interactive workshop titled 'Seeing a Difficult Relationship Through the Love of Christ' led by a Colossian Forum trainer. Available in half-day (2-4 hours) or full-day (6-8 hours) formats for leadership teams.
• Practicing Hope Podcast A podcast for Christians featuring honest conversations about brokenness and beauty in the world, covering topics including peacemaking, transformation, and practicing hope. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Speaker Opportunities Speaking engagements for churches, schools, and organizations covering topics including Virtues for Today, Peacemaking, One Anothering, and Christian Conflict Transformation. Includes conference keynotes, chapel services, staff retreats, and board training.
• Fuller Seminary Online Course A three-hour self-paced virtual class offered through partnership with Fuller Seminary that teaches how to view conflict as an opportunity. Recommended for church leadership and anyone seeking practical guidance for conflict transformation.
• Staying Grounded in the Heat of Conflict Guide Free downloadable guide offering prayers, reflections, and practices to help Christian leaders slow down and respond with clarity rooted in Christ during conflict.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46% increased confidence in leading a community toward healthy conflict
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Tremelo ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Tremelo Productions approached The Colossian Forum in 2021 to participate in the 'Leap of Faith' documentary. The film, directed by Nicholas Ma and produced by Morgan Neville, documents a group of Grand Rapids pastors with differing views on politics, sexuality, and theology as they navigate deep disagreement while maintaining relationships. The Colossian Forum facilitated the environment for these conversations and is featured prominently in the film. TCF was not a commissioner or funder of the film but an active participant.
• Fuller SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fuller Seminary's equip store to offer an online course on Christian conflict transformation. The three-hour self-paced virtual class is recommended for church leadership and anyone seeking practical guidance for conflict transformation. Course available through Fuller Seminary's online platform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Barna Group: Research organization producing the Cost of Conflict Report and related studies on faith-based organizational health. Comparable as a faith-based research/data provider whose findings underpin The Colossian Forum's market sizing and case for action.

Emerging players

• Convergence (Christian unity network): Network focused on Christian unity across theological and cultural divides, providing resources and convenings for leaders. Comparable in cross-denominational mission and conflict/division framing though more networked than curriculum-driven.

Regional players

• Fuller Theological Seminary: Multidenominational seminary in Pasadena, CA, offering conflict transformation courses and an equip-store channel for The Colossian Forum content. Comparable as a faith-based educator serving church leaders, and an active distribution partner.

Direct peers

• Made for Peace: Faith-based organization providing biblically-grounded conflict coaching, courses, and resources for Christians and churches. Directly comparable as a peer-sized faith-based conflict transformation provider with similar audience and methodology.
• Peacemaker Ministries: Christian biblical conflict resolution ministry offering training, coaching, and resources to churches and individuals. Most directly comparable to The Colossian Forum given shared faith-based methodology and church/leader audience.
• Lombard Mennonite Peace Center: Anabaptist-rooted organization providing conflict mediation, peace education, and church leader training. Comparable in mission, faith-based framing, and workshop/deliverable format serving Christian communities.

Broad incumbents

• Braver Angels: National organization dedicated to bridging political and cultural divides through structured dialogue, workshops, and leader training. Comparable in workshop-driven conflict transformation model though secular in framing rather than Christian.
• Essential Partners: Established dialogue and conflict transformation organization serving civic, educational, and community sectors (formerly the Public Conversations Project). Comparable methodology (dialogue across differences) but operates more broadly without The Colossian Forum's explicitly Christian framing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheColossianForum
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheColossianForum
• Instagraminstagram.com/colossianforum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-colossian-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Colossian Forum