Helping communities of faith grow and deepen their ministry with children, youth, and young adults
Why GO Grow?
GO Grow is the consulting initiative of The GO Project, partnering with communities of faith across the United Church of Canada to build thriving, sustainable ministry with children, youth, and young adults (first-third). Drawing on more than twenty years of leadership and curriculum development, GO Grow offers strategic consulting, ministry audits, practical workshops, sermons/pulpit supply, and implementation resources that help churches move beyond maintaining programs toward creating integrated, impactful ministry.
The GO Grow Sermon
Nurturing Children's Spirituality in the Church of Today
Invite Rev. Alana Martin to your community to preach on the theological and Biblical significance of children’s spirituality. This sermon invites you to reflect on the sacred role of children in the life of the church. Offered in-person and virutally!
$250
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Who is this for?
This sermon is ideal for churches looking to inspire conversation, build awareness, and encourage their congregation to invest in ministry with children, youth, and young adults.
What’s included?
The GO Grow Sermon with Rev. Alana Martin is approximately 20 minutes and can be adapted slightly to fit the context of a variety of Sunday services.
Delivery
The Sermon can be delivered in-person (depending on location) or virtually on your preferred platform. The date will be selected in collaboration with Rev. Alana Martin. Please note this service does not include other service elements—clergy are expected to be on-site leading worship.
Audits
An audit is an investment into the future of your first-third ministry. Whether you choose a Self-Audit or Full Audit with GO Grow, you will gain valuable insights into your ministry’s strengths and challenges, and learn how to build a more vibrant and sustainable first-third ministry.
1. The Self-Audit
A self-guided process to reflect on current children, youth, and young adult ministry. This resource includes practical questions and reflection tools to help leaders better understand where they are and where they want to go.
$50
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Who is this for?
This resource is ideal for churches beginning to evaluate their ministry or looking for a simple way to start a conversation about first-third ministry.
What’s included?
The GO Grow Self-Audit is a document based on the research of GO Grow with reflection questions, assessment tools, and recommended next steps for a variety of church contexts.
Delivery
The document is delivered by email upon purchase.
2. The Self-Audit + Consultation
A combination of the reflection process of the Self-Audit with personalized guidance from Rev. Alana Martin (Minister to The GO Project). Churches receive support in interpreting their results, identifying priorities, and developing next steps.
$250
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Who is this for?
This service is best for churches who want guidance applying their Self-Audit results and creating a plan for growth, with the help and expertise of GO Grow.
What’s included?
This option combines the Self-Audit with a 1-hour personalized consultation with Rev. Alana Martin.
Delivery
The Self-Audit PDF document is delivered by email upon purchase. The follow-up meeting is scheduled in collaboration with Rev. Alana Martin.
3. The Full Audit
An investment for long-term transformation. Rev. Alana Martin (Minister to The GO Project) observes current programming and provides an in-depth assessment and concrete next steps to build sustainable and thriving ministry.
$2,000
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Who is this for?
This in-depth service is ideal for churches looking to make a long-term investment in first-third ministry.
What’s included?
The Full Audit is a 6-10 month audit of first-third ministry which may include program observation, interviews and surveys. This comprehensive review will assess current strengths and areas of growth, and provide concrete next steps. Churches will gain the tools to make a long-term strategic plan for vibrant ministry.
Also included:
- The Self-Audit
- 1 Free GO Grow Workshop
- 1 Free Curriculum Package
Delivery
The Full Audit is ideal for churches in Southern Ontario near The GO Project headquarters, located in Bracebridge ON.
Our Philosophy
In 2025, The GO Project conducted a survery of first-third ministry in the United Church of Canada. This research revealed the 6 Pillars of GO Grow: areas of growth for communities in ministry with young people.
Get a snapshot of your minstry with The GO Grow Quiz!
Workshops
The Clergy and Congregational Worship series will help you understand and meet the needs of your first-third cohort. They are an opportunity to learn, discuss, and plan for the future.
The Clergy Series
The Clergy Series is designed for clergy looking to explore innovative ministry that addresses the needs of children, youth and young adults in today’s world.
Supervising Gen Z
This workshop helps clergy understand the unique values, stressors, communication patterns, and post-COVID developmental gaps of Gen Z. Leaders will learn how to supervise young staff, interns, and volunteers with clarity, compassion, and appropriate boundaries while creating empowering environments that reflect Gen Z’s strengths in adaptability, justice-orientation, and creativity.
Reimagining Children's Time
Children’s time in worship is one of the most visible indicators of a congregation’s culture of welcome – and one of the most misunderstood. This workshop equips clergy to lead all-ages moments that are theologically rich, inclusive, and not infantilizing. Participants will learn how to honour children’s voices, support neurodiverse participation, and integrate all-ages storytelling practices that deepen the worship life of the whole congregation.
Nurturing Long-Lasting Spirituality
Drawing on developmental psychology, spiritual formation research, and our own experience and data, this session explores what helps faith “stick” across a lifetime. Clergy will learn why relational ministry, wonder-based theology, slow spiritual practices, and family engagement matter more than activities or information. You will leave with a framework for helping your congregation cultivate spiritual depth – not just attendance – for children, youth, and the families who support them.
Leading Meaningful Intergenerational Worship
This workshop helps clergy design worship that honours the whole body of Christ – across ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Participants will explore practical strategies for integrating children and youth into prayer, proclamation, music, movement, and leadership. You’ll learn how to create a worship environment where all ages feel they fully belong, and where intergenerational presence becomes a theological statement, not a logistical challenge.
Pricing options
1 Workshop – $125
All 4 Workshops – $400
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Who is this for?
The Clergy Series is ideal for ministry personnel looking to expand their breadth of knowledge in first-third ministry.
What’s included?
The Workshops are approximately 2 hours each, and include a pre-recorded lecture, discussion, questions as well as practical tools and resources.
Delivery
The Workshop(s) are sent to your email via a Dropbox link upon purchase.
The Congregational Series
The Congregational Series is designed for churches looking to build or deepen first-third ministry. They provide you with foundational practices, and innovative ideas.
The Evolving History of Ministry with Young People
This workshop examines the evolution of children’s and youth ministry from traditional Sunday school models to modern relational, intergenerational, and justice-oriented frameworks. Participants will learn from research and experiences about the contemporary needs of young people, gaining insights to navigate the changing landscape of faith formation and lead their communities with wisdom and adaptability.
Starting a Children's Ministry
This workshop guides congregations through the essentials of launching a sustainable, welcoming children’s ministry – no matter the size of their church. Participants will learn how to assess congregational capacity, create a safe and inclusive environment, choose age-appropriate curriculum, and build a volunteer team grounded in relational ministry.
Growing a Children's Ministry
For communities with an existing program, this workshop focuses on strengthening and expanding your ministry’s impact. We explore how to deepen engagement through wonder-based learning, family partnerships, inclusive practices, and intergenerational connection. Participants will leave with practical strategies to increase consistency, belonging, and spiritual depth.
Starting a Youth Ministry
This session helps congregations discern how to begin youth ministry even with small numbers, limited volunteers, or no previous program. We’ll cover developmental needs, safe-space design, creating a relational culture, and building partnerships (regional, ecumenical, or community-based) so youth ministry doesn’t rely on a single leader or large cohort.
Growing a Youth Ministry
For communities with some youth engagement already, this workshop focuses on strengthening relationships, developing leadership pathways, and creating meaningful discipleship experiences. Participants will learn how to support transitions from children’s ministry, integrate youth into worship and service, and offer programming that nurtures identity, belonging, and spiritual resilience.
What Young Families Are Actually Looking for Today
This workshop helps congregations understand the needs, pressures, and hopes of today’s young families. Participants will explore what creates emotional and physical safety, what signals true welcome, how families choose a spiritual home, and how congregations can build cultures of belonging that encourage families to stay and grow.
Pricing options
1 Workshop
- $250 – One Congregation
- $550 – Cluster Fee (Up to 4 Congregations)
3 Workshop Package
- $600 – One Congregation
- $1,300 – Cluster Fee (Up to 4 Congregations)
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Who is this for?
The Congregational Series is ideal for churches looking to learn more about a particular stage on the journey to thriving first-third ministry.
What’s included?
The Workshops are approximately 2 hours each, and include lecture, discussion, questions as well as practical tools and resources.
Delivery
The Workshops can be delivered in-person (depending on location) or virtually, via Zoom. Some congregations have enjoyed organizing the Workshop as a “Lunch and Learn.”
The GO Project
108 John St.
Bracebridge ON
P1L1R8
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