Circles & Spaces City Cohorts are city-based cohorts for youth ministry leaders who are ready to grow together in building healthy ministry culture. Each month, leaders will gather in their city and engage with a centralized teaching, creating space for connection, content, and conversation that leads to practical, local application. Grounded in Alpha’s values: real, relational, reliable, and reproducible, the Circles + Spaces City Cohort is designed to foster unity, create space for collaboration, and prepare the ground for citywide impact.

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Joe is passionate about helping students take steps toward spiritual growth and help their friends find and follow Christ. He hopes that students find a relationship with Jesus, grow in that relationship with alongside their peers, and then light up their schools with the love of Jesus. He is currently serving as the Student Movement Coordinator at Mission Church.

Reach out to Joe

Session Speakers

  • Pete Hughes

    WELCOME SESSION SPEAKER - The Theology of Place

    Pete Hughes is one of the Lead Pastors at KXC (King’s Cross Church) in London, a vibrant community known for its heart for worship, prayer, and mission. Alongside his wife Bea, Pete has spent the last decade planting and leading a church in one of the most secularized corners of the West, while also investing in the renewal of the wider church. He is passionate about seeing a generation captivated by the presence of Jesus, shaped by deep formation, and mobilized for mission. Beyond KXC, Pete teaches and speaks internationally on revival, culture, and Spirit-led leadership.

  • Katherine Chow

    SESSION ONE SPEAKER - Holistic Health and Sustainability in Ministry

    Katherine is the Associate Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, working closely with Archie and Sam Coates in leading the church. She was born and raised in London, and after studying law at university, went on to practice law as an Attorney and later Partner at a firm in New York City. In 2016, she joined the HTB staff team and served as Director of Strategy before later training for ordination at St Mellitus College.

  • Hannah & Alex Absalom

    SESSION TWO SPEAKERS - the Holy Spirit

    Alex and Hannah Absalom show leaders and churches how to step boldly into naturally supernatural discipleship and mission.

    Through Dandelion Resourcing, they coach, teach, and encourage pastors and congregations who long for more of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power, so that the gifts of the Spirit are exercised with wisdom, joy, and persistent expectancy. Learn more about Hannah and Alex here.

  • Kara Powell

    SESSION THREE SPEAKER - Empowering Student Leaders

    Kara Powell, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI), the founder of the TENx10 Collaboration, the Chief of Leadership of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary, and serves as a faculty member at Fuller Seminary. Prior to that, Kara was an Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry and Practical Theology at Azusa Pacific University. She completed her PhD in Practical Theology from Fuller Seminary with a focus on Pastoral Role Expectations in 2000, an MDiv from Bethel Theological Seminary in 1994, and a BA in human biology, graduating with Honors from Stanford University in 1991.

  • Preston Sprinkle

    SESSION FOUR - Navigating Hard Conversations

    Dr. Preston Sprinkle is a biblical scholar, speaker, podcaster, a New York Times bestselling author, and is the co-founder and president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. He earned a Ph.D. in New Testament from Aberdeen University in Scotland (2007), and has taught theology at Cedarville University (OH), Nottingham University (U.K.), and Eternity Bible College (CA). But when he grows up, Preston’s dream is to move to a tropical island and become a professional surfer. Unfortunately, his surfing skills are sketchy at best. Learn more about Dr. Preston Sprinkle here.

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FAQ

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FAQ ↓

  • We’re looking for a diverse group of youth leaders who want to navigate areas of personal growth in their role, broaden their knowledge of youth ministry practices, and collaborate with other like-minded leaders across America.

  • This cohort is led and organized as a collaborative experience by the Alpha USA Youth Team, with content and experiences put together by expert collaborators in youth ministry such as Fuller Youth Institute.

    Locally, the Chicago Cohort is led by Joe Stephens.

  • In an effort to make Circles & Spaces more accessible, we are offering three tiers at $900, $600, and $300. 

  • We’ll have a small number of need-based scholarships, and we’re working on finding additional partners to help offset the costs of the program.

    Apply for a scholarship here.

  • Cancelations that occur on or before September 1 will receive a 100% refund minus a 4% transaction fee. Cancelations that occur on or between September 2 and September 14 will receive a 50% refund minus a 4% transaction fee. Cancelations that occur on or after September 15 are not eligible for a refund.