What are the Change Makers for Spiritual Growth?
Coaching. Core Skills. Mentoring.
Sounds like Discipleship, right?
It's time for a Fresh Start!
Leave feeling stuck in the past. Leave feeling tired of trying the latest 'plan' or gimmick in the dust.
Go to focused, confident, and strong spiritual fulfillment!
Let's work together. Your best spiritual growth is waiting to start!
3 WAYS I CAN HELP
COACHING. MENTORING. SKILL BUILDING.
VINE & BRANCHES ACADEMY
The most comprehensive spiritual development training,
mentoring and coaching for spiritual growth.
You will experience: master-level equipping with new tools and skills.
It is time to go to the next level in your spiritual growth!
Imagine feeling 'alive',
confident and fulfilled in your Christian life and growth....
CONFIDENT. STRATEGIC. THRIVING.
You are suddenly thrown into a dangerous, hostile spiritual space....
Do those three words describe you? Maybe not. Maybe sometimes?
What's the best way to prepare and train to become confident, strategic and
even thrive when you need to navigate through spiritual opposition?
Daniel, the young prophet along with his faithful friends demonstrate practical
strategies for navigating life when facing spiritual adversaries,
danger and even a deep pagan culture.
Join us for a Spiritual Life Coaching Workshop.
Take-aways? Verse-by verse study
of the first 6 chapters of the Book of Daniel. You will be inspired and encouraged!
Spiritual Life Coaching with practical strategies
to equip you to navigate
through spiritual hostile situations
with confidence, strategy and yes, even thrive!
NAOMI: A JOURNEY FROM COMPLAINT TO CELEBRATION
5-WEEK IN-PERSON WORKSHOP
Have you ever experienced a feeling of loss, grief or abandonment
so deep that it seemed that God's promises were for everyone else but you?
Naomi, (in The Book of Ruth) would understand.
Yet... God did not leave her after all, he provided a
Guardian Redeemer. Redemption and celebration were yet to be part of her future.
Join us as we journey through The Book of Ruth.
A story of tragedy, suspense, love, matchmaking, happy endings and celebrations!
This interactive community style Bible study is for all!
It will feature an in-depth verse by verse study of The Book of Ruth
with a beautiful companion workbook with pages
dedicated to skill building and a visual prayerful art response.
You don't want to miss it. Put a pause on social media
& journey with us as we read the work of a
brilliant story teller as he details Naomi's journey from complaint to celebration!
Dates: March 29, April 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 2:00 - 3:15PM
Location: Vallejo Drive SDA Church, 300 Vallejo Dr., Glendale, CA 91206
Registration Deadline: March 23, 2025 (9:00PM PST)
First things first,
If you don't have a clear spiritual development pathway...
- Your spiritual life suffers
- You keeping guessing at what might work
- New 'studies' are not taking you where you where you want to be
Let's Get You On the Right Pathway
Our step-by-step framework and workshops have provided hundreds of students a pathway to grow with skills, training and coaching.
You are the heroes & heroines that do the work and we hear the stories of transformation. Stories of life changing spiritual development and becoming equipped, confident and brimming with that feeling of 'aliveness'!
Case in Point:
Luke Skywalker's story of transformation in becoming a Jedi (Star Wars movie) is an excellent example.
There's a character who is facing challenge, a guide who comes along with supportive wisdom, skills, coaching and mentoring, helps to navigate our hero along a pathway that leads to success and fulfillment.
Elements of the story include challenge, adventure, hard choices, skill building and lots of practice and time.
There are no short cuts.
Core Case in point: The first disciples spent 3 years of mentoring, growing skills and coaching with Jesus.
Spiritual growth and development is a process that will take time, guidance, skill building and practice.
Scroll down and get acquainted with Vine & Branches Academy.
The most comprehensive spiritual development training, mentoring and coaching for life change to next level spiritual growth.
You now have a Pathway and Guide.
Your story of transformation is meant to continue....
VINE & BRANCHES ACADEMY
Skills, Mentoring & Coaching for Spiritual Development
Welcome, to a step-by-step process that will guide you along a breathtaking pathway to inspiring spiritual growth!
Experience it all with your Guide. Let's take a look at the markers along the pathway...
THE MILESTONES
FOLLOWING JESUS
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If you easily relate with identifying yourself as a Christian or Jesus-follower yet haven't connected with envisioning yourself as a disciple of Jesus,
the first workshop, Imitation: Following Jesus with Intention in Your Everyday Life will take you back to where it all began 2,000 years ago. This historical journey will refresh your identity as a follower of Jesus.
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This is the Starting Point on the pathway. Exciting and Transforming. Get acquainted with the first disciples and let their lives speak into your own everyday life. (5 weeks)
GROWING IN JESUS
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If your Bible study experience is not giving you the results and deep fulfillment that you are looking for, the second workshop, The Jesus I Never Knew: Discovering Christ in the Written Word will equip you with 4 master-level skills
that will build your Bible study skills to mastery level. You will get into the pages of the Gospel of Mark and you will encounter Jesus, as you never have before. You will also grow in Jesus as you never have before. (8 weeks)
SHARING JESUS
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If you aren't sharing Jesus with others, because honestly you don't know how, lack confidence or just haven't made that leap yet. Our third workshop, The Jesus I Now Know: Life-to-Life Conversations will equip you with skills and hands on mentoring that make all the difference.
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You will begin by taking a deeper look at 'you' by discovering your core strengths so your communication and relationship with 'others' is on target, not hit & miss.
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You will be coached on how to share Jesus, individually, in a small group or to an audience of many. Oh, yes, students say, this is amazing and beyond what they dreamed they could be equipped to do.
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Be ready to catapult your spiritual confidence to where sharing Jesus is something you look forward to! (8 weeks)
FLOURISHING IN JESUS
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If you want to have a deeper of understanding your spiritual life experience and the stages of spiritual growth. Our fourth and final workshop, Anchored: Living in Christ, Working for Christ, is just for you. You will learn about the 6 stages of our spiritual life and development.
You will engage with innovative coaching and mentoring that will include becoming familiar with your 'life cycles,' and creating spiritual growth goals (life transforming vision boards).
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You will find that this final workshop and stepping stone along the Pathway to Spiritual Development will culminate in your fulfilling experience of becoming skilled, equipped and spiritually confident where you 'know' that you are now flourishing in Jesus.
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You made it to the spiritual mountain top through the step by step process of Vine & Branches Academy and as they say, It couldn't get any better....(8 weeks)
If you have been trying to find resources, coaching and mentoring for next level spiritual growth.
You have found it!
Welcome to Vine & Branches Academy: Skills for Spiritual Development & Transformation.
MEET YOUR GUIDE
MARIA OVANDO GIBSON, PHD, MDIV
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT EDUCATOR, COACH
I've been where you are...
Searching and trying to find that 'something' that could bring that 'alive' experience to my spiritual life especially to Bible reading and my own teaching of Scripture.
"Maria is an extraordinary teacher, mentor, and friend. I decided to take one of her spiritual growth workshops and I have never been the same. Her curriculum along with her transfer of skillset is superior and I have learned skills that will serve me for the rest of my life. Through her guidance and mentorship in learning how to study the Bible, I feel more confident than ever before when opening my Bible and connecting with every verse I read. Her class is truly worth it for any individual who seeks spiritual growth and most importantly, a more intimate relationship with Jesus. Thank you Maria!"
Daniel Camero
"I highly recommend Dr. Ovando-Gibson's Discipleship training for the local church. Her training equipped my youth and young adults to realize the privilege and necessity of growing spiritually and experiencing serving the Lord and His church. This Discipleship mindset is a must for growing church evangelism. This is 21st century church evangelism."
Pastor Jeff Rosenthal
"After receiving training from Dr. Ovando-Gibson, 5 of my members from my church in New York City have begun to train others to study the Bible using her systematic method. This group is also engaged in teaching others how to develop Bible studies to help them share the love of Jesus with others. What this conveys is that her approach to discipleship is inspirational and results in the development of disciples who make disciples."
Dr. Cory Marshall
"Dr. Maria's perspective makes walking with Jesus a real endeavor in the lives of her students. She brings fervor and commitment to her meticulously well-planned sessions. Every aspect is brought into real-world relevance and applicability."
Pastor Mark Tatum
