Who is this program for?
This program can be implemented by churches and communities with both English- and Spanish-speaking members. With the help of a bilingual facilitator or an interpreter, it can be conducted bilingually. In predominantly Spanish-speaking communities, the program can be offered entirely in Spanish. In predominantly English-speaking communities, it can be offered entirely in English—while still celebrating the spirituality of diverse Spanish-speaking cultures and sharing wisdom and voices that are often underrepresented in United States churches.
Program Overview
Program Summary
How does our faith call us to live differently, love more deeply, and help bring healing to our world? How does encountering Christ in one another lead us to become people of hope in difficult times? This JustFaith program invites your small group to immerse yourselves in the foundational teachings of your Christian faith and discern how it calls you to transform your life and our world. Along the way, the program materials highlight the unique and diverse gifts that Spanish-speaking communities bring to the Church, celebrating a few of the many teachings, traditions, and faith leaders that help all of us to see God a little more clearly.
Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope includes eight sessions and an encuentro, or encounter, in the local community. Each session explores a key Christian principle based on seven themes of social teaching. Opportunities to include your own denomination’s specific teachings regarding the week’s topic are provided each session, with specific options provided from Roman Catholic, UMC, PCUSA, ELCA, UCC, and Episcopal traditions. Sessions include an interactive Scripture study, a celebration of a tradition from a Spanish-speaking community or witness for faith-rooted justice, and a guided discernment of action steps based on the day’s learnings. Throughout each week, participants will engage in reflections and spiritual practices around the upcoming session’s theme.
Goals for Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope include:
Prepare participants to lead their churches in seeking justice, peace, and healing in their communities and beyond
Build relationships within churches and communities across languages, cultures, and generations
Explore the crucial gifts that Spanish-speaking communities, theologians, and justice leaders bring to the Church and our world.
Transform a collection of 8-14 individuals into a community of love and support. The members of your community will continue to encourage one another as you seek spiritual transformation and take action for justice after the program has finished.
Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope consists of eight 2-hour sessions and an encuentro in the local community.
Recommended group size is 8-14.Program Framework & Session Topics
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Session 1: Dignity of the Human Person
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Session 2: Caring for Creation
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Session 3: Solidarity
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Session 4: Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
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Session 5: Preferential Option
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Session 6: Call to Family, Community, and Participation
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Encuentro in the Community
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Session 7: Rights and Responsibilities
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Session 8: Hope-filled Action
Sessions include:
Prayer and reflection
Discussion of reading
Videos & group activities
Spiritual practices
Integration of faith
Want to know more?
An overview, sample session, and program booklet are available for free download.
Need help inviting people to your small group?
We provide promotion materials to help you spread the word about your group and invite participants to join your group. Click below to download the promotion kit.
We believe strongly in making our programs inclusive and available to everyone
Cost should never be a barrier to participation, and we are committed to working with individuals and organizations to ensure meaningful access through flexible pricing options. Why do we use a sliding fee scale?
There are Two Registration Options:
Option 1: Individual Participant Registration
Participants register and pay individually using a sliding-scale fee of $45, $60, or $75 per person, based on ability to pay. If $45 is still inaccessible, participants can choose the Pay-What-You-Can option to choose a price that is right for them.
- There is no charge for up to two facilitators.
- A minimum of 8 participants is strongly recommended.
Option 2: Organization-Sponsored Registration
A church or organization may choose to cover registration for all participants using a sliding fee scale of $45, $60, or $75 per person, based on ability to pay.
- The organization will be billed a flat rate of the amount chosen below, which covers up to 8 participants.
- For groups larger than 8, the organization will be invoiced an additional $45, $60, or $75 per participant when the group begins, price depending on the chosen amount below.
- If the lowest fee is inaccessible to your organization or ministry, choose the Pay-What-You-Can Rate to learn about shared-cost or reduced-fee options.
What the Registration Fee Includes
- Comprehensive materials for each session (instant download upon purchase)
- Facilitation scripts, guidance, and training resources
- Retreat and immersion planning assistance
- Adaptations for virtual groups
- Direct access to program staff for ongoing support
- Books are an additional cost and may be purchased separately through the bookstore.
To ensure our programs remain accessible while remaining sustainable, we utilize a sliding fee scale of $45 to $75 for our registrations. We invite you to choose the registration tier that best reflects you or your faith community's current financial reality. Paying on the higher end allows us to keep the program affordable for all.
We also offer a Pay-What-You-Can Rate. If the lowest rate does not seem accessible to you or your church at this time, don’t let this be a barrier to participation. Contact our staff here to learn about shared-cost or reduced fee options.
What our program participants are saying
Participating in the program on spiritual openness was a deeply transformative experience. It reminded me that true compassion begins with a heart open to both faith and service. Through the lens of Encuentro de Esperanza, I saw how we can become instruments of God's love—offering hope, healing, and guidance to those in need. It wasn’t just about learning; it was about living our faith in action and discovering the powerful ways we can help others grow spiritually, just as we grow ourselves. Being surrounded by a supportive group made the experience even more meaningful.
Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope - Bilingual Program Overview, Sample Session, and Program Booklet
To receive the booklet, sample session, and overview for this program, complete the form below and you will receive an email with the downloadable materials.
Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope Promotion Kit
To get access to this program's promotional materials, complete the form below and you will receive an email with the downloads.