Happy Tenth Birthday, Backstory Preaching!
Happy Birthday to Backstory Preaching (BsP)!
We are TEN years old!
From the most unlikely of beginnings, here we are!
Truly, the Holy Spirit's imagination is so much bigger than I ever dreamed it could be.
Genesis: From the Seeds of the Mentorship
On January 6, 2016, BsP launched with our Mentorship.
Funded by a 3-year, proof-of-concept grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, The Rev'd Dr. Micah Jackson and I served as mentors, .
That said, Backstory Preaching actually started with a vision in March, 2014.
The vision was to work with preachers long-term in a manner that was at least as much spiritual direction as it was on the craft of preaching.
What would happen to preachers' spirits and their sermons if preachers focused just as much on their relationship with God as they did on developing their skills?
I was pretty sure that if these two were integrated, preachers would preach with greater authenticity, joy, and courage, which would effect their entire ministries; listeners would hear a clearer, more compelling message of Good News; and the gospel would inch closer to the ends of the earth.
All that has come true and much more.
Backstory Preaching has reached more preachers through means that continually astonish me!
And if you're curious to hear more about BsP’s origin story, here's a five-minute video.
Since then: We’ve grown to so much more
Our mission never varied to foster the hearts of preachers and their and craft of preaching, but as the ministry evolved, so did our mission statement until we we became crystal clear about our purpose:
Backstory Preaching serves ecumenical lay and ordained preachers from call to grave so they thrive in the process, craft, and spirituality of preaching in and out of the pulpit.
Below are some numbers to show just a few of the ways we’ve grown and expanded (with the year the program started).
The Mentorship (2016)
Starting with 11 mentees, we have since graduated 196 lay and ordained preachers with a current class of 15.
We continue to hold steady with 100% of our graduates in exit surveys recommending the program, and it remains the only continuing education for preachers with a money-back guarantee!
Courses
Sermon Camp (2018): A six-week, continuing education course with 785 graduates
Preaching Among Friends (2023): A six-week, lay preaching formation course with 175 graduates
Sermon 52 Framework, Binge-Worthy Sermons, Spirit & Schedule Reset Retreat (2022): Video e-courses teaching our foundational sermon prep based in Letio Divina: 3524 purchasers
Social Media
Facebook: 5,300+ followers
Email: More than six thousand dedicated readers around the world
Website: More than 30,000 unique visitors in 2025
Memberships
Preachers' Haven (2025): Free, online preachers' sanctuary on Facebook: 1,355 members
The Collective (2018) Subscription community for weekly sermon prep: 136 members
The Collective+ (2018) Subscription community for weekly sermon prep, spiritual growth, and continuing education: 208 members
Invitations
We’ve been invited by more than twenty organizations to lead workshops, courses, retreats, and conferences.
Grant
In 2023 we were awarded a five-year Compelling Preaching Initiative Grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., for $1.25 million, the highest amount available.
Focused on serving preachers in the Collective and Collective+, we are offering more resources to lay and ordained preachers, including the Compelling Preaching Pathway where preachers are guided to grow in their preaching process, craft, or spirituality.
Coming in 2026 is our Preachers’ Resource Library and a new focus on supporting lay preachers.
tended by Stewards and Mentors
The vision of Backstory Preaching is led by three Stewards and twenty-three Mentors, with six Mentors currently in training.
Stewards
I (Lisa Cressman) serve as Founding Steward, creating resources and overseeing the ministry as a whole.
Shaundra Taylor is our Steward for Vision Communication. A gifted writer and editor, she oversees all communications.
She’s also the first person ever to hear me say the name “Backstory Preaching”!
The Rev’d Dr. Meredith Crigler is our Steward for Education and Formation.
Meredith was in the first class of the Mentorship, trained to become a Mentor the next year, and has since taken on more responsibilities in addition to serving as a full-time rector.
Mentors
From the first two mentors, we now have twenty-three, representing eight denominations.
I say often that I have the best ministry gig on the planet for two reasons.
The first is that all I do is work with preachers and Good News!
The second is because of the extraordinary mentors who serve our preachers one-to-one in our Mentorship, lead Sermon Camp, Preaching Among Friends, and weekly sermon prep sessions, and offer pastoral care.
Their wisdom, pastoral sense, expertise, and passion to serve preachers are unparalleled.
Get to know our Mentors by going to the About page!
Effects: We’ve born much fruit
Over ten years, preachers have told us about the effects Backstory Preaching has had on their lives and ministries.
Here are just a few of the many stories we’ve received.
I just wanted to say thank you for your [sermon prep process]. It transformed my preaching and cut my prep time significantly. My family is happy because I have more time to spend with them. I am frequently asked by colleagues with years more experience how I preach so well.—Stacey Nelson
The feeling of waking up on a Saturday as a truly free day is hard to describe. —Elizabeth Hostr
I love all the opportunities to work alongside others in common BsP spaces [in The Collectives]. To work in a virtual but common space makes me feel less alone.—Julane N.
I have been doing the [Calendar Prep] and Monday [Live] Lectio. They have helped tremendously with making sure I have time for the sermon and time to have a real Sabbath.—Kathryn M.
This community [The Collectives] has been all of these things to me! Helping with efficiency and front loading sermon prep, finding community, learning, growing, and making sermon prep a prayerful practice! —Dianne Covey Tobault
I have been preaching with more clarity, presence, and honesty.—Kathy G.
Already in the short 2 weeks of doing “The Heart of the Message Grid” and basing my sermons from there, I have had good feedback on how my sermons are improving! Thank you. —Lynda Crossley
I cannot thank you enough for creating Sermon Camp. I am getting my sermons done earlier in the week, I am feeling excited about the discoveries in the scripture and conveying the Good News to the parishes I am serving.—Julia M.
I think you should offer [Sermon Camp] in seminary! It's exactly what is needed!—Anonymous
[Sermon Camp] is is an excellent course, in which I learned so much. The videos and materials are extremely valuable. I will be recommending this to the rest of our Lay Ministry team.—Carmen R.
My first sermon today with [Sermon 52 Framework] and I AM DELIGHTED!!! I truly felt the JOY of bringing Good News to God’s people!—David Kluutz
[Sermon 52 Framework] changed the way that I preached. Taught me what I hadn’t learned in seminary and my people love it! I became a better preacher. —Joel Richter
After nine times through the lectionary, I was experiencing a profound sense of déjà vu. Thanks to the instruction of the Mentorship and the mentoring from the very good mentors, I'm now approaching sermon texts with excitement and a sense of discovery. I'm almost always done with my sermon by Thursday, enjoying a full day of Sabbath on Friday, and hearing from parishioners that there's new energy and engagement in my preaching.—Lindley deGarmo
I’ve discovered that every Sunday I do have something to say - something that’s worthwhile and meaningful for the people I serve. The Backstory Preaching Mentorship gave me tools and support to create new practices that support sermon preparation all through the week in a more sustainable, creative, and prayerful way. It’s hands down the best money and time I’ve spent to help me in my preaching.—Ann Deibert
I was a pretty good preacher, but I wanted to be a good preacher, full stop… not just articulate, but also compelling. With specific and consistent feedback from my mentor and my cohort, I pushed past my comfort zone - and it showed. One Sunday, my husband said, “I don’t know if you realize it, but your preaching has gotten really good,” and I told him, “Well, I do. It’s Backstory Preaching and the Mentorship.”—Julane N.
I heartily recommend the Mentorship program. I learned to make more effective sermons, discovered deeper meaning in scripture, and refined my process to prepare in less time. Even after developing long Covid, the support of my mentor, cohort, and the Backstory community helped me finish strong—and preach powerfully through chronic fatigue. My Presbytery executive was impressed, and my congregation was amazed I could still preach so meaningfully despite the challenges. —Michael Sydnor
sharing our gratitude—all year long!
We're going to celebrate with you all year long!
Watch for special giveaways and events as we look back over the past ten years—and look ahead to (at least!) the next ten!
Of course, Backstory Preaching would not exist without the continuous grace and power of the Holy Spirit, or without you, Preachers!
Every day you inspire me with your faithfulness, courage, and passion to share the gospel.
It's not hyperbole to say the Good News has not been needed more in our lifetimes than it is right now.
Sharing God's unequivocal love, grace, and mercy, and demands for justice and dignity for every person is the best news any of us could hear.
There is no calling more important than this, and we are privileged beyond measure that we get to share our lives and sermons in service of God's Word.
And I am privileged beyond measure that I get to share this calling with you.
Together, let's start on the next ten!
Share a Celebration!
What do you celebrate about the ways Backstory Preaching has made a difference in your life and preaching?
I’d love to hear about it!
Send an email to lisa@backstorypreaching.com, using the subject line: Ten Years!
As part of celebrating this ministry, we may share your story in future blogs or social media!