Pre-Field Missionary Training
The Coracle Conference is a comprehensive pre-field mission readiness program. Intentionally designed by experienced trainers with decades of service in ministry and mission fields, the Coracle Conference equips missionaries with the skills they need to thrive holistically despite the challenges of their roles. Coracle is perfect for missionaries preparing for cross-cultural service, those in mid-career transitions, and leaders of organizations supporting them.
The featured course of this year’s conference is Resoul, a powerful learning encounter designed to teach missionaries how to steward their souls by connecting deeply with Jesus in five key dimensions: spiritual, physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational. This soul-focused training is created to help with trauma-proofing while providing protective and preventive remediation to burnout. In addition, Resoul identifies a pathway for increased well-being and offers inclusion into a relational community for follow-up and care.
Coracle also offers two practical electives that delve into mission field training: language acquisition and cultural intelligence. Participants can join any portion of the program that directly relates to their role or would help them thrive in their space.
Conference Sessions
Main Conference
Resoul
November 11-16, 2024
$1,050 / person
Pre-Conference Workshop
Language Learning for Ministry
November 5-9, 2024
$1,000 / person
Post-Conference Workshop
Cultural Intelligence
November 18-19, 2024
$500 / person
*All pricing includes on-site housing and meals. Scholarships are available to offset the cost of the conference.
Scholarships Available
Through the generosity of donors, a limited number of conference scholarships are available.
Scholarships range from 10-50% of the total conference cost.
Keynote Speakers & Trainers
Virgil Tanner
ReSoul
As the Senior Director of Leader Vitality at Life Action, Virgil is responsible for overseeing the constituency lane of leaders, including ministry leaders, missionaries, and marketplace leaders. Virgil leads the team at Life Action that focuses on helping mission, marketplace, and ministry leaders thrive holistically, do beautifully integrated work, and become everything God dreamed them to be, believing this to be a primary means for stewarding the reviving life of God through His people into the world.
Virgil holds a B.S. in Biology, an M.A. in Religion and Cross Cultural Studies, and an MEd. in Curriculum and Instruction. He is presently working on an EdD in Christian Leadership.
Joy Tanner
ReSoul
Joy is the Intake Coordinator for the Integrated Care Team and helps to design personalized care and training plans for clients. She is a mother of five and spent nine years as a pastor’s wife in Nashville, TN, before moving to Central Asia with her family to lead a disciple-making team in a Muslim republic.
Joy has 15 years of experience working and living in the Muslim world and brings an extensive background in counseling and training to the team, which she uses to provide trauma debriefing and care for clients. She also holds a B.S. in Education with concentrations in psychology and English. Her passion is to guide people on their journey to freedom through knowing and being loved by Jesus.
Gabriela Tiessen
Language Acquisition Training
Born and raised in Latin America and Michigan by American parents, Gabi is familiar with cross-cultural life. She and her husband, Calvin, served with Wycliffe Bible Translators for over 20 years, working in the Caucasus and Albania.
Gabi’s primary roles have been as a Language and Culture Learning Coach and as a trainer; she has designed and facilitated courses in cultural adjustment, language learning, and intercultural dynamics. Her primary passion is to see cross-cultural workers equipped to flourish in another culture, fully rooted in the Lord, as they seek to build relationships and incarnate the love of Christ in their contexts. She holds a B.A. from Hope College and an M.A. in Intercultural Studies through Fuller Theological Seminary.
Calvin Tiessen
Cultural Intelligence
ReSoul
Language Acquisition Training
Calvin is the Director of Training at Life Action. He is part of the team preparing missionaries for fruitful field service, while also helping missionaries thrive in their places of ministry.
Calvin holds a PhD in Anthropology and Missions. He has served for 25 years with Wycliffe Bible Translators. He also holds an M.A. in Biblical Studies, an M.A. in Linguistics, and a B.A. in Education.
Calvin has lived most of his life on the mission field. He was born in the Philippines, where his parents served with SEND International, and then served with his wife, Gabi, in Central Asia for 18 years and Albania for 5.
Del Fehsenfeld
Relational Intelligence
Del is a leader-health specialist and lead master trainer for Consentia Group. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist as well as a Neuro Change Coach with over 25 years of pastoral experience. He also leads Relational Health programming for Life Action.
Janice Maurizi
ReSoul
Janice is the Director of Care at Life Action and leads our Integrated Care Team as they walk with people into healing, thriving, and vibrancy in their lives.
Janice has an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy and 19 years of experience in clinical, ministry, and non-profit organizations. She brings a unique perspective, having worked both domestically in the U.S. and internationally in India, Kenya, Ukraine, Poland, South Africa, and Romania with organizations, children, and families. She is a TBRI practitioner and a Trauma Competent Caregiver Facilitator with extensive experience training and teaching about trauma and staff care and health.
Conference Registration
Venue & Lodging
This year, Coracle will be hosted at Life Action Camp in beautiful southwest Michigan. Situated on Clear Lake in Buchanan, Michigan, Life Action Camp offers 155 acres of wooded and waterfront serenity. Coracle participants will enjoy private housing, dining facilities, meeting spaces, wooded trails, and lakefront sunsets.
Getting Here
Life Action Camp is located in Buchanan, Michigan, a 30-minute drive from South Bend International Airport and a 2-hour drive from both Midway International Airport and O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, IL.
Venue Address
Life Action Camp
1696 E. Clear Lake Road
Buchanan, MI 49107
Attendee Review
“Coracle was incredible… We have gone through a lot of training in the past number of years in preparation for overseas ministry and this one was phenomenal. I recommend this to everyone looking to minister state-side or overseas. The training was so deep yet so applicable. They provided us with relevant Biblical teaching, practical soul-care training, and one-on-one mentor support. In addition to the teaching there were many hands-on and group conversations both in and out of the training time. My wife and I now feel much more confident to step into our unreached context and stay long-term because of the training and relationships we build during this time at Coracle. The Life Action campus was beyond gorgeous – a perfect place to retreat and connect with God and others. The food was excellent as well. We felt so cared for in every respect. I cannot recommend this training enough and have already been encouraging many people to attend! 5-star, you will not be disappointed.”
Conference Questions?
If you have questions regarding the Coracle Conference or would like to speak with our conference director, reach out to Calvin Tiessen at ctiessen@lifeaction.org.