About

Organization

Life Model Works is a nonprofit organization which has identified a set of 19 relational brain skills that are rapidly dropping outside of society. The lack of these skills is a major cause for all sorts of trauma and societal and relational chaos. Equally important, the lack of ability to live these loving character skills in relationships is a major contributor to the inability for churches to build better community and sustainable transformation, as well as leadership failures. Based on the peer-reviewed research of multiple respected neuroscientists, Life Model’s unique trait is the application of insights from the field of neuroscience to the task of living as Jesus taught.

Vision

Everyone who encounters the Church is transformed into the image of Christ.

Mission

To equip existing networks to create identity transformation into the likeness of Christ in Church culture.

Reach

Life Model Works’ applications are at work in thousands of churches across six continents.

Three Distinctive Features of the Life Model

Multi-Generational

When multiple generations use their combined attention to amplify whatever is good, lively, praiseworthy and honest, particularly for those who are weak and tired, joy is sustainable.

Immanuel Lifestyle

Learning to recognize and interact with the God who is with us is essential to experiencing a joyful journey through life. Nothing brings joy like an Immanuel centered relationship!

19-Relational Brain Skills

Relational brain skills provide a full range of life functions for our minds and relationships. Processing these skills, our emotional capacity increases and our relationships thrive.

Founder

Dr. Jim Wilder

Dr. Jim Wilder (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, and M.A. Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary) has been training leaders and counselors for over 27 years on five continents. He is the author of multiple books with a strong focus on maturing and relationship skills for leaders. His coauthored book Living From the Heart Jesus Gave You has sold over 100,000 copies and is printed in eleven languages. Wilder has published numerous articles and developed four sets of video and relational leadership training called THRIVE.

He is the founder and chief neurotheologian of Life Model Work, a nonprofit working at the intersection of brain science and theology that is building contagiously healthy Christian communities through equipping existing networks with the skills to thrive. Dr. Wilder has extensive counseling experience and has served as a guest lecturer at Fuller Seminary, Biola, Talbot Seminary, Point Loma University, Montreat College, Tyndale Seminary and elsewhere.

Executive Director

Rev. Ray Woolridge

Rev. Ray Woolridge (MDiv, Southwestern Baptist Seminary, and Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College) became the Executive Director of Life Model Works on September 1, 2020. He is thrilled to serve in a role that combines his pastoral and leadership experience with his calling, giftings and walk with God. The principles behind the Life Model are transforming his life, work, and personal relationships every day. Ray is a retired U.S. Army Chaplain (Brigadier General) with 43 years of service with the military, in uniform or as a civilian. A skilled public communicator, he also gets joy in coaching leaders to discover their uniqueness and unleash their potential. Ray has led in two congregations, as a church planting pastor and as pastor of adult ministries. Ray is thankful to partner with Life Model Works to come alongside existing networks to implement Life Model principles in their context.

Director of Relational Networks

Michael Sullivant

Michael Sullivant is the Director of Relational Networks for Life Model Works. He is a church planter, pastor, author, poet and speaker. He has ministered in over 25 countries through over 40 years of public ministry. Michael and his wife, Terri, have 5 adult and married children and a growing number of grandchildren. His latest book is Thinking Biblically About the Life Model. Terri, recently published her first book, The Divine Invitation – Entering the Dance of Becoming Fully Alive. Michael is involved with ministry and church leaders and change agents who are seeking to integrate more relational approaches to helping people in their groups mature and experience deeper and lasting identity transformation into the image of Jesus Christ.

Director of Life Model Consulting

Michel Hendricks

Michel Hendricks is the Director of Life Model Consulting. Michel Hendricks (MDiv, Denver Seminary; BS. University of Colorado, Boulder) has been a pastor, missionary, inventor and author. He has been a teacher and trainer for more than 25 years. He is the former pastor of spiritual formation at Flatirons Community Church near Boulder, CO. He has also served and trained in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. He is the author of Basic Training for Walking with Jesus and co-author of The Other Half of Church. He works with churches and organizations to help bring maturity and the transformation of character back into the center of Christian practice.