Training Programs

Learn evidence-based frameworks for building economic peace

Teaching the Economic Peacemaking framework

Since 2018, I've trained over 1,200 community development practitioners in Economic Peacemaking principles through workshops, graduate courses, and consulting engagements.

Two Ways to Get Certified as an Economic Peacemaker

1. Center for Economic Peacemaking Certificate: Self paced online training directly through the Center. Complete any of four specialized tracks on your own schedule.

2. Bakke Graduate University Certificate: Earn graduate level credit through Bakke Graduate University while learning the same Economic Peacemaking framework. Ideal for those pursuing graduate degrees.

"Something Brian said that stuck with me is: 'Most of this work is not complex, but it is hard to do with excellence. Our commitment is to do simple things well.' That spoke to my experience. I learned to focus on a clear goal and let that goal determine how to move a project forward."

— James

Earn Your Certificate as an Economic Peacemaker

Self paced learning with four specialized tracks

All programs are based on my book The Wages of Peace and include video lessons, practical assignments, and frameworks you can apply immediately in your community context.

Required Reading

Before starting any certificate track, purchase The Wages of Peace. The book provides the foundational frameworks for all four programs.

Order the book on Amazon →

Four Learning Tracks

Core Track

Foundational principles of economic peacemaking for anyone new to community development work.

  • Community organizing basics
  • Financial empowerment frameworks
  • Partnership building
  • Advocacy essentials

2 hours per week | 9 weeks

Enroll in Core Track →

Practitioner Track

For working professionals applying economic peacemaking in nonprofit, government, or ministry contexts.

  • Advanced organizing strategies
  • Program design and evaluation
  • Cross sector collaboration
  • Policy engagement

3 to 4 hours per week | 9 weeks

Enroll in Practitioner Track →

Systems Track

Deep analysis for experienced leaders working on systemic economic change.

  • Economic systems analysis
  • Power mapping
  • Coalition building
  • Long term strategy

5+ hours per week | 9 weeks

Enroll in Systems Track →

Cohort Track

Group learning with facilitated discussions and collaborative projects.

  • All core content
  • Weekly group calls
  • Peer accountability
  • Shared action planning

4 hours per week | 9 weeks

Enroll in Cohort Track →

What You'll Learn

Specific competencies in community organizing, financial empowerment, partnership development, and advocacy for economic peace.

How It Works

Video lessons, reading assignments, practical exercises, and frameworks designed for immediate application in your community.

Who Takes This

Nonprofit staff, church leaders, government employees, community organizers, and anyone working on economic development.

Bakke Graduate University

Earn graduate level credit through stackable certificates

Partner with Bakke Graduate University to earn academic credit while learning the Economic Peacemaking framework. Complete any individual certificate or stack all three foundation certificates to earn the Economic Peacemaking capstone.

Four Stackable Certificates

Community Development

Loving one's neighbor is difficult when whole communities are struggling to thrive. This course prepares you to serve your community in order to better love your neighbor through a combination of reading, writing assignments, integration and application.

Enroll in Community Development →

Economic Development

So much of community development and ministry work unveils the need for Christians to help people attain living wage jobs, or to create more economic opportunity in communities. This course prepares you to work for the economic development of your community through a combination of reading, writing assignments, integration and application.

Enroll in Economic Development →

Peacemaking and Storytelling

The social aspects of community development and ministry are more critical than ever. Making peace through building empathy and storytelling is a core competency for Christians wanting to serve their local communities. This course prepares you to serve as a Peacemaker in your Community through a combination of reading, writing assignments, integration and application.

Enroll in Peacemaking & Storytelling →

Economic Peacemaking Capstone

This capstone course is the culminating experience for students who have completed the Christian Community Development, Economic Development, and Peacemaking and Storytelling certificates. It provides an opportunity to integrate knowledge from previous coursework and apply it to a research project and proposal.

Requires completion of all three foundation certificates

Enroll in Capstone →

What Our Graduates Say

"I've been fighting poverty in my city for a long time, but I thought economics was all about math, and I'm not a math person. Brian taught me that economic development is about relationships, which is what I'm good at. The work I'm doing now gets to the root causes."

— Kelly

"I love the emphasis on storytelling to increase empathy. I knew we were going to talk a lot about living wage jobs and coalition-building, but I was surprised how much we talked about listening and telling stories. Looking back, that was so important to do the work I'm doing now."

— Brooke

"I was so relieved to learn that advocacy and policy work do not have to mean getting on social media and arguing with people. It's about listening, relationship-building, and storytelling."

— Abrielle