"I had the opportunity to experience the VIVA process at a recent Executive Staff retreat. I was deeply impressed with the way in which this experience helped us to identify who we are as staff, who we might become and how we might get there as God’s faithful people. As we moved through the process, I kept thinking what a great tool for the parishes and others areas of our life together in Christ. I commend it for your consideration." - The Rt. Rev. Bob Bennett
"Awesome! Worth every minute. The coach's energy is infectious and necessary for this is a challenging process. This is a very positive and different approach to overcoming a seemingly bleak situation. Well worth the time. Lots of fresh ideas,. This is really worth while. DO it! Come with an open mind - do not form your ideas ahead of time because the process of sifting through the ideas to get to workable statements is necessary." - Participants of a VIVA 1 and 2 workshop at the Parish of the Holy Spirit, Seaforth, ON
"There's a lot of positive energy in this process; VIVA has helped me to understand what it means to be "church"; Useful; Just do it! Agreeably uplifting and refreshing - positive experience - did not get hung up on the negatives or resource constraints; Is upbeat, fast paced, results oriented, inclusive; A very effective way to discern where your congregation is/or wants to be...; Well spent time for educational development; Valuable way for a group to share stories of where we are and turn those thoughts into a common statement; It is an opportunity to explore who we are as a community and discover what this means; Well developed and presented; It was enjoyable, useful and stimulating - well worth attending; Interesting day of valuable information and exercises." - Participants of VIVA 1 and 2 at All Saints', Windsor
"VIVA is an inclusive process which seeks input from all participants; It is key to learning from one another; VIVA gives you a sense of what is important in your congregation; VIVA is positive, focusing and re-energizing; VIVA has been most helpful in recognizing our current position, and enabling future growth in outreach; VIVA 1 helped me to look at who we are, rather than who I wish we were; Great group dynamic; Do it!; Very worthwhile; Informative, enjoyable, helpful; Do this for yourself AND for your congregation; Amazing how VIVA brought us all together to a common focus. Well done; VIVA will help you to identify WHO you are, WHY you are, and HOW to be who you are; This kind of gathering is fundamental to planning growth, change, or improvement that will effect the congregation; very worthwhile process to help us move foreward; A very focused process to deepen our awareness of our church, our community and how we think about these things; Our facilitator helped us to process our thoughts and needs in an informative way; A positive environment to re-vision our community." - Participants of VIVA 1 and 2 workshops at ELAM, London
"Come to the workshop with good expectations; Excellent way to share information, how to communicate with one another and a structure to bring out a common vission and mission; Allows you to think of alternate possibilities, and teaches you to be possitive; Very useful." - Participants of VIVA 1 and 2 at St. Luke in the Fields, Windsor
"Very uplifting, informative, brought us together; try it-you will like it, and it will move your congregation forward; An excellent opportunity to express your views out loud; worth the time and effort; Opens your mind to the possibility that your church can move forward; Stimulating, refreshing; A good learning experience. Participants of VIVA 2 at Holy Trinity, London
"All congregations need to do VIVA; Very helpful information; Lots of 'take home' key messages; Coaches are great teachers."
- Participants of VIVA 2 at St. Peter's, Dorchester