Our Team

We Are Life Model Works

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

THIS IS WHO WE ARE.

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.

Learn how the Life Model can transform you at work: from fear and avoidance to fearlessness and joy!

The LMW Team

Dr. Jim Wilder

PhD, Clinical Psychology, and M.A. Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary

Dr. Jim Wilder 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 Works, 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.

Marlene Allen

Marlene Allen, author, teacher, mentor, networker, licensed minister, and joy-starter, graduated from McNeese State University in her home state of Louisiana. Her passion for teaching spiritual principles to young people led to a forty-plus-year journey of serving in schools and churches. During her 16-year service as a missionary in Southeast Asia, Marlene was introduced to Life Model Works and finally found the language to articulate the value of joy that she carried within her.

For the past five years, she has been a relational practitioner and, more recently, served on the Life Model Works Board of Directors. She firmly believes Life Model Works’ relational tools will help us represent the Lord better on the Earth.

Residing in Aurora, Colorado, Marlene is a mom to four amazing adults, Rachell, Victoria, Kia, and Moses, and is called ‘Momma Marlene’ by a host of others. She is the creator of Doodles at Relational Wholeness Doodles and the author of the children’s book Candlestick City, which can be found on Amazon.

Ray Woolridge

MDiv, Southwestern Baptist Seminary, and Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College

Rev. Ray Woolridge became the Executive Director of Life Model Works in 2020. He is thankful to partner with Life Model Works to come alongside existing networks to implement Life Model principles in their context. Living the Life Model is transforming how he lives, relates and works. Ray has been blessed by thirty-five years of marriage to his wife, Deborah.

Ray is co-author with Dr. Jim Wilder of Escaping Enemy Mode: How our brains unite or divide us. He a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General with forty-three years of military and civilian service with the Department of Defense. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and the Army Airborne and Ranger Schools. His military career culminated as the Assistant Chief of Chaplains, advising the Army Chief of Chaplains and guiding fifteen hundred Army Reserve chaplains and chaplain assistants. Ray served two churches as a pastor. He was the founding pastor for a new congregation in Georgia, and adult ministries pastor for a church in Colorado. Ray is also a certified leadership and life coach.

Michael Sullivant

Director of Relational Networks for Life Model Works

Michael Sullivant 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.

Michel Hendricks

MDiv, Denver Seminary; BS. University of Colorado, Boulder

Michel Hendricks is the Director of Life Model Consulting. Michel Hendricks 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.

Claudia Hendricks

Masters, Fuller Seminary

Claudia is a passionate connector and trainer with vast experience in spiritual formation in Argentina, Latin America and the United States. She holds a masters in Speech Pathology where she first learned about the human brain and is completing her MDiv at Fuller Seminary, but her most valuable lessons in life came by experiencing God’s presence among the most vulnerable and marginalized people.

Currently, with her husband Michel, they are part of the Life Model Works and Thrive Training team, emphasizing the centrality of attachment to God and each other as the way to grow healthy families and communities. Residing in Boulder, CO they have 3 bilingual adult children. Claudia loves Jesus and spending quality time at a table with family, old and new friends, being outside in nature, dancing and traveling.

Mercy Johnson

Masters, Trinity International University; BA. Vanguard University

Mercy is the Project Administrator for Life Model Works. Mercy has 7 years of church staff experience at large churches, church plants and house church communities. She graduated with honors from Vanguard University with a Bachelors in Pastoral Leadership and Counseling. She went on to complete a Masters in Bioethics from Trinity International University. All the time serving as an Immanuel Facilitator in her local church. Mercy is passionate about spreading the Life Model movement across the world and helping people heal their relational connections.

Jen Pfeiler

BA. Point Loma Nazarene University

Jen is the Partner Specialist & Social Content Creator at Life Model Works. She graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University with a Bachelors in Multimedia Journalism. Jen enjoys many creative outlets including a background in worship guitar and vocals. She is passionate about reaching the next generation with wholeness and connection to Jesus.

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