Finishing Strong — Living and Dying Well, the Gospel Way

What It Is

We spend enormous energy planning for careers, families, and retirement — yet we rarely plan for the end of life, the one thing we know is coming. Finishing Strong gently opens that door. This half-day conference is for adults of every age—whether healthy, caring for someone, or facing serious illness.

This isn't a morbid day — it's a freeing one. Through Scripture, practical guidance, and honest conversation, you'll leave less anxious and more grateful, with clearer priorities and real next steps: how to prepare your soul, care for a loved one well, get your affairs in order, and heal the relationships that matter most. The goal is simple — that in the years ahead we might all live well, die well, and reflect the gospel to everyone around us.

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." — Psalm 90:12

People sharing conversation at a Finishing Strong gathering

What the Day Covers

Four things to focus on — spirit, body, affairs, and relationships

1

The Theology of Dying

Prepare the Soul

For the Christian, death is not a void to fear but a doorway. We'll look at the hope of the resurrection, the assurance of grace in Christ, and how earlier generations learned to die in faith rather than fear — resting in God through Scripture, prayer, and the means of grace.

2

Caregiving & Comfort

Care for the Body

Caring for a dying person is holy work. We'll cover the ministry of presence, making wise use of hospice and palliative care, preserving dignity — and, just as importantly, caring for the caregiver so the load is shared by a community, not carried alone.

3

Getting Things in Order

Set the House in Order

"Set your house in order" is an act of love that spares your family chaos in their grief. We'll walk through advance directives, health-care proxies, wills, the modern digital estate — passwords and accounts — and writing down your wishes while you're clear-headed.

4

Reconciliation & Legacy

Mend the Bonds

The deepest work is relational: "Please forgive me," "I forgive you," "Thank you," "I love you." We'll talk about pursuing reconciliation, speaking blessing over those we love, and leaving a spiritual legacy of faith that keeps ministering long after we're gone.

Who It's For

You don't have to be elderly — or in crisis — to come

Those caring for aging parents

Walking a loved one toward the end and wanting to do it with wisdom, grace, and practical confidence.

Anyone getting their house in order

Ready to face decisions about health, wishes, and affairs before the need arises — not after.

Believers of every age

Younger or older, anyone who wants their days — however many remain — to count for what matters most.

A day built for conversation. Throughout, you'll find honest "conversation starters" to help you begin — or deepen — the talks with family and trusted friends that so many of us keep meaning to have.

Locations & Dates

Where Finishing Strong is happening

Choose the event nearest you and register below. More locations are being added — check back or reach out to bring Finishing Strong to your community.

✎ These events are placeholders — edit the EVENTS list near the bottom of the file to set your real cities, dates, and venues.

For Hospitals & Organizations

Bring Finishing Strong to your community

Beyond the conference, we partner with hospitals, hospices, senior-living communities, community-based organizations, churches, and workplaces to lead workshops on any of our topics — the theology of dying, caregiving, advance directives, and getting affairs in order. Each session is tailored to your audience, whether that's patients and residents, family members, staff, or your congregation.

A team of hospital healthcare professionals

Hospitals, Hospice & Palliative Care

Sessions for patients, families, and staff on advance care planning, caregiving, and living well through serious illness.

Senior Living & Community Orgs

Resident and member workshops on getting your house in order, honest conversations, and finishing well.

Churches & Workplaces

Small-group, adult-education, or lunch-and-learn formats grounded in hope and practical next steps.

Request a Workshop

End-of-Life Planner Network

Not sure where to start? Talk with a planner.

A workshop opens the conversation — a planner helps you take the next step. We offer a network of end-of-life planners — each trained and certified through our own program — who walk alongside individuals and families to think through what comes next: organizing important documents, wishes, and accounts, planning for a business, preparing for care, and having the conversations that matter most.

Our planners guide and coordinate — helping you get organized and connecting you with the right licensed professionals (attorneys, financial advisors, medical teams) for the pieces that require them. Every planner in our network is certified through Finishing Strong and commits to our standards and code of ethics, so you can meet with them knowing they've been trained and vetted. The goal is simple: clarity, peace of mind, and a plan you and your family can trust.

Connect with a Planner

A planner can help you think through:

Important documents & advance directives
Wills, wishes & final arrangements
Business & succession planning
Digital accounts & passwords
Family conversations & reconciliation

The Credential

Become a Certified End-of-Life Planner

Certified End-of-Life Planner (CELP™)

Our credential sets the standard for faith-based end-of-life planning. Every planner who carries the CELP designation has completed our training, passed assessment, and agreed to uphold our code of ethics and scope of practice — so families know they're working with someone trained, vetted, and accountable.

✓ Standards-based curriculum
✓ Written code of ethics
✓ Competency assessment & exam
✓ Supervised practicum
✓ Continuing education required
✓ Listed in our verified registry

The path to certification

1

Apply & Train

Attend Our Classes

Apply to join a training cohort and work through our curriculum — the theology of dying, caregiving, getting affairs and business in order, and guiding hard conversations.

2

Assess & Certify

Earn the CELP Credential

Complete the coursework, pass the assessment, and commit to our code of ethics and scope of practice. Once certified, you carry the CELP designation and seal.

3

Join the Network

Meet With Clients

Be listed in our verified registry and begin walking alongside individuals and families — guiding, organizing, and referring to licensed professionals where needed.

Start the Conversation

Interested in becoming a certified planner?

Share your contact information to receive training details, upcoming cohort information, and next steps.

Who Stands With Us

Rooted in faith.
Preserving legacy.

Finishing Strong is supported by two organizations that share our commitment to meaningful care, faithful community, and stories that endure across generations.

Our Host Organization Family of Faith An online church and spiritual family walking alongside people facing a terminal diagnosis and the caregivers who stand beside them. Visit Family of Faith ↗ Our Storytelling Company Legacy Videos Thoughtful video production that helps families preserve the voices, memories, and stories they want future generations to know. Visit Legacy Videos ↗

Register

Save your seat

Registration is simple. Fill out the form and we'll follow up with confirmation and event details. There's no cost to reserve your spot.

✓ Pick the location and date that works for you
✓ Bring a spouse, friend, or the whole small group
✓ Come away with a workbook and practical next steps