Why a Decelerator?

There are plenty of good accelerator programs and incubators out there. But as far as we know, we’re one of the only “decelerators” helping people slow down and discern God’s voice in a noisy world. You might say, “Huh? Why run a program that deliberately decelerates developing ventures instead of speeding them up?”

Hear what our Dreamers have to say about the unique space the Dream Forum creates:

“The Dream Forum gave me space to slow down and listen. The entrepreneur mindset and startup environment doesn’t always invite contemplation; there’s such a culture of moving fast and a push to keep doing. The contemplative practices and community cultivated in the Dream Forum allowed me to pause and to take deliberate, intentional steps after first centering myself in God’s Word and the Spirit’s voice. I also love that my prayer partner and I, matched through Dream Forum, still pray together weekly on the phone over three years later–and it’s been amazing to witness how God continues to guide and grow our dreams!”
Eva Ting, Here to Honor (2021 Dream Forum)

“The Dream Forum came along at just the time my dream needed it to. Through supportive, non-competitive, and creative community I was given the feedback, guidance, deadlines, and encouragement I needed to take Tau from concept to reality. If you’re a dreamer, you know that what you need most are friends who believe that God gives dreams and that yours can come true with the help of God and others. Goldenwood gave that to me.”

Jamison Galt, Tau (2022 Dream Forum)

“The time I spent in the Dream Forum refined and shaped my understanding of not only my place in God’s story, but also allowed me to learn and experience a reality where everyone has their place, where what we do is more than just making money or searching for fame and recognition. It was a pre-taste of the world where life is based on the principle of abundance, intentionality, and interconnectedness. We are workers in one beautiful garden, where everyone works on his own raw, for the beauty of the whole garden.
Another important point was the deliberate invitation of God in this process, or rather, us joining God’s process. He is already moving, and all we have to do is to listen and to be faithful to what He says and who He made us to be. For me, as an active person who was given a passion and desire to care for His children, focusing on who I am instead of what I do has been a healing experience for me time and time again.”

Liliia Chernytska: Establishing a Healing Center for Ukraine (2023 Dream Forum)

“In a phrase: Listening brings life.

Through the Dream Forum experience, I have learned what it takes to dwell in what Isaiah 30:15 terms as “…in quietness and in confidence…” in a business/workplace context. The listening approach at Goldenwood mirrors Isaiah’s approach of: (a) returning to the Lord’s way of thinking from my own way of thinking, and (b) resting in the grace and knowledge found in hearing God’s voice.  I now approach my work with the quiet confidence found in returning to God’s gentle way of lovingkindness and care, while resting in God’s grace.”

Carney Burns, Sales Training for Marginalized Populations, (2023 Dream Forum)

“For me the Dream Forum was a place where I was able to step out of the busy-ness of my life and step into a posture of receiving and listening to what God has been calling me to. As someone who was juggling work, school, raising kids, and general life demands, I knew it would be really hard to find space on my own, in my life to cultivate my dream. The Dream Forum provided structure and accountability to sit down and really be with God and a community of other dreamers who also were in pursuit of their dreams. The community aspect of the experience was the richest piece for me, as it has been with all of the Goldenwood experiences I’ve been a part of.”

Crystal C., Shiloh: for women experiencing violence (2022 Dream Forum)