Burning Hearts Disciples is a Catholic apostolate – and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit – built around one conviction: that the work of forming missionary disciples is always relational, always particular, and never one-size-fits-all.
Since 2010, we've walked alongside hundreds of parishes, more than 50 Catholic schools, and 15 dioceses across the country – not with a program to sell, but with a willingness to listen first, discern what God is already doing, and help communities take the next faithful step.
Our Mission
We equip, form, and accompany Catholic leaders to move their communities from maintenance to mission – through the art of accompaniment, the clarity of the kerygma, and formation that goes deeper than content delivery.
Our Vision
A Church where every Catholic can name what Jesus has done in their life, walk with another person toward him, and form the next generation of disciples to do the same.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Every engagement is different because every community is different. We've helped parishes discern and build multi-year evangelization strategies. We've walked with diocesan teams through leadership formation and cultural change. We've equipped school staffs to speak about Jesus with clarity and confidence. We've supported individual leaders who needed someone to accompany them before they could accompany anyone else.
We don't arrive with a packaged solution. We begin by listening – for what God is already doing, who is already moving, and what the Spirit seems to be inviting. Then we help you build something that can actually take root in your real conditions, with your real people, over time.
Everything we do draws on the best of the Church's own tradition – the New Evangelization, the call to missionary discipleship, and the wisdom of accompaniment modeled by Jesus himself. We are fully aligned with the teaching of the Catholic Church and work in partnership with pastors, bishops, and diocesan leadership.
Ready to Take a Next Step?
If you recognize the gap between where your parish is and where you sense God is calling it – we'd love to talk.
We don't start with a proposal. We start with a conversation. Tell us where you are, what you're carrying, and what you're hoping for. We'll listen first, and together we can discern whether and how we might be able to help.
Our Team
STEVE ANDERSON
PRESIDENT • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BRIAN HELLMANN
VICE PRESIDENT • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAUREEN ANDERSON
SECRETARY/TREASURER • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JAKE ANDERSON
BOARD MEMBER
TONY BIRD
BOARD MEMBER
KRISTIN BIRD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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STEVE ANDERSON
PRESIDENT • BOARD OF DIRECTORSMarried 35+ years, with 4 grown children and 11 grandchildren (and counting!), Steve is a retried executive from an international food company. His experience with strategic planning, personnel growth and development, and project management provided the background for him to co-found Burning Hearts Disciples. Steve is an experienced international speaker having provided technical and personal development training and guidance for groups around the world. Steve is recognized as a leader in personal development, learning and improvement plans as well as a valued mentor to promising future leaders for the organization.
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BRIAN HELLMANN
VICE PRESIDENT • BOARD OF DIRECTORSThrough his work in various leadership roles within industry Brian brings with him over 25 years of extensive business management, strategic planning and leadership experience. His deep love of our Lord and the Catholic church is demonstrated by many years of participation in various church ministries. Brian and his wife Jill have been blessed with a joy-filled marriage of over 30 years including two daughters and two grandchildren. He has a passion for the New Evangelization and a dedication to sharing the richness of the Catholic faith, in particular as it relates to preparing families and young adults to meet the challenges of a secular world.
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MAUREEN ANDERSON
SECRETARY/TREASURER • BOARD OF DIRECTORSMaureen is a wife, mother of 4, and grandmother of 11. She has devoted her life to her faith and family. Over the years, she has served in numerous church leadership roles, from co-chair of parish council to developing a pre-school religious education program. Her work experience has included accounting, payroll and purchasing agent. She was blessed to be part of a growing food pantry north of Chicago as it became one of the largest in Lake County, IL. As she has been growing in her faith, she has felt a burning desire to answer Jesus’ call to “go and make disciples”. (Mt:29) She is full of anticipation to see what He has in store for her through the apostolate of Burning Hearts!
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JAKE ANDERSON
BOARD MEMBERJake is the newest member of the Burning Hearts board. His bio is coming soon.
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TONY BIRD
BOARD MEMBERHusband, father, outdoorsman, coach, teacher, and leader - Tony's desire to serve others can be seen in each of the many roles he has. With a master's degree in Educational Leadership, he values lifelong learning and wants to help those around him better themselves. A convert to Catholicism, he is regularly astounded and inspired (and a little intimidated) by the depth and breadth of the Church's teaching and tradition. He brings a valuable perspective to Burning Hearts Disciples and desires to help keep all of the apostolate's discussions, writings, and methods grounded in the lived experience of Catholics trying to live their faith in the world around them.
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KRISTIN BIRD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORKristin Bird is a wife, mother, disciple of Jesus, and on fire Catholic. She is a sought-after speaker, teacher, and consultant with a long history of helping Catholic parishes and schools foster deeper discipleship and authentic conversion. Her gift of teaching, love of storytelling, and passion for the faith fuel her life's mission: to set the world ablaze from the frozen tundra (Luke 12:49)
Kristin and her husband Tony live in Oshkosh, WI with their three teenage children. When she gets out from behind the computer screen, you'll find her quoting movies with Tony, laughing at bad puns with her kids, or with her nose in a book.
