On Saturday 26 September, 34 people gathered to begin their journey on the new Foundations in Ministry programme.
Foundations in Ministry exists to equip a whole variety of leaders in all aspects of the life of the Church.
Amazing ministry is already happening in our parishes, and the programme will work with our parish churches to help resource and develop lay leaders in local areas. The programme takes place over two academic years and creates space for personal growth and development. While there will be lots of good input, this is not about information, but about transformation.
Foundations in Ministry Programme Manager, Matt Grove, reflects on the first gathering:
“Saturday was a wonderful day, with a balance of learning, reflection, prayer and time spent in small groups. Worship was front and centre of the day, remembering that our focus is Jesus and that our walk with him must precede anything that we do for him.
“We were blessed to have Bishop Andrew with us in the morning, who delivered an inspiring address to us. The day was a mix of bible study, theology, leadership training, and fellowship, with a real focus on how that might all be applied in the various ministries that God is calling each of us to.
“I was inspired by the diversity of the group, their collective wisdom and gentle challenge. It was joyful to hear conversations about the goodness of God reverberating around the place. The tangible presence of the Holy Spirit held the day and created a sense of peace and of safety. We shared some very powerful and moving testimonies, which were certainly a huge encouragement to us all. As our time together drew to a close, we watched a wonderfully inspiring video showing some amazing and impactful work being done in a parish in the Diocese.
“We started Foundations in Ministry in response to what God is already doing in the Diocese, calling and gifting a variation of people to a diversity of different ministries. The vision for the Foundations in Ministry Programme is to support, resource, equip and encourage these ministries. It is also to release the huge potential for non-ordained (lay) missional leadership.”
