2023 Disciple-Making Leaders (Foundational) Network
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The aim of the Disciple-Making Leaders Network: Foundational Track is for each participant to develop biblical convictions about leadership and disciple-making, so that by the end of the Forum they understand their calling as leaders to build relationships that help God’s people become mature. A key component of this Network will be small group interaction, discussion, and time set apart for Q&A throughout the four days of the Forum, which will help deepen participants’ learning. The Network will also include lectures on key biblical material and discussion of practical examples. Participants will be encouraged to develop practical strategies for becoming more effective in disciple-making.
Applicants should be those involved in Christian leadership (at any level) who desire to develop maturity in the members of the body of Christ and are willing to grapple honestly with their responsibility to make disciples. Prior preparation will be set for all applicants.
Applicants should be leaders who desire to develop maturity in the members of the body of Christ and are willing to grapple honestly with the responsibility to make disciples. This Track is designed for those who have NOT attended the European Leadership Forum Disciple-Making Leaders Network in previous years.
Network Leadership
Network Speakers
Paul Bowman has 30 years of experience in full-time youth ministry in the local church. He now serves as the national director for Josiah Venture UK. He is committed to training and equipping the next generation of youth leaders, and mobilizing people, prayer and resources for ministry to youth… Read more
Terry English is the Director of Learning and Development for Josiah Venture. Prior to moving to the Czech Republic 23 years ago, he also worked with youth and student outreach ministries in the USA, UK, and Norway. In his free time he conducts a large Gospel choir, and enjoys helping other… Read more
Rick Hill is a speaker, author and leader based near Belfast, Northern Ireland. Having previously served in various ministry roles, Rick now oversees the Council for Mission in Ireland within the Presbyterian Church. He is also an elder in Carnmoney Church and author of Deep Roots of Resilient… Read more
Heather Holdsworth (MA(SFD) DipTh BEd(Hons)) is a Bible teacher, lecturer, artist and enjoyer of deep conversations over tea with friends. Her focus is on the subject of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship for people of all ages. After graduating with a degree in education, she taught in… Read more
Jay Mosser has served in pastoral roles for 43 years – about 20 years in various assistant pastor capacities and the rest as senior pastor. Through those years he has served in three churches ranging from smaller (less than 50) to larger (about 1,000). Along the way he has worked with children,… Read more
Maurice Nightingale is a member of the Relational Mission core team with responsibilities that include the supervision of early-stage church planting on the mainland of Europe, in particular training and coaching pioneer leaders and developing strategies for both initiating and supporting church… Read more
Emanuel Tundrea completed his PhD in software engineering at Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Romania, in conjunction with the University of Nice, France, and then he earned his MA in Pastoral Theology in Oradea. In 2001, he joined the staff at Emanuel University of Oradea where he is… Read more
Network Programme
Sunday, 21 May
Today we live in a digital age where social networks, search engines, and internet browsers are harvesting information to build personal profiles for each one of us. Many companies are using profiling technology in ways that go far beyond what many of us could imagine. Yet, this is not something entirely new. Our enemy uses this same strategy in his spiritual war against us. He is profiling all our vulnerabilities and then using them to target us. This session explores this crucial topic as we seek to grow as resilient disciples and also embark in the ministry of making disciples of Jesus Christ. We will explore how Christ made disciples and how He—who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and knows best our spiritual profile—continues to be “the founder and perfecter of our faith”.
Young people today have been described as "the most physically safe but emotionally fragile generation in history.” Many young people struggle to cope with the demands of modern life, including social media, school, exams, and global issues. We want to help our young people live well when life shakes them! This session will explore the areas in a young person's life where discipleship is needed and provide insight on the qualities that we as leaders need to demonstrate if we are to effectively provide loving care.
Monday, 22 May
In these years of great changes all around us, our discipleship plans are often interrupted. Circumstances change, people drop out or quit our programmes, and sometimes we wonder if we are making a lasting difference in the kingdom of God. How can disciple-making leaders stay emotionally healthy, full of hope, and move forward when so many things are changing around us? What “anchors us” in these changing times? In this session, we will unpack three “Gospel anchors” that give us hope in changing times and remind us to keep trusting that God Himself is at work in our disciple-making efforts.
This session will explore some biblical images and metaphors for discipleship that help to provide us with a strong framework for spiritual formation. Through unpacking this overview, we will consider how resilient disciples are formed and what foundations we need to build on in the discipleship of others.
Tuesday, 23 May
Ministry and leadership can be a lonely task, but we need not face this alone. One of the sad realities of mission and church leadership in Europe is just how many good godly men and women find themselves isolated and alone, devoid of meaningful peer ministry relationships and community. Too often this leads to disillusionment and burnout. It is abundantly clear that this is not God's intention, and neither is it necessary. This workshop explores how to create authentic New Testament relationships as gospel missionaries and leaders, and how to avoid becoming isolated and alone in ministry.
When we stand before groups asking questions that challenge, sharing passages for transformation - we speak words that delve into our own souls. How do we lead when our faith and identity tremble? In this session, we consider the tensions of our disciple-making commission in this beautiful, mysterious journey with God.
Wednesday, 24 May
Our current socially distant context has created many challenges, but also provided us with new opportunities. This session will examine how we can continue to follow Jesus’ command to make disciples even when it is hard to meet in person. If Paul could do it from prison, we can for sure do it from the comfort of our homes!
We learned that there is no shortcut to maturity and there is no shortcut to mature leadership. All of us embark on life’s journey with a variety of backgrounds and experiences that affect the progress we make in our growth. All of us are led by God to make disciples in different contexts. One thing is sure: no matter how much we know, or what our spiritual, psychological, or emotional heritage might be, it takes time to mature and it takes perseverance in the long term to make disciples. In this last session we will explore:
- How can we continue to grow as disciple-makers?
- What are the next steps to springboard to fruitful ministry?
We plan to end by forming cohort groups to keep one another accountable to the plans we've made and to spur each other on throughout the year and then entrust each other in God’s providence in prayer.