2026 Disciple-Making Leaders (Advanced) Network
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This network builds on the foundation laid by the Foundational Disciple-Making Leaders Network through expanding content depth and drawing connections as well as providing a keen focus on practical application in disciple-making ministries in the local context.
We will help envision, equip, and encourage you as a leader for disciple-making, because while Jesus’ command to make disciples is straightforward, the practice of it can be quite complex and require clear insight, skill, and understanding as well as plenty of support from fellow practitioners. Our vision is that Christ would multiply your disciple-making leadership to many others and thus impact Europe with the transforming power of the gospel. At the end of our time, you will have working knowledge of critical areas of discipleship content from people who have great experience and expertise. You will also have a clear plan of action to apply this wisdom and its facets to genuinely impact those with whom you work locally.
In order to attend this network, you must already be discipling others or be willing to commit to lead others in discipleship relationship and be held accountable to that work over the next year. Prior preparation will be set for all applicants.
What Network Participants Are Saying
- "The Forum is the most inspiring event that I have ever attended. I was able to learn so much biblical wisdom and meet and mingle with people who are walking their talk. Being around people with such a heart for serving the Lord, both in words and practice, was amazing and inspiring. Also, the multicultural aspect of people from Europe (and worldwide) coming together to worship the Lord and looking to serve him more wholeheartedly was terrific. Here I can meet with experienced leaders and grow so much in my own role as a young leader to my fellow countrymen. The Forum had a huge impact on my life last year and has been fruitful in so many areas."
- Anton Liljedal, Theology Student, Denmark - "Being at the European Leadership Forum is a huge blessing to me. Through the Disciple-Making Leaders Network I have received important inspiration which will define the future of our ministry. I have been motivated to build a disciple-making system. I would like to make discipleship a key part of our ministry with volunteers and counsellors."
- Laszlo Beregi, Executive Officer of Grace Ministries Foundation, Hungary - "Being part of the European Leadership Forum has been an incredible experience and a great blessing for me, as I am able to learn from other leaders and disciple-makers across Europe, receive encouragement for my walk with the Lord, and receive many resources, including great books, which will equip me the other Christians in Slovenia to walk with Christ more faithfully and boldly."
- Sara Stikovic, Youth Leader, Slovenia
Applicants should be leaders who have previously attended the European Leadership Forum Disciple-Making Leaders Network: Foundational Track. The Advanced Track will help participants move from principles to practical application sensitive to each person's ministry context.
Network Leadership
Network Speakers
Andrew Dickson lives by the sea on Northern Ireland’s world-famous Antrim Coast with his wife, Katherine, and their two young children. After spending over 13 years in local church and para-church ministry, Andrew now serves as the Congregational Life Development Officer for the Presbyterian… Read more
Hannah Donato is the wife of Giovanni and mother of three children: Isabella, Luca and Giorgia. Originally from England, Hannah has been serving the Lord in Italy for the past 19 years amongst university students with the Italian IFES movement, GBU. In the past, Hannah has overseen the… Read more
Rick Hill is a speaker, author and leader based near Belfast, Northern Ireland. Rick serves as Executive Secretary of the Council for Mission in Ireland within the Presbyterian Church. He is the author of Deep Roots of Resilient Disciples and serves as an elder in Carnmoney Church. Rick is… Read more
Heather Holdsworth is a Bible teacher, author and artist. Her focus is on the Spiritual Formation of people of all ages. As a teacher she developed a keen interest in how people grow. Following a 2-year diploma in Practical Theology, she completed an MA in Spiritual Formation & Discipleship… 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
Helen Thorne-Allenson is the Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK. She is an experienced speaker and author whose recent books include "Mental Health and Your Church," "Hope in an Anxious World," and "5 Things to Pray for a Suffering Friend.… 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, 17 May
Have you ever experienced a certain tension between programme and person-based discipleship, educational and relational discipleship, or simply between the content and the connection you share with those you disciple? During this session, we will consider the biblical principles and practices behind relational discipleship before taking time to assess our own personal commitment to it. We will also try to envision what relational discipleship might look like in our own contexts and think about steps towards retaining or recovering it within the churches and organisations we represent.
Why are social media and video games so irresistible? Why are so many people constantly looking at their cell phones? It seems like there's a new, legal, and highly addictive 'drug' on the market. What steps can we take to avoid the pitfalls and support the healthy development of our maturity, our marriages, and our children? God’s standard remains the same for both the physical and virtual worlds, and His Word is remarkably relevant, offering principles and guidance for a healthy life both online and offline! This is not an anti-technology seminar—on the contrary, I am a fervent advocate for technology and for our role as disciple-makers, ensuring that together with our disciples, we will thrive in the digital age.
Monday, 18 May
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 these together, we will consider what they have to teach us about our own approaches to discipleship.
Writing to the saints at Philippi, Paul provides a great insight into personal relationships within the early church, calling them his brothers, his beloved, longed for, joy and crown (Phil. 4:1), not terms used in a professional relationship. His discipleship culture is characterised by a foundation of personal warmth, Godly delight, affectionate ambition, and loyal commitment. How do we create such a culture in our own discipleship-making relationships, both individually and collectively?
Tuesday, 19 May
Guiding others toward maturity in Christ is one of the greatest privileges for a disciple-making leader. Across Europe, evangelical leaders minister in diverse and often sceptical cultural contexts, where faith is frequently questioned and spiritual growth not only feels countercultural – it truly is. Yet these very realities create remarkable opportunities for the gospel and for shaping disciples who can impact and influence their communities for Christ. In this session, we will explore four essential elements of biblical discipleship and provide practical tools to help disciple-making leaders nurture Christlike character, deepen spiritual maturity, and raise disciples who live faithfully and shine as bold witnesses across Europe.
About 1 in 6 people seek help from a doctor about their anxiety – 1 in 3 people talk about feeling anxious day by day. In our churches and our communities, there will be many wrestling with the physical, spiritual, and social outworking of its pain. As Christians, we long to help, but what can we do? In this session, we will look at how God’s Word, God’s work and God’s people can all play their part in walking alongside those who suffer—and see how faith can bring real hope in an anxious world.
Wednesday, 20 May
We are invited to step into Matthew’s vision of discipleship—a journey of transformation that goes beyond knowing what Christ said to being reshaped under His reign. We consider the tension created in our souls at Jesus’ counter-cultural call to abide in Him first before serving His people. And in abiding in Him, we discover the way of Christ that both costs us our life and fills us with His life.
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?