2026 Leaders of Christian Organisations (Senior Leaders) Network
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The Leaders of Christian Organizations Network: Senior Leaders Track seeks to equip experienced leaders to direct the continent’s Christian churches and organizations in a way that ensures the greatest impact for God’s Kingdom. This Network seeks to provide practical wisdom, useful leadership insights, and biblically-based solutions to key problem areas, as well as to encourage leaders facing key organisational challenges. This Network also addresses significant issues that experienced leaders may encounter, from how to deal with their own assumptions of personal integrity and virtue, to topics like strategic planning, vision-casting, time management, and delegation, prioritising organisational objectives, and assessing finances and resource development.
Each day will incorporate mixed modes of learning, combining expert input, working on live leadership issues, working through tools and frameworks that you can take away and apply back home, time for peer learning exchange, and the opportunity to pray together as fellow leaders. We hope this will enable each participant to contribute from the richness of their own experience in leadership, as well as providing space and support to apply learning to the specific leadership challenges and opportunities you face.
Prior preparation will be set for all applicants.
What Network Participants Are Saying
- "I knew I needed help and training, and ELF is an answer to that need. I feel really encouraged to continue investing in Christian leaders who will impact the church, universities, the marketplace, and the world."
- Annayiz Goutier, National Leader of Students for Christ, Belgium - "As the leader of an organisation, I had the ability to be inspired, encouraged, and empowered to do more effective ministry through the Forum’s Leaders of Christian Organisations Network. Through the Forum I see the huge potential to develop skills and ministry connections through the Forum’s Networks. These are potential peers and partners for future ministry. I have learned much and developed skills and character for my work."
- Samuel Cekov, Executive Director of Ambassadors for Christ, Slovakia - "I participated in ELF this year for the first time, after 28 years of full-time ministry. The leadership training has been fantastic and the worship God-focused. I have connected with many like-minded brothers and sisters. I plan to come back next year, hopefully with my entire leadership team."
- Laszlo Kazar, Director of Word of Life, Hungary
Applicants should be leading or helping to lead Christian organisations or churches. They should be seeking practical tools and biblically-based solutions in key problem areas of the leader's role.
Network Leadership
Network Speakers
Andrea Aresca holds a Master’s Degree in Management Engineering and an Executive Master in Digital Transformation. After working as a manager in the manufacturing industry, he has been providing training, consulting, and interim management services since 2018, supporting both for-profit and non-… Read more
Marcus Baeder was born and raised in Switzerland. His parents shared the gospel with him at a young age, and he decided to follow Jesus when he was 10 years old. He moved to the USA, where he studied biology (BA) and public health (MPH, Epidemiology). He then spent 3 years in breast cancer… Read more
Lindsay Brown is a native of Wales. He studied European history at Oxford (MA) and theology at the Free Faculty of Theology at Vaux-sur-Seine, near Paris, under Henri Blocher. Lindsay served as the International Director of the Lausanne Movement from 2008-2016. He has worked with the… Read more
Terry English is a leadership and organisational development coach who seeks to help leaders to “love growing their organisations”. He currently lives in the Czech Republic and has equipped ministries and leaders across Central and Eastern Europe for the past 27 years. In his free time he… Read more
Philip Miller is the 17th Senior Pastor of The Moody Church. He and his wife Krista are graduates of Cedarville University (’04) and both hold Th.M. degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary ('10). They live in Chicago with their four children: Claire, Violet, Cora, and Jude. Pastor Philip is… Read more
Dave Patty has been involved in training youth leaders and leading national and international youth movements in Europe for over 30 years. He serves as the president of Josiah Venture. He is also a founding member of Concentric, which mobilizes and equips youth ministry trainers in over 60… Read more
John Stevens is the National Director of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, a family of over 500 Bible-centred churches in the UK, a position that he has held since 2010. Prior to this he was one of the founding pastors of City Evangelical Church Birmingham, which was planted in… 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
Network Programme
Sunday, 17 May
Leadership is a privilege but one that comes with many pressures. Amid the urgency of the great commission and the demands of the role, leaders can sometimes find it hard to slow down, to find support, and can be at risk of burning out. Join us to explore how to balance the biblical call to self-sacrifice with the biblical calls to rest, to trust, to nurture our families, and discover refreshment and strength in our Sovereign God.
Monday, 18 May
Leaders make mistakes every day, and most of them can be corrected. A leader can even be weak in certain aspects of his leadership role and continue to be effective and fruitful. However, some flaws are actually fatal. They destroy leadership, close doors, sabotage ministry and, at times, totally disqualify a leader for the future. Unfortunately, all of us are susceptible to them, and they have taken down some of the most gifted leaders. Are you aware of their danger? Do you know how to guard yourself and stay out of their trap? You may be surprised at some of the items on the list. Given their devastating impact, you should know them well and be taking steps right now to avoid them. Drawing from God’s Word and over 30 years of experience training leaders, Dave Patty will equip you to be prepared.
A well-functioning team is not primarily about having the right skills represented, but rather about the different personalities present and how they relate to each other. Honouring God-given resources – our people – by understanding them well, ends up increasing productivity and satisfaction on the team. This session will introduce different tools and approaches to help your team members understand each other and for you, as a team leader, to understand how to maximise what each team member has to offer.
Tuesday, 19 May
How can we turn our vision into reality? Defining clear, specific, and time-bound projects is essential for effectively advancing our organisation. In this workshop, we’ll explore how to keep daily tasks aligned with our broader mission and develop practical strategies to communicate essential information to team members and stakeholders. Every project is a creative act, bringing new products, services, and outcomes to life! Together, we’ll draw inspiration from the ultimate Creator, learning how Biblical principles can guide our approach to project-based thinking and purposeful execution.
Martin Luther once said, ‘I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.’ While we all understand the importance of prayer and spending time in the Word, for many leaders, the demands of life and ministry mean we are often running from one thing to the next, wishing the day had 12 more hours to get everything done – and our Spiritual lives often suffer! That is not how we were created to lead. During this session, we will spend time examining how Jesus developed his ministry, focusing on doing the right things, rather than doing things right, and discover proven ways to order our lives for maximum impact AND rest (hint: learning to say ‘no’ is a vital skill for organisational leaders!).
Wednesday, 20 May
Leadership transitions are crucial points of vulnerability in every organisation, including ministries and churches. Come learn the foundational principles and strategies for successful transitions, so the Gospel continues to advance for generations to come. In this talk, our speaker, who has assumed the leadership of two churches previously led by incredibly influential leaders with long track records, will share from his unique experience and expertise.
How can leaders persevere for the long haul? What principles and practices must leaders hold onto even as they adapt to significant change in our world? What is the secret to developing others and raising up a new generation of leaders to take your place? We don’t all have to make the same mistakes! Drawing from Lindsay's 50 years of leadership experience, this session will offer practical wisdom on navigating change and the many challenges common to Christian leadership, all the while maintaining a strong biblical foundation.