2027 Leaders of Christian Organisations (Senior Leaders) Network
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The Leaders of Christian Organisations Network (Senior Leaders) seeks to equip experienced leaders to direct the continent’s Christian churches and organisations 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
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
Pastor David Fleming served the local church for nearly 30 years, most recently as Sr. Pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Under David’s leadership, the church grew to become a large multi-cultural and multi-site congregation that also planted churches across the US and… Read more
Stefan Gustavsson is a member of the European Leadership Forum Steering Committee. He is the director for Apologia – Centre for Christian Apologetics and makes his home in Stockholm. He was the founding general secretary for 16 years of the Swedish Evangelical Alliance. Stefan travels widely… 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
Peter Saunders was born in New Zealand and originally trained as a General Surgeon, before serving with the Africa Inland Mission in Kenya and completing two years mission training at All Nations Christian College in the UK. Since 1992 he has worked in full-time Christian ministry first with… Read more
Jelena Sivulka hails from Serbia, where she was born and raised. She obtained her master's degrees in psychology and theology from her homeland. Thirty years ago, she embraced Christianity, igniting a passion for ministry alongside her husband Greg. Together, they have been instrumental in… 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
Network Programme
Sunday, 23 May
Wherever God calls you to lead, you will likely encounter strong personalities and difficult people. Leading influential and strong-willed people well is one of the greatest challenges of leaders, but it can also be one of the most rewarding and fruitful. This seminar addresses the unique challenges that come with leading strong personalities and difficult people, and offers biblical and practical steps to facilitate healthy and productive leadership alignment.
There are currently five different generations in the workplace, or volunteering in a local church or organisation. While each generation provides a unique strength, there may also be some challenges. This workshop will explore how to use the strengths of each generation to create functioning and healthy multi-generational teams that enjoy serving alongside and learning from each other, and the kind of leadership that all generations respond well to.
Monday, 24 May
Limits to compassion among ministry leaders often arise when the line between serving others and self-care is blurred. While compassion is a cornerstone of ministry, overextending oneself without rest or support can lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and even resentment. By understanding and acknowledging our human limitations and relying on God’s strength, leaders can offer sustained, genuine compassion while preserving their own well-being.
More information about this session coming soon!
Tuesday, 25 May
As leaders, we are called to shepherd God’s people faithfully in a culture marked by increasing division, confusion, and competing visions of what is true and good. How can we remain rooted in the Gospel, think wisely and biblically about the cultural moment, and lead with both conviction and grace? This session will consider what it means to be truly shaped by the Gospel and why our character, integrity, and approach to cultural issues matter deeply for our leadership and our witness to Christ.
Wednesday, 26 May
What does biblical leadership look like when lived out, and how can we learn to adapt as faithful leaders from one season to the next? Drawing from Peter's years of leadership experience, this session will offer illustrations and lessons learned on developing and maintaining a strong biblical foundation so that we can lead others well in a variety of situations.
In this last session, we will explore:
- How can we continue to grow as leaders?
- What are the next steps to springboard to fruitful ministry and leadership?
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.