Supporting and resourcing the local church in mission is what UFM is all about. So often mission agencies can be viewed by local church leaders as always wanting something from them: their people, their finances, their prayers, their meetings.
With all that in mind, UFM has been putting on seminars for a number of years, with the aim of encouraging and supporting church leaders as they seek to serve in their local contexts. These are on relevant topics that have a missional significance for church leaders, both locally and globally. They are free events including a light lunch to enable fellowship and networking.
Our most recent seminar covered ‘Leaving a Legacy’, which involved thinking through our priorities in ministry and what will be the most significant over the long term. We focused on investing time in developing leaders and saw, through a look at Biblical principles and the life of Charles Simeon, the potential impact this sort of investment has.
Other topics explored, have included:
- When is taking risk right for the sake of the gospel?
- Developing a missions culture in the local church
- Breaking down barriers – seeking to remove unconscious fear and prejudices in reaching Muslims for Christ
- A time to plant – exploring church planting in Ireland’.
In these sessions, UFM mission workers bring their cross-cultural experience, and we hear from people in other agencies or local churches – a collaboration that is refreshing and rewarding for everyone.
‘Those get-togethers continue to be very profitable in my yearly cycle of life and ministry.’
The format of the day is designed to encourage plenty of interaction and those who come always express appreciation. One minister commented, ‘I hesitated in replying as we move into our new premises that week … but then when I thought about it, I can’t afford to miss this morning you have planned.’
Others have said, ‘Thank you once again for the opportunity for fellowship and enrichment for those in ministry in our area. Those get-togethers continue to be very profitable in my yearly cycle of life and ministry.’
‘I wanted to say thanks. … What was most beneficial was just to take a few hours out to be at an event of this kind, consider afresh what we are doing in ministry and be encouraged that it is usually in the ordinary flow of ministry week to week that God works.’
‘I hesitated in replying as we move into our new premises that week … but then when I thought about it, I can’t afford to miss this morning you have planned.’
This year we plan to host more events across the UK. If you are a leader in your church, we want to invite you. Click here for details of church leaders’ seminars in London, Cardiff, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle and Leicester.
It would be great to see you come along and be blessed, challenged and encouraged as you serve where God has placed you.