formation is Living Leadership’s dynamic training programme for church apprentices, interns and other trainees and junior ministers. formation places a unique emphasis on building grace-based character for leadership and a high value on equipping trainees with strong ministry and Bible skills formation is an opportunity for churches to collaborate in training. Most of the training is delivered by leaders from participating churches joining together to give trainees a great start in ministry.

formation gives trainee leaders the best possible start in ministry, building growth in grace and godliness, Bible-handling and ministry skills. Attendees will receive from experienced pastors and trainers who share not only their skills and ministry experience but themselves.

The formation programme consists of two conferences in September and March. The practical training covers many aspects of ministry, including:

• Understanding and applying the Bible to life
• How to live out principles of biblical servant-leadership
• A great introduction to working in a church and to teamwork
• A range of pastoral ministry and evangelism skills

formation is designed to compliment the training schemes of participating churches. Leaders from the churches are warmly invited to help shape the development of the programme to best serve the needs of their church and are always welcome to the conferences.

Participating churches enjoy the benefits of working together to train junior leaders and develop partnership for sharing skills, resources and best practice.

formation trainees have to book through their church and with the church’s full commitment and approval.

The key distinctive of formation is a commitment to help young leaders know the love and grace of God in their lives and ministries. A strong focus on the power and significance of the cross of Christ in their lives is central to the development of their practical and theological skills. This emphasis reflects the belief that who we are is more important than what we do.

Among the other key distinctives of the formation programme are:

• A high ratio of team to trainees, providing deep investment in lives
• Equal weight being given to building grace-filled character for leadership, strong foundations in the scriptures and transferable skills for ministry
• Genuine national collaboration between evangelical churches across denominations
• Optional study programme to accompany residential training
• Plenty of time given to prayer, worship and small group work for building relationships of depth between trainees
• Senior ministry staff from Core Partner Churches attending to invest in trainees. Among the Core Partner Churches are Above Bar Church Southampton, Chessington Evangelical Church, Cornerstone Church Nottingham, Crofton Baptist Church, Eden Baptist Church Cambridge and Bethany City Church Sunderland

Head on over to the downloads section for a flavour of some of the training content.