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Search Results All (552) Services & Resources (158) Booking Pages (146) Blog Posts (237) Premium Resources (11) 552 items found for "" Services & Resources (158) Associate, Phil Swinburn Phil Swinburn View all: Affiliates Associates Staff Trustees Phil Swinburn Associate Country: Northern Ireland Areas Covered: Northern Ireland, Online Phil is married to Laura and they have 2 children. He spent 12 years in ministry in South Birmingham before moving to Northern Ireland 2 years ago where he currently runs a property services business. He has a heart to see Christian leaders enjoying Christ and flourishing in ministry whatever the circumstances. Ministries involved in: Refresh One to One, Refresh Groups, Refresh Network Online, Refreshment Days Get in touch If you are looking for one to one support, our 'What to Expect ' document lays out Our commitment to you and the principles underpinning interpersonal ministry. Associate, Mike Warren Mike Warren View all: Affiliates Associates Staff Trustees Mike Warren Associate Country: England Areas Covered: South East England, Online Completing his training at Oak Hill in 1994, Mike has worked in suburban and rural ministries, and is now Vicar of St Peter’s Tunbridge Wells. Influenced by biblical counselling and pastoral supervision, his ministry has become more personal and increasingly focused on working with individuals. Mike is a golf-loving husband, father & grandad. Ministries involved in: Refresh One to One, Refresh Network Online, Refreshment Days, Refresh Groups Get in touch If you are looking for one to one support, our 'What to Expect ' document lays out Our commitment to you and the principles underpinning interpersonal ministry. Ministerial Burnout: Signs and Solutions, | Living Leadership Ministerial Burnout: Signs and Solutions Back to all Articles Ministerial Burnout: Signs and Solutions Alan Palmer explores the signs that you are close to burnout, possible solutions, and ways to avoid it Download Related articles Ministerial Burnout: Part 1 View All Booking Pages (146) Formation Residential Conferences 2024/25 Tickets: £0.00 - £150.00 10 September 2024 | 12:00 Cornerstone Church, 90 Castle Blvd, Nottingham NG7 1FP, UK Refresh Community for Spouses 16 September 2024 | 19:00 Refresh Network Online 18 September 2024 | 09:00 View All Blog Posts (237) Pole-ish Friends I’d like to introduce you to two of my friends. I call them Konrad and Waclaw. You can see their photo here (right). I became a reluctant user of trekking poles about five years ago. Before that, I’d seen people using them, including some very young people, moving at astonishing speed over rugged terrain. However, in my manly pride, I’d always thought, ‘They’re great—for those who need them.’ But then I tore my calf muscle, a running injury which then ran on for a long time. Every time I thought it was safe to exercise, it would ‘go’ again. Now, I had two things coming up for which I was desperate to be fighting fit. Or at least, dancing fit, as one of them was my daughter's twenty-first birthday party—a barn dance. I wanted to be able to dance with my daughter, stripping the willow with gusto. The other event, a couple of weeks later, was a rare trip to the Lakes to walk the hills. So, the party came, and I did dance, (you shall go to the ball!), though by the end of the evening I was paying for it. In fact, I suspected I'd set back my recovery. And the walking trip? I was going alone, and didn't fancy getting halfway up a mountain only to be rendered immobile. I was feeling gloomy and pessimistic. Then, at the back of a cupboard, I stumbled upon a trekking pole of my mother’s, discovered while clearing out her flat. To cut a long story short, I was astonished at what a difference this one pole (at this stage) made. I quickly acquired a pair and was away. So helpful were they that I’ve continued using them long after my calf muscle has healed. Why are they so helpful? Several reasons. I walk much faster with poles. There’s an obvious gain when moving over muddy ground, as the extra points of stability enable you to move your feet more quickly. Going uphill, it’s like having your own portable bannister rail. Going downhill, they’re even better, since they stabilise you while also taking weight off your knees. It’s that final factor where their lasting value lies; they take a huge strain off your joints. I see them now as an investment in my future (albeit my temporal future). Surely, if my poles enable me to continue enjoying God’s wonderful world in twenty-five years’ time, it must be worth it. So, I thank the Lord for my pole-ish friends. THE NEED FOR FRIENDS As on the hills, even more so in life. Boy, do we need friends! Bill Withers was absolutely right—we all need ‘somebody to lean on’. Friends provide points of stability. They help us when we are going uphill, and they’re there for us when we descend into the depths. Friends share the strain. Friends help us to keep on going and going and going. Why then, at times, do we only see our need for them once we’ve been forced into a debilitating situation? This shouldn’t be true for those in Christian ministry, but for some reason, it is. Is it because my generation has grown up with a rather individualistic pietism? Do we feel, somehow, that for Christian leaders, Christ should be enough? How out-of-step this is with the example of Jesus, who valued his own friends highly. Yes, they deserted him at the toughest point, but still he wanted Peter, James, and John with him in the garden. He valued not only their prayer support but also their physical proximity. (Matt 26.36-46). The apostle Paul also knew the value of good friends, along with the pain of abandonment (Demas; 2 Tim 4.10). Of course, friendships take time and effort. Sometimes they are inconvenient, and it may seem more efficient to plough on alone. But this is a false economy. DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRIENDS Friendship is like an array of multifaceted gems. It comes in different shapes and sizes. Maybe a handful of very good friends from our youth have stayed with us. These are to be valued very highly. It is definitely harder to make new friends later in life. I also appreciate the companionship of my younger colleagues, and like to think of them as friends. (They like to think of me as Grandad!) In addition, I have many friends in our church fellowship. I don't buy into the notion that the pastor should avoiding building friendships in the local church, though we’re wise to appreciate the dangers and limitations. In particular, there is something very special about friendships forged in leadership teams. They are often deepened by facing fiery trials together. A CLOSE-KNIT GROUP I’ve also learned to be intentional about building friendships with people with whom I can share, and who ask searching questions. I’m so thankful for my small ‘brotherhood’ group that meets every few months. I didn’t know some of them very well when we started, but (rather like a marriage) we committed to each other and now, after a dozen years or so, I highly value their support, encouragement, and friendship. When we’re due to meet up, it never seems convenient; I often think I can’t spare the time. Yet again and again, I come away thinking, ‘Yes, that did me good; I really needed that!’ I’m so thankful to the Lord for them. I’ve also appreciated various older men over the years who have listened, asked questions, and prayed for me. One of these friendships has fallen into abeyance recently, and I feel its lack. Outside the church, I have also come to appreciate the friendship of my hockey team-mates, most of whom are not believers. My awareness of our shared humanity certainly enhances my life. A FRIENDSHIP IN THE BIBLE One of the most touching moments in the Old Testament occurs in 1 Samuel 23. Previously, David and King Saul’s son, Jonathan, had sworn friendship to each other. Now here is David, on the run from Saul, hiding out in the Desert of Ziph. In verse sixteen we read, ‘And Saul’s son, Jonathan, went to David at Horesh and helped him to find strength in God.’ This was costly for Jonathan. Not only did he risk his father’s wrath, but by supporting David, he was promoting David’s cause against his own claim as heir to the king. But this is what good believing friends do for one another. They help each other to find strength in God. When that happens, it’s beautiful. GOD’S FRIENDSHIP Why is friendship so important? Because it matters to God. In John 15, the Lord Jesus holds friendship up as one of the most valuable qualities of all. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends . You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends , for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15.13-15 We are, of course, God’s children, but we are also his friends. And he calls us into bonds of friendship in the church. The Bible is clear. The examples of David and Jonathan (and Konrad and Waclaw) are also clear. If we want to continue in Christian ministry for the long haul, and if we want to live fruitful lives for decades to come, we’re wise to invest in friendship. For our own sakes, and for the sake of the gospel. Is Family, Children, and Youth Work in Crisis? You may not be aware, but Families, Children and Youth (FC&Y) work in the church is facing challenging times. We (Claire and I) have both worked in FC&Y for many years, and recently, we’ve noticed some alarming trends. Here are some dots I invite you to connect: Adverts for FC&Y workers have risen. ⬆️ The number of suitable candidates for these posts has decreased. ⬇️ The number of times these adverts are re-posted has risen. ⬆️ Churches require multiple rounds of advertising until a post is filled. If at all. What’s the reason for this? Here are some facts on the ground. There are fewer youth workers going into training. According to the Christian Youth Work Consortium, total student numbers have fallen by 63.1% in the past thirteen years. 70% of youth work is run by volunteers. The rest is run by part-time or job-share youth workers—including curates and assistant ministers—most of whom have little specific training or regular support to do the job. Denominations short of pastors for adult ministry actively recruit from amongst those who started out as FC&Y workers. In 2021, Paul Friend (great name for a youth worker!) reported in Premier Christianity Magazine that churches shouldn’t be surprised by the drop in FC&Y workers. He suggested three possible causes: We haven’t invested in training. Nor have we valued it as we should have. We haven’t paid viable salaries or provided long-term job security. We see adult ministry as a promotion, and we reinforce that through our words and actions. OUR ASSESSMENT So, here’s our take on the situation in the world of FC&Y. Something’s not quite right. First, it’s not right that young, inexperienced interns are employed as ‘cheap labour’ on short-term contracts. Not only are they often paid a very low wage, but they have little to no job security. Second, it’s not right that churches fail to value FC&Y workers. Many churches don’t view youth workers as ‘real ministers’ until they ‘progress’ onto pastoring adults. And that’s wrong. That said, we see signs of encouragement. It’s not all darkness out there. There is light. In many churches, FC&Y workers are appreciated, loved, and encouraged. They are also given ample opportunity to develop their gifts in their chosen field. We thank God for these churches. We simply wish there were more of them. Over the last four years, we have been developing pastoral support for FC&Y workers. After talking to many people—FC&Y workers, leadership teams, ministers and others—here’s what we’ve learned: FC&Y workers are often dislocated from the top tier of church governance and staffing. Age, part-time roles, and the fact that much of the work is done away from the eyes of the adult congregation means they are ‘missed’. We spoke to one young youth worker recently who was full of ideas and suggestions but he was nervous about disturbing his minister, who had failed to diarise regular line manager meets. We don’t like to judge, but it sounded as though this youth worker was under-valued and under-appreciated. In spite of the point above, FC&Y workers often feel they’re being watched and scrutinised constantly. One told us it was like being ‘in a goldfish bowl’. Many in FC&Y work are stretched financially, which has significant effects. We know a family in which the father is a youth worker. Each year, he and his family rely on people to lend them their homes for holidays. In addition, they have little hope of raising money for a house deposit. FC&Y workers are generally very hard-working. They often go above and beyond the precise requirements of the job. In fact, many need reigning in. They need to be reminded of the need to rest. A single female children’s worker near us recently quit because she was so bad at switching off and taking time for herself. FC&Y workers rarely seek help. Instead, they just determine to do better next time. HOW CAN I RESPOND? Often, FC&Y workers avoid drawing attention to themselves. In response to difficulties, they just double down and work harder. Therefore, a proactive approach is best. We suggest that a regular meeting with your FC&Y worker is essential. Over coffee, ask how they’re doing. What challenges are they facing? Dig deep too. Ask about family and personal life, so that you can pray for them more effectively. As Living Leadership Associate newbies, we would love to draw your gaze towards the need to care for, love, and help those who are in these roles just as much as any other minister. Retaining FC&Y workers and supporting them is well worth the effort. Spiritually thriving workers in this area are more likely to create flourishing ministries and, in turn, kids, families and churches who are growing in gospel grace and the knowledge and love of Jesus. There aren’t that many older FC&Y workers like us but wouldn’t it be great if, in twenty to thirty years’ time, the church was well-stocked with long-serving, experienced, mature, well-trained, well-supported workers. And how encouraging it would be to see them not only serving families and churches but also cultivating the next generation of workers to whom the baton is passed. Is FC&Y work in crisis? It depends on where you look. Certainly, there are some encouragements: Organisations like GYD and Faith in Kids are faithfully supporting FC&Y work. Some churches do indeed pay reasonable salaries. In some churches, FC&Y workers have a similar status to the senior staff positions. WHAT CAN I DO? Scripture tells us young adults will prophesy (Joel 2.28, Acts 2.17). Furthermore, the following key verses provide wisdom on this issue. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Tim 4.12 Find ways to show how much you value your FC&Y workers. Encourage them (frequently), as the apostle Paul urges Titus to do. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance . . . Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. Titus 2.2,6-7a Right now, many FC&Y workers fit into the ‘young’ category. They come in many varieties. Some appear proud and self-sufficient, while if I’m honest, others can be flaky. What they need is love and support. And they need it especially because frequently they won’t seek it themselves. They just soldier on. So, I urge you to draw near to your FC&Y workers. On a regular basis—perhaps every Sunday—simply ask them, ‘How can I pray for you this week?’ That would be a great start. Editor’s note: Gareth Wroe and Claire Wroe are two new Living Leadership Associates. It’s a joy to welcome them to the team. They have extensive experience in the area of Families, Children and Youth (FC&Y). It’s a pleasure to bring their wisdom and insight about FC&Y to you in this post. Forever Children I love children. I love them for many reasons, but one of them is that they’re so funny. Here are some quotations to lighten your day. Did you know you’re always touching something? Unless you’re flying naked. (i) Evie, age 6 Simon to his dad: Tax day is coming up. Are you excited, or are you going to jail? Simon, age 9 Peeing is like riding a bike. You never forget how to do it. Lila, age 9 Why is the moon following us? Eli, age 5 Jesus loved children too. His culture may not have valued them very highly, but as we know, he often kicked against cultural norms. So, most of us are familiar with his words concerning children. 15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18.15-17 Matthew’s account doesn’t include verse 17, but there it is in Luke. As is customary with Luke’s telling of the story, he includes a detail aimed at challenging his readers. Reading verse 17, I certainly feel challenged. So, what does it mean to ‘receive the kingdom of God like a little child?’ GROWING Children grow. I have three children and one grandchild. All of them are still growing (and so am I). My grandson, Sam (11 months), has just learned to walk, and he’s so excited about it that he walks with his hands in the air. Look at me! I’m walking! Praise God! (He’s a budding charismatic, and he doesn’t even know it).😂 There are few joys to compare with watching a child grow during the first year of life. The stages come so quickly. Smiling. Rolling over. Sitting up. Crawling. Surfing the furniture. Walking. What a gift it is to see a child grow. Later, there’s talking and pushing and running and fighting and shouting. Growing becomes noisier and more complicated. And a lot messier. Painting and arguing and sharing and whining and building. All the verbs—action words. Growing. It’s what children do. (ii) It’s also a verb associated with the kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field . . . The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Matt 13.24a; 13.31b Seed grows. Mustard plants grow. It’s what they do. The idea of growth is picked up by Peter in one of his letters. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3.18 Paul also writes about growth. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Eph 4.15 I can’t escape the conclusion that when Jesus speaks about receiving the kingdom of God like children, he has in mind the idea of growth. However, when it comes to growth, there is a critical difference between children and adults. Children grow naturally. It’s the way they’re made. Our bodies develop over time and we grow into adults. It’s inevitable. As Christians, however, our growth depends on the choices we make as we live our lives of faith. Sadly, it’s possible for followers of Jesus to remain immature. This is not what Jesus had in mind when he referred to children. He wants us to grow. So, today, a few challenging questions to consider. Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus? What are you doing to ensure that you continue to grow? Are the people in your church growing? How are you helping them to grow? INNOCENCE Why do children make us laugh? Sometimes, it has to do with innocence. They don’t know what they don’t know, and yet they still want to communicate their thoughts. Take this quotation, for example: I asked my five-year-old if he wants the baby to be a boy or girl . . .“I want the baby to be Batman.” Sounds reasonable, of course. Who wouldn’t want Batman in their family? The thing about innocence is that it evokes such a longing in us. I’m particularly drawn to children who break social conventions not out of rudeness or spite, but simply because they are so direct. They don’t know about social conventions (and that’s fine by me.) For example . . . "My mom says I should just ignore people I don't like, and well, that's you." Noah, age 8 Once we’ve grown up, we sense the need to control our tongues, fighting hard to avoid causing social embarrassment. Not so this five-year-old, who said . . . "I'II tell you what I'm going to do this weekend. I'm not going to put a shirt on. Probably not pants either.” If you look up ‘innocence’ in the dictionary, one of the repeated phrases you’ll find is ‘absence of guile.’ In other words, no pretence. The five-year-old who tells you he won’t be wearing pants this weekend has no interest in being socially appropriate. Because he has no knowledge of what that would mean. That’s why his words make us laugh. And when we do, there’s a part of us that wishes we could be just as honest. Some of us have a Noah inside screaming to get out. (I’m one of them.) We find all the pretence stifling. But there’s good news. We need to become like Noah and all those children quoted above. Because this is how we receive the kingdom of God. With an absence of guile. Like children. With an open and innocent heart that refuses to put on a front. For adults, this is called humility. This is why we find a related set of verses in Matthew’s gospel. Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 18.3-4 Children are innocent in part because they simply don’t know the limits of their knowledge. This gives them tremendous and hilarious freedom. Like Greta, aged four, who said, ‘I really love being human. But some days I really wish I could be a fairy.’ This is funny because children are innocent, unfettered by pretence, and this is beautiful. Sadly, we lose our innocence as we grow, exhibited clearly nowadays when we reach our teenage years. We become those who think we know everything when we know very little. Instead of remaining innocent, we come across as foolish and arrogant. And we often reap the consequences. Jesus knew of our propensity for pride, and therefore called his followers to adopt a childlike, humble approach to the things of God, embodied in his kingdom. But perhaps most importantly of all, our humility must be wrapped in the most beautiful aspect of childhood. PURE FAITH There are few sights more wonderful than a small child reaching up to a parent, expecting to be picked up. A child’s greatest need is to feel safe, and when they do, they develop a pure, innocent, beautiful faith. Mum and Dad (iii) look after me. I feel safe with them. So when I reach up, I expect them to pick me up. Now! You’ll notice that a key word in Luke 18.17 is the word, ‘receive’. "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” When children ask, they expect to receive. Of course, they don’t always ask for the right things at the right time, but their attitude is one of faith. They view their caregivers as those who love and protect them, and so they place their faith in them, asking them to provide for their needs. Faith is both a gift from God, and the attitude of the heart by which we receive. This is really why we need to become like children. We need faith desperately and continually. It needs to be the air we breathe, viewing all of life through its prism. For only by approaching our God with the faith of a child can we hope to navigate this confusing, painful world in which we live. "Ask, and it will be given to you" (Matt 7.7a) So, if you desire to grow, and you lead people who also want to grow, then approach God as a child. What a beautiful irony it is that in order to grow, we must remain as children. Forever children. To grow and receive God’s kingdom, the Lord calls us to approach him with humility. And with the innocent, trusting heart of a child. Forever. (i) Quotations taken from various sites around the internet. (ii) – Sadly (and sometimes tragically), there are medical conditions that can affect growth. Cushing’s syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Russell-Silver syndrome can affect growth, as well as achondroplasia, which results in dwarfism. These conditions are relatively rare, however, and most human beings do experience normal, expected growth. (iii) – Most children are cared for by their parent(s). Other kinds of caregivers are, of course, possible. View All Premium Resources (11) Pastoral Supervision, a Ministry Masterclass £8.00 Add to Cart Powerful Leaders? a Ministry Masterclass £8.00 Add to Cart Pastoral Care Foundations Course (Unlimited) £120.00 Add to Cart View All

Mon, 16 Jun | Zoom Event Refresh Community for Spouses An online community for gospel encouragement and refreshment for ministry spouses Time & Location 7 more dates 16 Jun 2025, 20:00 – 21:00 Zoom Event Select Different Date About the Event An online community for refreshment and connection, for ministry spouses. Join us monthly for encouragement from God's word followed by time spent in small groups sharing and praying together. There are many unique joys and challenges that come with being married to someone in a formal ministry role. In this community we want to provide you with space to be encouraged, refreshed and supported by others who can understand your experiences and encourage you in your walk with the Lord. Meetings are hosted on Zoom and last one hour, including: Inspiring bible-grounded content ; Breakout groups facilitated by seasoned leaders to discuss and pray together; The community meets on the third Monday of the month at 8pm. Read More > Share This Event

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Living Leadership Blog All Posts Pastoral Care Leadership Bible News Podcast Book Reviews Search Graham Cooke Jul 25 Pole-ish Friends Gareth and Claire Wroe Jul 18 Is Family, Children, and Youth Work in Crisis? Richard Collins Jul 11 Forever Children Paul Coulter Jul 3 I'm Weak Marcus Honeysett Jun 27 Grace-land or Poison-ville Jim Crooks Jun 20 Leaders as Gardeners Richard Collins Jun 13 Feedback Paul Coulter Jun 6 I’m Jealous Jess Coles May 30 Living Leadership News Roundup… Helen Read May 23 Transition Jeannette Sax May 14 For I Know the Plans Richard Collins May 9 Trading Places Paul Coulter May 2 You’re Excellent Jess Coles Apr 25 The Great Disappointer Jim Crooks Apr 18 Dormancy - Reflections From The Horizontal Gardener Richard Collins Apr 11 Blood or Birth Phil Sweeting Apr 4 Lycra Suits and Certainty Paul Coulter Mar 28 Death to Easter Bugbears Mark Howson Mar 21 Comrades-In-Arms Paul Coulter Mar 14 I Don’t Regret Hurting You Richard Collins Mar 7 Looking Back, Stepping Forward Jess Coles Feb 29 Living Leadership News Roundup… Graham Cooke Feb 22 The More You See, The More You See Paul Coulter Feb 15 I'd Rather Leave