FIEC Resources for Church Leaders

All church leaders will know how prevalent mental health struggles are within the local church and the complexity they can bring in the area of caring for and protecting the flock of the Good Shepherd. Yet few of us have any training in this area. We need to know what we can do, how we can encourage the church to help those struggling, and do so in ways that are loving, biblical, and wise. Helen T...

The parables of Jesus are kingdom stories: not evangelistic messages as popularly understood, but stories which answer key questions about the kingdom of Christ, including what it means to lead in this new kingdom. This seminar, led by FIEC National Director  John Stevens , explores both negatively and positively what a healthy church leadership culture looks like - using parables instead of well-...

How, in an age of suspicion of authority, can we exercise authority in ways which bless the church and cause it to flourish? In other words, how do we lead, as Christ calls us to? Reflecting on how Jesus himself exercised authority,  Martin Salter  ( Grace Community Church , Bedford), in conversation with  Ray Evans  and  Dan Strange , explores this very important and sometimes contentious topic t...

How do we create a culture where women’s ministry is not only resourced, but is appropriately valued? What are some of the fundamental mistakes church leaders make in seeking to ensure women in the church are properly shepherded? How do male leaders relate to women in ministry (whether paid or voluntary)? Rachel Sloan  and  Elinor Magowan , FIEC’s Directors for Women’s Ministry, tackle these quest...

The work of gathering others is at the heart of  John 10 . Jesus almost certainly refers here to drawing in Gentiles to the Jewish fold, who will share “one shepherd”. But the point remains that the Good Shepherd does not just care for those already in – he seeks to reach those outside. The Ministry Director for  A Passion for Life ,  Nick McQuaker , will lead a seminar to think about evangelism i...

When church leaders enter, or move through, the last 10 years of paid church ministry, how can they keep going? In this seminar,  Paul Kinnaird  ( Bankhall Mission , Liverpool) explores how they can keep on, ensuring enthusiasm and love for the Good Shepherd does not diminish - whilst also recognising that capacity reduces and the baton needs to be passed on. This seminar is from  the 2024 FIEC Le...

Church leaders can easily feel overwhelmed by the constant and rapid change in the next generation's understanding and embracing of complex sexuality. Ed Drew  ( Faith in Kids ) will help us consider how to understand this change in their world, and how to respond in church life. In particular, the seminar will explore how we lead the church in knowing how to respond to sometimes very personal and...

As those who serve, we need to take the humanity of Christ seriously. In this seminar, led by  Paul Mallard  (FIEC Director for West Midlands) and the FIEC Theology Team, we will explore the continued humanity of Christ, reflecting on key passages in Hebrews. We will reflect on how the temptations Christ faced make him able to help us now and minister wisely and carefully to those who are struggli...

A ‘conversion therapy’ ban is likely to be on the agenda of the new government. Danny Webster  (Director of Advocacy for the  Evangelical Alliance ) sets out the dangers in this policy area and suggests how churches should respond to the challenge. This session also sets out good practices they can adopt to continue godly and biblical ministry whilst being as “wise as serpents” ( Matthew 10:16 )....

Much of our ministry (e.g. preaching or teaching in mixed groups) directly connects with women, who almost certainly make up over half of the church. How do men teach women? And how can they get better at this? What do men need to learn in order to connect, serve, and love people well? This seminar with  Andy Constable  and  Sharon Dickens  ( Niddrie Community Church  and  20schemes ) will focus o...

At the heart of the Good Shepherd’s earthly ministry was an intentional three-year mentoring programme! Leaders need to catch a vision for how they themselves can benefit from the intentional input of others, and how they can similarly be a help to those the Good Shepherd is raising up to serve. Embracing a right view of coaching and mentoring will develop our own capabilities and release others t...

What should our priorities be in ministry and how are we we to respond to Jesus, the one who shepherds our souls? This seminar was part of the women's gathering at  the 2024 Leaders' Conference . About FIEC : We are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠a fellowship of Independent churches⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independ...

Friendship is a remarkable gift from a Good Shepherd who calls us friends. We are all different in the ways we relate to others, but at some level we all need to celebrate in and nurture this deep gift, both in the good it can do for us but also in the good we can do to others. Brian Croft  ( Practical Shepherding ) led a seminar to help us do so. We all need friends. And we all need to be friends...

So much of the Christian life is characterised by suffering. We should not be surprised at this given our theological grounding of sin and its impact upon the world and our lives and the paradigm of the cross. Yet we secretly believe a sort of prosperity gospel and don’t know how to prepare people to suffer. Eric Ortlund , lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew at  Oak Hill College , will help us se...

75% of Christians are converted before their 18th birthday. We hear this statistic and immediately think of children’s and youth work, but we must not neglect the work of shepherding parents who have primary responsibility for their kids. Ed Drew , Director of  Faith in Kids , will help us to consider how we can carefully and wisely help them be godly parents, living for Jesus in the home Monday t...

There are probably more people in our churches who suffer domestic abuse than we realise. It can go unseen for long periods of time and leave much brokenness in its wake. However, we often find it hard to know how to support people wisely and well. In this seminar,  Biblical Counselling UK ’s Director of Training and Resources  Helen Thorne-Allenson  helps leaders identify and walk alongside suffe...

Many people in church life are battling addiction – some seen, some unseen. These can vary from dangerous drugs through to food or sex addictions. We need to understand why addictions affect so many, grapple with the pastoral challenges, and develop godly and prayerful strategies for help.  Andy Constable , pastor at  Niddrie Community Church  in Edinburgh, will help us do this. This seminar is fr...

Increasingly our churches are wonderfully diverse, often representing the diversity of the communities where they are located. But as leaders, we struggle to embrace this diversity and ‘read the room’. Girma Bishaw , a co-director for  The London Project , guides us in exploring biblical principles that can help us provide sensitive and appropriate care and protection for the flock, while also cre...

Wolves in sheep's clothing will come into the church and not spare the flock. How can we discern between them and good shepherds of the Good Shepherds? In Acts 20: 28-30, Paul urges the Ephesian elders to watch over the flock to protect against wolves that will come into the church - even from among the elders themselves. What's more, it can be hard to discern between such a wolf in sheep's clothi...

Jesus the life-giving Shepherd reveals the glory of God as he brings dead people to life. The raising of Lazarus in John 11: 1-44 is a sign that points to a greater, spiritual reality, made "so that you may believe". Jesus, the resurrection and the life, reveals the glory of God as his powerful word brings physical resurrection. And we see the glory of God again in every man or woman who believes...

Jesus is the bread of life who nourishes and sustains his people so that they will never hunger or thirst. Our longings in life and in ministry are often misdirected because we are blinded by our immediate needs over our eternal need. In John 6: 22-59 we read that Jesus came not to give bread but to be bread. We must feed on the bread of life to be nourished and satisfied, then share the bread of...

We should pray that Jesus, the Light of the World, would shine ever more brightly in our churches and out into the world around us. Jesus, the Light of the World, is a light that guides, a light that pushes back the power of sin, and a light that transforms people's lives as they move from darkness into light. You can watch a video of this talk on ⁠⁠the FIEC website⁠⁠ . This talk from Paul Kinnair...

What does it mean to come to the Father through Jesus, and how does the Holy Spirit help us live in relationship with him? We are empowered to be faithful shepherds by the sending of the Holy Spirit to dwell with us and in us. Therefore, the power of our ministry comes with how we walk with God, how we look to Christ, how we rely on the Spirit to do the work in us and through us. You can watch a v...

Abraham rejoiced at the thought of the coming of Jesus, the divine shepherd. We can share the joy of Abraham as we look to Jesus. Jesus' claim that "before Abraham was born, I am" (John 8: 48-59) draws different responses: from joy to fury. As we look to Jesus: We must revel in the glory of Jesus' divinity. We must resign our self-glorying that blinds us to the glory of Jesus. We must remain in hi...

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, models the pattern for ministry for us as we serve in the church. Jesus is the true shepherd who alone can lead the sheep. He is the gate that leads to life and salvation. He is the good shepherd who shows his goodness in how he lays down his life for his sheep. Now, as we seek to shepherd God's sheep in the church, we must see and appreciate Jesus as our model. He calls...