Strengthening local ministry through regional training collaboration
The idea of a regional collaboration for church planting and ministry training first emerged during a car journey in Cheshire in about 2001 (I know this because I was there). Not long afterwards, in 2002, a group of local pastors began running a tiny ministry training course. The North West Gospel Partnership launched soon afterwards. And it was an idea whose time had come; word spread and similar collaborations soon sprang up in other regions.
Doing the maths, this means that many of the regional Gospel Partnerships and their ministry training courses are now about 20 years old or more. They’ve equipped perhaps thousands of saints for service, whilst also building deep friendships amongst evangelical leaders who minister in close proximity to each other. And who knows (the Lord knows!) how many churches have been planted as a result of the growing trust and connection that has been formed through regional co-labouring amongst these brothers and sisters.
Whilst the vision and the need for regional collaboration and ministry training continues, the approaches have needed to evolve. The pandemic, for example, affected different regions and their ministry training courses in a variety of ways. In some cases online options made the training accessible to more people; in other cases momentum proved harder to sustain than previously. Meanwhile the needs of churches and the expectations of learners has shifted somewhat; what worked well twenty years ago is not necessarily what will work today.
And so we’re seeing a diversification – and innovation – in the ways different Gospel Partnerships and other networks of churches are collaborating to provide early-stage ministry training. And Crosslands is delighted to be part of the mix, providing some building blocks that enhance existing offerings.
One example of this in action is the East Midlands Gospel Partnership Ministry Training Course.
By combining the best of in-person teaching with online learning, the partnership is equipping men and women from across their region to serve Christ and his church.
The programme draws on the teaching gifts of local church leaders while benefiting from the structure and academic rigour of the Crosslands Basecamp programme. The result is a rich combination of robust biblical and theological training alongside practical ministry skills.
We love the way Midlands Gospel Partnership has made high-quality ministry training both locally rooted and widely accessible, helping to ground a new generation of leaders in a growing knowledge and love of the Lord.
“There’s real rigour that comes from using Crosslands resources; but it’s not just online learning that’s distant and removed – it’s really well designed to have that feeling of community.”
Anne Macgregor, Midlands Gospel Partnership
How the programme works
The programme is designed to fit alongside church life and ministry commitments while offering substantial theological training.
- The full programme runs over two years, although students can choose to complete the first year only.
- Each academic year runs from mid-September to mid-July.
- Students meet on Thursdays during term time in a local church building.
- Mornings are devoted to in-person teaching, usually led by local church leaders, with a mixture of lectures, discussion and small-group activities.
- Afternoons focus on the Crosslands Basecamp programme, with each module including online learning, reading, tutorials, discussion and a written assignment.
Year One Basecamp modules
- Reading and Understanding the Bible
- Christian Doctrine: God, Humanity and Christ
- Christian Discipleship
Year Two Basecamp modules
Could this work in your region?
This model is just one example. Looking at Foundation and Basecamp as well as other training resources, it’s possible to curate a training programme tailored to the needs of your churches and region.
For partnerships looking to develop something more established, Crosslands also offers support through a Learning Hub model, including:
- A dedicated webpage on the Crosslands website to promote your training opportunities.
- A hosted registration form (or a template for your own) to help manage interest and plan cohorts.
- Ongoing partnership and advice tailored to your local context.
- One-to-one planning conversations to help you design the approach that’s right for your churches.
If your church or gospel partnership would benefit from a free consultation with the Crosslands team, we’d love to help you think through what ministry training could look like in your context. Get in touch to arrange a conversation.