FIEC Resources for Church Leaders

Unity between brothers and sisters in the church is seen in healthy, respectful relationships between men and women as equal members of the church and co-heirs in Christ.But what does that look like in church life? How can we move towards better reflecting God's good design of men and women united as God's image bearers?In this video, first produced for our 2026 Local Conferences, Rachel Sloan (Women's Ministry Coordinator, Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh) shares advice on fostering unity between genders in the local church.About the speaker: Rachel is one of FIEC's Director for Women's Ministry. She works for FIEC alongside working as Women's Ministry Coordinator for Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh.About the series: We know that we are united in Christ, who has created ‘one new humanity’ (Ephesians 2:15). That unity is precious and beautiful, but it can also be challenging to live out. These videos help us understand how that can happen, produced for FIEC's 2026 Local Conferences across the country.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: https://fiec.org.uk.

There are 740,000 students from overseas studying at UK universities: the nations are at our doorstep! Many of these students come from countries where gospel access is difficult or even impossible.In this seminar, Penny (Friends International) helps us consider how we can welcome overseas visitors who are only here for a short while. And she suggests how we can send back students, especially to places where gospel work is very small or even secret.This is a seminar from the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.About the speaker: Penny (hidden identity) serves as a Staff Worker for Friends International, growing friendships and faith with international students in the UK.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: https://fiec.org.uk.

We have moved from the classic mission agency model of detached mission to seeing the value of leader-to-leader and church-to-church connection.What is the value of us as leaders building relationships with church leaders in the mission field? And how can those connections be truly two-way?Leonardo De Chirico (Reformanda Initiative) and Emanuel Tundrea (Romanian Christian leader) will show how they have been helped by such connections and give ideas for how churches can maximise connections. This is a seminar from the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.About the speakers: Leonardo De Chirico is pastor of the Church Breccia di Roma, and a lecturer in historical theology in Padova, Italy, and the director of the Reformanda Initiative, seeking to resource Evangelical leaders to understand Catholicism.Emanuel Tundrea is an Associate Professor at Emanuel University of Oradea, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ethics in Entrepreneurship and Technology, and is leading the Romanian Christian Academic Network.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: https://fiec.org.uk.

Our communities and churches are more diverse than ever before. In that context, how do we take the first steps towards becoming an intercultural church?Members of the FIEC Intercultural Ministry Team lead this seminar to explore the theological underpinnings of intercultural church before hearing from three FIEC churches engaged in this ministry to help us consider how churches can adapt to these changes.With stories from Alan McKnight (Harper Church, Glasgow), Lucas Coelho (Sunbridge Road Mission, Bradford), and Debbie Dickson (Cornerstone Church, Nottingham).This seminar was given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fiec.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Many famous missionaries felt the burden to serve at a young age. Now, mission seems like a topic for old people in many of our churches.We’d love to see young people on fire for Jesus when it comes to world mission, but where do we start?Mel Lacy (Growing Young Disciples) leads this seminar to help us think how we engage young people with the challenge of and call to mission.About the speaker: Mel is the Executive Director of Growing Young Disciples, a charitable organisation devoted to promoting and supporting biblical children’s and youth ministry.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fiec.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

All across the world, church leaders have learnt how to disciple new believers from ground zero, whereas in the UK, we have often been trading off an inherited Judeo-Christian heritage. That is fast disappearing, and leaders are having to learn how to rethink discipleship.In this seminar, Emanuel Tundrea, a Romanian Christian leader and part-time worker for the European Leadership Forum, helps us think about this topic using his experience of working in Eastern Europe.This seminar was given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.About the speaker: Emanuel is an Associate Professor at Emanuel University of Oradea, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ethics in Entrepreneurship and Technology, and is leading the Romanian Christian Academic Network.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fiec.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In the context of world Christianity, missionaries are sent from many different nations to many different nations.The UK is now a receiver, not just a sender, of missionaries. Brothers and sisters arrive to plant churches, teach theology, and engage in short-term mission.How can we welcome those who come to engage in mission work in the UK, to help them best glorify Christ in their work, and help us do the same?This seminar is led by Chris Hawthorne (Abbey Baptist Church, Oxfordshire) and Chris Howles (Oak Hill College), who have a wide range of mission experience from both a practical and academic perspective, both having served overseas, in Zambia and Uganda respectively.This seminar was given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.About the speakers: Chris Hawthorne is the pastor at Abbey Baptist Church in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Prior to that, he was the principal of Proclamation Institute, Zambia.Chris Howles is the Director of Cross-Cultural Training at Oak Hill College and previously served as Head of Theology at Uganda Martyrs Seminary, Namugongo.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fiec.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Is our church building project serving the mission - or have we made it the mission?Church property can be a powerful servant of mission - or a costly distraction.In this seminar, Jon Broome (Cuckfield Baptist Church, West Sussex, and Kingdom Bank) helps us to explore how property can point to Christ and become a flexible space that supports mission. Or, how it can become a cage that overshadows the gospel.This seminar was given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.About the speakers: Jon Broome is a Chartered Surveyor and Property Advisor for Kingdom Bank, providing churches with financial solutions to support their ministry and mission.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fiec.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Lots of church leaders inherit (or are responsible for) a haphazard and opportunistic approach to mission. How can we refocus, downsize (if necessary), and be strategic about mission partnerships in the church? What does it mean to lead the church in this area?In this seminar, Michael Prest (UFM Worldwide) and Anthony Adams (Radstock Ministries) help us think clearly about a realistic but worthy approach to mission.This seminar was given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.About the speakers: Michael Prest serves as Director of UFM Worldwide and is an elder at Emmanuel Church Marlborough, Wiltshire. He has previously served in mission and pastoral ministry in Southeast Asia and Nottingham.Anthony Adams is Executive Director of Radstock Ministries, a network of 100+ churches in 19 countries, partnering together for global mission.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fiec.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

When we talk about Jewish people, our conversations quickly turn to politics and current events in the Middle East. Perhaps we also reflect on the terrible rise in antisemitism.These are real issues, but we mustn’t let them distract from the high calling of taking the gospel of Jesus the Messiah to Jewish people.In this seminar, Joseph Steinberg (International Mission to Jewish People) helps us see the need, what we can do to help and pray, and what encouragements there are in this important workThis seminar was given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.About the speaker: Joseph Steinberg is the CEO of the International Mission to Jewish People which aims to make Jewish disciples of Jesus.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fiec.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The aim of mission is to build the unified church to glorify Jesus the head.The goal of mission is to build gospel churches; the gospel message produces gospel churches.We don't get to decide what church looks like; but we get to help church look like the gospel. And gospel churches become a vehicle for mission.This message is the fourth of four given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.About the speaker: Graham is one of FIEC's Associate National Directors, helping churches and their leaders by managing FIEC's team of Local Directors and leading the Pastors' Network.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fiec.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The coming of the Holy Spirit empowers believers to witness and cuts through cultural boundaries.Acts 2:1-21 signals the first fruits of the era of the Spirit and the mission to go to the ends of the earth. The gospel is preached cross-culturally, with power, by those we'd least expect.The church today has this same power, from the Holy Spirit, to be witnesses to Jesus and to reach out to the cultures in our communities.This message is the second of four given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025. About the speaker: Matt is the co-pastor of City Church Manchester and coordinates Gospel Coaching for pastors and ministry leaders across the UK.About the Leaders' Conference: The title of the 2025 Leaders' Conference was Church Without Borders, exploring how we can serve God’s mission in a mobile world.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 Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Find out more: ⁠⁠https://fiec.org.uk⁠⁠.