Firestarters: 'The inspiration and fire for mission is contagious'
 

Around 100 Baptist ministers, leaders and volunteers have participated in a series of Firestarter conversations this year - and now more conversations are planned for 2023. By Chrissy Remsberg   

This year at the Firestarters Network

In 2022, the Firestarters Network relaunched its Firestarters Conversations with the aim of growing Baptist churches helping other Baptist churches to grow. These conversations have featured Baptist ministers from local Baptist churches sharing stories of how they have experienced growing numbers of baptisms and greater engagement with mission and discipleship by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Throughout each event we aim to be led by the Holy Spirit in worship and prayer for one another as we seek to gain inspiration from the stories that are shared. There’s a particular emphasis on capturing simple tools and achievable habits that can allow absolutely any church, anywhere to experience the same growth that others have done. Our heart is to see a community of Baptist ministers, church leaders and volunteers coming together to share ideas that spur one another on and leave them refreshed and inspired as they return home.

One of the participants was Giles Holloway, pastor at King’s Centre Sheffield. He said, 'The conversations [were] enriching and hopefully I was able to give as much as I took. I enjoyed all the input, but for me…the benefit was to plan ahead…to fashion ideas and…[in] planning for the future…imagine how I might take the whole church on a missional journey, toying with the idea of changing location and name…

'This work is now well underway, but the Lord only can decide the steps…I would definitely consider bringing some team next time.”

We’ve had about 100 ministers, leaders and volunteers attend one of our conversations in 2022. And many of our conversations that are now booked for 2023 have come about because these same leaders have come back to ask to host a conversation at their church. The inspiration and fire for mission is contagious and everyone wants to bring a bit of that back to their local church.


 

Coming in 2023

We’re pleased to be able to offer the following five dates for those who wish to join us at a conversation in 2023. Each conversation is kept intentionally to 20-25 people to create lots of space for discussion, brainstorming and sharing of ideas among the group.

The cost is kept to just £25 for both days, which includes lunch, to try to make it as accessible as possible for leadership teams to attend together. For further details and to book you can find the Firestarters Network at www.firestartersuk.com.
 

• Feb 27-28, Leeds in Yorkshire. In easy reach of Sheffield, Manchester, York, Huddersfield, Hull, Bradford.
• March 15-16, Oakham in Leicestershire. In easy reach of places like Leicester, Nottingham and Peterborough and the East Midlands.
• April 25-26, Heathervale in Surrey. In easy reach of south and south-west London, Woking, Reading, Guildford, High Wycombe, Maidenhead and Slough.
• May 22-23, Exeter in Devon. In easy reach of Cardiff, Bristol, Plymouth and Cornwall.
• September 25-26, Blaby in Leicestershire. In easy reach of Leicester, Nottingham and Peterborough or anywhere in the Midlands.

Firestarters resources to look out for in 2023

We are are excited about the new offerings coming from the Firestarters Network in 2023. We are particularly eager to share with you our first book, On This Rock: Simple lessons and achievable habits to help your church grow, which we are aiming to release early in the year.

This simple resource will capture the stories and lessons from the Firestarters Conversations in an easy-to-read book that can be used to facilitate learning and discussion with leadership teams.

We hope to follow the release of the book with a podcast and other resources aimed at supporting the work of local churches seeking to reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ. 

To stay in touch with all that’s happening at the Firestarters Network you can find us online at www.firestartersuk.com or on social media: Instagram: firestartersnetwork and Facebook: Firestarters Network 

Chrissy Remsberg is Pastor at Beacon Church Stafford, and part of the team that facilitates Firestarters