The Light College & Collective are partnering with Myriad*, a national initiative, to deliver a new and exciting learning community called illuminate to be held in the North West. This is for churches looking to plant out new small church communities led by everyday people. By everyday people, we mean people who may not necessarily have experience or qualifications, but do feel a yearning to see a group of people come to find faith in Jesus and help them grow in new small church communities.
Illuminate seeks to work with existing churches who have a heart to plant in this way. We work together with the everyday planter and their church to ensure that new plants are healthy, supported and sustainable.
Illuminate learning communities will offer an opportunity for everyday planters to journey together over 2 years, being supported and resourced with the tools they need to establish new small church communities.
Everyday planters assemble a small team of people and join with a number of other teams to form a learning community that will grow together as they explore themes such as: Vision and Discernment; Leading and Teams; Planting; Discipling; Growth and Multiplication.
Learning communities involve a six-monthly gathering held in the North West, online material which can be accessed when necessary and a regular mentor. This is not a course and there are no assignments. The first gathering will be held in Autumn 2023.
Illuminate is offered to all churches and planters from all backgrounds and denominations. While the gatherings are held in the North West, illuminate is a national offering and so we will welcome teams from anywhere across the UK where there is no comparable training being offered. There is no fee to join a learning community but teams can donate to the cost of the 6 monthly gatherings should they wish.
Maybe you are a church leader who is looking to explore how it can grow by establishing new small church communities. If you feel that this is something that is stirring in you or your church, then get in touch to find out more at illuminate@lightcollege.ac.uk
Maybe you are an everyday person who has a yearning to start a new church community and help your church reach out. If that is you then get in touch to find out more at illuminate@lightcollege.ac.uk
Our current learning community is underway from Sept 2023
Discerning Guides
These documents will help you to discern whether you are called to start a new church community and join illuminate
Am I Called
This is designed for potential planters to think through whether this is for you
Who Plants Churches
This is for a church leader, to help you discern with a planter whether you both feel this is the right thing
If you would like to read more about the Myriad initiative, visit their webpage here.
Learn how to share the good news in innovative ways
At The Light College, all of our courses are designed to prepare our students to share the good news of Jesus in the most innovative and context-sensitive ways, while at the same time nurturing a deep devotional life and a good grounding in theology.
We are an approved academic partner of The University of Chester and all of our lecturers are university approved, with a wide range of experience and practical knowledge, passionate about their faith.
