CMS helps students 'read signs of the times'

Church Mission Society is hoping its Pioneer Mission Leadership Training Course will support students in "reading the signs of the times".

This is the theme for the next academic year starting in September.

"Responding to the signs of the times is what pioneers are good at," says Jonny Baker, the course leader.

"They spot what's going on in culture and look for what the Spirit might be saying in that. Then their imagination goes to work in pioneering mission."

The groundbreaking course was launched three years ago and has grown from nine students to 50. It now offers an MA programme and C-of-E recognised training for Ordained Pioneer Ministers, alongside a foundation degree in ministry and individual modules suitable for mission practitioners.

Students come from a range of denominations and are able to take what they learn to diverse contexts like new age fairs, arts communities and prisons.

"There is nothing more gratifying than to hear stories of how the learning and experience that they are immersed in on the CMS course is helping make their projects more successful and sustainable," Baker added.

Philip Mounstephen, executive leader of CMS, said, "In the UK today, you don't need to go overseas to cross cultures, often you just need to go and say hello to your next door neighbour.

"That's why CMS is so pleased to offer our historic experience in cross-cultural mission training to the Church in this country through our outstanding Pioneer Mission Leadership course."

News
Christians welcome plans to crackdown on AI deepfake pornography
Christians welcome plans to crackdown on AI deepfake pornography

Elon Musk said the scandal was being used as an "excuse for censorship".

Calls to end puberty blockers experimentation on children by the NHS
Calls to end puberty blockers experimentation on children by the NHS

“Puberty blockers are the first step down a medical path with extremely dangerous lifelong consequences.”

850-year-old cathedral choir school closes following Labour's VAT assault
850-year-old cathedral choir school closes following Labour's VAT assault

Exeter Cathedral School, which has operated for over 850 years, has announced that it will be closing its doors due to “unavoidable financial pressures”.

Geographer says evidence to support Noah’s Ark theory is inconclusive
Geographer says evidence to support Noah’s Ark theory is inconclusive

A Turkish geographer has urged caution over recent media reports suggesting that pottery fragments discovered near a boat-shaped geological formation in eastern Turkey could confirm the existence of Noah’s Ark, saying the findings are preliminary and require further scientific study.