Over the past 20 years, the Co-Mission Ministry Training Scheme, affiliated to the 9:38 Network, has equipped dozens of gospel workers, who are now proclaiming the gospel within the Co-Mission network and further afield, across the UK and around the world.
Our Co-Mission Training Scheme offers two years of full-time ministry experience based in one of our Co-Mission congregations, alongside structured training.
The scheme is for mature believers, men and women, who want to be involved in full-time Christian ministry. The aim of the scheme is to prepare people for long-term gospel ministry. Applicants from all backgrounds are very welcome.
We require that individuals subscribe to the Co-Mission Statement of Faith
Hear from a few ministry trainees about their experience:
Andy Mason, Mission Director, talks about what to expect from the two-year training scheme.
Trainees are involved in gospel ministry in a local church within the
Co-mission network, where they work alongside the staff team. A trainer from amongst the staff in that congregation has responsibility for mentoring the trainee.
The kind of ministry that trainees do varies according to the church they are in, but may involve leading Bible studies, doing kids’ ministry, following up students or reading the Bible 1-2-1. In that context, they’re also involved in practical and organisational tasks. These more mundane, everyday jobs are seen as an important part of preparing individuals in servant-heartedness and humility.
In addition, trainees receive high quality training in ministry for 1-2 days a week. Many will attend the Cornhill Training Course one day a week for formal training on how to teach the Bible. They will also attend centralised monthly Co-Mission training, where they get input from Co-Mission pastors and outside speakers. In addition, there may be some who want to specialise as evangelists, and they will have an opportunity to attend specialised evangelism training.
We focus on three areas of development:
This is the basic qualification for spiritual leadership and, accordingly, we seek to develop trainees’ spiritual growth through encouragement and constructive feedback. This takes place through the training workshops and involvement in the local church but, in particular, through the trainer-trainee mentoring relationship.
Biblical and doctrinal understanding are vital for good ministry, and so we are unapologetic about pushing trainee’s understanding in a wide variety of areas necessary for ministry. While we do not use written assignments, nor do we maintain any formal academic requirements for the scheme, the training will require reading and rigorous engagement with theology.
While we recognise that all trainees have different gifts, and that future ministry might look different for different people, we focus particularly on the skills necessary for Bible-based ministry – teaching, prayerfulness, pastoring ability, spiritual leadership and evangelism. In addition to these, trainees will learn about the values and vision of the Co-Mission network, and, in particular, our emphasis on planting churches across London.
As a trainee, you will be placed in a Co-Mission church in London, where you will work alongside staff to get a first-hand experience of life in full time ministry.
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There is flexibility in the scheme, with some doing it full-time while others work part-time to fund it themselves. There is also an opportunity to apply for special grants to cover essential costs during the two years. These issues are determined in consultation with the particular local Co-Mission church and mentor.
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