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.

Ephesians 1:1-23 tells of the amazing blessings we have in Christ. How can women be encouraged and motivated to share them with others, especially women in their communities?

Rachel Sloan and Elinor Magowan, FIEC's Director for Women's Ministry, host this women's gathering featuring interviews with Siân Robinson and Maura Baldwin about their ministry lives.

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.

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.

What about those who have never heard the gospel? What about those who wholeheartedly (but mistakenly) pursue other religions?

These are two key theological questions for us to wrestle with when it comes to world mission. Can the fate of those who have never heard really be eternal lostness?

Church leaders might know what they think of these issues, but how can they teach their congregations about them? Properly understood, they are an encouragement to mission and the fidelity of the gospel.

Dan Strange, whose doctoral work wrestled with some of these topics, leads this seminar, hosted by the FIEC Theology Team.

This is a seminar from the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.

About the speaker: Dr Dan Strange is in theological leadership at The London Project (City to City), co-founder of The Southgate Fellowship, a Fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, and a Contributing Editor for Themelios.

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.

Many church leaders continue to wrestle with the question of ministries of mercy and their place in church life. 

FIEC’s Theology Team invited Ray Evans and Jon Putt (both Grace Community Church, Bedford) to share their experience of seeking to develop ministries of mercy in ways that are theologically informed, evangelistically fruitful, and practically wise.

This seminar was given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.

About the speakers: Ray Evans is FIEC’s Church Leadership Consultant. He previously served in the leadership team of Grace Community Church Bedford for more than 40 years.

Jon is the associate pastor responsible for small groups and coordinating pastoral care at Grace Community Church in Bedford, and formerly served as the CAP Debt Centre Manager.

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.

There are more than 1.4 billion Catholics in the world – the second largest religious group of unreached people only behind Muslims. In fact, they outnumber Muslims in the UK.

Are they really unevangelised? What do Catholics believe? And how can we reach them?

In this seminar, Leonardo De Chirico (Reformanda Initiative) gives a brief outline of Catholic beliefs, why they need the gospel, and how this connects with our desire to see the nations reached for Christ.

This is a seminar from 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.

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 work

This 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.

Our world is changing. What challenges does this pose for Christians, what opportunities are there for gospel work, and where does the UK church fit into global mission?

The books of Acts shows how the church grows - that persecution doesn't stop the growth of the gospel but in fact is often the context for gospel opportunity and growth.

As the gospel goes out to the ends of the earth, it is inevitable that those of all nations and cultures will become part of the global church.

This talk was given at the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 10-12 November 2025.

About the speaker: John Stevens has been FIEC's National Director since 2010. He also serves on the Affinity Council and teaches on courses at Bible colleges across the country.

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.