In the wisdom literature of the Bible we are introduced to a number of different characters who we may recognise in our own church ministry.

FIEC Head of Local Ministries Graham Beynon speaks with Zack Eswine, a pastor in Missouri, USA, and author of a new book on Proverbs, about how we can use what we learn in wisdom literature to help pastor those in our churches.

This interview was produced for the 2025 FIEC Local Conferences.

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. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC.

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Many of us are regularly preaching through books of the Bible. Some are more daunting than others, even though we know “all Scripture is useful.” Job is a particularly relevant book as people struggle with the topic of suffering.

Eric Ortlund, lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew at Oak Hill College, gives a very basic introduction to the joys and challenges of preaching through Job.

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024 and was hosted by Daniel Grimwade, FIEC Director for Yorkshire.

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. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC.

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All church leaders will know how prevalent mental health struggles are within the local church and the complexity they can bring in the area of caring for and protecting the flock of the Good Shepherd. Yet few of us have any training in this area.

We need to know what we can do, how we can encourage the church to help those struggling, and do so in ways that are loving, biblical, and wise.

Helen Thorne-Allenson (BCUK) will help us begin to grapple with all of these topics, conscious we can never do everything but confident that, in Christ, we can always do something to love those who struggle.

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024.

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. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC.

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The parables of Jesus are kingdom stories: not evangelistic messages as popularly understood, but stories which answer key questions about the kingdom of Christ, including what it means to lead in this new kingdom.

This seminar, led by FIEC National Director John Stevens, explores both negatively and positively what a healthy church leadership culture looks like - using parables instead of well-rehearsed shepherding metaphors.

A fresh take on a constantly important topic.

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024.

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. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC.

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How, in an age of suspicion of authority, can we exercise authority in ways which bless the church and cause it to flourish? In other words, how do we lead, as Christ calls us to?

Reflecting on how Jesus himself exercised authority, Martin Salter (Grace Community Church, Bedford), in conversation with Ray Evans and Dan Strange, explores this very important and sometimes contentious topic to see a better way.

The seminar especially interacts with how elders collectively exercise authority in the church.

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024.

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. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC.

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How do we create a culture where women’s ministry is not only resourced, but is appropriately valued?

What are some of the fundamental mistakes church leaders make in seeking to ensure women in the church are properly shepherded? How do male leaders relate to women in ministry (whether paid or voluntary)?

Rachel Sloan and Elinor Magowan, FIEC’s Directors for Women’s Ministry, tackle these questions and more in a seminar about women's ministry designed for men.

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024.

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. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC.

Follow FIEC on social media:

The work of gathering others is at the heart of John 10. Jesus almost certainly refers here to drawing in Gentiles to the Jewish fold, who will share “one shepherd”.

But the point remains that the Good Shepherd does not just care for those already in – he seeks to reach those outside.

The Ministry Director for A Passion for Life, Nick McQuaker, will lead a seminar to think about evangelism in the local church, and to anticipate a national mission initiative in 2026.

Including interviews with Steve Bell (Grace Church Isle of Wight), Bev Dubberley (CityGates Church, Norwich), and Jonathan Armstrong (Diss Baptist Church, Norfolk).

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024 and was hosted by ⁠Andy Hunter⁠, FIEC's Director for Scotland and the North of England.

The work of gathering others is at the heart of John 10. Jesus almost certainly refers here to drawing in Gentiles to the Jewish fold, who will share “one shepherd”.

But the point remains that the Good Shepherd does not just care for those already in – he seeks to reach those outside.

The Ministry Director for A Passion for Life, Nick McQuaker, will lead a seminar to think about evangelism in the local church, and to anticipate a national mission initiative in 2026.

Including interviews with Steve Bell (Grace Church Isle of Wight), Bev Dubberley (CityGates Church, Norwich), and Jonathan Armstrong (Diss Baptist Church, Norfolk).

The seminar is hosted by Andy Hunter, FIEC's Director for Scotland and the North of England.

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024.

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. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC.

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When church leaders enter, or move through, the last 10 years of paid church ministry, how can they keep going?

In this seminar, Paul Kinnaird (Bankhall Mission, Liverpool) explores how they can keep on, ensuring enthusiasm and love for the Good Shepherd does not diminish - whilst also recognising that capacity reduces and the baton needs to be passed on.

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024 and was hosted by ⁠Gareth Lewis⁠, FIEC's Director for South Wales.

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Church leaders can easily feel overwhelmed by the constant and rapid change in the next generation's understanding and embracing of complex sexuality.

Ed Drew (Faith in Kids) will help us consider how to understand this change in their world, and how to respond in church life.

In particular, the seminar will explore how we lead the church in knowing how to respond to sometimes very personal and difficult situations.

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024 and was hosted by Jonathan Bond, FIEC's Director for Smaller Churches.

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. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC.

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As those who serve, we need to take the humanity of Christ seriously. In this seminar, led by Paul Mallard (FIEC Director for West Midlands) and the FIEC Theology Team, we will explore the continued humanity of Christ, reflecting on key passages in Hebrews.

We will reflect on how the temptations Christ faced make him able to help us now and minister wisely and carefully to those who are struggling with temptation themselves.

This seminar was hosted by Martin Salter, pastor at Grace Community Church and a member of the FIEC Theology Team.

This seminar is from the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference held in Blackpool from 4-6 November 2024.

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. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC.

Follow FIEC on social media: