S8E03 - What happens when local church leaders are given the time and space to step back from the demands of ministry and engage deeply with global mission thinking?
In this episode, we hear from Ben Woodd and Shane Ellery, two Adelaide Senior Ministers who took part in a week-long intensive at St Andrew’s Hall, Melbourne. This intensive became a unique opportunity for Australian ministry leaders to reflect on mission, culture, and the local church in today’s complex and changing world.
Ben and Shane describe the experience as a gift — a rare chance to slow down, learn alongside leaders from different contexts, and engage with rich theological teaching. From daily devotions to sessions on worldview, poverty, and mission in the 21st century, the intensive challenged familiar assumptions and encouraged deeper reflection.
Reflecting on their own ministry contexts, both pastors share how the intensive prompted fresh eyes toward their local communities and congregations. They discuss the tension between belonging and openness, and what it might look like for churches to be a foretaste of God’s kingdom — a community shaped by every tribe, tongue, and nation.
This episode offers thoughtful insight for anyone seeking to lead faithfully in cross-cultural, post-Christian contexts.