Intentional Discipleship & SPIRITUAL FORMATION

The Great Commission of Jesus Christ is to go into all the world and MAKE disciples.

In other words though children are born - DISCIPLES ARE MADE!

The making of disciples is therefore not a hit and miss affair (though most us live our Christian lives that way) but rather it is INTENTIONAL. In other words it is both PLANNED and PRACTICAL, believing that God's daily PROVIDENCES make it PURPOSEFUL & PLEASING TO HIM. In other words, we believe that He will sanctify us through and through, body soul and spirit, making all things work together for our good, according to His good pleasure.

INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP is working with God the Holy Spirit, in thoroughly practical ways in all the providence's of our lives.

SO then,  the purpose of INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP is SPIRITUAL FORMATION - In other words it is to have CHRIST FORMED IN US by having us CONFORMED TO HIM
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OK what does Intentional Spirtual Formation look like at The Spring?

1) You will be designated a spiritual director - Someone responsible for the oversee of your spiritual formation. Presently this is Pastor Robert.

2) You will meet with you spiritual director on a regular and agreed basis

3) You will be part of a mentoring group which will be created on the back office.

4) The focus of this mentoring group will be you! Everyone in your group will be aware of your journey in spiritual formation. No one outside of the group will have access to any conversations or information.

5) Your mentoring group will consist of :-

i) Pastor Robert Farrell
ii) Dr. Andrew Taylor (Elder)
iii) Richard Lonsdale (Elder)
iv) A 'Sherpa' of the same sex, designated by the elders to walk with you and meet with you every two weeks for a coffee and a chat.
v) A 'Sherpa' of the same sex, chosen by yourself but AGREED with by the elders to walk with you and meet with you every two weeks for a coffee and a PURPOSEFUL chat.

So though you will have one spiritual director, you will in effect have a handful of folks assisting you. You will have two Sherpas to help carry any loads, share in any joys and provide any additional input. (You will meet with one of these folk every week)and also have the other elders of the church aware of your journey and progress. Of course we as an elder-ship will be praying together for you.

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We are talking about
INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP BUT TAILORED SPIRITUAL FORMATION

No one is the same! Everyone is unique. In light of this, we take time to begin to rightly fit to you, precisely what is needed to have Christ formed in you and you conformed to Him. To this end we have a number of basic tools.

All prayer

The Bible - We will make sure you are reading the Bible every day and sections we feel are most relevant to your present spiritual journey.

Spiritual reading - We will be allocating at least 12 and up to 24 books a year for you to read. We would ask you to write a 1/2 page report on each book.

Media  -  If we think any secualr book - DVD piece of music, play - whatever! Contains a message of redemption formation instruciton or healing - then we will utilize them as tools.

Psychometric testing - Where appropriate we would provide you with access to excellent tools to aid in character investigation and gifting propensity

Specific counselling - where necessary we would encourage you to seek particular counselling in areas where this was necessary

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How much does this cost?
You will be purchasing your own materials
Though this will only be  small amount over the year - if you cannot do this the church will either loan or pay for the resources for you. Money here, is NOT  a hindrance.

How long does the mentoring program last for?
We ask you to be committed for a year and within the first month,  we will shape together, a memorandum of agreement suited to you.

We will of course build into this break out points of 3 months and of 6 months.

We do this because your time is valuable. if you have more important things to do other than the SMP then you must go ahead and do that.

We do this because our time is valuable, if you are not working at this journey - then we need to give our time to other folks that want to work at theirs.

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THE SPRING INTERN PROGRAM

We have a number of places each year where folks are workign for the church for a year or more. The Spring Mentoring Program is EXACTLY the same format for all INTERNS though having more time dedicated to the task - it is that much more focused.

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WHAT DO I DO IF I AM INTERESTED IN THE SPRING MENTORING PROGRAM?

Well whether you are Christian or a Non Christian, if you are intrested in spiritual formation as a disciple of Jesus Christ then please contact Pastor Robert Farrell for an opening conversation

tel 07975805323
or email
robert@thespring.org.uk

I look forward to hearing from you
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