People wanting to explore and enrich their personal faith can take part in an exciting new discipleship programme created by the United Reformed Church.

Today (26 September) marks the launch of ‘Faith-filled life’, the first of five broad subject streams that make up Stepwise. It is suitable for all ages and up to 15 local groups are being invited to join a phased pilot scheme between now and Christmas.

In line with the URC’s focus on lifelong Christian discipleship and mission, Walking the Way: Living the life of Jesus today, Stepwise aims to help discern where God’s call may be leading, and can also help participants take up specific roles within local communities or the Church.

The Revd Fiona Thomas, the URC’s Secretary for Education and Learning said: ‘We are so excited to be launching the first stream of Stepwise. It picks up the URC’s commitment to the mission of God by giving individuals and congregations the tools to share God’s love with the world.’

The Faith-filled life stream will take up to three months to complete in facilitated local groups, with learning materials delivered online., It is planned that every participant will also have a mentor accompanying them on their Stepwise journey.

Ms Thomas continued: ‘We are looking forward to hearing from those interested and cannot encourage them enough to get in touch with us to explore how Stepwise can help them develop their faith.’

The Revd David Salsbury, Stepwise Programme Manager, and Ms Marion Brown, Stepwise Programme Assistant, will work with colleagues across the denomination – including those with experience in mission, adult learning, pastoral ministry, children and youth work, and inter-cultural ministry – as they focus on developing four more streams within the Stepwise programme by September 2020.

Graham Handscomb, Convenor of the group tasked with putting the programme together added: ‘Stepwise is an adventure that will be shaped around the strengths and needs of each individual participant and aims to encourage learning in our daily lives – wherever and whoever God calls us to be.’

If you would like to take part in the first phase of the programme, click ‘count me in’ and complete the online form.

^{Picture: From left, Ms Marion Brown, Stepwise Programme Assistant and the Revd Fiona Thomas, Secretary of Education and Learning cutting a cake}