Sophia Network

YCML presents Image: 15 March in London, 16 March in Leeds

Really looking forward to the YCML lectures in London and Leeds in March. The lectures were set up in response to the increasing numbers of youth workers studying youth ministry and theology at undergraduate or postgraduate level and the desire by so many to keep their heads in that field once they have graduated. The lectures provide an opportunity for people to pursue a deeper, theological and grounded understanding of youth, culture and mission, accessible to those who have already begun to explore the academic bedrocks of youth ministry as well as those who haven’t had the time to study and who are eager to take their thinking deeper.

This year the theme is Image. We believe that young people are made in the image of God, but that we live in a culture whose influence readily distorts that image in them. We have three excellent lecturers who will each bring their perspective on this critical subject.

Dr Crispin Fletcher-Louis is a lecturer at the Westminster Theological Centre and will be starting the day reflecting theologically on what it means for a young person to be created in the Image of God.

Nigel Pimlott works for Frontier Youth Trust and is studying for a PhD; he will be exploring the subject of societal sin, asking why society has such a negative view of young people and exploring how that outworks in young people’s view of themselves.

Rachel Gardner will complete our team of lecturers; she is the director of Romance Academy and will be exploring the very contemporary issue of the sexualisation of young people.

Each day starts with pastries and coffee at 9:30am and finishes at 4pm. Tickets cost £30 to include lunch, and concessions are available at £20. To book your ticket or to find out more, visit www.ycml.org.uk

Mentoring training - Plymouth, Bury St Edmunds and Belfast

Next month sees the last three mentoring training events in our tour with Urban Saints and CPAS. It's been a fantastic year, with really appreciative participants and lots of mentoring happening in response. We've loved working with Dan Shepherd at Urban Saints who must spend half his life loading the van, driving it across the country, unloading it and then doing it all in reverse - and is always very smiley!

So if you live near one of these venues, don't miss out. We'll be at:

• Mutley Baptist Church in Plymouth on 6 November
• West Road Church in Bury in St Edmunds on 20 November and
• Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church in Belfast on 27 November.

Details of how to book and more about the day can be found on our mentoring training website.

Here are some comments from the last event we did, at Cranleigh Baptist Church, in response to the question, 'what one thing will you do as a result of this day?'.

• I want to grow mentoring relationships throughout the church through small groups, but initially
  in developing relationships with emerging leaders.
• Run a half marathon before the end of the year!
• Much better than I was expecting. Really useful time – good mixture of practical guidelines and spiritual inspiration. Good that not too much group work (as with some courses). Good to hear from those ‘in the know’.

We will be doing more mentoring training next year, but on a different basis. If you'd like to host a day in your location then contact Sharon Prior, and she'll tell you all the details. sharonprior1@btinternet.com

Certificate in Mentoring and Training the Trainer courses at Cliff College

As you know, we are big fans of mentoring as a method of developing leadership skills and think it's a key tool for women in ministry. Sharon Prior and Paul Wilcox, who created our mentoring training day along with Ruth Hassall, have been working with Cliff College on a Certificate in Christian Mentoring, and the first course will take place this autumn from 1 to 5 November. It builds on the mentoring training we've been offering and is an ideal follow-on for those who want to take it further. Covering key skills in mentoring, mentoring within the local church, and the spirituality of the mentor, the course is designed for those who want to build intentional discipling relationships within the church and beyond. Download a flyer or visit the Cliff College website for more information.

Cliff College are also offering a Training the Trainers level 3 course aimed at people offering training in a professional setting or volunteer role. It covers different approaches to teaching and learning, how to plan, deliver, observe and evaluate a training session, and how to motivate and include learners. It is taught in two teaching blocks next year, from 21 to 23 March, and from 21 to 22 June. A training qualification like this will be a requirement for anyone involved in teaching others in the statutory sector from 2011 so don't miss out. Download a flyer  or visit the Cliff College website for more information.

Media skills for women - training from Ros Adler

Last year we were able to put on three communication skills training days with Ros Adler. Ros is an actor, writer and highly skilled trainer specialising in communication skills. Her input was brilliant - tailor-made to each individual, affirming, empowering, challenging - and we had excellent feedback from those who attended.

Ros is now running Media Skills for Women courses with a colleague Lea Sellers who is a media trainer and TV consultant, and who has worked as a producer on programmes such as Newsnight and Question Time. They say, 'You will learn how to be in control when facing a room full of people, how to be engaging and keep attention by communicating with clarity, inventiveness and imagination. Our aim is to help you deliver your message with authority and achieve results while maintaining good relations. We will will encourage you to expand and polish your communication skills, to get the best out of yourself and to develop personal authority.'

Highly recommended from us!

Developing leadership skills

Sophia Network are into training in a big way; we think women should grab opportunities to develop their skills and grow in leadership. A couple of months ago we recommended the Arrow leadership programme that CPAS runs, and the next intake for that will be in 2012 with applications needed by December 2011. It's worth planning ahead, particularly if you need to juggle it with other commitments, so have a look at what it offers.

If you can't wait until then, or want something shorter, then consider Youth for Christ's Missional Leadership Course which is for people in their 20s to early 30s. It lasts from October to July and includes four residential gatherings, a personal mentor, practical tasks and written assignments. Kathryn Delderfield from YFC says, 'The fundamental drive behind the missional leadership course is to equip and develop new and potential leaders, with an emphasis on mission. Our vision is to enable people to grow in their giftings and equip them with the tools which they need in order to become inspirational and effective leaders.' You can download a brochure here.

Mentoring to transform lives: dates for the autumn

  Our mentoring training events have been excellent this year - even if I say so myself! It's brilliant to be partnering with Urban Saints and CPAS, especially to have Dan Shepherd at each event sorting out all the very important practical arrangements like lunch!

We now have dates and venues for the autumn. More details are available on www.mentoringtraining.org.uk, but briefly this is where we'll be when:

KENDAL: Saturday 18 September              
St Thomas' Church, Stricklandgate

STOCKTON ON TEES: Sat 2 October        
The Oakwood Centre, Eaglescliffe

CRANLEIGH: Saturday 16 October             
Cranleigh Baptist Church

PLYMOUTH: Saturday 6 November            
Mutley Baptist Church

BURY ST EDMUNDS: Sat 20 November    
West Road Church

BELFAST: Saturday 27 November              
Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church

Each day will be led by two trainers from our experienced team: Brian Spurling, Sharon Prior, Ruth Hassall, Paul Wilcox and Jenny Baker

Cost: £15 for Sophia Network members and Friends; £25 everyone else.
10am to 4.15pm
Includes lunch, refreshments and a mentoring resources pack.

If you can help publicise any of these events, then do let us know - all help appreciated.