Training Course: Beginning a New Place for New People

Beginning a New Place for New People introductory weekend, Cliff College or online

Is God calling you to pioneer a new Christian community?

When we talk about New Places for New People (NPNPs), we mean beginning diverse new Christian communities that reflect the context in which they emerge. Just as a plant will look different in a neat vegetable patch compared to one that springs up self-seeded in the wild, so too will the many NPNPs that are taking shape across the Methodist Church.

We want to support every pioneer, in every context, to begin the new Christian community that is needed in that moment. We are not trying to make every NPNP in Methodism look the same. While there are some key elements shared by all Christian communities, they will take on diverse forms, shaped by the people and places they grow in.

For: This is a fully funded course for those who are beginning NPNPs, designed for those who are actively shaping a vision, about to launch or developing an existing project. It mixes teaching and reflection, prayer and deepening our calls.

The course content will help us explore together what these new Christian communities might look like in each of our projects. We’ll also reflect on how pioneers can stay healthy and how projects can find sustaining rhythms for the long term.

When :

Spring course: March 2026 (online)

Thursday evenings:

2 July 2026

Autumn Course - 6 to 8 November 2026, starts 6 p.m., finishes at lunchtime, book your place.

Following the residential we meet monthly online for four sessions on Thursday evenings: Thursday evenings tbc

This course is only available for those based in Britain. There is no charge for attending, food and accommodation is included.

Led by: Matt Finch, Pioneering and Church Planting Officer