Discipleship Pathway and Strandz have partnered to create a series of digital leadership training materials, sharing wisdom and ideas from some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s key children and families ministry voices. These training materials are not just for children and families ministry leaders, but are a great resource for parishes, vestries and those who cannot access the central diocesan resources in Wellington.

When a team from Nelson Diocese were dreaming of creating a digital hub of creative leadership training, they approached Strandz to partner with them in producing material for children and families ministry leaders. Strandz is the hub of children and families ministry (CFM) within Tikanga Pakeha and is headed up by Diana Langdon, the National CFM enabler. They provide resources, training and education across the Anglican Dioceses, and equipping the church to welcome, support and encourage intergenerational discipleship is at the heart of all they do.

Before the pandemic arrived on our shores, Strandz had developed online communities of practice to provide opportunities for deep learning and connection. There had been some clear hurdles some leaders wanting engage in leadership training, including location, cost, local support, and fewer diocesan resources. And while this became even more apparent during the pandemic, it has also led to a greater investment in newer digital opportunities to connect, grow and learn.

Funded by St John’s College Trust, Discipleship Pathway has developed a platform for sharing the wisdom of New Zealand’s Christian leaders with a wider audience, with classes covering youth ministry, bi-cultural ministry, and mission. And this digital format was a perfect fit for Strandz.

“Partnering with Discipleship Pathway has been a perfect fit for our Strandz kaupapa, and we are so grateful for the creative direction and production skills the team have brought to the project. Brad Wood and Petra Oomen have taken our content and produced a resource that will benefit the wider church for years to come”, says Diana Langdon.

The first of their five classes were released in October, and they have had great engagement with participants signing up for Intergenerational Communities and Whānau on Mission. Each one contains modules filled with practical ideas, experiences and stories which support the discipleship of our young people. They are accessible, both in format, content, and language - and are free to watch! Each one has class notes and reflection questions for small group discussion.

Intergenerational Communities asks “why bring the generations together” and reflects on how faith is not just passed down from generation to generation, its passed around – and our church structures and spaces can either support or hinder this happening. Whānau on Mission encourages families to start local, and think of where we would find Jesus in our local communities – outside the walls of our church buildings.

“If you’re passionate about all generations connecting together in faith and worship, and empowering tamariki to know and follow Jesus, then you’ll love these classes. We’d encourage you to sign up and watch them, and invite others to join you on this learning journey too. Supporting the discipleship pathway of our children is one of our greatest honours as adults, and one of the biggest priorities for the church today”.

Further classes on Child and Family Theology, Partnering with Families and Children’s Spirituality in post-production. Check out discipleship.nz for more information, and how to enrol.