The Alongside Scheme
Prayerful, personal support for church leaders
Would you value a companion who can support you in ministry, share their wisdom and experience, and pray for both your own journey of faith and for the ministry to which you have been called?
What is it?
The Alongside Scheme supports church leaders, at any stage in ministry, in the whole of their lives. A trained Alongside Companion undertakes to meet regularly with them on a mutually agreed pattern, in person and/or online.
As a prophetic voice and critical friend, the Alongside Companion offers:
a commitment to pray regularly for the church leader
independence and an outside perspective
the giftedness to offer prophetic insight that might enrich a
leader’s life and ministry
the courage to ask searching questions
wise counsel and the wisdom of their own ministry experience
Why now?
We recognise that many church leaders can become isolated, depleted and discouraged – and the experience of the pandemic has added to the pressures they face. We also know that this is a period of change and uncertainty in the life of the church, when those in ministry will benefit from additional support.
Distinctives of the Alongside Scheme
Broad offering: the support is available to anyone in Christian leadership, whether they are lay or ordained, and at any stage in ministry.
Pre-emptive: we provide spiritual support that is helpfully pre-emptive and informal, rather than reactive and secular.
Prayerful: the scheme is founded in prayer: every Alongside conversation is prayed for by a team of gifted intercessors, who join the Companion in listening for words, scriptures and pictures (without ever knowing the names of church leaders involved).
Objective: we offer church leaders a safe space outside of church structures, in which to be honest and explore deeply. We are an independent charity and serve all churches, with a particular focus on the Church of England.
Whole life: the Scheme encompasses the whole of the church leader’s life, and offers spiritual support in discerning where God is at work both in their public ministry, and their wider life.
Renewal: the Scheme enables church leaders to thrive through personal renewal, clarity of vocation and courage to lead well, fostering churches alive in the Spirit and active in mission.
Longer term: Our sessions are not limited in time or number, and the relationship may continue over several years.
Reflections from church leaders
“I have found it helpful to regularly cross-check what God is saying and doing. Having somebody to chat things through and pray with helps me to be patient and wait is invaluable. What I have found most significantly impacted me is the steady provision of understanding and prayer so that I have an opportunity to clearly identify what God is saying to me and not to rush off into blind alleys.”
Mr Bob Mathews
“I am Naomi, over the past couple of years I have greatly valued my ReSource companion. I am really excited to now have the chance to come alongside others as they discern and process. For me, the conversations have helped navigate the joys, celebrations, pains and disappointments of ministry. I have found no judgement as I honestly shared my unfiltered thoughts and questions. I am passionate about other Church Leaders having the space they need too and look forward to offering listening space and prayerful support to a Church Leader as their companion.”
Revd Naomi Barraclough
“I can share openly in a safe space and receive wise counsel. It is good to talk and pray together. At times we share prophetic words that we feel the Lord might be saying. I often come away with a different perspective on a situation I am facing. I always feel encouraged and strengthened. I wholeheartedly recommend the Alongside Scheme.”
Revd Lesley Lawrence, Baptist Minister, Cardiff
“It is so helpful to be able to take time out of ministry to reflect back and look forward without having to say the 'right thing'. I often look back at conversations with my Companion as milestones in ministry. The LORD has often seemed to line up our conversations at timely moments. For example, our most recent conversations focussed on a stressful situation in ministry and a new one for me to experience. Getting off the call with my Companion, I was able to experience peace in the situation and had practical wisdom for finding a way forward.”
Revd Andy Dykes
We recruit, interview and take up references for every Companion. They have a range of ministry experiences and may bring skills in mentoring, spiritual direction, work coaching and counselling, though the Scheme is more than all of these. Companions are carefully trained and supported.
Companions give their time on a voluntary basis, and there is no specific charge for the Scheme. ReSource underwrites all training and other costs. At the same time we invite church leaders (or their churches), if circumstances allow, to consider an annual donation to ReSource (of around £250/yr). Our experience is that dioceses and church councils are sympathetic to the use of personal training allocations or other discretionary funds for this purpose