Resources and Information
Everyone Everywhere - NextUp Mentors needed!
We were pleased to let you know recently that Everyone, Everywhere is a partner in NextUp, an exciting new 18-month learning community designed to identify, train, and release Baptist missional leaders aged 18-35 into a wide range of mission contexts.
Running through to October 2027, NextUp brings together young adults from across Baptist churches who have a heart for God’s mission and a desire to grow as leaders - whether they are volunteers, interns, youth or children’s workers, worship leaders, ministers, or simply exploring new ways to serve. But we need your help!
As the programme begins, we're looking for people who can help invest in these emerging leaders in two practical ways.
1. Mentors
Right now we are seeking experienced practitioners who would be willing to meet online with a young leader approximately once every 4-6 weeks throughout the 18-month programme.
We're particularly looking for people who have experience in and a passion for sharing faith, making disciples, building relationships in their communities, and helping develop new Christian communities. Whether you’re a minister with a passion for evangelism, or someone with experience in a church plant, fresh expression, micro-church, missional community, or another pioneering context, your insights could make a significant difference to a younger leader finding their way.
The greatest gift you can offer is not specialist expertise, but the wisdom, encouragement, and perspective that comes from lived experience.
2. Shadowing Opportunities
Later on we’ll also be seeking opportunities for participants to spend a week or two observing and learning alongside practitioners in real mission settings. These will, in part, be shaped by the calling that the emerging leaders are sensing in their lives, but at this stage, we'd love to hear from anyone who may be willing to open up their context in the future.
Could You Help?
Our most pressing need is for mentors, as we'd like to have these relationships in place over the next month or two as the programme gets underway.
If you would be interested in serving as a mentor, offering a shadowing opportunity, or simply finding out more, please contact me at ee@rivertree.org.uk.
If you know of an emerging leader who might benefit from NextUp it’s not too late for them to get involved. They can find out more here, and although the deadline is looming, if they contact Matt Ceasar within the next week or two they should still be able to sign up.
One way we can see the vision of Everyone, Everywhere become a reality is by investing in the next generation of missional leaders. Thank you for considering whether you might play a part in that.
Spurgeon's College Thanksgiving day & service
Alumni and friends of Spurgeon's College are all welcome to attend the event on 17 September, at Trinity Baptist Church, Peall Road, Croydon from 10am - 4pm
Bookings can be made via this
Eventbrite link.
The day runs from 10am - 4pm with the major service at 2pm. The morning sessions will provide an opportunity for fellowship and reunions. Lunch will be available for those who book separately at £10.
This needs to be done by 20 August.
Principal Emeritus the Revd Dr Nigel Wright is chairing the planning group for the event.
He said, '
We want to invite friends and alumni to a day of fellowship and reunion, and a service of remembrance, lament, thanksgiving and hope. The event is free and all are welcome. Please book your spots on this page so we know how many to expect.'
He added, '
This may be the last event of its kind and so we warmly invite all who can to be present.'
Dr Wright has also been involved in creating a WhatsApp Community for Spurgeon's College alumni and friends. The community enables participants to stay connected, share news and opportunities, and receive updates about events and initiatives. It includes an announcements group and optional interest-based or year-based groups for conversation, networking, and connection. Again, all alumni and friends of the college are welcome to join. There are currently 400 members in the group. To join the group and for more details,
contact Dr Wright via this contact form.
Single Friendly Church
Single Friendly Church Week
27 September - 4 October 2026
We are inviting everyone – from church leadership to people in the pews – to join our 8-day campaign Single Friendly Church Week!
For one week, churches, leaders, and individuals across the UK are coming together to say clearly: single people at every stage of life are welcomed, valued, and included here. Whether you're never married, divorced, widowed, or a single parent, you belong at the heart of this community, and not on its edges.
This is your invitation to be part of the movement. Hosting an event during Single Friendly Church Week doesn't have to be complicated, it just has to be intentional. Together, we can inspire a culture shift that helps every person in your congregation truly flourish.
Not sure where to begin?
We want to make sure you have all of the resources you need to take part in whichever way suits your church community, so have created a variety of things to help you. Start with downloading our
SFCW Resource Pack, joining our
online Q&A sessions, or brainstorm with others how to celebrate Single Friendly Church Week.
Start the journey here
Belonging Conference - 26 September 2026
We're kicking off Single Friendly Church Week with your invitation to our conference ‘
Belonging: Every single person: loved, welcomed and valued’.
You are invited to a thought-provoking day of talks, panel discussions and workshops all on theology of singleness, single ministry as mission, the nuances of relationship status, single people's stories, and much more. This is not an event for single people solely but to ask how we can change the culture around singleness in churches across denominations.
When: Saturday 26 September, 10am - 4pm
Where: St Ethelburga's Centre,
78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG
We've designed the day to be a single friendly experience, with a variety of ways to engage and participate. Full programme details to follow soon.
Register here.
‘One Body, Many Parts’: Independence or Interdependence?
Disability Awareness Sunday 2026
‘One Body, Many Parts’ (1 Corinthians 12) is the theme of this year’s Disability Awareness Sunday on 27th September 2026. Young autistic Christian author, Triona Brading, is encouraging all churches to ‘save the date'!
Triona is one of the authors of a new book: ‘Belonging without Barriers’, a much-needed resource on disability inclusion as a gospel issue, due out on 20 March 2026. Also by Triona Brading is ‘In His Image’, a colourful children’s book on what it means to be neurodivergent.
For Disability Awareness Sunday, Triona is teaming up with charity Through the Roof on a new free resource for churches, due out in April, exploring how all types of people are needed in God’s Church – including those who are disabled or neurodivergent.
In a video to accompany the resource, Triona will share her story of discovering, aged 21, that she is autistic. She is passionate about sharing the truth that being ‘different’ (in how your body or brain works) does not stop you being part of God’s family or using your gifts to strengthen it. ‘You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.’ (1 Cor. 12:27).
What is ‘Interdependence’?
Interdependence is depending on each other and on God to support our needs. The world encourages us to depend on no-one but ourselves. But Jesus encouraged true community and interdependence. The beauty of an interdependent church is the opportunity to bless and serve each other, bringing our unique gifts, skills, experiences, strengths and weaknesses for God to use to build his kingdom.
Triona herself explains how she sees God’s family, the Church, as interdependent:
‘Every part is needed: [1 Cor. 12] verse 21 gives quite a funny visual to imagine... (As an autistic person, I might chuckle to myself because I will imagine it literally happening!) “The eye can’t say to the hand ‘I don’t need you’. The head can’t say to the feet ‘I don’t need you’. In fact, it’s quite the opposite”.
Can you imagine it?! Body parts going rogue and breaking free of the body, hopping away and trying to live independently of one another? … That’s the thing about us as the Body of Christ. We need one another!’
Tim Wood, CEO of Through the Roof, who wrote the Foreword to the book ‘Belonging Without Barriers’, says:
‘At its core, accessibility is a theological issue. The Church is the Body of Christ and every member is an indispensable part of it (1 Cor 12). … Scripture teaches about inclusion, dignity and (one of Through the Roof's core values) interdependence. In a world that often prioritises independence and perfection, the gospel offers a different vision: interdependence and grace. Interdependence recognises that we are dependent on God and interdependent upon one another. Arguably it is modelled by God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’
Join us to celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday
Celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday on 27 September 2026 or on any Sunday!
It is a chance for churches across the UK to begin or deepen conversations about inclusion of disabled and neurodivergent people. It’s about being God’s family, journeying together.
Download the free resources to show Triona’s video, involve disabled people in worship, and take a step toward a church where every person belongs and can play an active part.
Get a copy the free resources (in English or Welsh) at:
throughtheroof.org/forchurches/disability-awareness-sunday
Be part of the movement. Let’s transform lives together.