Ministry Trainee Scheme

Grow in your faith and develop your leadership skills

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Location

Duration

1 Year

Southampton

Ministry Trainee

Salary

£26300

Role

Our Ministry Trainee Scheme is a year of intentional growth, hands-on experience, and spiritual formation. Its primary purpose is to develop you as a ministry leader and follower of Jesus — someone rooted in spiritual disciplines, growing in biblical understanding, and learning how to make, mature and mobilise disciples of Christ.

This is more than a gap year or internship. It’s a structured journey of discernment, helping you explore whether God may be calling you into long-term Christian ministry, while equipping you with practical skills and theological foundations that will serve you for life.

We are looking for followers of Jesus who are:

  • Eager to grow in spiritual maturity and biblical understanding

  • Want to explore a potential call to Christian ministry

  • Desire practical, hands-on experience in a local church context

  • Are teachable, servant-hearted, and willing to step into leadership

Whether you’re considering full-time ministry or simply want to invest a year in deep discipleship and service, this programme is designed to stretch, shape, and strengthen you.

1. Training & Self-Study
(Two Days per Week)

Trainees participate in:

  • Formation School
    A well-established programme running for 34 Tuesday evenings during term time and 3 Saturdays. Formation School provides rich theological teaching and spiritual formation within a learning community.

  • Ministry Training (Tuesday mornings)
    A complementary programme with a strong emphasis on spiritual formation and learning how to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ.

  • Self-Study & Cohort Learning
    Trainees engage in guided self-study and regularly share learning within their trainee cohort, developing both understanding and confidence.

How does the year work?

2. Ministry Experience
(Three Days per Week)

Trainees serve in a designated core ministry area for two days per week. This area is agreed before the programme begins, based on your gifts and availability.

In this role, you will:

  • Participate in team meetings and organisational planning

  • Contribute to the development and growth of the ministry

In addition, trainees:

  • Spend blocks of time in other ministry areas to gain wider church experience

Each trainee is also provided with:

  • Line Management – Direct oversight and guidance from the relevant staff member

  • Mentoring – A dedicated mentor who supports your spiritual and professional development

This integrated approach ensures both accountability and encouragement throughout the year.

Modules:

✓ Bible Handling (Exegesis & Hermeneutics)

✓ Spiritual Formation

✓ Church and Culture

✓ Biblical Theology

✓ Relational Disciple-Making

✓ Biblical Leadership

FAQs

  • The programme follows the academic year and will being in September 2026. The programme will then run until August 2027. There is the opportunity to extend your time with us to a total of two years. We will explore this with you across your time with us.

  • Yes. We want you to be able to focus wholeheartedly on ministry, formation, and service without needing to seek additional employment alongside the programme. We are offering this training post with a salary: £26,300 FTE* (conditions apply). In addition, all required study materials for the programme will be provided.

    There may be certain elements of the year — such as participation in an overseas mission trip — where some fundraising will be required. We will provide guidance and support for this where needed.

    *You must be eligible to work in the UK.

  • The application process is designed to help both you and the church discern whether spending the year with us is the right step.

    1. Submission of an application form

    2. A conversation or informal interview

    3. Prayerful discernment together

    4. Interview

    Successful applicants will then be matched with a suitable core ministry area prior to the programme beginning.

  • Throughout the application process we will work with you to identify areas of ministry to serve in.

    Here are some of the possible areas:

    • Internationals

    • Children’s

    • Youth

    • Young Adults

    • Church Planting

    • Worship/Production

    • Social Action

    • Pastoral Support

  • Some of our teaching is from Formation School. You can find out more about Formation School here: https://www.formationschool.org

    We are making the Ministry Training Scheme curriculum available to any church who would like to partner with us. This training would compliment an existing church internship scheme. Please contact Steve McClure if you would like to explore this.

  • There are two, fully funded roles available. We would consider taking trainees who are able to financially able to support themselves.