A new movement to multiply gospel workers

In May 2024, an important event was held at Yarnton Manor in Oxford. Organised and hosted by 9:38 (which exists to resource and train up church leaders), it brought together training stakeholders – networks, churches, training providers – to reflect on the crisis in ministry recruitment. This was reported in en (July 24) under the headline “Major consultation event addresses ‘recruitment crisis’.”

As training stakeholders, we left convinced that ministry is a noble task, convicted to pray to the Lord for workers, and committed to working together. Lydia Houghton’s en feature article “Is there really a ministry recruitment crisis?” – is an encouraging read. There are hopeful signs.

Since the start of 2025, a group of leaders, many of whom were at the Yarnton event, has been working together to build the foundations of a movement to multiply gospel workers across England and Wales. This work is in parallel with similar movements in other parts of the UK and Ireland, and in a number of countries across the world.