Full hearts and full hands
Our SOMA Bishops are returning with full hearts and full hands after 10 days in the UK.
Among the gifts received was the Growing Young Leaders pack of youth resources thanks to our friends at CPAS, and Spirit-Filled Churches an excellent new resource from SOMA team leader, and former New Wine lead, Paul Harcourt.
Paul’s international ministry has taken him around the world, including recently to South Sudan with SOMA. His book helps leaders make the shift:
1. From control to cultivation - You don't build a Spirit-filled church through effort or systems alone, you partner with God. Leadership becomes less about driving outcomes and more about creating the spiritual and relational conditions where the Spirit is free to move.
2. From strategy to conviction - The decisive factor in a church's future isn't resources or model, but whether leaders truly believe renewal is necessary. Where that conviction is present, it begins to shape decisions, priorities, and direction.
3. From comfort to change - If the Spirit is genuinely welcome, change won't stay contained. Renewal reshapes culture, mission, and expectations, not just meetings or worship style, and requires openness to ongoing transformation.
4. From vision to culture - Vision can inspire, but culture determines what people actually experience day to day. Healthy, Spirit-shaped habits and environments are what allow renewal to take root and endure.
5. From leading ideas to leading people - Change must be led pastorally. Building trust, walking with "slow adopters," and leading relationally are essential - without this, even the best vision struggles to take hold.
Proceeds from the book go towards supporting the ministry of the Holy Spirit in England through New Wine, and as gifts for partners overseas such as when Paul returns for his third visit to South Sudan with SOMA next year. Do buy yours today.
We are also highly recommend all the Growing Leaders material, and have taught the Character-Competency-Calling framework all over the world with SOMA. This Growing Young Leaders, from CPAS, was developed by Ruth Hassal from James Lawrence’s Growing Leaders course which in turn draws from Dallas Willard’s ARROW LEADERS course for 25-40 year old leaders. The course ‘explores leadership in all contexts through the wisdom and encouragement in 1 and 2 Timothy.’ Originally designed as an eight session course it grows youths in Christ-like character over nine months, equipping them to lead in their schools, churches and communities, and can be a great stepping stone onto the SOMA Meta Youth programme. Growing Young Leaders can be purchased here.
Huge thanks to SOMA supporter Les Taylor for pioneering use of Growing Leaders in Africa and Europe and for James and all at CPAS for their generosity in sharing the resource
