I’ve always had something of a magpie mind. I think lots of church leaders do. We’re always on the lookout for great material, whether that’s for an upcoming sermon, small group session, or youth ministry event 

Whatever your role, though, you need to take care of your own soul, too, and pay attention to how you’re growing in your own discipleship. It’s difficult to feed others when you’re going hungry. Finding good resources for your own walk with God will help you grow as a disciple, and can be then shared with others – so, keeping with the bird idioms, you can kill two birds with one stone!  

At LICC, we want to encourage church leaders, pointing you to resources and aids that will help you grow as whole-life disciples – and then, help others grow, too. One great set of resources comes from The Fuelcast, a project that provides free, high-quality devotional videos from a range of speakers including pastors, scholars, youth leaders, and others who bring a biblically based devotion on a range of themes each week. Each is between three and seven minutes long – the perfect length for while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil.  

And, shameless plug here, you’ll find videos from members of the LICC team connecting the Bible to everyday faith and whole-life themes.  

Recent videos have included Jo Trickey sharing how God is with us, whatever our day holds; Sam Brown reminding us that we’re not alone in following Jesus despite how strange that might seem to the rest of the world; Tim Yearsley speaking on dealing with imposter syndrome as a follower of Jesus; and Steve Rouse reflecting on our identity in Christ and significance to God. Last, but by no means least, there’s Ken Benjamin musing on the fact that we can’t agree on everything as a church, but we can disagree well. 

The videos can be used in a range of settings, too. So, maybe as a discussion starter for your small group, or at a midweek service. You might even find that after you’ve watched one of the videos, someone comes to mind who you think might really appreciate it. Why not text them the link? An ‘I-found-this-and-thought-it-would-bless-you today’ message could be just what they need. 

When it comes to seeing people grow as disciples, it’s often the little things like this that can make a big difference. Simple bits of regular encouragement can go a long way to seeing people begin to make the connection between the Bible, their faith, and the everyday. Keep growing and keep going – and maybe watch a Fuelcast video or two to help you do just that! 

Revd Jules Gadsby
Church Engagement Specialist