Are you wanting to grow your character to look more like Jesus and more like who God created you to be? Come and join us for a year full of opportunities to be equipped for life.

FORM is a year-long programme to develop Christian ministry wherever God is calling you to serve - whether it’s ministry in the ‘marketplace’ (at work or home) or through a church/Christian organisation.

Whatever age you are, there's something for you!


For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18


TRACKS

FORM: Frontlines

Part-time for all ages: Starts Autumn 2024

The Frontlines programme is designed specifically to enable all ages to learn together in community on a part time basis. It is combined with your ongoing commitments, whether in the workplace or at home, as it is where you’ll be putting your learning to work. FORM Frontlines is for anyone called into influence in any sphere and is centred around a healthy ‘rule of life’ just as with FORM Foundations. 

The programme includes teaching (centred around growing character and faith), mentoring and reflective learning, as well as there being an opportunity for an overseas mission trip.

FORM: Foundations

Full-time for 18-23-year-olds: Starts Autumn 2024

The Foundations programme is carefully crafted for those who are aware of their influence. It includes teaching (centred around growing character and faith), mentoring, reflective learning and serving, primarily in an area of ministry that there is a particular passion for, as well as serving in the local community. There is also the opportunity for a mission trip overseas.

Author Pete Scazzero describes ‘Rule of Life’ as:

“an intentional, conscious plan to keep God at the centre of everything we do.

The starting point and foundation of any rule is a desire to be with God and to love him.”

Developing a healthy ‘Rule of Life’ is an important part of the year, and from September, the group will create their own as they grow in community together.

TEACHING & STUDY

Teaching time for those on the FORM programme is Thursday evening, with some additional teaching on video and at retreats once a term.

Thursday evenings begin with a meal with all those who are at the Trinity Learning Hub evenings, with time to pray and worship together before the teaching session.

For FORM Foundations, there is additional teaching in the week and three books to read with practical assignments through the year.

FORMATION GROUPS

What makes FORM distinctive is our hands-on learning approach.

Formation Groups are small groups meeting weekly, using reflective practices to prayerfully encourage and challenge one another to see the everyday be impacted by the Holy Spirit at work. This enables the teaching to avoid being head knowledge and instead to transform our hearts.

PLACEMENTS

As part of FORM Foundations, alongside more general service in the ministry of the church, we have a number of opportunities for you to serve as part of a ministry you are passionate about for 20 hours of your week.

Click on each of the tabs below to find out more! 

  • An opportunity to serve and grow as part of the Kids Ministry team committed to encouraging and nurturing all ages in their identity as children of God and discipling them to fulfil their potential. Our family and inter-generational approach will give you space to grow and develop in worship and storytelling, structured play and learning, practical mission and prayer, alongside having lots of fun!

  • St Paul’s is about 5 minutes away from Trinity and situated in a deprived urban part of central Cheltenham. As a church, one of our focuses is the outreach and discipleship of children and young people and FORM students will have the opportunity to get stuck into this. There are many aspects of family life that you could get involved with, including Sunday programs, midweek toddler groups, community outreach events and football outreach.

  • An opportunity to serve and to learn lots of key skills as part of Trinity’s large staff team. Through the year we run many different events from big to small and traditional to highly creative. We also link in with other churches and ministries across Cheltenham to stage all kinds of mission and community events. We are also blessed to have in our church numerous people involved in professional event management.

  • Our ministry primarily focuses on those who are studying at university in the 18-22 age bracket, seeking to love God, each other and be good news to those around us. Getting involved in this ministry would enable you to grow and develop as part of our team, through leading weekly student life groups, mentoring, regular socials as well as monthly equipping evenings for students, serving students locally and a weekend away (as well as much more!).

  • Transform is the umbrella label for our varied work amongst the socially marginalised in our community. Transform's Foundations track offers a breadth of ministry experience, from chatting over meals to leading varied forms of worship and Bible studies. If you want the chance to see the love of God really making a difference around raw and refreshingly real people, then Transform would be a great environment for you.

  • The worship and production ministry at Trinity comprises a substantial team of leaders and volunteers. FORM gives us a great chance to welcome an immersive student into our leadership team to serve with us. You'll learn and grow with us through the multiple opportunities to use your gifts both in midweek and weekend ministry, and we'll prayerfully help guide you into all that God is doing in your life and calling you into.

  • Come and join the Youth Team at Trinity Cheltenham. From mentoring to small groups, to one off events and much more, you’ll have the opportunity to pioneer safe spaces, forge relationships and use and develop your gifts, all to enable young people to become followers of Jesus who team up with Him to make the world a better place.

There is the opportunity to work with other local churches and organisations instead of being placed in a ministry at Trinity/St Paul's.

If there is an area of ministry that is on your heart, we'd love to hear about it, even if it's not listed above.

FINANCE

FORM Foundations

£500 Course Fee*

(covering retreats, meals for each teaching evening, books, teaching)

£5000 Grant 

(spread through the year, given to each student to help with living costs)

FORM Frontlines

£500 Course Fee*

(covering retreats, meals for each teaching evening, books, teaching)

The course fee can be payable in full by the start of the year, or, with prior agreement, divided into instalments with a deposit payable by the Co-missioning Sunday.

There will be an additional cost for the Mission Trip which will be communicated at the beginning of the year, and group fundraising will be encouraged. 

*If cost is an issue, please do get in touch as we wouldn't want a lack in finance to stop you from stepping out to take part in FORM.

Applications

2024/25 applications will be open soon! If you want to speak to the team to find out more, get in touch through the link below.

Get In Touch

If you have any questions or you would like to meet to talk about the opportunities with FORM, get in touch with Holly.

Holly Pratley
FORM. Community Leader
FORM@trinitycheltenham.com