in 2010 we began pioneer mission training at cms. i had spent the previous year researching how we might go about that and then designing a curriculum. at that time we started with a foundation degree through oxford brookes university and began with 9 students on what we called a pilot. i quickly realised that it wasn’t a pilot – it was the real thing!

fast forward 15 years and we have just passed the milestone of having had 1000 students train with us doing at least a module, an unaccredited certificate in one of our hubs round the country or an award (now through durham university common awards). we have been keeping an eye out for that milestone for a while. it has been such a great journey. i love the imagination, ideas, passion and energy that pioneers bring. there’s an article here on the cms pioneer blog...

it’s also a bit of a change around in the team. james butler who has been on the team for eight years now has stepped up to lead the oxford centre which is the base from where we do all our accredited training. his roots are in 24/7 prayer boiler rooms and missional communities if that means anything to you. he is gentle, super smart, a great teacher and researcher, and has a passion for listening and discernlng what the spirit might be doing that we can join in with. this feels like a natural next step for him. cathy ross who was leading has stepped sideways but is still teaching and tutoring with us on the team.