EXODUS 4:2
"What is in your hand?" God asks Moses.
It is a simple question, but one that opens up a world of possibility. Moses is standing at the beginning of a journey he could never have imagined. God doesn’t begin by asking him what he lacks, what he needs to learn or whether he feels ready. He begins with what Moses already has.
We believe this is a great place to begin pioneering, too.
What has God placed in your hands?
A passion, a gift, an idea, a relationship, a concern for your community or a sense that things could be different? Perhaps you can see people who are overlooked, a community that needs hope, or opportunities to share the love of Jesus in ways that connect with people’s everyday lives.
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You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need a fully formed plan. You need a willingness to listen to God, pay attention to the world around you and explore what he might be inviting you to do.
​At the Northern Baptist Association (NBA), we want to support, encourage and equip people to discover what is in their hands, take their next steps of faith and develop creative approaches to mission across the North East of England. We are also hosting a Baptist Pioneers Conference in October 2027; an opportunity for Pioneers to come together. Information available here.
Pioneering begins with what is in your hand
Pioneering isn’t simply about starting another church or running another activity. It is about discerning where God is already at work and exploring how we can join him.
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It might mean starting a new church or Christian community, developing a fresh expression of church, reaching people who have little or no connection with Christianity, or finding new ways to serve and transform a local community.
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It may begin with a conversation, a relationship, a particular need or a small idea that refuses to go away.
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We believe encounter and evangelism belong together. Our calling is not simply to keep busy or run good community activities, important as these can be. It is to build relationships, create spaces where people belong, listen to the hopes and needs of our communities, and discover meaningful opportunities to share Jesus.
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Pioneering will look different in different places because God has placed different people, gifts and opportunities in our hands. There is no single model to copy and no one-size-fits-all approach.
“The question isn’t, ‘What do we need to become someone else?’
It’s, ‘What has God already placed in our hands, and how might he use it?’”
Our vision for pioneering
Two of the NBA’s core values shape our approach.
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Centred on Mission
We recognise that God is already at work in the world. We have the privilege of partnering with him as we seek to see lives transformed, communities renewed and people drawn into a living relationship with Jesus Christ.
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We want to encourage pioneering that begins with listening: listening to God, listening to Scripture and listening to the people and communities we are called to serve.
02
Creative in Approach
We believe in a creative God who continually invites his people into new possibilities. We want to encourage imagination, experimentation and the courage to step beyond familiar ways of doing things.
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That means making room for new ideas, learning from what works and what doesn’t, and being willing to adapt as we discover where God is leading.
We are not looking for people simply to reproduce what already exists. We want to help people recognise what God has entrusted to them and explore how it might become a starting point for new expressions of mission.
How can the NBA support you?
We want to walk alongside those who are exploring, developing or already engaged in pioneering mission across the North East.
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Depending on your context and needs, this may include:
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Discernment and encouragement- helping you explore your calling, recognise what is already in your hands and clarify your next steps.​
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Developing your ideas- creating space to think creatively about mission, church and community.​
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Learning and equipping- connecting you with people, experience and resources that can help your project develop.​
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Partnership and connection- helping you build relationships with others who share your passion for pioneering.​
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Ongoing reflection- helping you recognise signs of fruitfulness, learn from experience and respond to where God may be leading next.
We know pioneering can be exciting, challenging and sometimes lonely. You don’t need to make the journey on your own.
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Perhaps you already have a clear vision. Perhaps you have a sense that God is prompting you, but you’re not quite sure what comes next. Either way, we would love to hear from you. For more information about our Baptists Pioneer Conference opposite Holy Island click here.
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GET IN TOUCH
Taking the next step
If you are considering a pioneering or missional project and would like to explore a partnership with the NBA, we invite you to write to us.
Your proposal should outline:
1. Your Story
Your background and the journey that has brought you to this point.
3. Your approach
How you intend to begin and develop the project. We recognise that pioneering evolves as you learn, listen and respond.
5. Your Baptist identity
How Baptist convictions, values and practice will shape the project.
2. Your vision
What you sense God is calling you to do, and the people or communities you hope to serve.
4. Your hopes for fruitfulness
How your project reflects the NBA’s Fruitfulness Indicators.
6. Your reasons for partnering
Why you would like to work with the NBA and how your vision connects with our values.
We don’t expect every detail to be settled from the outset. We want to understand your vision, your sense of calling and how you intend to explore and develop the work.