24 Dec 2025, 18:47Charlene Martin
Connected Leadership: NEC Leaders Gather to Serve ‘A Cut Above’
The third annual conference inspires leadership excellence
For the past 3 years Michael Agyei-Asare, the North England Conference (NEC) Treasurer alongside Pastor Solon Kyriacou, the Ministerial Secretary have organised the Connected Leadership Conference. A Conference for leaders to come together, learn and begin to implement excellence across the churches of the NEC. Held at the Staverton Park Hotel in Daventry from 14th-16th November; Treasurers, Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses were welcomed to understand how they can better serve their members by submitting their service to God in a more excellent way. The conference this year entitled ‘A Cut Above’ incorporated, for the first time, Youth Leaders with Pastor Derek Simon the NEC Youth Director joining the Connected Leadership team.
The weekend consisted of devotion time taken by Pastor Steve McKenzie, presentations by Pastor Fredrick Russell and Pastor James Winegardner and workshops facilitated by various speakers for the individual departments to support the delegates in their leadership journey.
Pastor Winegardner the president and chief executive officer of Adventist Risk Management (ARM) looked at leaders of the bible as stewards who were, ‘taking care of something belonging to another.’ He also encouraged the delegates to take care of God’s property and reminded them that they are intrusted with the gospel. Pastor Russell, a returning speaker, throughout the weekend focused on the meaning of leadership. Using the biblical story of Moses, Pastor Russell called for the attendees to consider the higher standard God is calling them to but also recognising the fact that leaders can become overwhelmed creating a need to take care of themselves. Pastor Russell ended with reminding the hearers that, ‘our lives must exhibit obedience, for leadership is in fact stewardship’. Jehu Gardner a first-time delegate shared, ‘as an assistant youth leader the speakers so far have reminded me that my responsibility to God is high in the role I play, disobedience can carry serious consequences as a leader, not just for me but for others to.’
On the sabbath afternoon and Sunday morning the delegates broke into workshops which would cover numerous topics in each area. For the Elders and Diaconates, Sophia Nicholls and Tony Smith spoke on creating places of belonging and the Do’s and Don’ts of Bible study. Craig Gooden discussed how to build a vibrant youth community additionally how to involve the young people in church life. Lastly Sandra Aguiar discussed the risk management prospective with Pastor Don McFarlane also speaking to the Treasurers on the relationships between the local treasurers and pastors, a topic, another delegate shared, was a new and important discussion to have. Workshops were interactive with attendees taking part in case studies taken by Wederly Aguiar the British Union Treasurer alongside Alan Rodney, the South England Conference Treasurer.
The weekend concluded with a commitment service, organisers hope for the leaders who attended to transition the ideas discussed into the local church and to examine how they can work together locally to ensure quality in everything they do, representing God in a more excellent way.
For the past 3 years Michael Agyei-Asare, the North England Conference (NEC) Treasurer alongside Pastor Solon Kyriacou, the Ministerial Secretary have organised the Connected Leadership Conference. A Conference for leaders to come together, learn and begin to implement excellence across the churches of the NEC. Held at the Staverton Park Hotel in Daventry from 14th-16th November; Treasurers, Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses were welcomed to understand how they can better serve their members by submitting their service to God in a more excellent way. The conference this year entitled ‘A Cut Above’ incorporated, for the first time, Youth Leaders with Pastor Derek Simon the NEC Youth Director joining the Connected Leadership team.
The weekend consisted of devotion time taken by Pastor Steve McKenzie, presentations by Pastor Fredrick Russell and Pastor James Winegardner and workshops facilitated by various speakers for the individual departments to support the delegates in their leadership journey.
Pastor Winegardner the president and chief executive officer of Adventist Risk Management (ARM) looked at leaders of the bible as stewards who were, ‘taking care of something belonging to another.’ He also encouraged the delegates to take care of God’s property and reminded them that they are intrusted with the gospel. Pastor Russell, a returning speaker, throughout the weekend focused on the meaning of leadership. Using the biblical story of Moses, Pastor Russell called for the attendees to consider the higher standard God is calling them to but also recognising the fact that leaders can become overwhelmed creating a need to take care of themselves. Pastor Russell ended with reminding the hearers that, ‘our lives must exhibit obedience, for leadership is in fact stewardship’. Jehu Gardner a first-time delegate shared, ‘as an assistant youth leader the speakers so far have reminded me that my responsibility to God is high in the role I play, disobedience can carry serious consequences as a leader, not just for me but for others to.’
On the sabbath afternoon and Sunday morning the delegates broke into workshops which would cover numerous topics in each area. For the Elders and Diaconates, Sophia Nicholls and Tony Smith spoke on creating places of belonging and the Do’s and Don’ts of Bible study. Craig Gooden discussed how to build a vibrant youth community additionally how to involve the young people in church life. Lastly Sandra Aguiar discussed the risk management prospective with Pastor Don McFarlane also speaking to the Treasurers on the relationships between the local treasurers and pastors, a topic, another delegate shared, was a new and important discussion to have. Workshops were interactive with attendees taking part in case studies taken by Wederly Aguiar the British Union Treasurer alongside Alan Rodney, the South England Conference Treasurer.
The weekend concluded with a commitment service, organisers hope for the leaders who attended to transition the ideas discussed into the local church and to examine how they can work together locally to ensure quality in everything they do, representing God in a more excellent way.
