Over 200 people have participated in Arrow in the UK and Ireland, and over 1,500 worldwide. Listen to and read some of their stories below.
Video: Why should you apply for Arrow?
Some of the people who have been through the CPAS Arrow Leadership Programme explain why they would whole-heartedly recommend it to other leaders.
Participants' stories
Adrian Beavis, Vicar in London
I arrived on Arrow feeling out of my depth in a new leadership role, exhausted by the demands of life and ministry, pretty much running on empty. Within a community of honesty and openness, with teachers of love and integrity, I have been given teaching that has equipped me as a leader and spiritual support that has renewed my passion for Jesus and put me back together as a Christian.
Theological college really only prepares people for ministry - almost single-handedly Arrow has equipped for leadership and addressed seriously the central issues of character that can so easily trip up an enthusiastic but inexperienced leader.
Sophie Bishop, Young Families Minister in Woking
Arrow does what it says on the tin. My experience of Arrow is one of being challenged and affirmed. I've been growing in call, character and competence within an amazing community. It has been tough, fun, transformative, authentic and gentle. I've loved journeying with a whole load of people in Christian ministry who are all trying to be led more by, lead more like and lead more to Jesus. I move on from Arrow feeling excited, equipped and focused, and feeling well-resourced and directed for the years of ministry ahead. God has been at work in my life through Arrow and I am not the same. I am so thankful to God for all Arrow has entailed and enabled.
Andy Eastham, Operations Director in Tollesbury, Essex
Arrow has been such a complete leadership experience - it has changed my understanding, improved my knowledge and given me tools that will help me to continue to develop my leadership far beyond the programme.
The course has such depth in not only the relevance of the material covered but also the environment in which it happens. The community, teaching, fellowship, peer cells and mentoring comes together to provide a powerful yet real time with God and his kingdom firmly at the centre.
Nigel Evans, Vicar in Loddon, Norfolk
I arrived at my first Arrow residential, wounded and scarred from painful experiences in my ministry. Looking back I was burnt out and was seriously considering life outside of ministry. I had begun to consider how I might be able to re-enter the teaching profession.
Arrow has, through great teaching, but more importantly through the care and love shown to me in so many but often challenging ways, slowly re-built me and enabled me to plan for my future as a leader in God's Church. I am an on-going work of God, but with the tools I have been given, and by the grace of God, I know that I have a realistic chance of going the distance! Thanks be to God.
Kit Gunasekera, Team Curate in Brentford
Arrow came at the right time for me. It has redirected me to the path of good, effective leadership; given me a fresh vision of the goal of leadership, which is to bring people to follow Jesus. It has given me the reason for good leadership because God's heart beats for the lost, it has given me the tools of being an effective leader, and provided me with fuel to go the distance of being a Christian leader.
The things I have taken from Arrow will not be exhausted, and will sustain me for the rest of my vocation as a Christian leader. Arrow has given me the reason to lead.
Jacqui Kean, Director of Youth and Community Work in Woodford Green
When I started Arrow I was aware of how the 'stuff' of me was hindering my leadership. Throughout the process I was aware of God's grace in bringing about healing, conviction, training and encouragement.
Drawing aside with the Arrow community at each residential was to me an oasis, and it seemed that the theme was always timely. Daily I am discovering that God has begun a work and he will bring it to completion. I have engaged with the God's heartbeat for me, the Church and the world in a significantly deeper way. It has provided me with understanding, skills and tools for the road ahead.
David Meldrum, Associate Minister in London
Arrow has given me everything I wanted and far, far more. Theological college grounded me, but left me lacking in training for the real calling of leadership. It's no exaggeration to say that without Arrow I would have given up on what God has called me to. Through community, input and honest sharing and all in the context of prayer and service from the team - I've got a new confidence rooted in my identity in Christ. I've been equipped for a lifetime of ministry, secure in the knowledge that I don't have to be an evangelist to lead in evangelism. Doing Arrow is a privilege, and the decision to apply was one of the best and most significant of my life.
Samantha Lee, Youth and Community Development Worker in Walthamstow
Timid, unsure, not confident in myself as a leader, having a heart for the hurting but no clear vision I went on a journey - Arrow. Along the way I made several stops. Each station had a different name, including: broken, fragile, lost, taken apart, crushed, hurt. A few times I considered abandoning the bus, but the people with me were amazing! There were more stops too: hope, integrity, character, unconditional love. When I completed the journey I realised that I was transformed. I noticed in the mirror on the way off the bus a confident, comfortable in her own skin, effective leader, with a heart for the hurting, armed with a vision from God. A beautiful moment, well worth the journey.
Orlando Saer, Pastor in Cranleigh
Like most pastors, I'd learnt most of what I knew about the practical aspects of leadership from a combination of respected models and on-the-job experience. These are undoubtedly good teachers, but in reality there are a whole range of questions that I'd never given more than five minutes sustained thought to: how to function as a healthy leadership team, how to lead through change, how to set a vision, and so on. Arrow not only addressed questions like these, but did so in a way that wasn't generic or 'off the peg'. It's been a significant investment of time, but one I envisage paying dividends in my ministry in the years ahead, to the glory of Jesus.
Rob Saner-Haigh, Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Bishop's Chaplain in Carlisle
I came on Arrow hoping to renew my relationship with God, deal with some of the debris of life and ministry had already left, and gain some new tools for leading a church. Arrow has more than delivered on these. It's not been easy at times, and Arrow has not been a comfortable experience, but I feel it is absolutely the most significant course I have done, theological college included. All the various elements of the course have come together and I hope that, as a result, I am indeed a better follower of Christ, and am better equipped to lead others.
Emma Sykes, Assistant Curate in Sutton Coldfield
I have never experienced a course quite like this one - where every aspect of what has been learnt has been modelled by those who lead. There was a physical sense of being held in prayer and being genuinely valued which meant it was a safe place to be vulnerable which made for much more fertile ground for my own learning about where God was leading me and how to lead and inspire others to follow him. The quality of the training material was high and it was a privilege to spend time with such a great group of inspirational people! As a church we are now running the CPAS Growing Leaders course and it's exciting to see how God is using this to impact others.
Cara Witheyman, Children's and Families' Minister in Northampton
Arrow, for me, has been a total feast of delights (literally and metaphorically), it has been spiritual food and strength to keep me going the distance. Arrow has been a chrysalis in which to explore issues, laugh, cry, develop and grow amongst other leaders into more of the person and leader Jesus wants me to be. Arrow has aided the transformation process so I feel more confident, competent and courageous to fly as a leader in today's Church.
