Faithful service and developed leadership were celebrated recently at an evening of joy and fun held for our Bradford Mission Apprentices, as the current cohort come to the end of their time with us.
The current Bradford Mission Apprentices gathered with family and friends, their line managers, Learning Hub leaders and other Diocesan Interns at Fountains Church Bradford on Tuesday June 20. 
The Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Archdeacon of Bradford, the Ven Andy Jolley, and Diocesan Director of Interns, the Revd Joanna Seabourne, were also there to celebrate and give thanks for these Mission Apprentices as they approach the end of their two years of missional work in the Bradford Episcopal Area.
This is the second cohort of Bradford Mission Apprentices that has been serving in churches across Bradford, developing new ministries, being challenged and stretched, and deepening their knowledge of the Bible, theology and leadership through the Monday learning hub.
A number of them shared powerfully but humbly about their own journeys as Mission Apprentices, the different experiences they had had and what they had learned, giving God the glory in everything.
What shone through were the valuable friendships they had built along the way both through the Bradford Hub and with the Leeds Interns, friendships which had been so key to their two years and which they hope will continue way into the future.
Mission Apprentice Lucinda Cook said: “The Mission Apprenticeship was an answer to prayer with God clearly guiding me at the right time.
“I went from having no direction, wondering what on earth I was going to do to doing a job I didn’t even know existed 3 weeks before.
“God is so good!
“I’ve been based at St John’s Clayton and other churches and been able to do so much including supporting Messy Church and Warm Spaces, holding school assemblies, setting up a new youth group for girls and delivering an Alpha course, where some great conversations and seeds were planted.
“I’ve even had a go at giving some short preaches - this is something I would never have done two years ago but being a mission apprentice and having supportive and encouraging people around me has helped my confidence grow massively, which I’m really grateful for.
“It’s also been an absolute pleasure learning with and working alongside the other Mission Apprentices, they’re all great and I’m going to miss them, but I’m looking forward to seeing what God’s got in store for us all next.”
Reflecting on the occasion, Archdeacon Andy, who oversees the Bradford MA programme and Resource churches involved, said: “Having interviewed them two years ago as part of their appointment to this scheme, it's wonderful and humbling to see the growth in confidence, faith and discipleship of our Mission Apprentices."
Revd Joanna said: “It has been a joy to journey with the Mission Apprentices over the last two years and see the ways in which God has worked in them and through them.
“We are praying for them as they take their next steps in serving God and are looking forward to welcoming new Mission Apprentices in September.”
A number of our new 2023-25 Bradford Mission Apprentice recruits also joined us to worship and be a part of this special Bradford Mission Apprentice community celebration.
There are still Bradford Mission Apprentice vacancies, which we are looking to fill over the next month.
To apply, please click here.