Equipping the Church: Pastor Sam Evans on Study, Leadership, and Theological Training
For Sam Evans, full-time church leadership goes hand-in-hand with a deep commitment to theological education. A pastor at Gateway Church Leeds and a leader within the ChristCentral family of churches, Sam has steadily pursued academic training alongside ministry, recently completing a Graduate Diploma in 2021 and an MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission.
“I began studying because I recognised gaps in my theological foundations,” Sam explains. “In ChristCentral, we’re good at releasing people to lead and plant churches, but less strong on equipping beyond a basic level. I wanted to serve my church better by being more biblically and theologically grounded.”
His studies, however, soon evolved into something deeper. “I found I loved it,” he says. “And I sensed God might be calling me not just to grow personally, but to help equip others in the future.”
The School of Leadership
That future begins this September, when Sam takes on leadership of the ChristCentral School of Leadership—a two-year course launched over a decade ago to support emerging leaders across the movement. The programme offers 20 modules covering a broad range of theological and practical topics: from hermeneutics and apologetics to spiritual warfare and contextualisation. Around 40% of the curriculum offers a comprehensive ‘Bible landscape’.
Sam will teach several modules himself, alongside guest speakers from across the UK and beyond. “Even though it started for UK churches, the course has grown globally,” he says. “We’ve supported similar schools in Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana, Mexico, and are currently translating materials for a new school in Ukraine.”
The School of Leadership is open to applicants from all churches, not just within ChristCentral. A new partnership launching this September with St Hild adds further depth: a joint ‘Certificate in Theology and Ministry’ for course participants, offering first-year degree-level theological assignments in a supportive, accessible format. Sam hopes the initiative will inspire students to pursue further study, possibly with St Hild.
That’s where his academic journey began. “I first connected with St Hild through the Leeds School of Theology and met Daniel and Dave Horsfall there,” he recalls. “The Graduate Diploma offered a flexible structure, with lectures on Mondays, and they were open to my specific study interests. I also appreciated being able to study alongside people from a wide range of theological traditions.”
As Sam steps into this new season of responsibility—continuing to lead at Gateway Church while heading up the School of Leadership—he asks for prayer. “It’s a wonderful but daunting role,” he admits. “Please pray that we can faithfully equip students here in the UK and empower brothers and sisters overseas. And especially that some will take the step of enrolling in the certificate, perhaps the first step in a longer theological journey.”
