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For 25 years, the Arrow Leadership Programme has equipped and empowered over 400 Christian leaders across the UK to be led more by Jesus, lead more like Jesus, and lead more to Jesus.
Founded by Leighton Ford in 1991 in the US, Arrow trains Christian leaders aged 25–40. The 18-month programme combines residentials, mentoring and peer groups, focusing on three key areas: character, leadership and evangelism.
Having experienced the impact of the programme first-hand in the US, James Lawrence, CPAS Leadership Champion, launched Arrow in the UK in 1999.
James recalls, ‘It was a significant transformative process. The emphasis on character and Christ-likeness has stayed with me.’
Arrow now operates in 14 countries, including a recently launched programme in Ukraine. Its vision remains the same: transforming the next generation of Christian leaders.
Somchai’s Story
Somchai Tongkao was at a critical turning point in his ministry when he joined the most recent Arrow cohort in the UK.
‘Growing up in the mountains of northern Thailand, within the culture of an ethnic minority (Lahu Ya), and facing limitations in education made the path to leadership seem almost impossible. And yet, by God’s grace and love, I have led in mission with my wife Cat for over 15 years now, both in Thailand and the United Kingdom.
Before joining Arrow, I was experiencing one of the most difficult times in my leadership journey. I was overwhelmed with responsibilities, disappointment, misunderstanding, and a deep spiritual dryness.
On the first night of the Arrow retreat, we were asked to bring an object that symbolized our current emotional and spiritual state. I brought a rubber ball – smooth and attractive on the outside, but easily crushed.
That was me: empty, weary, and feeling lifeless in my calling. And I discovered I was not alone.
Many of the other participants were also wrestling with intense discouragement and leadership pressures.
Arrow became a community where we sharpened one another. The programme was deep, practical, and firmly centred on Christ.
Arrow encouraged us to return to the basics of a leader’s life: a personal relationship with God through prayer, Scripture meditation, worship, and silence.
On the final day, over one year since that first residential, the Arrow team gave each participant a symbolic object. I received a smooth stone with an “X” (Christ) engraved on it. I was overwhelmed with emotion because I remembered that I had brought a rubber ball – soft, deflated, without strength or purpose. But this stone was firm, strong, and marked by the name of Jesus.
God was telling me, “You are no longer that rubber ball. You are now a stone – strong, grounded, sharpened by the Master.” He had shaped me, filled me, refined me, and sealed me with Christ’s name. I am no longer a deflated leader. I am now a Christ-formed leader with strength and purpose.’
Somchai’s story is just one of many stories of transformation from Arrow participants. Since 1999, alumni have gone on to serve as vicars, pastors, chaplains, children and youth ministers, church planters, archdeacons, bishops, theological educators and more.
David Price, a participant in the 4th Arrow cohort, said: ‘God used Arrow to make me a better Christian, a better husband, a better father and a better minister.’
In January, CPAS celebrated Arrow UK’s 25th anniversary at the Arrow Reloaded conference, attended by sixty alumni.
As we mark this milestone, programmes like Arrow are needed now more than ever. A recent study by Barna found that 40% of British non-Christians are unsure whether the Church has a positive impact, while 41% believe it doesn’t. Meanwhile, since 2020, ordinand numbers in the Church of England have dropped by 38%. These trends highlight the critical importance of intentional leadership development.
‘Knowing whose you are and your identity in Jesus is what sustains you,’ shares Jo, the current Head of Arrow UK. ‘The legacy of Arrow is equipping faithful leaders to run that race full of the Spirit, lead and sustained by Christ until the very end.’
We thank God and our faithful supporters for making this ministry possible.
The next Arrow Leadership Programme begins in March 2026 and applications are open now. To find out more, visit www.cpas.org.uk/arrow.
You can also support young leaders like Somchai. We’d really value your prayers and, if you would like to provide financial support towards our subsidised places, you can give here: www.cpas.org.uk/give.
Arrow is part of CPAS’ wider Leadership Development training that we offer, alongside 1-2-1 coaching, training courses and online webinars. Visit our website to learn more about how we can support you: www.cpas.org.uk.
Written by Amy White, edited by Beth Ferguson.
