Free event · Newcastle upon Tyne · Monday 16 November 2026
Barrier Proofing Your Church
The 5 things that will stop your church from growing
We have never met a church leader who didn’t want their church to grow — in numbers, in health and in depth. But what if the barriers holding your church back aren’t the ones you think? Spend a free morning with us in Newcastle finding out.
Save your places — freeTakes about a minute. Bring your whole team. Hosted by the Further Faster Network with Kingdom Life Church, Newcastle.
- Date
- Monday 16 November 2026
- Time
- 10:00am – 1:00pmRegistration from 9:30am
- Venue
- Kingdom Life ChurchHeaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1SB
- Cost
- FreePlaces are limited
Why this morning
What if the barriers aren’t what you think?
Most leaders can name what they believe is holding their church back: the building, the budget, the volunteer rota, the town. Those things are real, and worth fixing. They are rarely the barrier.
Working alongside growing churches across the UK and Ireland, the Further Faster Network keeps meeting the same five barriers — and keeps watching churches of every size move past them once they can see them clearly. Naming the right barrier changes what you do on Monday morning.
This morning in Newcastle is about naming those five honestly and doing something about them. Leon Evans and Rich Vernon will walk through each one, share what it looked like in their own churches, and give you practical ways to barrier proof yours. Both have led churches through exactly these walls, and neither will pretend it was tidy. There will be time to talk it through with the people you brought.
Come with your team. Bring the questions you have been avoiding. Leave with a clear read on which barrier is actually costing you growth, and the first steps to dismantle it. It’s free, it finishes at 1pm, and you’ll have your afternoon back.
“We can’t wait to welcome you and your hard working team to a day of refueling for the road ahead.”
Duncan Banks, Director, Further Faster Network
Who it’s for
Built for leaders and the teams around them
- Lead and senior pastors of churches that have plateaued, or are growing slower than they’d like
- Staff and volunteer teams who want to work on growth together, not hear about it afterwards
- Church planters in their first few years, deciding what to build in and what to leave out
- Leaders across the North East and Borders who want a room of peers close to home
What you’ll take home
Five barriers, and what to do about them
- A clear read on which of the five barriers is actually holding your church back
- Practical, low-cost first steps for the one that matters most right now
- Shared language your whole team can use, not just the person who came
- Two leaders’ honest accounts of hitting these walls and getting past them
- Space to think with your team, away from the building and the inbox
The morning
How the time runs
Doors at 9:30am, finished and on the road by 1:00pm.
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Registration, tea and coffeeArrive, get a drink, find the people you came with.
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Welcome and introductionsWhy we’re here, and who’s in the room.
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The 5 barriers that could be hindering your church from growingLeon Evans and Rich Vernon, straight through to 1:00pm with a short break for tea and coffee part-way.
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Finish and departNothing scheduled after 1:00pm — the afternoon is yours.
Who you’ll hear from
Two leaders who have done this in their own churches
Leon Evans
Lead Pastor, Lifecentral Church, Halesowen · Director of Partnership Expansion, Further Faster Network
Leon leads Lifecentral Church, a multi-site church based in Halesowen just outside Birmingham, now in several locations including a church in Durres, Albania. He is part of Elim’s regional team, encouraging churches across the area, and is one of the founders of the Further Faster Network, helping churches grow by reaching people not currently engaged with church.
His background is in worship leading and the creative arts, having led worship at events including Spring Harvest and New Horizon in the UK and overseas.
Rich Vernon
Lead Pastor, Lakeside Church, Southport · Regional Lead North, Further Faster Network
Rich has helped lead Lakeside Church for 23 years and has been Lead Pastor since April 2015, during which time he has seen the church grow significantly. He also serves as Further Faster Network’s Regional Lead for the North, and is passionate about helping church leaders grow their churches by reaching unchurched people.
Rich is married to Georgina, has four children and a crazy cockapoo called Olly.
Getting there
Kingdom Life Church, Heaton
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE6 1SB
England, UK
- ParkingFree street parking at the top end of Heaton Road, on the park side of the railway, and on Algernon Road — about a five-minute walk.
- By MetroGet off at Byker. It’s a seven-minute walk from there.
- By bus#1 Stop on Heaton Road, from Central Station.
#40 Bottom of Northumberland Street to Shields Road.
#22 Stop on Shields Road, from Central Station. - Step-free accessThe building is accessible and there is a lift. Two doors will be open on the day: the café entrance has steps going directly down, and the main entrance, on the corner of Heaton Road and North View, is the one for the lift. Use the main entrance if you need step-free access.
- RefreshmentsTea and coffee on arrival and at the mid-morning break. The morning ends at 1:00pm, so lunch isn’t included.
Before you book
Questions people usually ask
Is it really free?
Yes. There’s no charge and no catch. We ask you to register so we know how many chairs to put out and how much coffee to make.
Can I bring my team?
Please do — this morning works best with the people you actually lead alongside. Register each person individually so we have every name on the door.
What time should I arrive?
Registration opens at 9:30am for a 10:00am start. Aim for 9:40am if you’d like a drink and a conversation before we begin.
Do I need to be part of the Further Faster Network?
No. This morning is open to any church leader or team, whether or not you’re part of the Network.
Is food provided?
Tea and coffee on arrival, and again at the break part-way through the morning. We finish at 1:00pm, so lunch isn’t included.
I need step-free access — which entrance?
The main entrance, on the corner of Heaton Road and North View. That’s the one with the lift. The other open door is the café entrance on Heaton Road, which has steps going straight down.
What if I register and then can’t come?
Just let us know at info@furtherfaster.network so we can offer your place to someone else.