Ascend

A Vivid Vision for the Church of Scotland

You fall asleep for three years. When you wake up all you had dreamt and hoped might happen in the Church of Scotland has happened. What do you see?

Have you signed up for Church of Scotland Learning?

We long to see everyone, all the people of God, equipped for the mission of God.
This is about the whole of life and not just the hours we might spend in and around our church activities.

Feeling a Call to Ministry?

So, you are feeling a call to ministry, or you might be but you’re really not sure! The Towards Ministry team is here to help.

Spiritual First Aid – 5 Spiritual Struggles Fact Sheets

These fact sheets are designed to help you recognize everyday spiritual struggles as a critical first step to offering meaningful care.

Spiritual First Aid – Spiritual First Aid Church Roadmap

Whether your church is new to Spiritual First Aid or already has a trained team, this roadmap provides a simple path forward.

Spiritual First Aid – Navigating Veteran Mental Health Support Services

Whether you are a veteran or someone supporting one, this guide will help you access the comprehensive care available through Veteran Affairs (VA).

Spiritual First Aid – Course Overview Booklet

Download Your Copy of our SFA Course Overview Booklet

Spiritual First Aid – How to Support a Loved One Battling Opioid Addiction

Are you watching someone you love struggle with opioid addiction? It can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to help.

Spiritual First Aid – 6 Simple Ways to Flourish According to Scripture and Science

To help you flourish while helping others, we are sharing what we’ve learned in our Faithful Flourishing Field Guide so you can keep growing and thriving.

Spiritual First Aid – How to Find Peace in Seasons of Grief

Grief can be one of the most challenging experiences we face. It disrupts our lives and leaves us searching for peace amidst the pain. But you don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

Spiritual First Aid – Learn How to Prevent and Recover from Burnout

You may face stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue as a helper. Taking care of yourself is essential so you can continue to be there for others.

Spiritual First Aid – How to Care Better

We’re excited to share a special short video we created for you that introduces our field guide, How to Care, Better, designed to help you support those struggling with loneliness.

Spiritual First Aid -Addressing and Preventing Youth Suicide Field Guide

With the youth mental health crisis deepening, we’re committed to equipping you and your congregation with the knowledge and tools necessary to safeguard children and adolescents.

Spiritual First Aid – How To Thrive Amidst the Loneliness Epidemic Field Guide

We’re in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. In today’s culture, where we are more connected yet lonelier than ever, we trust that you and your church long to serve those who feel profoundly isolated from others.

Spiritual First Aid – The Impact of Cell Phones and Social Media on Youth Mental Health

Help teenagers and children you care about effectively navigate the digital landscape and promote healthy online habits.

Spiritual First Aid – Church Mental Health and Trauma Needs

Is your congregation equipped to support trauma survivors or people with mental health needs?

Spiritual First Aid – Learn more about resilience and adopt habits that cultivate it

It features biblically-informed insights from people across a variety of careers and experiences as well as research-based, practical strategies you can use right away.

Spiritual First Aid – Conflict Resolution

As you know, in any relationship, misunderstandings and disagreements are inevitable. That’s why this week, we want to equip you for conflict resolution. Download your copy here.

Spiritual First Aid Kit

Helpers like you make a big difference in the lives of others, but research shows that people who serve selflessly are at greater risk for compassion fatigue and burnout.

Download Your Copy

Spiritual First Aid – Crisis Response Checklist

Download Your Copy of Our Crisis Response Checklist

Spiritual First Aid – How to Help (and Not Help) After a Crisis

Download Your Copy of How to Help (and Not Help) After a Crisis

Spiritual First Aid – Renew Your Vocational Calling to Help Others in Four Simple Steps

Helping can be difficult. When we serve others, we often receive joy and meaning, but at times, we may also receive tiredness in our hearts, minds, and bodies. Download – A helpers 20 minute 4-step guide.

Spiritual First Aid – Trauma-Informed Primer for Pastors Field Guide

Download Your Trauma-Informed Primer for Pastors Field Guide

Spiritual First Aid – Pastor Burnout and Mental Health

Download Your Pastor Burnout and Mental Health e-book

Spiritual First Aid – Moral Injury Field Guide

Moral injury occurs when a person does something or fails to do something, and that action (or inaction) goes against their core values and beliefs, leading to deep emotional pain.

Spiritual First Aid – 6 Ways Nonprofit Leaders Can Promote Resilience Field Guide

Leading a nonprofit organization has many challenges, especially in supporting your team’s resilience. Your team is dedicated to helping others, but they probably struggle to prioritize their own well-being.

Spiritual First Aid – Preaching in the Wake of Disaster Field Guide

Download your complimentary field guide to become better equipped to offer crucial support and comfort from the pulpit, to help your church community navigate through such times of uncertainty and grief.

Spiritual First Aid – Trauma Informed Church Action Plan

Trauma is all around us. However, it can be difficult to recognize, and challenging to know how to help. That’s why in the Spiritual First Aid Certificate Course, we teach 10 best practices on becoming trauma informed.

Spiritual First Aid – Crisis Response Essentials Field Guide

Recent events like devastating hurricanes, ongoing wars, and humanitarian crises have left communities worldwide reeling. These disasters cause immediate physical damage but also take a lasting toll on mental health

Spiritual First Aid – Fact Sheets: Learn to recognize 25 common mental health struggles.

Recognizing the signs of common mental health struggles can be the first step in providing effective support. Download your collection of concise fact sheets and start helping today.

Spiritual First Aid – Break the Cycle of Homelessness and Mental Health Struggles

With the ongoing homelessness crisis and rising mental health challenges, many people are in desperate need of support. You may have seen others struggling and wanted to help but didn’t know how.

Spiritual First Aid – Understanding Depression Field Guide

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health struggles today. Many people wonder where to start and if there’s anything they can do to make a difference.

Spiritual First Aid – 5 Common Helper Challenges Fact Sheet

Helping others is an incredible calling, but it’s essential to care for yourself, too. Equip yourself with the knowledge to stay strong in your role while also supporting your own health.

How Hope Made Strong can support your local church

Humanity shares three core needs: belonging, purpose, and hope. These are the three needs that inspired Laura Howe, Founder of Hope Made Strong, to bridge the gap between the clinical side of mental health and the church

Through the Roof Disability Inclusion Charity provide Deaf awareness training for churches and Christian ministries

Watch the free video with Revd Neil Robinson

Thursdays in Black

Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence.

Funded Retreats in Scotland

Taking the opportunity for a Retreat can be hugely beneficial in the midst of ministry service. Ascend is pleased to be able to offer the opportunity to benefit from a funded Retreat.

Have you thought about your Study Leave?

Have you considered how you would like to engage with Study leave? Our team is available to discuss and assist you with the application process.

Ascend Spotify Playlist – We hope you enjoy it and, if you have time, why don’t you send us some recommendations of your own?

Over the last couple of years, people have shared with us recommendations of podcasts, books, music and hobbies which are doing them good.
We’ve taken the music suggestions and compiled an Ascend Spotify playlist.

Prospects across Scotland

Have a look at Prospect across Scotland’s new website. Their aim is to raise awareness among Christians in Scotland about the needs of people with learning disabilities.

Housing and Loan Fund

The Church of Scotland Housing and Loan Fund can help provide housing accommodation for retired ministers as well as widows or widowers and bereaved civil partners of ministers.

Mind to Mind

If you’re feeling anxious, stressed, or low, or having problems sleeping or dealing with grief – find out how you can improve your mental wellbeing by hearing what others have found helpful.

Mental Health Access Pack

One in four people experience a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime. This is as true for those in the church as anyone else. It can be hard to know how best to support those with mental health issues.

The Mind and Soul Foundation have almost 500 articles on a wide range of topics to do with mental health and Christianity

Discover ways to take care of your own – and others’ – mental health with these resources from the Mind and Soul foundation.

Christian Mindfulness

Christian Mindfulness offers a range of resources to help people manage stress, low mood and anxiety. The resources include two online courses which can be studied by individuals or groups.

Rest

Rest is vital for better mental health, increased concentration and memory, a healthier immune system, reduced stress, improved mood and even a better metabolism. A night of good sleep can work wonders! But it is often n

Emotional intelligence

Ascend talks to Iain Goring about emotional intelligence and EQ-i

Children in an Intergenerational Church Community

Read Darren Philip’s paper on Children in an Intergenerational Church Community.

The Black Box Approach – Mental Health Training with Christo Hudson

Ascend spoke with Christo Hudson of The Black Box Approach about his work;

Planning for your future webinar

A webinar for any age and stage of ministry service.
You are invited to join representatives from Faith Nurture Support, Housing & Loan & Pensions, joined by other advisors on Finance & Private Property.

Welcome to Kyria Network

Kyria network exists to champion, empower and release women leaders into spheres of influence.

More Than A Colour

Dr Kandiah explores further how the church has to deal with its past and push on towards its future as the multicultural people of God.

Pastoral Support

A range of services for those in ministry

Working Collaboratively

A panel discussion sharing experience, concerns, ideas and vision.

Managing New and Changing Expectations

In a changing landscape, moving beyond lockdowns, how do we as congregational leaders learn how to be and to lead in these new times?

Planning for your future

Ministry calls us to care for those around us, and we often make that our main priority. But planning for your future is also essential.

Coaching

Check out our new look coaching page.