What's being said about XL Academy?

XL is the christian gap year programme of Church @ The Foundry - Widnes, an AOG and Evangelical Alliance partner church. You will live together as a team at the Foundry Village in the XL house. You will not be placed by yourself in a struggling church situation or be asked to live with a family. You will eat together each day, live together and grow together. You will be fully integrated into one of the Uk's most forward thinking church's. For a full view of The Foundry's doctrinal and mission statement please click here.

Seminars & workshops
The first life you’ll touch during the year long XL christian gap year programme will be yours. XL Academy offers a structured syllabus of seminars and workshops.

The seminar and workshop modules will cover some of the following topics*:

- Introduction to Old & New Testament
- Biblical Characters
- Creative arts in contemporary church
- The Life of Jesus
- Life in the Spirit
- World Religions
- Christian Doctrine
- Evangelism in the local church
- How To Preach
- Christian Ethics
- Mission training, biblical and practical emphasis
* We cannot guarantee specific modules, as they are subject to change.

Practical modules on Ministry to Young People, and Understanding Addiction will supplement the biblical teaching and modules. In addition, each term an inspirational speaker will be invited to spend a day with the XL Academy team, sharing principles and imparting vision and faith to the team. On occasions we will also attend conferences in the uk, Youth Alive leadership days.

Experience a diversity of ministries
An important part of the XL Academy involves integrating you into the life and work of Church @ The Foundry. This will provide hands on experience across a range of ministry opportunities, challenging you to develop new skills.

Some of the opportunities available to you:

Evangelism & outreach
Schools assemblies and classroom teaching at both Primary and Secondary schools is a must in the Academy working alongside our youth departments reaching into the local schools. There will also be opportunity to work with a detached team connecting with local people in community centres and hostels as well as our successful CAP (Christians Against Poverty) department.

Creative Arts
Under the leadership of our Creative arts director you will have the opportunity to be involved in Foundry productions as well as dance and drama presentations. You will also produce a programme of study for schools as well as missions within the towns of Widnes, Warrington and Runcorn as well as dramas during overseas missions.

Worship
Musicians and vocalists regularly meet to practice and inspire one another at The Foundry. As part of your course structure you will be able to develop your vocal or playing skills as part of our excellent worship teams.

Technical/ Media Production
Our technical and media departments are excellent. You will have the opportunity of developing skills through interactive media creation including movies, titles and website development.

Young people & children & moms and tots
Our Youth and Kids departments see over 100 young people each week at The Foundry. As part of your year, you will have the opportunity of working alongside these excellent departments delivering programme's for young people.

The Gathering
The Gathering is our 18's - 35 (ish) mininstry at The Foundry. As part of of your Christian Gap Year you will also meet lots of other people in a similar age bracket, allowing good opportunities for you to mix and make new friends with like minded individuals.

The Foundry Shop
The Foundry shop is an exciting project based right in the heart of Widnes Shopping centre. As part of your Gap year, you will have the opportunity of working in the shop, offering english lessons to foreign nationals as well as staffing the shop on occassions and involved in the outreach through the shop into the very heart of the town.

CAP Centre
Depending on your experience, you may also have the opportunity at working alongside our Christian Against Poverty department. This is an exciting project that reaches out to hundreds of people each year. Our CAP Centre has recently just been recognised as one of the UK's most significant centres.

Foundry Experience
Sunday's are incredible at The Foundry, with over 400 people attending each week, you will love the experience that makes The Foundry unique. You will have the opportunity to be fully integrated into the church on a Sunday.

Foundry FC
Foundry FC is the official football team of The Foundry. Aimed at outreaching to young men aged between 16 and 35, you can check up on our progress at www.christianfootball.org.uk

Saturday's
Saturday is a day to relax, read, unwind or even go out with new friends you made within the church. Occasionally we may have a conference or team trip planned, but on the whole we like to give it you as a free day. Within 30 minutes drive of the XL House you can be in Manchester/ Liverpool/ The Welsh mountains or even the beach!

Above all else you will experience the day to day life of a forward looking, growing local church. You will love it!