Christian Concern’s Carl Willers celebrates how a six-day Academy is catapulting believers into a lifetime of wholehearted service to Christ.
The room was silent. With minutes remaining, seventy young Christians were privately pleading with God to prevent MPs from voting to legalise suicide.
Days prior, some weren’t even sure euthanasia was a gospel issue. Others didn’t realise the magnitude of abortion, the challenge of Islam or the impact Christianity has had on this nation.
But that all changed in one week.
A week filled with intensive teaching from experts on abortion, Islam, cultural Marxism and gender ideology, testimonies from our courageous clients and rich fellowship all culminated in ‘a life changing week’ for the next generation of Christian leaders.
The silence in the room continued….
“We’ve won!!”
The room erupted with joy and praise and worship. There were tears, shouts, even screams of joy; fists raised in solidarity as utter relief washed over the group.
God came through. The assisted suicide bill fell.
After a week of exhorting them to be faithful in standing up for Jesus and God’s pattern in public life, they were shown the fruit that comes when you stand against injustice.
The sweet nectar of kingdom victory is a taste we trust they’ll commit their lives to pursuing.
It’s trajectory changing moments like these that have driven us to run the Wilberforce Academy for 16 years.
Raising up the next generation of Christian leaders
The Wilberforce Collective is a community of young adults hungry to see society transformed by Jesus in every area of public life. The launchpad into the Collective is the Wilberforce Academy.
The Academy is a week-long intensive that equips and emboldens a new generation of Christian leaders burning to see the goodness of Christ transform every area of society.
The Academy teaches Christians how to think biblically about culture, work, law, economics, politics, education, family and much more. Helping them to develop a truly Christian life and worldview. It also arms them to engage contemporary issues such as abortion, gender ideology, Islam, critical theory and more.
Our vision is to raise up Christians who are ready to stand boldly for Christ’s lordship in whatever sphere the Lord has called them to; whether that’s acting or architecture, politics or pottery, software or sewing.
For decades, Christians have felt that if they truly want to serve God, they need to get a job in the local church.
This means that a host of vocations and industries no longer have Christians at the forefront as they once did. This has been instrumental in causing us to concede much of the vast cultural ground we once held.
We are seeking to reverse that.
As Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”.
Testimonies of transformation
“To say it was life changing wouldn’t do it justice. In all my years of further education and attending many conferences, this surpasses them all. For the first time, I was surrounded by like-minded Christians, who are on fire for Jesus. The entire week was life-affirming and it gave me hope in these dark times. From the youngest, to the oldest, I witnessed a common, powerful and inspiring goal – to take individual responsibility, wherever we are – to glorify the Lord and bring His light back to the nation.”
“Incredible. It was life altering and I am not the same person I was arriving on Sunday last week. The sessions were all memorable, challenging, convicting and important to the current and overall climate.”
“The Wilberforce Academy was one of the greatest experiences of my life. There was so much incredible teaching on almost all of the key issues of today and the problems facing Christians in the West. There was such a strong spiritual element as well with fantastic worship, prayers and Bible teaching. I met many fantastic Christians working in all spheres of life and have connected with people I’m sure will be lifelong friends.”
The dramatic transformation of those attending last week was supernatural.
But it wasn’t just those who attended in 2026 who reported transformation. It was also those who came to one of the very first Academy’s, back in 2011.
They shared how just six days transformed the trajectory of the next fifteen years.
Some alumni are now successful barristers, while others hold significant positions of influence in local government – using their skills and positions for the glory of Christ.
This is what the Academy is about. We are seeking to plant seeds in young people that will continue to bear fruit not just in their lifetimes, but even greater fruit in the lifetime of their children and grandchildren.
It is our goal that, just like in the era of William Wilberforce, we would have faithful and exceptionally gifted Christians from every vocation: entrepreneurs and business owners, product designers, doctors and lawyers, media producers and filmmakers, teachers and school-planters, and many others. That Christians may once again lead the way culturally and use their influence to further God’s purposes.
To be part of that Collective next year – whether for yourself, a friend, a son, daughter, nephew or niece – please express your interest.
Together we can share the hope of Jesus at the heart of society.