The Potter's Pathway
The journey from surrender to sending — a way of forming disciples at The Potter's Wheel Church.
"We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
— 2 Corinthians 4:7
The Vision
Two tracks, one journey.
Every disciple is being formed in character and deployed in service at the same time. The Pathway holds both together.
The Vision of the Church
One vision, four seasons.
It starts with the Father's love, which calls us to obedience — each person finding their place in the body of Christ and serving God with their time, their talent, and their treasure. The five pillars, pictured as the stages of a potter shaping clay, repeat in rhythm with the seasons of the year.
After the Harvest and the missions emphasis of the fall, the cycle begins again with the Wheel, as the church returns to the Word to study and prepare for the year ahead.
Formation
The Journey.
Five levels, each a distinct season of formation. Click any level to see its shape, rhythm, and who leads it.
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“Formed by the Father."
Focus
Foundations of the faith — for new believers and members.
Rhythm
Year-round, in parallel · Tuesdays 7–8 PM on Zoom
Leads
Teaching elders + graduate facilitators
What you learn
For new believers and new members alike — so we're all on the same page. Six weekly sessions, grouped in three pairs: the foundations of the faith (the Bible, the Trinity, the fall, the cross, baptism, the Holy Spirit, divine healing, the Lord's Supper, the return of Christ); the vision of the church (our five pillars); and the meaning of membership (the four covenant commitments, ending in signing the Covenant Partnership Agreement). Each session is rooted in what the PAOC teaches and what we believe here at The Potter's Wheel.
Companion
Interactive companion course at fidelebolton.com/clay — work through it at your own pace alongside the live Tuesday cohort.
Completion
Mentor conversation · Elder affirmation · Commissioned publicly at a Sunday service · Certificate.
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"Formed by the Son."
Focus
Deeper teaching through the Scriptures
Rhythm
Winter term · Dec–Feb · Thursdays 6–7 PM in homes, 7–8 PM PSOS on Zoom
Leads
Pastor Fidele + Teaching Team
What you learn
The winter Thursday comes in two halves. From 6 to 7 we gather in homes, where the hour opens the Word and sets up what comes next; from 7 to 8 everyone joins together on Zoom for the Potter's School of Service (PSOS) — some students in Year One, others in Year Two. Two streams of deeper teaching run through the term: Theology 101 — a grounding in what we believe — and a verse-by-verse walk through key books, currently the Acts of the Apostles, then the Pauline Epistles. You learn to read the Bible as one story: Old Testament patterns fulfilled in Christ.
Completion
Mentor conversation · Elder affirmation · Commissioned · Certificate.
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"Loved by the Church."
Focus
Shared life — the fellowship of the church
Rhythm
Summer term · Jul–Aug · Thursday evenings in backyards, on porches, in parks
Leads
Led by Host Families
What it is
Not a classroom and not a sermon — a gathering. Through the summer we meet on Thursday evenings in backyards, on porches, and in parks — right in our neighbourhoods — simply to share life: to eat, to talk, to pray, to belong. Before Jesus sent the Twelve out, He "appointed them that they might be with him" (Mark 3:14). We learn to be with one another before we are sent.
Why it matters
You cannot be sent from a place you do not belong. The Table is where a name becomes a face — where the church stops being a service you attend and becomes a family you are part of.
Belonging
No test and no certificate — the Table is a season of belonging, not a class. You simply keep showing up, and the family grows around you.
More Information: potterswheelchurch.com/potluck
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"Formed by the Spirit."
Focus
School of Prayer
Rhythm
Spring term · March – May · Thursdays at the church building · Lent to Pentecost
Leads
Prayer & Worship Team
What you learn
Not another course — a hands-on school of prayer. Winter is over and we are out of hibernation: for six weeks we come to the church building on Thursdays and learn to pray by praying together — adoration, intercession, listening, spiritual warfare, and praying for one another — a season of fasting and prayer, observing Lent together with the sufferings of Jesus. You don't study prayer — you do it.
Prayer lab
Friday Prayer · Monday Night Prayer · Worship Night (4th Monday). These become your living classroom.
Completion
Mentor conversation · Elder affirmation · Commissioned · Certificate.
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"Sent into the World."
Focus
Local outreach + global missions (KGM)
Rhythm
Fall term · Sep–Nov · each Potter's Home picks its own day, then East Africa
Leads
Pastor Fidele + KGM East Africa partners
What it is
Outreach near and far. Locally: Potter's Homes — our home groups — launch this September, and through the fall their focus is outreach in the community. There is no fixed evening; each home picks its own day. Any gathering counts as a Harvest event when it meets two marks: it is a community event that involves the community — neighbours are invited, not only the church — and it is a fundraising event that raises money for a cause, such as our KGM family in East Africa. Grocery packing is one example, not the requirement; a shared meal, a concert, or a neighbourhood sale can do the same work. Globally: cross-cultural training and a 10-day trip to join them in Rwanda, Tanzania, or another East African nation — where the certificate is presented on the field.
Partners On The Ground
Our KGM family in East Africa hosts the trip — pastors, planters, and translators who have been faithful for years. You serve alongside them; they shepherd you into the culture.
Sending
You return not as a tourist but as a commissioned one — ready to mentor others toward the same calling. Then the cycle begins again with the Wheel, as the church returns to the Word.
The Vessel Track
Service starts on day one.
In the old model, service came at the end — a reward for those who finished the classes. Not here. From the week a new believer or new church member enters Potter's Clay, they're invited into the life of the church — to sit at the park with other families, to help set up the church-wide BBQ, to pack groceries that raise support for our KGM family in East Africa. The Vessel Track names how deeply you're serving right now, and grows as you grow.
1
Participant
Shows up. Belongs. Enjoys. No task yet — your presence is the ministry.
From Day One
2
Helper
Sign up for a specific task under a lead: setup, food, welcome, cleanup, slides, intercession.
After 2–3 months
3
Co-leader
Run a piece of an event with oversight. Learn logistics, ownership, and training others.
By mentor invitation
4
Lead
Own a sphere or a recurring event. Train the next generation. Publicly recognized as a ministry leader.
Potter's Fire + elder affirmation
The Vessel · in Scripture
Mentored, then sent.
Our four depths are not a theory — they are the pattern of Scripture's great mentors. We anchor our leadership in the Word, not in ideas.
Moses → Joshua
Assistant → Leader
Joshua was Moses' aide from his youth — carrying, serving, learning — until hands were laid on him and he led Israel into the land.
Numbers 11:28 · 27:18–20 · Joshua 1:9
Elijah → Elisha
Servant → Successor
Elisha left his plough to follow and serve Elijah, then asked for a double portion — and the mentor's spirit rested on him.
1 Kings 19:19–21 · 2 Kings 2:9–15
Barnabas → Paul
Clay → Co-leader → Lead
Healed under Ananias, recruited by Barnabas, sent out together — until "Barnabas and Saul" became "Paul and Barnabas."
Acts 9:17–18 · 12:25 · 13:13
A good mentor steps back so the co-leader can shine — "Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 13:2) becomes "Paul and Barnabas" (Acts 13:43).
Five Spheres of Service
Where will you serve?
Every member finds a home in one of five spheres, each shepherded by an elder. Open a sphere to see every ministry inside it — then volunteer where God is calling you.