Pioneer Posts

The Fresh Expressions movement that grew out of the House of Bishop’s report ‘Mission Shaped Church’ (2004) defines a fresh expression as follows:

“A form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church”.

More on pioneer ministry here.

The Diocese of Salisbury is encouraging and developing pioneer ministry most evidently through the funding of three pioneer mission posts:

• Paul Bradbury: Reconnect in Central Poole
• Becky Sedgwick: Children and Families Worker in Devizes
• Tony Stephens: Weymouth Town Centre Mission Project

These posts were all funded in 2008 and show how the principles of pioneer ministry give rise to some very different results.

Poole Missional Communities 

• This new charity was launched on Monday 4 April 2011. Click here to visit the Poole Missional Communities website.
• Paul Bradbury was licensed in Sept 2008 into the regeneration area of Poole. In Sept 2009 the missional community Reconnect was started. Numbering about 30 adults and children, Reconnect have developed a ‘rule of life’ and are seeking ways of building relationships with the local community. Facebook. Fresh Expressions page on Reconnect. 'Share The Guide' page on Reconnect. 'This is Dorset' (short article)
• The 'work:space' initiative developed from this, offering space, quiet, meditation and contemplation to busy people in the workplace. Fresh Expressions page on work:space.
• Wild Spirit, a series of social and spiritual events specifically for men, is the latest project.
• Contact Paul Bradbury:
  07531 255194, bradsare@btinternet.com 

Devizes – Children and Families Worker

• Becky Sedgwick has spent two years working across the town of Devizes and local deanery, with a base at St James’, Southbroom. Becky is supporting family worship across the churches as well as strengthening links and work within the town’s schools. Work in the parish school has resulted in a group of 11 children coming forward for baptism and confirmation this year. Her passion is to see pathways created which enable those new to church to journey into faith in ways that work for them.
• Contact Becky Sedgwick:
  07506 740950, mazeygrace@yahoo.com

Weymouth Town Centre Mission Project

• Tony Stephens was licensed in November 2008 to explore new ways in which the Church could engage with the town centre community. The ministry works across all churches in Weymouth and Portland to deliver outreach initiatives including Street Pastors and Healing on the Streets. The “Freedom in Christ” discipleship course has been delivered as a cross-church venture.  The aim of the ministry is to meet people for Christ and move them from a position of disinterest to “God is good and Church is ok”.
• Contact Tony Stephens:
  07716 838764, revaws@btinternet.com