The latest CMS certificate in pioneer mission has been completed with an awards ceremony and commissioning of three new lay pioneers in the Diocese. Eight completed the course, with two being from Jersey. These pioneers are work across housing estates, among the homeless and those recovering from addiction, children and young people, the houseboat community on the Kennet and Avon canal, and rural Dorset village.
Bishop Karen was present at the awards ceremony where reflections and prayers were based on the theme of the sea, and pioneering as a journey into the unknown blown by the wind of the Spirit.
During the event Pip Sanday from Devizes, who is leading in mission to the narrowboat community on the canal there, spoke about how the course has impacted her:
In February 2023 I started Shower Tuesday for boaters at St James Centre, as a test, to see what would happen. In May, at Lee Abbey I had a picture of a Prayer Boat, while seeking discernment. I started to attend monthly ‘Canal Prayer’ – guided prayer mornings led by Margaret Brown: a lifeline; connecting with and listening to God.
I had been put in touch with a friend, an artist with an interest in narrowboats, and found he had just finished the CMS certificate in Pioneer Mission. The word ‘Pioneer’ grabbed my attention. I started the CMS certificate in July.
The course has taught me Laurie Green’s Reflective Cycle – which I have used to evaluate, stop and start Shower Tuesday, with a new way forward, purpose and intention of ‘being with’, with a team from St James. A learning point from the Rural Mission module was seeing Shower Tuesday in terms of a cover-crop; not for short-term harvest, but to enhance and prepare the soil for the future.
At the Missional Church module, one of the images used showed people at a craft-prayer-café, in Poole. This spoke to me with a jolt, with an image of people doing creative prayer looking out of the large windows of day-boat Litania. I shared this image with Rob and Trish, and we prayed to make Jesus known on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
The dream of a Prayer Boat continues and I, with a team, have been generously offered the use of Litania for a few months, to see where God leads. A floating prayer space is beckoning with opportunities to engage in new, fun, purposeful ways with people on the edge of society and on the edge of church.
The reflective cycle has enabled me to question my doubts and see God leading me. I am embarking on finding out what God has ahead, as a lay pioneer based at St James Devizes. The course has enabled me to catch up with God – who He has made me and who He is making me become.
Applications are now being accepted for a new round of the course starting in January 2025. If you or anyone you know would like to go on this formational journey in pioneer ministry do get in touch. You can find more info here.
There is also an online taste event coming up on the evening of November 7th.