“Challenging and transforming.” “Enlightening.” “Life changing and life enhancing.” “Inspiring.”
These are just a few of the comments made by students who just completed the first cohort of the Diocese’s course to train lay pioneers.
The course aims to give a year-long learning journey to those who feel called to venture out into their communities in mission whilst exploring creative ways of sharing the Gospel and extending the Kingdom of God.
Lead by Poole Missional Communities, the course is run as a partnership between the Church Mission Society, and the three Dioceses of Salisbury, Bath & Wells and Truro, with teaching taking place over 6 module weekends with small local groups in between. The modules explore themes such as ‘Pioneer Mission,’ ‘Bible in Context,’ and ‘Missional Church.’
The first cohort of students who took the course had this to say about their experience:
“It has made me feel more confident to move forward in our church and to stand up and do this, and given me more respect from others too.”
“I feel now I am not the only odd one! Journeying with other pioneers has made me feel like I belong.”
“I’m more confident for going out there and doing stuff and I’ve been very aware of God leading me in directions I could never have imagined.”
“It’s made me think about the village and being community based and how to reach out to my community”
“It’s been a journey, a faster journey than the whole of my Christian journey. I have moved twice as far in the last year than in the last 19 years!”
All the students who came and attended the final course will be awarded their CMS certificate at an awards event at the end of March, with Bishop Karen presenting the awards and commissioning many of students as Commissioned Lay Pioneers in their context.
The second cohort of the course is being planned with a start date of July 2023. If you are a natural innovator, sense a call to journey out into your community and start something new, and have a hear for mission amongst people disconnected from the church, then this course might just be what you’re looking for!
For more information on the course, contact Sally Taylor by email at sally.taylor@poolemc.org.uk.