Walk West Dorset

The Vision

The vision of a faith-sharing Walk in West Dorset started in earnest at a meeting in Charmouth in mid February 2009. Representatives from Weymouth, Maiden Newton, Charmouth and Lyme Regis churches heard Rev'd Daniel Cozens and Rev'd John Hibberd from Through Faith Missions explain how effective a walk can be. A Walk is a partnership between local churches and Through Faith Missions. A task force was formed to shape the vision and compile a list of minister/church contacts to be used by the TFM scouting team to visit every minister in the area.

The mission area covers Dorchester, Maiden Newton, Beaminster, Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Bridport, Burton Bradstock, Abbotsbury and finally Weymouth and Portland. The walk will take place from Saturday 17 Sept until Sunday 2 Oct 2011.

What is a Walk?

Teams of 8-10 people from all over the UK serve local churches for 4 days or 8 days. They carry out a programme planned by local host churches. There is a choice of male teams, who sleep on church hall floors; or mixed teams, who stay in people's homes. Typical events include door-to-door visiting, pub outreach, home meetings, schools work (assemblies and lessons), church services, and events for all age groups. We seek opportunities to share the gospel message in word and drama and with prayer for healing if requested.

The Walk and Communicating the Gospel

All team members attend a Through Faith Missions(TFM) nationwide practical training weekend. New team members must have their ministers’ support and are interviewed and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked. Experienced people lead the teams, many of them in full-time ministry. People from local host churches are encouraged to sign up as team members and many say that it is a wonderful faith building experience. A local training weekend will be arranged mid 2011 for West Dorset Churches.

The TFM training programme prepares team members to have the confidence to share their faith everywhere they go. Gentle conversation and boldness are the order of the day in homes, in pubs and in the open air. The walking is principally about getting out from our churches into the communities and sharing the Good News of Jesus.

Through Faith Missions

Rev'd Daniel Cozens and his team have been involved with a number of Walk missions - originally called 'The Walk of 1,000 Men' - including the Isle of Wight, Jersey, South Devon, East Sussex, Cornwall, Ulster, Kent, Cumbria and last year in south west Wales.

"The example of faith-sharing teams was inspiring. Here they followed in the steps of St. Chad bringing the Gospel to people in each community. " Jonathan Gledhill Bp of Lichfield

Find out More

email grace@through-faith-missions.org for a TFM Walk Promotional DVD or see www.walkwestdorset.co.uk