Pioneering on New Housing Developments

Working in areas of new housing is like ‘stepping off the map’, says Alison Boulton, Regional Minister for Pioneer Mission in Southern Counties Baptist Association. Well, the explorer Mallory may have been the first to use this phrase in his pioneering ascent of Everest, but Ali feels it applies equally to those who seek to pioneer new ways of doing church on new housing developments.

Her own experience of moving into the first house on a brand new estate in Swindon, of being literally ‘off the map’, means she understands the challenges of this kind of work. In this training course, Ali will offer practical tips for individuals and teams building relationships, community and church from scratch. God is already at work in that new community, and she will show how to listen to both, to allow a model of church to grow from the community rather than imposing a model of church upon them.

With 46,000 new homes coming to Wiltshire and Dorset in the next 10 years, nearly every deanery in the Diocese will soon see the diggers moving in. This course will be invaluable for equipping lay and clergy who are feeling slightly daunted as well as excited by the blank piece of paper offered by these new housing developments. Bring your team to ensure that you make the most of the opportunity.

Alison is a Regional Minister for Southern Counties Baptist Association with responsibility for Pioneer Mission Enabling, is part time Pioneer Minister of The Stowe , Swindon, and co-author of `Pioneer Ministry in New Housing Areas` (Grove Books). She also runs the National New Housing Hub with Fresh Expressions, Churches Together in England and Baptists Together.