Sometimes mission involves being sent to the nations, but it may mean welcoming the nations which have been sent to you. Pioneer ministry can require creative projects, designed to engage the imagination of the unchurched, or it can mean some very traditional pastoral care being offered to a community not otherwise touched by its parish church. In the case of Revd Debbie Forman, (Assistant Curate at St John the Evangelist, Innsworth, Gloucestershire, and Pioneer Minister for Innsworth), it involves it all – international hospitality, creativity and pastoral care.
Imjin Barracks in Innsworth welcomed almost 1,000 servicemen and women and their families to join NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps this summer. In all about 520 new families from 15 countries came to Innsworth, some living on the camp itself and others on the estate where Debbie works. People are encouraged to worship outside the camp at churches in the town, there is no provision for church worship on the base itself. This can be difficult for people to access in an unknown place so Debbie, who speaks several languages, sees part of her role as being that of a welcomer.
Pioneer ministry is not about trendy ideas. It is about creatively reaching those whom no-one else is reaching.