Boscombe: A year of discipleship

Majors David and Jane Alton explain how the corps is nurturing disciples of Jesus.

Asking what's required

We were appointed as corps officers here in November 2017. It’s a big corps, historically quite traditional with strong musical sections. Prior to this, we were spiritual directors at William Booth College. Spiritual formation has always been on our hearts. We asked the Lord what he required of us during our time here and entered with a strong sense of that.

The corps was looking at mission and where the Lord was leading before the Covid-19 pandemic. Post-pandemic, some realised how much they had missed church and began to ponder what church and Jesus mean to them.

Back to basics

We started to look at the Army’s mission and vision statements. Many of us felt we wanted to get back to basics. Our songsters began to hold small discussion groups instead of the first practice of each month. Our band started ‘BandCom’ to encourage others to join them to play Christian music and be among Christians.

In September 2023, we held our first corps retreat at Moorlands College, which kickstarted a year of discipleship. There was a momentum, an enthusiasm. People caught the vision of who we are, why and what we’re all about.

All on the same page

We wanted to explore everyone reading the same devotional book, to have something shared, even if they weren’t together physically. Christian writer Tony Horsfall sent through a draft of his new book, Knowing You, Jesus, based on the prayer of Richard of Chichester.

We secured some funding from the Army’s mission innovation fund¹ and showed an introductory video at the hall one Sunday. We thought it would be amazing if we could get 100 people to engage. At the end of the first Sunday, we had 85 people sign up. Eventually we had 160.

People said: ‘Thank the Lord. I was really looking for something like this.’ ‘This is an answer to prayer.’ Even more amazing was the ripple effect: other corps in the division wanted to embrace it too.

We gave everybody a reading plan and started in December. The first part is about the birth of Jesus, so it ran well through Advent.

One of our leadership team suggested a WhatsApp group for discussion. Four groups later, we see some people interact daily, while others dip in and out, sharing questions, insights and prayer requests.

Even if a quarter of those who signed up now have a rhythm of daily reading, that’s amazing.

Our young people have also focused on discipleship during this year.

Alpha for all

Historically the corps had done the Alpha course and felt it was needed again. Alpha resumed last September, ably co-ordinated by Helen, our songster leader, followed by a further Alpha at Easter.

Two of the guys who regularly come to the BH1 project – for people who are vulnerable or experiencing homelessness – came along, got saved and are now adherents. From that, and conversations with BH1’s managers, we’ve started Core Recovery church once a week. The clients have named it ‘Coffee, Cake and Faith’.

We’re delighted that our desire for small groups is being realised.

Catalyst for change

We’ve seen people getting saved. People on the Christian road as Salvationists for many years finding a revitalised faith. People on the fringes of the corps having a sense of forgiveness and renewal.

Focusing on discipleship has also made people less concerned about the outwards stuff we can get caught up in and has made us more inclusive.

God has used this as a catalyst for change and our preaching plans have emphasised that. We’ve also found the Bible Society’s Romans course an enriching source of preaching and study.

God has blessed this year of discipleship abundantly. The Holy Spirit is moving mightily among us, and God’s not done with us yet!

Notes

¹ 25 per cent of Harvest giving goes to each division's mission innovation fund to help resource new, exciting mission opportunities.