Greg Sharples, Pip n Jay's young adult worker and a local resident in The Dings writes:

I’ve recently had some time free up to invest in a worthy place. What I feel God has laid on my heart to do is spend time in the Dings building friendships and looking for the people who are responsive to Jesus in some way (people of peace)!

I’ve got 8 weeks initially to sow into this area, which I intend to use to work out a little what being a missionary means here and now! Hopefully this will lead to greater, intentional, consistent missional effort from us and be a place we can invite people into to be trained!

My initial strategy
Who is the Person of Peace in the Dings who will unlock a household/family/community?
What does it mean to live as a missionary to the Dings, to be sent? To build and invest in relationships in this area that lead to Salvation?

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 

All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' " But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 

Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Luke 19:1-10

Vision: To research intentional missional living, establishing a lasting working rhythm and to find the man of peace who will let God transform his household and beyond!

1)  [UP] To model a lifestyle organised around God's mission
2)  [OUT] “To seek and save what was lost”
3)  [IN] To be a vessel of Salvation (Be being saved)

Here are some questions you as the body can ask me to keep us in line with the vision and there is some information that may help you clarify what exactly I’m up to!

Specifics
5hrs a week OUT! Developing current relationships, starting new ones through radical pursuits (door knocking, praying for healing, prayer request leaflets, service etc)
Gather team/partner for prayer, and to journey alongside. Potentially a different person each week, or going at different times.

Measurable
How many people do you know as a consequence of this? Is there anyone in ongoing intentional discipleship at the end of the period who was not before? Is there an ongoing missional environment that followers can be invited into? How has my weekly rhythm been affected? (So how has learning been applied in best times to go out etc)

Achievable
All we can do is make ourselves available for God to move through us! Can I spend 5 hours a week out there doing the stuff? Yes

Relevant
The vision for Sophie and I has always been to see the Dings transformed and this will feed into how we live and what we do as a missionary household. For our wider community (small group and the Dings missionary community) there will be the encouragement of knowing God moves when we’re in situations which we need him to! This will motivate us.

Time Sensitive
8 weeks, 8 hours a week, (1 - 2 hours prayer and team preparation, 5 hours out there and an hour reflection)

Want to know more? Greg will be posting a regular diary with news of what's happening, and you can contact him here.