A St Paul's Walk is an exploration of the environment. You can do this missionary walk alone, in pairs or in small groups. The aim is to discover what the church could mean in this neighbourhood.
Observe
Walk through a neighbourhood and observe what you see. What do you see on the street? What impressions do you get when you look at the houses? Are there gardens and what are they like? What curtains hang in front of the windows? What kind of cars are parked in the street? What do you notice about the people you pass? How are they dressed? What do you notice about the shops? Do you see religious displays, churches, crosses, a mosque?
Question
Then ask yourself what concerns the people in the neighbourhood. What do they live for, do you think? What do they get out of bed for? What are they chasing in life? What are their values? Family or success? Pretty things or something else? What do you think their worldview looks like? Would they believe in God or a god? Or would they be 'somethingists', Muslims or Hindus?
Pray
A Pauline walk is an exercise in observing from God's mercy with this fallen world.
Stop for a moment and take time to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance. You can do this silently, to yourself, or aloud in a small circle. Do what you want and dare in that moment. Ask yourself how in this neighbourhood the Gospel could be liberating. What would this neighbourhood be like if people knew and followed Christ? What could be the church's task in this neighbourhood? What could be your own task?
Ask questions
When it is convenient, you can strike up a conversation with people you meet. Ask open-ended questions. Say you are a Christian and wonder what Christians could do for this neighbourhood. Ask what the other person has in mind. Adopt an open and learning attitude.
Evaluate
Evaluate with each other afterwards. Bring the collected impressions together. Try to outline what the church could do for this neighbourhood from the love of Christ.
Repeat
You can do the Paul walk as often as you like and with whoever you like. Some even make it part of their daily routine. It can be the start of a missionary-diaconal initiative, or a boost to existing work.
