The unity journey in Doncaster started all the way back in 1973 when a group known as You Need Christ began to pray and work together to form what eventually became known as Doncaster United Christian Fellowship.

• 1980 Alive in Mission (Billy Graham Crusade)
• 1987 Mission Doncaster formed and registered as a UK Charity.

In September of 1992, Ian & Alyson Mayer formed a network called North East Worship (NEW), and in collaboration with Mission Doncaster, produced the first copy of a united church magazine called FANFARE. With the headline, “Joining Forces” the circulation of the magazine went out to over 2000 Christians across the Doncaster area. In October 1992 FANFARE was granted an ISSN (0967-9081) as a verified magazine by the British Library. FANFARE increased in size and circulation, until its last publication was printed in during Spring 1995.

On Saturday 10th April 1993, an Easter Celebration took place entitled “Come to the Cross“. The venue was the Doncaster Dome, and the speaker was Rev Peter Fenwick. The vision of the evening was ACTION (All Christians Together In One Night).

On Saturday 2nd May 1998 a small group of ministers in Doncaster met together and committed themselves to pray regularly for the town. Initially the group consisted of just 8 ministers from 8 churches, and 5 denominations. On Wednesday 13th May 1998 at 7.00am the group met for the first time to pray for Doncaster. That group grew, and, working alongside the already established charity Mission Doncaster, became known as the Doncaster Ministers Prayer Fellowship.

On 26th October 1999, Ian & Alyson Mayer founded The Jubilee Trust (Charity No. 1077936). Jubilee was created to support and resource churches and ministries locally, regionally, nationally and globally, and also to provide an organisational context from which Ian & Alyson could manage their growing involvement in church unity across Doncaster.

• 2002 Joint Communion Service at Priory Methodist

On 4th June 2003 Ian Mayer was invited to take over the leadership of Doncaster Ministers Prayer Fellowship. During 2004 Ian & Alyson formed the One Heart One Voice network. Based on Romans 15 v5-7, the name One Heart One Voice was inspired during a Leaders Day that took place on Thursday 23rd September 2004. The vision was to reach out beyond the core Doncaster Ministers Prayer Fellowship group, and engage with Church leaders across the denominational spectrum.

In 2005 City Celebrations were launched, initially taking place in Priory Place Methodist Church. 3 large celebrations took place during the first year. These were held on 27th March 2005 (speaker: Rev Ken Armstrong, Bessacarr Evangelical Church), 3rd July 2005 (speaker: Rev Mark Tanner, St Mary’s Church, Wheatley) and 2nd October 2005 (speaker: Rev Paul Alexander, Principal, Mattersey Bible College). In 2007 the City Celebrations (3 events per year) moved to the Salvation Army, Lakeside, Doncaster until 2012, after which events were held at various locations across Doncaster up to 2017.

Between 2003 and 2005, Mission Doncaster began to struggle as an independently registered charity, so in 2006 it was rebranded and adopted as a project of the charity, Jubilee. On 5th March 2008, Mission Doncaster formally ceased to be registered as a charity, and was re-registered as a working name of Jubilee.

• 2005 CLAY (Changing Lives Among Youth) launched
• 2007 City Prayer launched
• 2008 City Hope launched

On Wednesday 5th October 2011 a program of Strategic Leadership Network Days was launched, where Ian & Alyson presented each leader in attendance with an Olympic standard relay baton. This baton was symbolic of the generational race that we are all called to run as we see Gods Kingdom grow across Doncaster.

Between 2011 and 2018, over 30 Leaders Network Days took place, serving hundreds of key leaders across the region. Increased numbers allowed the use of venues such as ‘The Point’ and ‘The CAST in central Doncaster’.

On 1st May 2014 Manna Community CIC was founded by Ayson Mayer. During December 2014, Manna’s debut project, “Light up Doncaster” featured nativity scenes and contemporary Christmas artwork that was projected onto the side of Doncaster Minster during advent. The artwork was produced by local Primary Schools and local artists, and explored the question “What does Christmas mean to you?” 

During Easter 2016, Churches across Doncaster united in a single creative journey that explored the message of Easter. Churches across the city volunteered themselves as stopping points, each telling the story of one of the sacrificial steps Jesus took on his journey, leaving space to reflect and ask questions. The “Journey of Life” project, was led by Grace Harris, and allowed the One Heart One Voice network to both celebrate in unity, and also reach out and encourage those on the outside of Church to look in and see this incredible journey unfold. The journey culminated in a unity service held on Sunday, 3rd April 2016 at Christchurch Doncaster – one week after Easter Sunday.

Prayer for Unity 2017

We declare that Doncaster will be known as a city where the church is seen as one; We declare that Doncaster will be a city that will be known for it’s love, compassion and unity; We declare that Doncaster will be a place where the love of God is outpoured through the church, the community and the marketplace; We pray for Godly leaders who will seek righteousness, peace and joy, to rise up within each area of our Borough; We declare that every soul in our Borough shall have the opportunity to hear the message of Jesus and we declare that His eternal message of hope will reign over our Borough.

(produced by Ian & Alyson Mayer in 2017)

Movement Day Doncaster took place on Wednesday 20th June 2018 and was about continuing the conversation we started in New York, growing the global relationships we began with the New York City Leadership team, and encouraging Church, Commercial, Civic, and Community, leaders in Doncaster to join the movement. Movement Day Doncaster was the very first of several city based Movement Days to held in the UK over the following years.

Following on from Movement Day Doncaster in June 2018, and the launch of their book “Are We Brave Enough?” in January 2019, Ian & Alyson stepped aside from the leadership of One Heart One Voice to focus on Catalyst. The vision of Catalyst is to be a stimulus for unity across the entire spectrum of place leadership. Be it Church, Commercial, Civic, or Community,, Catalyst creates contexts for connections, growth and transformation.

During late 2018, the Doncaster Ministers Prayer Fellowship, formed a new management group which took over the governance (and finances) of Mission Doncaster from Jubilee. This group became constituted, with a Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and was formerly launched on 14th October 2018 at a United Celebration under the name of One Heart One Voice. (The name Mission Doncaster ceased to be used.)

Today the Doncaster Ministers Prayer Fellowship operates as the management group and continues to meet weekly for prayer & fellowship in the centre of Doncaster.

On 18th October 2023, Worldshare invited church leaders from across Doncaster to a meal, to discuss the next chapter of unity in the city. At the event, leaders prayed together, and explored what mission would look like if it was done together.

On Sunday 21st July 2024, Passion for Doncaster was officially launched, when 20 churches came together at a city wide celebration held at Powerhouse Doncaster. (The name One Heart One Voice ceased to be used.)

Worldshare continues to facilitate church leaders lunches and other unity events across Doncaster under the banner Passion for Doncaster. If you would like to know more or to be involved in Passion for Doncaster, please contact Worldshare

To pursue the transformational agenda set during Movement Day Doncaster, Ian & Alyson continue to invest in the City of Doncaster via their Business, Civic and Community roles. This ongoing agenda is mobilized through their charity The Jubilee Trust and currently includes:

• Connecting strategic Christian leaders across the Borough of Doncaster and Yorkshire
• Developing a range of events, projects and services delivered around transformational community themes
• Providing consultations and focus groups designed to assess community need and identify responses
• Working with civic leadership on policies and procedures that directly affect Community group operations
• Working with civic leadership on developing and re-purposing Community Assets
• Working with civic leadership supporting societal agendas (eg. climate change, mental health, equality & diversity)
• Developing key business relationships that will actively support, and invest in community transformation projects
• Developing wider Church, Commercial, Civic, and Community connections across Yorkshire

Using their book “Are We Brave Enough?” as a framework, Ian & Alyson have developed a range of leadership tools that aid commercial, civic and community unity. You can find out more about Catalyst and how to get involved by contacting Ian & Alyson directly.

Church unity within cities can develop through various mechanisms, often driven by a combination of spiritual, organizational, and relational factors.

Here are 10 strategies and principles that we’ve learned contribute to the development of church unity within cities:

1. Prayer and Spiritual Alignment: Unity often begins with prayer. Churches coming together in regular prayer gatherings, interceding for their city and seeking God’s guidance, can foster a shared spiritual alignment and a sense of common purpose.

2. Leadership Collaboration: Key leaders from different churches and denominations play a crucial role in fostering unity. Collaborative leadership initiatives, such as citywide pastor networks or forums, provide opportunities for leaders to build relationships, share resources, and work together on common goals.

3. Shared Vision and Values: Establishing a shared vision and core values can create a common ground for churches to unite around. This vision often focuses on serving the community, spreading the Gospel, and addressing social needs.

4. Interchurch Events and Collaborative Projects: Organizing joint worship services, evangelistic campaigns, community outreach programs, and humanitarian projects can facilitate collaboration and build trust among churches. These events provide tangible opportunities for churches to work together and demonstrate unity in action.

5. Bridge-Building Organizations: Non-profit organizations, parachurch ministries, or citywide alliances dedicated to promoting unity among churches can serve as catalysts for collaboration. These organizations often provide resources, facilitate communication, and coordinate joint initiatives.

6. Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity: Recognizing and celebrating the cultural and denominational diversity within the city is essential for fostering inclusive unity. Embracing diversity, promoting cultural sensitivity, and learning from one another’s traditions enrich the collective experience of unity.

7. Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation: Addressing conflicts and promoting reconciliation among churches is crucial for sustaining long-term unity. Establishing processes for conflict resolution, fostering open dialogue, and practicing forgiveness are essential for maintaining healthy relationships.

8. Intentional Relationship-Building: Building relationships among church members and leaders through intentional gatherings, small groups, and social events helps break down barriers and foster trust and camaraderie.

9. Public Advocacy and Social Engagement: Collaborating on issues of social justice, advocacy, and community development can be a powerful way for churches to demonstrate their commitment to unity and make a positive impact on society.

10. Continual Evaluation and Adaptation: Unity is a dynamic process that requires ongoing evaluation, adaptation, and renewal. Churches should regularly assess their efforts, celebrate successes, address challenges, and remain open to new opportunities for collaboration.

By implementing these strategies and principles, churches within cities can cultivate a culture of unity that transcends denominational boundaries, fosters collaboration, and amplifies their collective impact on the community.

The kingdom of God advances at the speed of relationships, and as leaders our role is to provide contexts for those who are connected with us to grow and flourish in unity with the wider church. As Christians there are two clear elements to our call: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind … love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 22:37-39)