Walking Angels - a challenge from Aylesbury

Clive Latimer is a volunteer with Aylesbury Chaplaincy / Street Angels and in 2020 set himself a challenge to walk 1000 miles in a year. Each mile he was challenged to pray for a different person - the results can be seen in this booklet. Clive is setting out a Walking / Wheel Angel challenge for 2021... 

What is a prayer mile?

Walk, talk, note, snap, send.

An extract from:- Prayer miles 0 to 1000

It all started Christmas 2019, my daughter Harriet gave me a subscription for the Country Walking magazine. Inside was a challenge to walk 1000 miles in a year. I thought about doing it but it didn't feel quite right, but after praying about it that evening, the next day God gave me an answer: - Yes Clive you can do it, but I would like you to do something for Me, I want you to pray for 1000 people, one for every mile you walk with Me. That felt right, so I started the challenge on 1st January 2020 and finished on 16th November 2020.

These following pages are the 1000 prayer miles (click to open the book) I walked, one for each person. I have met or made contact with so many wonderful people along the way, on Facebook (#walk1000miles) and others.

This is the way I set out: - When I meet someone and start a conversation, I mention that I am on this challenge and would they like to be on my list, nearly every time it is a yes. I enter their contact details on my phone list and what they would like me to pray for.

When I go out prayer walking, I open the list and either write on a notepad or use Keep Notes on my phone.  I start my watch to log the distance in miles, then start praying and walking. When the Lord prompts me, I dictate into the phone the words I have been given. When the mile is up, I stop and look around and photograph whatever catches my attention. Then onto the next person on the list. When the walk is finished, I stop the watch. When I get home, I transfer it to my laptop and make some sense out of the speech to text. The prayer mile is then sent on to the person who requested it. 

I found it all very exciting, a big adventure, not knowing what is going to happen every mile, where will I go, who will I meet, what God will prompt me to write and what will I photograph.

When you read through the prayer miles, I do hope and pray that you find some meaning in them for yourself.

God bless you.
Clive Latimer.

If you find it helpful, go on, have a go. I challenge you.

If you find it a challenge too far, then have a go with me in 2021 and become a Walking Angel or even a Wheel Angel.

Walking Angels

I normally go out with the Aylesbury Chaplaincy as a Street Angel and Healing on the Street (HOTS) team, but with the lockdown and restrictions, I have not been out on the Streets in this capacity since March .

From the 1st of January 2020, I started my 1000 mile prayer walk. In doing this I have met so many different people and found that there is a great need for help, prayer and healing, mentally, physically and spiritually. I completed my 1000 mile prayer walk on November 16th and from then on I was wondering what my next mission will be.

The Lord has put on my heart, that perhaps as well as being Street Angels, Chaplains, Festival Angels, etc, we could also become Walking Angels, as we walk in the streets, town, cities, footpaths, forests, anywhere we walk, even at work, we are all walking as Angels.

In 2021, there will be a greater need for mental health support, people that are really struggling with all their problems and the debts that have occurred. The loss of work and so many people have lost someone and there are still a lot of people with the virus. There is the hope that the vaccine will stop all this and that people will forget, but they are still people that will need help and prayer, healing mentally, physically and spiritually. Our mission is to go out as Walking Angels, to represent Jesus in the world, listening and spending time with people in need. To love the person in front of you.

I have already started. When I go out for a walk, I expect to meet people that God has placed in front of me and that are in need of some sort of help, even if it is only a smile. When you step off the path and let them pass, you are already showing you concern for them. I find that it is so easy to start a conversation, as you are social distancing already. Let the Spirit lead you but don’t push,  I find that if you show you are willing to stop and listen, they will soon open up. Before you part, give them your name and try get their name so you can add them to your Walking Angel list. I also make a note to remind me later. You can be praying for them as you continue walking. I am wondering if a badge might be a good talking point.

As Street Angels or Chaplains, you may be thinking, I do that anyway. If that is so, off you go then.

Wheel Angels

This refers to any one on wheels. Wheel chairs, bikes, skateboards, scooters, pushchairs, office chairs, even in cars. 

My 2021 challenge to you. 

Go out and give it a try. 

God has given us this opportunity to continue the work He has given to do, but in a slightly different way, at any time of the day, until we can go out as before. 

Set yourself a goal, to get 50 names on your list, or even more.  
 
God bless you all.       Clive Latimer