THE WALKING CHURCH

MANIFESTO OF “THE WALKING CHURCH”

The Walking Church is a movement of disciples who make disciples, living a communal rhythm of life in the context in which God has placed them, to carry out the mission defined in Matthew 28:18-20:

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” [Amen.]

The movement aims to multiply “missional communities” called Bet Midrash, born out of the intentional multiplication of disciples. These groups meet at least once a week (excluding Sunday morning) to allow each person to freely engage in the life of their local church, regardless of denomination. Bet Midrash are spaces of relationship, formation, and mission—places to grow together in the light of Jesus’ teachings and to live out discipleship in a tangible way, with the goal of advancing God’s Kingdom.

The weekly gathering is not sufficient to create true community, as Jesus modeled a life of mission shared with other disciples who would meet, encourage one another, and pray for each other daily, considering every place and environment a mission field to bring the light of Jesus.

John 1:4-5

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

THE MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES “BET MIDRASH”

“Come and See”—this was Jesus’ invitation to the disciples who asked Him where He was staying, in John 1:38-39.

That day Andrew, John, and likely John the Baptist, Barsabbas, and Matthias (Acts 1:23) were present, listening to the teachings of the Master—the only one for every disciple.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.

11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Matthew 23:5-12

THE ATTITUDE TO LIVE THE BET MIDRASH

In the culture of Jesus’ time, the relationship between rabbi and disciple was far removed from what we today understand as education.

At that time, the disciple lived out his relationship with the Rabbi through four “hats”:

They were STUDENTS of the Word—the Master would teach and question his disciples. All Jewish children memorized the Torah from the age of 10, and rabbinical disciples knew the Word of God thoroughly.

They were APPRENTICES—the Master was a life coach in every area: finances, marriage, politics, etc. They lived life with their teacher.

They were FOLLOWERS—the disciples imitated their Master; they would limp if the Master limped, stutter if the Master stuttered, and adopt the Master’s habits.

They were LEARNERS—the disciples developed the Master’s skills and trade, taking seriously the role and responsibility of passing on what they had learned to others.

The attitude necessary to fully live the Bet Midrash is to embody the “four hats” of discipleship with Jesus!

CONVERSATIONS IN THE BET MIDRASH

Matthew 28:18-20

 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

The term baptism derives from the word baptizo, meaning “immersion.” Making disciples entails being immersed in relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, like Jesus, every conversation around the table must be a mutual immersion in Jesus.

Each moment of sharing—whether experiential or confessional—is an opportunity for immersion in Jesus: either by recalling a story in which He experienced a similar situation or, when no such story comes to mind, by praying and asking Jesus for guidance in that moment.

John 14:26

 “26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

THE PURPOSE OF THE BET MIDRASH

Retracing the journey of the disciples with Jesus, intentional relationships are a foundational element for anyone who wants to walk in Jesus’ footsteps.

Mark 3:13-14

 “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him…”

“To be with Jesus” is the goal of the Bet Midrash—making us disciples and guiding us to walk in His footsteps.

1 John 2:6

 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Luke 6:40

 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

Matthew 28:20

 20 “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

“To be with Jesus” is the goal of the Bet Midrash that leads us to make disciples as we walk in His steps.

Matthew 28:18-19

 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”

The more we commit to encouraging one another on the walk with Jesus, the more we grow and fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.

CORE BELIEFS OF THE MOVEMENT

1. The Bible
We believe the Bible—comprising both the Old and New Testaments—is inspired by God and is the only authoritative guide for faith and daily life for those who follow Jesus.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

2. God
We believe in one God, perfect in all His ways, Creator, Sustainer, and Lord of all—worthy of our love and worship.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

3. The Trinity
We believe that God exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are united in one essence, with equal power and glory.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

4. Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man, uniting divine and human nature in Himself.
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9)

5. Sin
We believe humanity was created pure, but because of the sin of the first humans, the relationship with God was broken, and every person is born separated from Him.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

6. Salvation in Christ
We believe Jesus gave His life to pay the price for the sins of all humanity through the cross. Whoever believes in Him receives forgiveness and eternal life.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

7. New Life in Christ
We believe that to be saved, one must repent, have faith in Jesus, and be born again by the work of the Holy Spirit.
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3)

8. Justification by Faith
We believe we are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and this new reality is made evident in our lives.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

9. Eternal Life
We believe the soul is immortal, and those who have believed in Jesus have eternal life, while those who reject Him remain eternally separated from God.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36)

10. Baptism
We believe baptism is an ongoing immersion into relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each missional community is free to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in practicing water baptism.
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)

11. The Lord’s Supper
We believe the Lord’s Supper is a moment of remembrance and communion with Christ, to be lived whenever disciples gather, following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
“Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

12. The Church
We believe there is one universal Church, founded by Jesus, made up of all who follow Him. He is its Head.
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)

THE “LIFE” OF THE MOVEMENT

The Walking Church exists to glorify God and, where possible, collaborates with local churches and organizations to advance the Kingdom of God while preserving its identity, which is rooted in this vision:

“Words and thoughts walking on the legs of those who live like the Master.”

The Walking Church encourages people to live as disciples of Jesus in everyday life. We believe the Church is not a place but a journey: a shared walk with others, bringing the love and truth of Jesus into every moment of life.

We encourage people to live authentically, walking alongside one another and sharing the message of hope, following Jesus’ example.

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

The Walking Church was born from a desire to inspire and shape disciples who live out their faith in every sphere of daily life.

Just as Jesus walked with His disciples, we believe in the value of relationship and sharing life. It’s not simply about gathering in a designated place, but about living an active faith—bringing God’s presence wherever we are.

Every moment is an opportunity to listen, to serve, and to walk with others, just as Jesus did.

“Jesus went up on a mountain and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.” (Mark 3:13)

To live all this out, the movement is founded on the following values, which everyone who joins is called to actively embody:

1. Dependence on the Holy Spirit

 “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness” (Luke 4:1).

We believe every step of our lives must be guided by the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus demonstrated in His ministry. Dependence on the Spirit brings power, discernment, and deep communion with God.

2. Centrality of the Word

 “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Jesus lived and taught rooted in the Word. The Bible is the foundation of our faith and a practical guide for every aspect of life.

3. A Life of Prayer

 “He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)

Just as Jesus cultivated an intimate relationship with the Father through prayer, so do we seek to live in constant communion with God, knowing that prayer transforms us and the world around us.

4. Obedience to the Father’s Agenda

 “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” (John 4:34)

Jesus never moved according to His own agenda but obeyed the will of the Father. We, too, desire to live aligned with His plan, seeking to fulfill His work in the world.

5. Intentional Relationships

 “He called them that they might be with him.” (Mark 3:14)

Jesus built meaningful relationships to shape disciples and bring transformation. We believe growth happens through authentic and intentional relationships, where we can love, serve, and encourage one another.

6. Glorifying the Father

 “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4)

Everything we do is ultimately meant to glorify God. Every decision, action, and word should reflect His greatness and love.

All who desire to join this journey commit to walk in the footsteps of the Master.

This document represents a practical translation of what Jesus modeled during His earthly life.