Our History

Dorchester Family Church was first announced when Jesus said:

'I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it' (Matt 16:18)

Dorchester Family Church was planted in 1995, in 2002 we sent out thirty people to plant Weymouth Family Church. Three years later in 2005, we sent out a further forty people to plany Yeovil Family Church. We still keep close relationships with these churches and they are very much part of our extended family.

It was at that time that God called Mark & Charlotte to lead DFC into His future plans for it. Mark and Charlotte still lead the church today and are supported by a strong leadership team and other key people within the church.

What do we believe those plans are? We believe they are captured in our Mission, our Vision and our Values. These can be found along with our Aim, which summarises these areas, on the following page Mission, Vision, Values and Aim. These four have all been drawn from the Bible, and the words God has spoken to us prophetically.

Prophetic History

As a church we believe in hearing the prophetic word of God.

Throughout history, God has been passionate about bringing us to Himself. We believe that before time began, God had a plan to establish a people for himself in and around Dorchester. The local church is part of that plan and we at DFC are among those people.

The following text are key prophecies and promises that God has given to us as a church. These have been carefully considered and weighed by the leadership of Dorchester Family Church. Hearing clearly from God helps us set the path and direction that we take.

Key Prophetic Words

God spoke to us in the early years of Dorcheter Family Church through a picture of a circular fairground ride. Cups in which people sat were around the circumference of the circle, and in the centre was a large motor that extended an arm to each cup. As the motor began to rise in the air the cups at the end of each arm began to rise also. God is going to draw people to DFC from a broad area, through the establishing of a central Hub church in Dorchester.

"You will be a city on a hill, bringing light to man and Glory to the Son" (Matt 5:13)

"You are a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour" (Is 61:3).

"I commission you to build to my blueprint, the blueprint of my word. As you seek to walk in line with my word, I will draw many to you. I call you to build DFC on a firm biblical, New Testament foundation". "Build Well". 

Promise: "If You Build It They Will Come"

"You are a giving people, as you continue in your giving I will release through you both finance and workers for the harvest field. Prepare yourselves for sacrificial living, giving and service"

"I call you to holiness in every area of your lives. Do not compromise with the ways of the world, for this will distract you from following my plan. If I am to fulfil my plans through you, you must be pure."

"Prepare for war". "You will face battles in the future, as you seek to step out in my plans for you. Some will be lost as you seek to draw men, women and children into my kingdom. Know that this is a time of preparation; I am making you ready for a time of great blessing and growth. I will pour out my spirit on you; my living waters will flow from you.

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord almighty" (Zech 4:6)

"This move of my Spirit (that I am about to pour out upon you as you humble yourselves with fasting & prayer) will yield the fruit of holiness, and prepare my people the church for the harvest to come. I will ignite in your hearts at this time my people, with an intense burning passion for my glory, like you have never known before"

"I want to take you to a place ( in your relationship with me, your desire for intimacy with me, in your love for the lost, in your faith for healing) that you have never been before. Are you ready to get on board?"

"Dorchester is the County Town of Dorset and nestles in the heart of Dorset. The church will draw into the heart of Dorset from around it many people, not just for Dorchester Family Church but also to be dusted down and sent out again. A season is coming when you will plant churches again, again into mid Dorset ".