Fresh Expressions believes any church can reach people who are not yet part of any church. This podcast unravels the complexities of today's local mission field and introduces resources from pastors, practitioners and historic movements adept at proclaiming the Good News inside and outside the inherited Church.
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Renewal is happening in small-town churches. Many of Jesus' followers across rural regions are uncovering exciting possibilities as they explore creative and practical approaches to loving their neighbors. This new podcast from Fresh Expressions will introduce you to ministry leaders serving in rural contexts to provide examples and inspiration for being the Church and addressing the needs unique to your community. Rural Renewal Podcast is brought to you by the Rural Revival Summit, a two-da ...
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Is your church ready to serve during a disaster? Emergencies often reveal who we truly are—whether it’s individuals, congregations, or Fresh Expressions communities. In this special bonus episode, we explore stories from North Carolina following hurricanes and flooding. Fresh Expressions leader Luke Edwards shares how churches—especially new and or…
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What if belonging could come in a bottle? That’s the promise of Coop’s Soup, which chef and pioneer Cristin Cooper started after her own experience of loneliness. In this conversation, Heather and Cristin discuss the journey of leaving her church job and explore building community through sharing a bowl of soup. This episode will leave you hungry f…
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Have you ever received a present that seemed like it was a better fit for the giver, not the receiver? In this episode, we hear from one of the founding voices of the original Fresh Expressions movement in the UK, Mike Moynagh. We’ll discuss how loneliness is experienced in the UK and how a church is transformed when it is treated like a gift given…
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In 2023, homelessness hit an all-time high in the United States. But simply providing shelter is seldom enough. How can churches provide the “full community” people need to turn their lives around? And how could it affect the congregation itself? In this episode, you’ll hear from Gabrielle Clowdus of Settled, a movement to help churches develop per…
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What does freshly baked bread have to do with the loneliness epidemic? Could experiencing Christian community be as simple as sharing a meal? In this interview, Kendall Vanderslice shares how her passion for baking and sharing meals has helped her overcome loneliness and dive into Christian community.…
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Victor Glover found life in Christ while in prison and began to share his faith with others there. In this episode, you’ll hear how Victor worked with God to love, serve, and build community in an unexpected place. Listen and be reminded of how Christian community can transform lives, even in the loneliest of places. Fresh Expressions is a worldwid…
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Being a part of a group, or even a church, doesn’t mean you feel like you “belong.” In this episode, David Kim of Made to Belong helps us explore what it takes to build a community of belonging. You will learn about five practices he has identified for cultivating community in a disconnected world both inside and outside of our inherited forms of c…
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When we go to church, we bring our stories with us. Our stories can color how we experience Christian community, and even affect the larger community. Fresh Expressions Pioneer Elaine Heath and church planter Charles Kiser are co-authors of Trauma-Informed Evangelism: Cultivating Communities of Wounded Healers. Motivated by their own experiences, t…
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The Loneliness Epidemic and the Church with Heather Jallad, Shannon Kiser, Luke Edwards, and Chris Morton
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“Loneliness isn't just an uncomfortable feeling; it's dangerous to us as individuals and as a society.” In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy went so far as to declare it an epidemic. "Being socially disconnected is...[as detrimental as] caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day..." Failing to address it would lead Americans to "further retr…
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Episode 10: Intergenerational and Music Ministries with Trish Johnsen and Brad and Joanie Perry
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Engaging all ages in ministry is core to the work of the church, but the reality of rural life can make that complicated. In this episode, we’ll hear about creative ways to incorporate children and adults into the life of rural congregations, even in the face of declining populations and limited resources. Listen in to learn about how the “Messy Ch…
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What can churches do in a culture known for its skepticism? Nestled between Seattle and the Olympic National Forest, Belfair Community Church focuses on consistent, small acts that reflect God’s love and goodness. In this inspiring interview, you’ll hear from A Culture of Scarcity And a God of Abundance: Leading a Church into a Bigger, Better, More…
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What do you do when you know there are people in your small town who need a community and a place to learn about Jesus, but they aren’t coming to your church? Sharon White led her church through a process of listening for needs and opportunities in their small town of Waco, Ga. When they discovered a shared passion for Bluegrass music they prayed f…
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The stories of news media and Hollywood often focus on major coastal cities. But God is at work everywhere and the small towns and rural communities of North America are a testimony to God’s goodness. In this interview, Brad Roth, Mennonite pastor and award-winning author, shares about the importance of place, people watching and recognizing people…
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What happens when you follow the passions God has given you? Can God use your passions to help address some of the major issues facing our culture? In this bonus episode of the Fresh Expressions podcast, you’ll meet Alan Graham and hear how his passion led him to start Community First! Village, a master-planned neighborhood where the chronically ho…
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Most churches are “small churches,” but they don’t always get the attention, resources and support they need. In this episode, Senior Director Chris Backert shares what he sees happening across North America and the exciting things that can only happen in smaller congregations.Di Fresh Expressions NA
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Episode 6: Churches and Rural Healthcare with Allen Stanton and Sidney Everhart
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Of the challenges facing rural North America, health care remains one of the most pressing. What can local churches do to help? In this episode, Allen Stanton, author or Reclaiming Rural returns alongside Sidney Everhart to discuss how they've seen churches help their members and their communities stay healthy.…
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Robert Frazier might not be the first person you think of when you consider the needs of rural churches. Robert planted Redemption Hill, a network of microchurches in Boise, Idaho, and founded The City Network. However, Boise is the only major city in the region, and their ministry has expanded to the suburbs, exurbs, and rural areas in the two-hou…
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Times change, but the same can’t always be said of churches. Why is it that some take risks and try new things, while others can’t seem to get unstuck? In this overwhelmingly encouraging conversation, Ron Johnston, Executive Director of Small Church Connections in Canada, shares practical steps pastors can take to build trust and cast vision with t…
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Many rural church leaders are part-time or bi-vocational. With such high demands on their time, what does "excellent" preaching look like? Patricia Batten, Assistant Professor of Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, provides encouragement and direction for rural church leaders doing their best with limited resources. She also shares he…
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S2E2: More Relational, Less Professional with David Blackwell
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With many rural areas declining in population, "growth" is an impossible goal. What should churches do instead? David Blackwell returns to the podcast to explore a more "relational" model of ministry. With a keen awareness of the average rural and small church, Blackwell outlines a realistic approach to leading a highly engaged and mission-driven c…
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Should small, rural churches aim for excellence, authenticity, or both? Many well-known, usually large churches, are known to strive for "excellence" in their production of weekend worship. This can leave small churches, with fewer means, feeling like they have to keep up. Brandon O'Brien offers an alternative for small churches to aim instead to r…
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Does your ministry feel insignificant? Churches large and small have struggled with a decline in attendance since pandemic restrictions were lifted. But scripture teaches us not to despise small beginnings. In this episode, Dr. Chris Backert, North American Director of Fresh Expressions returns to discuss the opportunities that lay ahead for church…
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Dreaming Again: New Years with Mitch Marcello
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Over time, it’s natural to become stuck. In your career, relationship, ministry, you name it. Goal-setting and resolutions are great things to do. But what if you could become a person with a more creative spirit and innovative mindset? This episode features an excerpt of a recent webinar where creativity coach and Fresh Expressions Mission Strateg…
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Merry Christmas from the Fresh Expressions Team! In this special Christmas episode, you will hear greetings from our North American team and get a glimpse of what God is up to in the North American Fresh Expressions movement. Fresh Expressions is a worldwide movement of everyday missionaries who want to see churches thrive in the places we live, ea…
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How Ski Slopes to Swing Dances Become Fresh Expressions of Church with Marcus Corey and Mitch Marcello
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Many traditional Christians build their weekends around Church attendance, many others are spending their weekends "playing." Hobbies, sports, and other activities provide much more than a thrill or a distraction: they are places where people feel more alive, more embodied, and often build their most profound community. Rather than try to pull peop…
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How does a pioneer stay passionately focused on their mission and deeply rooted in their relationship with God? One way to engage with Scripture for the purpose of understanding how we join God's work in our world. In this episode, we feature an excerpt of our audio devotional resource Advent Missio Divina. In this devotional, you'll hear scripture…
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Friend and missional mentor Michael Frost returns to the Fresh Expressions podcast to discuss his book Mission Is the Shape of Water: Learning From the Past to Inform Our Role in the World Today. Does mission look the same across all times and places? Michael Frost says no in his latest book! He dives into Christian mission through the centuries, e…
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From the Jesus People movement of the 70s and the “seeker-sensitive” outreach of the 80s, Boomers have shaped the development of the North American Church. Yet, as they approach and enter retirement, for some their church participation is dwindling. Join Jim Divine, who pastors a church in The Villages, Florida, to discuss how churches can help gui…
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Advent for Everyone
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The weeks leading up to Christmas provide an opportunity for Christians, and even our broader culture, to turn our minds to Jesus. But how do you help Christians reimagine the holiday season that has been co-opted by secular and consumerist practices? How do you take the concepts and traditions, many rooted in high church liturgies, to modern churc…
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For some Christians, Christmas is a frantic mix of family gatherings, secular celebrations with a special worship service on December 24. But what might it look like or Christians to recapture the sense of Christmas as a season of anticipation and celebration of the incarnation? In this episode, episcopal priest and Fresh Expressions pioneer Fr. Jo…
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Since JD's church in Minneapolis reimagined itself as a Dinner Church, they've reached people in their neighborhood they would never have met before. This shift was inspired in part by their experience at Thanksgiving. In this episode, you will hear J.D.'s story about how they used the lessons of a Holiday service project to help start a different …
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Halloween has become an increasingly central part of the social lives of families and neighborhoods. So, where do church's fit in? In this episode, Heather is joined by Pastor and Pioneer Kris Beckert whose passion for fall sports, campfires and Halloween is central to how leads both a traditional congregation and Fresh Expressions of Church. Fresh…
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Fall is here, and the holidays are around the corner! This is a busy season, but it's also a great time for churches and church leaders to connect with your community. Host Heather Jallad is joined by fellow pastor and Fresh Expressions practitioner Brett DeHart to discuss how these Fall and Winter seasons can help you expand the reach of your cong…
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It's Fall and it's time for another season of the Fresh Expressions Podcast. For over two decades, the worldwide Fresh Expressions movement has helped inspire and equip leaders to start thousands of new faith communities in homes, community centers, dog parks, tattoo parlors, cafes and other unexpected places. Season Four will help you reimagine ho…
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Churches are full of formal liturgies and unspoken traditions. But what kind of shared activities actually form a group of people into a band of missionaries? In this week's episode, reconsider your church's regular practices by listening to David Fitch's talk Practices that Form People for Mission.Di Fresh Expressions US
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When it comes to participation in church, the stats about Millenials and Gen Z are startlingly low. What if part of the problem is the "expression" of church they have available to them? In this talk from Kris Beckert, you'll learn from her experience of forming Fresh Expressions of Church with and for Young Adults. Fresh Expressions is a worldwide…
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Most people spend the majority of our weeks at work. What would it look like to form a church specifically for individuals within their workplace? And what if that workplace was Disney World? Listen to this recent talk from Steven Barr who has dedicated decades to forming Cast Member Church, an expression of Church reaching the staff and crew at Di…
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Some churches like to say they welcome everyone, but the truth is that such a Christian community is complicated. In this insightful discussion with real-world practitioners Deb Hirsch and Luke Edwards, you'll hear about what it is like to build a community where committed Christians and those exploring their faith can thrive together. Deb Hirsch i…
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Churches, with their official buildings, formal architecture, and highly developed language, are great for insiders. But in a world less familiar with Church, Christians must be masters of hospitality. In this talk, Alan Roxburgh helps explain what hospitality is, why it matters for to Christian leaders who are passionate about God's mission in the…
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How do you teach people about Jesus without using a typical "sermon?" In this episode, you'll hear from Verlon Fosner and Kris Beckert about "Jesus Stories," a simple, Biblical and enjoyable approach that fits well in settings like Dinner Church. Fresh Expressions is a worldwide movement of everyday missionaries who want to see churches thrive in t…
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Reaching new people with new kinds of churches doesn't just require leadership; it requires pioneering leadership. In this talk from Jo Saxton, you'll learn more about what a pioneering leader is, where you find them in your church, and how to help them get started. Jo Saxton is a speaker, podcaster, author, and leadership coach. She hosts a digita…
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Fewer and fewer people find their way to a traditional church building on Sunday. So what would it look like to bring church into every context? Drawing on decades of experience helping lead the Fresh Expressions movement in the U.K., this talk from Michael Moynagh with ignite your imagination with new dreams of where church can happen. Fresh Expre…
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Are you on a mission from God, or does it come from somewhere else? How do you even tell? In this session, J.R. Briggs and Mia Chang discuss their experience and advice for listening to God's call in their lives and their congregations. Fresh Expressions is a worldwide movement of everyday missionaries who want to see churches thrive in the places …
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How do you help an established Church change? How do you help "church people" think of themselves like missionaries? In season three, we're opening up our archive of a decade of useful training materials and sharing some of the talks and workshops that have inspired us over the years. This episode features a fascinating discussion featuring two ver…
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The Fresh Expressions Podcast Season Three is Here! For over two decades, the worldwide Fresh Expressions movement has helped inspire and equip leaders to start thousands of new faith communities in homes, community centers, dog parks, tattoo parlors, cafes and other unexpected places. In Season Three, brought to you by FX Connect, you will hear pr…
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Episode 6: Cowboys, Crafts and Foster Care: Three Examples of Innovative Rural Churches
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What do you think a rural church looks like? Listen to new ideas from real-life leaders who are reaching new people in places already accustomed to church. Featuring David Blackwell of Florence, Montana, Chris and Jaidy Smith from Ramseur, North Carolina and Allen Jessee from Abingdon, Virginia. Allen Jessee, is the Lead Pastor of Highlands Fellows…
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Rural church pastors preach and organize church programs. But sometimes they manage contractors, water pigs, and other things you might not expect. Join Lindsay Callaway from the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada in a discussion of how to prepare church for the unexpected opportunities in rural ministry. Lindsay Callaway has been with the EFC since …
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Episode 4: What Latino Communities in Small Towns Need with Marta Sobrino Bolen
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Ministry in rural areas can have challenges, when it comes to resources. Listen to Marta share how she has addressed the needs of Latino community (especially with language barriers) in her town and advocate for them and how she has partnered with schools, libraries, and other organizations to connect with people in her community. Marta Sobrino Bol…
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Episode 3: How to Be the Church Where Everyone is on Vacation with Pam Morse
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What does it mean to be the church in a place where people come to vacation? Some small towns and less about Friday Night Lights and more about AirBnB. But what if it was possible not only to reach weekend warriors looking for recreation and the local population who live in small towns all year long. In this episode listen to discover different way…
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Episode 2: Don’t Equip Rural Churches like Others with Leah Hidde-Gregory and Dale Edwards
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Doing ministry in rural areas is different from doing ministry in urban or suburban areas, but many books and conferences tend to be more helpful for larger population areas. In this episode listen to two denominational leaders provide their perspective on strengths and challenges for doing discipleship in rural churches. Dr. Leah Hidde-Gregory is …
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