The potential and power of our FX Academy Immersion
By Carm Evans
Recently I returned to Ocala, Florida, to observe and learn from the Rev. Michael Beck, leader of our denominational Fresh Expressions movement. We visited Compassion UMC, pastored by Jill Beck, and St Mark’s UMC, where Jill and Michael are co-pastors. We witnessed and participated in disciple-making efforts as fresh as Tattoo Parlor Church and as traditional as Bible Study.
Fresh Expressions offers opportunities for us to reconnect with our Wesleyan roots while encouraging new and creative expressions of faith. John Wesley had a system of groups that were inclusive and yet as the groups became more intimate in size the level of faith development and expression deepened. Sunday morning worship or activities occurring in church buildings are, or should be, our most outward facing, all inclusive, and for the public events we offer; however, we have turned the church into for-Christians-only. You need to know the language, behaviors, beliefs, and have pre-established relationships to feel comfortable and navigate church environments.
Three generations (Millennials, Gen Z, and Alphas), those forty and under, are largely unchurched. For people to come to Christ, they may need an environment outside the church building or outside Sunday worship to introduce them to Jesus. Enter Fresh Expressions.
The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. To do this, our focus and resources including time, attention, and dollars should be directed toward those not currently in our buildings. Instead, we have spent the last 70 years catering to those already sitting in our pews. We watched those individuals get older and older and our churches become less active and impactful.
Fresh Expression offers churches the opportunity to challenge current disciples to practice their faith in unique ways out in the world not just under our steeples. This movement in Wesleyan tradition is meant to be lay-led. Enjoy cooking? Gather friends to try new recipes, learn to cook, or explore and enjoy local restaurants. The locations and possibilities to be the church are endless – toddler playgroups, book clubs, gaming tournaments, hiking groups, coffee groups, recovery groups, and so much more.
The cost of maintaining buildings and compensating clergy has sometimes crippled the local church, yet a small church with twenty-five active participants engaging 20 percent of their laity or five weekly participants in each offering a small Fresh Expression doubles the weekly touch points. Now that church has five connections in the community, and these connections can energize an entire faith community. Another gem about this movement is that Fresh Expressions cost little or nothing to begin and maintain. There are micro-grants available from different conferences to give that initial boost for advertising or enticing friends outside the church with food.
My faith community, Tree of Life, began offering unique expressions of faith in 2020 and training in Fresh Expressions in 2022 by sending two individuals to the Adventurer’s Leadership Academy. In 2023 we enrolled two more individuals in this year long program, and I joined the FX Academy in BWC with the hope of becoming a Trained Trainer. FX Academy is free and today you can even enroll in free online seminary education to get the theology behind Fresh Expressions
Tree of Life continues to launch new groups and unique expressions of faith. Over the course of four years some are still meeting and making disciples, others never quite got off the ground, and some fizzled, fell flat, or transformed into something new. We currently have three weekly discipleship groups, a monthly group for young adults, a weekly group for night owls, insomniacs, and those with alternative sleep or work schedules, a text group, and a monthly community giveaway. Along the way we learned, we built beautiful relationships, and we grew in faith. Does it get better than this? Because it sounds and feels like a slice of heaven to me.
This year I taught an Introduction to Fresh Expressions through the Delaware District Lay Academy and attended the first Fresh Expressions National Gathering. In June we will offer a class for those desiring to practice the Fresh Expressions journey of listening, loving, building community, discipleship, becoming church, and doing it all again. I look forward to coaching and mentoring in the future. Before travelling to Ocala, I received my new appointment which begins July 1 in the Lower Shore District. I look forward to connecting with clergy and laity there who want to learn about and practice Fresh Expressions.
Seeing light bulbs go off for both clergy and laity during this recent Fresh Expression immersion brought me great hope. Millennials saw their ministry consumed with church insiders, and they are considering looking beyond the church to coffee or comic book shops. Retirees are considering passions like card crafting and pets as ways to connect with people in the community. These are exciting times to share the love of God through Jesus Christ. Will you join us?
If you’re interested in learning more, contact the Rev. Carm Evans at .