Afresh: New Ways of Being Church in the Uwharrie District

posted on May 17

The Uwharrie District Fresh Expressions Team has launched a podcast! "Afresh: New Ways of Being Church" will share stories and inspiration regarding Fresh Expressions. Afresh is hosted by Rev. Katie Lineberger (Uwharrie Vitality Associate), Rev. Caitlyn McAlhaney, Rev. Kelly Shrader, and Rev. Patrick Ledford. Each month one of the hosts will share interviews and stories on different aspects of Fresh Expressions in hopes that listeners might be inspired to explore new ways local churches might reach those who are not yet part of any church.

Fresh Expressions is a movement that is a new way of thinking about doing church in order to reach new people, in new places, and in new ways. It is a form of church for our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of those who are not yet part of any church. The thing that makes Fresh Expressions unique and different from maybe a church plant is that it’s cultivating new kinds of church alongside existing congregations. In a post-Christian world, with more and more people skeptical of organized religion, we have to get creative in thinking about how we are sharing the message of Jesus and what it means to be the Church. The goal of Fresh Expressions is not to get those who participate to come to your church’s Sunday morning worship or Wednesday evening Bible study, but it operates in the belief that the Fresh Expression IS church for those who come. It is a group of rag-tag believers and could-be believers coming together for community, to learn from each other, share in each others journey’s, and engage in different acts of worship, in hopes that each might take the next right step in their faith, whatever that might be. This is also what hopefully takes place within the four walls of a traditional church building.

Click HERE to find links to the introductory episode and each monthly episode to follow!