A New Way to Be the Church in Syracuse On a Sunday evening in Syracuse, New York, long tables fill with plates of food, the hum of conversation, and the sound of music that seems to soften even the most weary souls. This is Two Rivers Dinner Church, a community where the barriers of traditional church are set aside so that anyone—no matter their story—can find a place at the table. When more than 100 people gathered to celebrate the dinner church’s one-year anniversary, the atmosphere was electric. There was laughter, there was gratitude, and there were baptisms—visible signs that lives had been changed over the past year. Danielle Towers, one of the leaders, described it simply but powerfully:

Worship Beyond the Walls It all began with a simple request. A local retirement community, Fleming Farms, wondered if our church might be willing to provide something regular for their residents. Rather than asking people to come to us, the Spirit was nudging us to go to them. What started as a brainstorming lunch quickly grew into a shared calling. After prayer, reflection, and some nudging from family, we stepped forward — not alone, but with others from the congregation who were eager to serve, sing, and share life. The result was W.O.W. (Worship on Wednesday). We didn’t know what to expect, but from the very first hymn-sing, it was clear God was already at work. Residents came with joy and keep returning week after week. Together we sing, hear a short word from Scripture, share prayer requests, and celebrate birthdays. A Community of Giving and Receiving  The surprising gift of W.O.W. is how it has shaped our whole church. Each Wednesday for the past 17 months, people who normally worship only inside our sanctuary are stepping into a different kind of sanctuary — the community room at Fleming Farms. They are meeting new neighbors, sharing stories, and discovering that worship doesn’t have to stay within four walls.

As King Street Church was forming in 2013, we began looking for a way to start a church that met our neighbors where they were and formed a new kind of church there. After several months of research, we stumbled upon Fresh Expressions. I was immediately taken by the process in which these new forms of church were started, a process called The Fresh Expressions Journey. The Fresh Expressions Journey is a six-step process that most fresh expressions walk through as they form. Of course, the process is never as simple as it looks, but these steps gave me a basic framework to envision how King Street Church might form. Now, as a cultivator and coach of fresh expressions in western North Carolina and beyond, I point fresh expression leaders to the Journey on a daily basis. I ask questions like, “What stage of the journey have you been working on?” and “How might you begin to move into the next stage?” As John Maeda, President of the Rhode Island School of Design, says: “Making a process visible makes a practice reflectable.” In this series of posts, we’ll reflect on each stage. The Six Stages of the Fresh Expressions Journey

“Sometimes, God starts with the simplest ingredients—a conversation, a prayer, a plate of churros—and turns them into something extraordinary.” In this interview, we explore the journey of the Churros and Chocolate Faith Community, a vibrant bilingual and multicultural group dedicated to making disciples of Christ while celebrating cultural diversity. From humble beginnings, they’ve grown into a welcoming space for all.

It’s been said that the seven last words of a dying church are, “We’ve never done it that way before.” Pastor Brett DeHart is not content to maintain the status quo. He’s been the Pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Augusta for nearly three years now. He is intentional about keeping the church’s traditional worship vibrant, but is very open to new ideas and new ways to meet and minister to people. Aldersgate began in the early 1960’s, as people made the move further out of Augusta. The church has a strong history of reaching families and supporting missions. Its growth continued into the early 2000’s and since that time, attendance has dwindled. Pastor Brett has observed that Covid contributed and probably accelerated what was already going on. One upside to the pandemic was that it gave folks an opportunity to evaluate the role and level of importance the church played in their lives. The church’s traditional worship is still a solid part of the church’s life and ministry. However, as Pastor DeHart is quick to point out, “We are finding new ways to reach new people.” One of those ways is through Messy Church. It got its start about 20 years ago. Pastor DeHart said, “England of course is a good couple of decades ahead of us on the church trajectory. Their churches have declined throughout Europe at a much faster pace than in America. They had to get more innovative and creative sooner, and so we’ve learned some things from them. Messy Church is one of those.” Messy Church started during Covid with three drive-in events. It’s been going on for about 18 months now. It’s an interactive experience for adults and kids with games, crafts, a Bible story, and dinner for the whole family. Messy Church currently meets monthly on Sunday afternoons, with about 50 people participating.  “For most of the folks, initially at least, it’s their first church experience, which we’re perfectly fine with,” Pastor DeHart said. “It’s just church done a little differently. The goal was how we can reach people that might not be open to our traditional settings. Recovery, really is in that same vein.”

A New Way to Be the Church in Syracuse On a Sunday evening in Syracuse, New York, long tables fill with plates of food, the hum of conversation, and the sound of music that seems to soften even the most weary souls. This is Two Rivers Dinner Church, a community where the barriers of traditional church are set aside so that anyone—no matter their story—can find a place at the table. When more than 100 people gathered to celebrate the dinner church’s one-year anniversary, the atmosphere was electric. There was laughter, there was gratitude, and there were baptisms—visible signs that lives had been changed over the past year. Danielle Towers, one of the leaders, described it simply but powerfully:

Worship Beyond the Walls It all began with a simple request. A local retirement community, Fleming Farms, wondered if our church might be willing to provide something regular for their residents. Rather than asking people to come to us, the Spirit was nudging us to go to them. What started as a brainstorming lunch quickly grew into a shared calling. After prayer, reflection, and some nudging from family, we stepped forward — not alone, but with others from the congregation who were eager to serve, sing, and share life. The result was W.O.W. (Worship on Wednesday). We didn’t know what to expect, but from the very first hymn-sing, it was clear God was already at work. Residents came with joy and keep returning week after week. Together we sing, hear a short word from Scripture, share prayer requests, and celebrate birthdays. A Community of Giving and Receiving  The surprising gift of W.O.W. is how it has shaped our whole church. Each Wednesday for the past 17 months, people who normally worship only inside our sanctuary are stepping into a different kind of sanctuary — the community room at Fleming Farms. They are meeting new neighbors, sharing stories, and discovering that worship doesn’t have to stay within four walls.

Brewing Faith: How Faith & Friends On Tap is Redefining Church In Milford, Ohio, something extraordinary is brewing. At Little Miami Brewing Company, a Fresh Expression of church called “Faith & Friends On Tap” is changing the way people experience faith and community. By gathering in the relaxed, communal setting of a brewery, this initiative reaches those who might never walk through the doors of a traditional church. It’s a space for the “nones” and “dones”—those without a religious affiliation or who have left traditional church settings—to explore faith, ask questions, and build relationships in an authentic and approachable way.

On the edge of the Pacific Ocean, in the small town of Ocean Shores, Washington, a church has taken root in an unexpected way—not through pews and pulpits, but around a dinner table. The Table @ Ocean Shores, pioneered by Sandy Johnson and her husband Gary, gathers people from every walk of life: children, retirees, families, single parents, and neighbors facing homelessness or addiction. This Fresh Expression of church doesn’t ask people to cross the threshold of a sanctuary; instead, it meets them in their hunger for food, community, and hope.

In the cozy basement library of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, people are gathering—not for a worship service, but for cookies, conversation, and a good movie. Movies & Chats, a budding Fresh Expression of church, is offering a warm, accessible space where faith isn’t forced but curiosity is welcome, and community is quietly taking root. Led by Dave McEachron , a covocational Episcopal priest and lifelong lover of film, the idea began with a simple question: What if watching movies and talking about them could become a way to connect with people beyond the church? That single spark has grown into something deeply resonant. With thoughtfully chosen films like Lars and the Real Girl , Whiplash , Women Talking , and Small Things Like These , the gatherings quickly gained traction—drawing 12–15 attendees at first, then growing as more locals discovered the group through MeetUp and word-of-mouth. From Curiosity to Community “We didn’t try to make it overly spiritual,” David said. “We just let the movies do their work and let the conversation unfold.” Movies & Chats taps into something deeply human: our need to make meaning through story. And in a culturally vibrant, spiritually eclectic city like St. Paul—offering a welcoming space to explore life’s biggest questions through art and conversation fills a real need. This Fresh Expression isn’t trying to draw people into traditional church—it’s about meeting people where they already are, in ways that feel natural and non-threatening. As one attendee put it, “The space doesn’t feel religious, but it does feel deeply meaningful.” As David continues to experiment he hopes that shared leadership will begin to transform the group and that regular participants would start suggesting films and helping shape future gatherings. A Fresh Expression in Motion Movies & Chats is still taking shape, but it clearly reflects the rhythms of the Fresh Expressions journey. It began with listening—David paid attention to his own passions and the culture around him, sensing that movies could be a bridge to meaningful conversation. From there, he stepped into loving and serving, offering a space where strangers could gather safely, enjoy a shared experience, and connect without pressure. As people returned and brought friends, community began to form naturally, not through structure but through presence and trust. Now, conversations are growing deeper, participants are helping to plan events, and a sense of ownership is emerging. Though it’s early, the doorway for exploring discipleship is beginning to emerge —not through teaching, but through thoughtful dialogue and relationships formed in the warmth of the group. As Fresh Expressions reminds us, church can emerge when we follow the Spirit’s lead, practice incarnational presence, and nurture spaces that are contextual, organic, and open to what God might grow. “It’s not yet a Fresh Expression of church,” David admits. “But it’s a faithful experiment. We’re present. We’re paying attention. And we’re seeing something beautiful emerge.” Not a Program—A Posture What makes Movies & Chats so compelling is its accessibility. It doesn’t require a worship band, a curriculum, or a marketing budget. Just a library space, a few good films, a plate of cookies, and a host willing to listen and love without an agenda. “Fresh Expressions is about forming new Christian communities with people who may never come to your church, but who are longing for community, purpose, and spiritual connection.” The story of Movies & Chats reminds us that church doesn’t have to start with preaching—it can start with popcorn and honest conversation. More Than a Movie Night Movies & Chats may have begun as a simple film discussion group, but it’s becoming something more: a space where connection forms, trust deepens, and the Spirit gently moves. In a time when many are disillusioned with institutional religion but still yearning for meaning, this Fresh Expression is opening the door to community in a way that feels authentic, relational, and doable. “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” — Frederick Buechner David didn’t launch a program—he did something he loved doing, followed his curiosity, invited others in, and made space for the Spirit to do the rest. And that’s the beauty of Fresh Expressions: anyone, in any church, can do the same.

Every Monday evening in Minerva, Ohio, something remarkable happens inside the Minerva Community Building. Neighbors gather not just for food, but for family, friendship, and faith. At the Binding Hearts Community Dinner, the table becomes a place where loneliness gives way to laughter, and where ordinary people encounter the extraordinary love of Jesus. This Fresh Expression of church has become a lifeline for those who never thought they’d belong in “church.” As one woman testified, the community she found there “saved my life.” What started as a meal is becoming a movement—one that’s reshaping lives, restoring families, and rewriting stories.