By Shawn Gilgore
New Fresh Expressions of Faith are being created throughout our Susquehanna Conference. In the coming months, you’ll see some new communities of faith around the Conference, so, we wanted to give you a deeper look into what a Fresh Expression of Faith is, and how they are reaching new people for Jesus.
Fresh Expressions are new ways that the churches of the Susquehanna Conference can reach out to new people in new places.
These new communities of faith have begun in a variety of places and locations serving a wide range of people who are looking for places to connect with God and with others in their communities. At The Open Door, a ‘church within a church’ launching from Calvary UMC in Dillsburg, Chrisanna Rogers is leading a team of people who are on fire for what God is doing in their community. “God brought along this opportunity, I did not seek it out. He gave me the chance to see something new begin from scratch and watch it grow. I was excited at the prospect of ‘something new’.”
Rogers said that The Open Door is looking forward to helping the surrounding communities learn more about their faith. “Walking people through their first steps of faith is an honor, and one we can’t wait to take on.”
Often, it’s a big step in faith to go forward in a Fresh Expression. Pastors Kris Sledge and Deb Port of The Journey, a Vital Merger, said, “This process has been exciting, challenging, and a testimony to the amazing things that God can do. The vision for the future is to create life-giving communities both in and around Harrisburg. God will do this as we connect new people with Jesus and invest in and love our neighbors.”
The Journey in Harrisburg is a work in progress. New people can pour into a ministry area where God is calling them and help to form that ministry for the future.
“We are a diverse community of broken people who are driven to see God’s love break through the darkness” said Tim Parker, pastor of The Valley, a new church plant in State College. Even though Parker and many others have experienced feelings of apprehension, they trust in Jesus. “It may be uncomfortable to put yourself out there and walk by faith. But if we truly believe that the gospel has power and that people need saving then this a no-brainer. There is no risk when the risk is in Christ,” Parker said.
Parker hopes that the people in the communities that surround The Valley will know that God wants to be part of their stories. “God wants to use them to impact their neighbors. Even if it is something small or impermanent. Our job is to be faithful.”
Matt Verstraeten is launching The Well, a new cooperative parish, made up of three churches, all in one movement. “Jesus sent the disciples out and gave them the authority to do some radical and miraculous things, but they were never sent out alone. Jesus sent them two by two. There’s incredible power and potential in collaboration.” The Well began on July 1st of this year.
You can connect with these Fresh Expressions at:
www.opendoordillsburg.com
www.thejourneyhbg.com
www.thevalleysc.org
www.wellumc.com
