Get Equipped
“One of the main reasons Fresh Expressions exist is to equip and inspire pioneers, wherever you are on the journey.. ”
We believe anyone can start a Fresh Expression of church. This is one of the unique qualities of Fresh Expressions – starting new forms of church isn’t just a calling for those in full-time ministry, it’s for anyone.
Fresh Expressions is not a denomination, or a pathway to ordination (although many pioneers do end up getting ordained). Fresh Expressions is a grassroots movement filled with people who can’t stop thinking about who isn’t in church and want to do something about it. We’re a band of misfits, visionaries, prophets, evangelists and creative entrepreneurs who can see what isn’t there and have the grit and faith to go out, listen, love, serve, tell people about Jesus and work with their new communities to create a new and authentic expression of church that makes sense to them.
With over 30 years’ experience of pioneering in creative and contextual ways accompanied by robust theological research, reflections and reports on how Fresh Expressions have connected with and discipled people who had no interest in Jesus or the church; we know all about the challenges and joys of pioneering, but more importantly we know this approach to mission works.
As a movement of people who have been pioneering before pioneering was even a thing, we’ve got a whole load of resources to help you on your fx journey, so get stuck in, get inspired and get equipped for the adventure that awaits.
GET STARTED
Fresh Expressions don’t take a model and replicate. We let the place we’re in and the people around us shape what church looks like – an fx is all about doing church that makes sense to the people and place it finds itself in.
So the best way to equip you for the journey you’re about to begin is to give you some tools to help navigate the next steps in this adventure God is calling you into.
FX JOURNEY
The fx journey is a 6-part framework used by practitioners. Whilst there is a natural progression from one stage to the next this doesn’t mean it’s prescriptive. Pioneering is a creative process so you can often find yourself going backwards before you move forwards which is why the whole journey is underpinned by prayer, ongoing listening and a grace-filled relationship with the wider Church.
FX RESOURCING
One of the four key activities of fx is to enable the resourcing of the movement, by providing and sustaining a framework that empowers practitioners and pioneers within the movement to co-create and resource one another. Check out the wealth of resources and training available to you wherever you are on the fx journey.
TRAINING
2004’s Mission Shaped Church Report identified the need for a new type of minister, a Pioneer able to enable new missional forms of church for a changing culture.
Since then many of Fresh Expressions denominational partners have sought to develop Pioneer Ministry in their streams, both in a lay and ordained capacity.
FX PRAYER
The Fresh Expressions prayer was written by one of our previous trustees Karen Openshaw. It’s a prayer that encompasses the desire of our hearts as we partner together with God in this adventure of pioneering and it’s a prayer we share together at gatherings.
Photo by Vladimir Proskurovskiy on Unsplash
