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Welcome to Sessions and Lessons Unscripted, where Gen X wisdom meets Millennial chaos — and somehow, self-improvement happens along the way! Whether you’re mastering mindfulness or just trying to remember where you put your keys, we’re here to make personal growth feel a little less overwhelming (and a lot more fun). Join us each week for honest conversations, a few life hacks, and plenty of laughs as we figure it out. Self-improvement doesn’t have to be serious — it just has to be somewhat ...
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Fresh Expressions believes any church can reach people who are not yet part of any church. This podcast unravels the complexities of today's local mission field and introduces resources from pastors, practitioners and historic movements adept at proclaiming the Good News inside and outside the inherited Church.
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Who disciples us shapes how we disciple others. In this episode, Jessie Horney and Heather Jallad explore the powerful connection between being discipled and making disciples. Jessie shares the story of launching the Wonder School—a journey that not only transformed her personal approach to disciple-making but also shifted her church’s entire postu…
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Discipleship doesn’t start in a classroom—it starts in the wild. Jessie Cruickshank shares how our brains are wired for experiential learning and how the most powerful discipleship often happens through story, movement, and Holy Spirit-led moments on the go. In this episode, we explore why God invites us to learn through real-life experiences and h…
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Roz shares how the 12 Steps and the way of Jesus intersect in powerful ways—through confession, reconciliation, and the deep recognition that we can’t save ourselves. In this episode, you’ll hear how Roz’s personal journey with recovery has transformed his ministry, reshaped his church, and led to authentic connections with the recovery community. …
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Anne shares how a quick pivot during the pandemic became a global digital community where people are finding connection and experiencing daily discipleship. In this episode, you’ll hear the story of unexpected innovation, the challenges of digital ministry, and how the Spirit is forming authentic faith communities—even online. Whether you're explor…
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How has the Fresh Expressions movement transformed discipleship in the inherited church over the past two decades? In this episode, Dave shares insights from the UK on how Fresh Expressions not only reaches new people but also activates discipleship in fresh ways, empowering the priesthood of all believers. We explore how Fresh Expressions fosters …
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What if discipleship wasn’t a program, but a way of life? In this episode, Heather Jallad and David Sunde explore how moving from programmatic discipleship to incarnational rhythms can lead to real multiplication. David unpacks what discipleship truly means, breaking it down into the seven rhythms from his book Small Batch Disciplemaking, and chall…
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In this episode, Eun Strawser—church planter, physician, professor, and author of Centering Discipleship—joins Heather to explore how pastors and church leaders can shift discipleship from the periphery to the core of their church life. They discuss moving from program-based approaches to discipleship as a pathway, a shift that has transformed Eun’…
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What does it take to truly grow as a disciple? In this audio from a past webinar, Matt Lake explores the complexities of discipleship and the need for a multi-layered approach. He emphasizes that at its core, discipleship is about relationship and community—requiring nuance and context. More than just a curriculum, discipleship is a lifestyle, and …
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Season 6 of the Fresh Expressions Podcast is coming soon!! Kicking off this season is Discipleship Reset a week-long live training (February 3-7, 1p ET) experience designed to equip the leaders of the average North American church for the opportunities of 2025. Many churches in North America are facing a crisis of discipleship, and many churches do…
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Why is it that we can be surrounded by people—even friends—and still feel so lonely? Alan Hirsch, renowned missional thinker, has an idea about this that he calls "communitas." In this conversation, Alan helps us explore what it means to be a community on mission and how that could transform our churches into places where we experience both belongi…
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What if the solution to the loneliness epidemic is as simple as moving into the neighborhood? In this episode, host Heather Jallad sits down with Sean Bailey and Josh Jackaway from Apartment Life to explore how the church can play a vital role in fostering community in apartment complexes. Together, they discuss the transformative power of intentio…
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What should a lifelong pastor do when they encounter hostility towards the church that they can't seem to overcome? Discover the twists and turns that took Chris Battle from ministering in a typical Baptist church to growing food and exploring discipleship with his neighbors. Join Heather Jallad as they discuss new ways of being the church, connect…
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How did Pastor David Carter go from skeptic to passionate advocate for Fresh Expressions of Church? Today, his revitalized congregation includes Adventure Church, a Running Club, and more. Tune in as Heather Jallad unpacks David’s journey and reveals how these innovative gatherings are transforming both his church and the wider community.…
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Is your church ready to serve during a disaster? Emergencies often reveal who we truly are—whether it’s individuals, congregations, or Fresh Expressions communities. In this special bonus episode, we explore stories from North Carolina following hurricanes and flooding. Fresh Expressions leader Luke Edwards shares how churches—especially new and or…
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What if belonging could come in a bottle? That’s the promise of Coop’s Soup, which chef and pioneer Cristin Cooper started after her own experience of loneliness. In this conversation, Heather and Cristin discuss the journey of leaving her church job and explore building community through sharing a bowl of soup. This episode will leave you hungry f…
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Have you ever received a present that seemed like it was a better fit for the giver, not the receiver? In this episode, we hear from one of the founding voices of the original Fresh Expressions movement in the UK, Mike Moynagh. We’ll discuss how loneliness is experienced in the UK and how a church is transformed when it is treated like a gift given…
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In 2023, homelessness hit an all-time high in the United States. But simply providing shelter is seldom enough. How can churches provide the “full community” people need to turn their lives around? And how could it affect the congregation itself? In this episode, you’ll hear from Gabrielle Clowdus of Settled, a movement to help churches develop per…
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Victor Glover found life in Christ while in prison and began to share his faith with others there. In this episode, you’ll hear how Victor worked with God to love, serve, and build community in an unexpected place. Listen and be reminded of how Christian community can transform lives, even in the loneliest of places. Fresh Expressions is a worldwid…
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Being a part of a group, or even a church, doesn’t mean you feel like you “belong.” In this episode, David Kim of Made to Belong helps us explore what it takes to build a community of belonging. You will learn about five practices he has identified for cultivating community in a disconnected world both inside and outside of our inherited forms of c…
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When we go to church, we bring our stories with us. Our stories can color how we experience Christian community, and even affect the larger community. Fresh Expressions Pioneer Elaine Heath and church planter Charles Kiser are co-authors of Trauma-Informed Evangelism: Cultivating Communities of Wounded Healers. Motivated by their own experiences, t…
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“Loneliness isn't just an uncomfortable feeling; it's dangerous to us as individuals and as a society.” In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy went so far as to declare it an epidemic. "Being socially disconnected is...[as detrimental as] caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day..." Failing to address it would lead Americans to "further retr…
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What happens when you follow the passions God has given you? Can God use your passions to help address some of the major issues facing our culture? In this bonus episode of the Fresh Expressions podcast, you’ll meet Alan Graham and hear how his passion led him to start Community First! Village, a master-planned neighborhood where the chronically ho…
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Does your ministry feel insignificant? Churches large and small have struggled with a decline in attendance since pandemic restrictions were lifted. But scripture teaches us not to despise small beginnings. In this episode, Dr. Chris Backert, North American Director of Fresh Expressions returns to discuss the opportunities that lay ahead for church…
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Over time, it’s natural to become stuck. In your career, relationship, ministry, you name it. Goal-setting and resolutions are great things to do. But what if you could become a person with a more creative spirit and innovative mindset? This episode features an excerpt of a recent webinar where creativity coach and Fresh Expressions Mission Strateg…
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Merry Christmas from the Fresh Expressions Team! In this special Christmas episode, you will hear greetings from our North American team and get a glimpse of what God is up to in the North American Fresh Expressions movement. Fresh Expressions is a worldwide movement of everyday missionaries who want to see churches thrive in the places we live, ea…
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