Lake Church: A Fresh Expressions Snapshot

Church Without Walls: How Randall by the River is Reimagining Faith in Community

What if church wasn’t something people attended but something they experienced in the everyday spaces of life?

This is the heart of Randall by the River, a Fresh Expression of church in Norwood, North Carolina. Meeting along the shores of Lake Tillery, this gathering is reaching people who might never walk into a traditional church building—but who are longing for authentic faith, deep relationships, and a renewed sense of purpose.

For over 250 years, Randall United Methodist Church served as a pillar in its community. But as attendance declined and cultural shifts made traditional church models less effective, its leaders faced a critical question: How do we bring the love of Christ to people who aren’t coming to us?

The answer wasn’t inside the building—it was outside.

So, they took a bold step. They started gathering in a place where life already happens: by the water, on front porches, around fire pits, and in shared meals. Church became less about location and more about connection.

“We realized that people weren’t necessarily looking for pews and pulpits—they were looking for a place to belong,” one leader shared.

And with that, Randall by the River was born.

A Fresh Expression for Those Who Need It Most

The reality is that many people are spiritually hungry but hesitant—or even unwilling—to engage with traditional church. Some have been hurt by past experiences. Others feel out of place in a formal setting. Still, others simply don’t see the relevance of church to their everyday lives.

Norwood, like many small towns, faces economic challenges and social disconnection. It’s a place where community matters, but where institutional faith often struggles to connect with modern realities.

Randall by the River meets this need by offering a different kind of faith community—one rooted in presence, relationships, and shared life. Instead of requiring people to step into an unfamiliar space, this Fresh Expression creates a welcoming environment in locations that feel natural and inviting. The rhythm of worship is woven into conversations on the dock, shared meals with neighbors, and moments of quiet reflection by the water’s edge.

“Some people here have been burned by church,” one attendee reflected. “Randall by the River is different. No pressure, no judgment—just Jesus.”

This simple yet powerful approach echoes the biblical vision of the early church:

“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” — Acts 2:46-47

Instead of waiting for people to come to them, Randall by the River meets people where they already are—both physically and spiritually.

How Fresh Expressions Take Root

Randall by the River isn’t just a one-time experiment. It follows the proven Fresh Expressions Journey, a model that any church can adopt. The journey begins with listening—leaders and members spent time understanding why people were disengaged from traditional church and what they needed instead. This led them to a posture of loving and serving, putting relationships before programs, and prioritizing the well-being of the community.

As connections deepened, community began to form naturally. Shared meals, simple conversations, and lakeside worship gatherings became a consistent rhythm of life. People who had never imagined themselves part of a faith community found themselves drawn into something new, something real. And as relationships strengthened, discipleship followed—not in the form of structured classes or rigid expectations, but through life-on-life relationships where people encountered Jesus in organic, deeply personal ways.

“Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.” — Dallas Willard

By focusing on incarnational mission (living the gospel in everyday life) and organic growth (letting faith communities form naturally), Randall by the River is proving that church can happen anywhere.

Stories of Transformation

The impact of Randall by the River is best seen through the lives it has touched.

A young couple, new to the area and searching for belonging, found a home among this lakeside community. “We love God, but we didn’t know where we fit. This feels like family.” A retiree, who had spent years feeling distant from faith, rediscovered God in the simplicity of shared meals and honest conversations. “I thought church was something I left behind long ago. But this… this is different. This is real.”

Another longtime churchgoer shared how this experience reshaped their understanding of worship:

“I used to think church was just about Sundays. But I’ve come to realize that worship happens in the small moments—around the fire, on the dock, in the way we show up for each other.”

These stories aren’t just heartwarming—they’re evidence that when we reimagine church, we make space for people to reimagine their faith.

A Model Any Church Can Follow

Randall by the River isn’t an anomaly. It’s part of a movement—a growing realization that church doesn’t have to be tied to a building to be meaningful.

And here’s the good news: this is something any church can do.

You don’t need a huge budget.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You don’t need to have all the answers.

You just need a willingness to listen, love, and step outside the church walls.

“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” — Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi

What might happen if your church followed the same journey?

What if your next Fresh Expression is as simple as gathering a few friends in a coffee shop, a park, or a backyard?

What if faith wasn’t confined to a Sunday service but woven into the fabric of daily life?

Randall by the River is proof that church is not dying—it’s being reborn in new and creative ways.