Online Event
Summer Book Club
Discussions and author interviews to deepen your passion for Fresh Expressions of Church
Time to step back and dream about new ways to join God’s mission.
Summer is a great time to step back, think deeply about your ministry and dream about new ways to join God’s mission. The Summer Book club gives you three chances to think through new opportunities, along with fellow church leaders and the book authors themselves.
So before you head to the beach, grab a book and register to join us for an in-depth discussion on the core practices for Fresh Expressions of Church.
Register for one book club meeting or all three. We will ship the books directly to you.
What to Expxect
How the Book Club Helps
Deeper Look
By taking time to read and discuss key ideas, you’ll get a deeper sense of what God does through Fresh Expressions.
Peer Conversation
Get out of your head and learn alongside other pastors and church leaders.
Author Discussions
Hear about the ideas and practices of each book directly from the authors themselves.
June
Opening Space w/ Shannon Kiser
June 18, 1pm ET
Opening Space reimagines church as something that meets people where they are, not where we wish they’d show up. Through powerful stories and practical wisdom, Shannon Kiser shares how ordinary people are creating extraordinary places of faith, connection, and belonging in everyday spaces. Inspired by the Gospel story of friends breaking through a roof to get someone to Jesus, it’s a fresh vision for church—alive, adventurous, and right in the middle of real life.
July
Contextual Intelligence: Unlocking the Ancient Secret to Mission on the Front Lines
w/ Leonard Sweet
July 9, 1pm ET
In this groundbreaking book and meeting with Len Sweet, you will explore the phenomenon of contextual intelligence, discover a framework for its cultivation, and learn how you can apply it in your own circumstance.
August
Crossing the Discipleship Chasm: How to Turn Crowds Into People Who Follow Jesus
w/ Matt Lake
August 13, 1pm ET
In years of ministry, author Matt Lake has discovered an important truth: When the road ahead seems too challenging for a conventional approach, staying put is not an option.
Facing the challenges many churches face in approaching discipleship, Matt offers a solution that applies an adaptive approach to the issue of discipleship through a series of life-giving “tensions”.
Your Monthly Guide
Rev. Dr. Heather Jallad is the Director of Training for Fresh Expressions. She is a Regional Developer for the North Georgia Conference of the UMC. She co-pioneered The TableCommunity Dinner in Grayson, GA, pioneered the CommonGround Network, a network of fresh expressions in Johns Creek, GA and The Douglasville Dinner Church in Douglasville, GA. She holds a BA in Mass Communications from University of South Florida, an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a DMin in Church Renewal and Fresh Expressions from United Theological Seminary. She and her husband Marten have been married for 30 years and have two daughters.
Fresh Expressions provides access to outstanding resources, training and tools to our 900+ local churches in their quest to make disciples.
James Swanson
Retired Bishop, Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church