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UNY Greenhouse Days: Sparking innovation and reimagining ministry

September 24, 2024 / By Rev. Abigail Browka, UNY New Faith Communities Initiative / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Last weekend, 100 people gathered for UNY Greenhouse Days both at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool and at Penn Ave UMC in Pine City. Local church leaders came together to explore new ways of reaching people and reimagining ministry for today’s world. 

Michael Beck, a dynamic pioneer in Fresh Expressions, served as the keynote speaker. He shared real-life examples of how small, inherited churches can spark fresh expressions of faith in their communities. 

Beck shared how Fresh Expression ministries—ranging from dinner church to burritos and Bibles, devotional yoga, and recovery programs—are breathing new life into churches. These ministries may only gather 10 to 100 people at a time, but their impact is profound, creating spaces where people can be known, loved, and find belonging. 

One of the standout quotes from the weekend was Beck’s bold challenge, “If Methodists would get vile again, we might get more vital.” 

A weekend of engagement and inspiration 

Throughout the event, participants were deeply engaged and comfortable—ready to share, collaborate, and innovate. Good questions flowed as people expressed hope and openness to new possibilities. As one participant reflected, “Wow, we’re doing something here I didn’t think was possible.” 

“Greenhouse Day was an inspiring experience that encouraged us to think outside the box for kingdom building. Through innovative activities and collaborative discussions, we learned to approach challenges with creativity and open-mindedness. This day reminded us that by embracing unconventional ideas and solutions, we can contribute more effectively to our community and its growth. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient kingdom,” said Rev. CJ Rolle, pastor at Lincoln Memorial UMC in Buffalo.  

The event didn’t just stop at theory; it connected directly with practical takeaways for ministry. We explored the hallmarks of engaging young people, based on Springtide Research’s 2021 report, which revealed that the key traits for connecting with youth today are curiosity, wholeness, connection, and flexibility. 

Key takeaways from UNY Greenhouse Days 

Here are three insights that stuck with us from the weekend: 

1. Start small and be present: 
“The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” (John 1:14 MSG) — Ministry begins by being present in your community. Small, mustard-seed communities can grow into spaces where people are known, loved, and find belonging. New ministries often start with listening to others, loving and serving, and building relationships. 

2. Embrace play and creativity:
Friedman’s advice: “Play when you are stuck.” If your church feels stuck, introduce play, creativity, and flexibility into your ministry to stir things up. Sometimes it’s in moments of play that breakthroughs happen. 

3. Join in what God is already doing: 
One of the most powerful insights from the weekend was that “Beloved people, of sacred worth and great value, may never know the gift of communal life in Jesus in our current modes of being church.” We’re called to join in what God is already doing in our communities, rather than relying solely on traditional modes of ministry. 

Continuing the momentum 

The energy from Greenhouse Days has sparked something special, but it doesn’t stop here. Whether you attended or are hearing about this now, there are a few key questions for us all to consider as we move forward: 

• How can you embrace innovation in your ministry? 
• What’s one small step your church could take this month to connect with new people? 
• How can we be more curious, flexible, and open to the needs of young people? 

Let’s continue to plant seeds of innovation and step into the future together in faith and creativity. 

TAGGED / Communications / New Faith Communities