resources

Together: God is doing something new resources

Are you ready for the fall rush? September in the Upper New York area is one of the biggest times of the year when people try out church for the first time. Many people try something new as the school year begins. Is your church doing something unique and creative to reach into your community in new ways? Tell us all about it by clicking here! 

Church adopts Fresh Expressions to ‘bear fruit that will last’

• Fresh Expressions describes itself as a “Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement to cultivate communities of love and grace for people neglected by the church.” At Middletown United Methodist Church, it is a new, emerging outreach mission that is bearing fruit where it belongs: outside the church and in the community. Learn how this church is reaching people who are not yet part of a church through this mission.

Connecting through TikTok

• With the ever-changing landscape of ministering in a digital age, you may wonder if TikTok is appropriate for your church and congregation. Here are some ways your church can reach new people through this social media outlet.

Creating content for a younger generation

• Today, reaching teens and young adults with resonating messages is very different from what it was in the past. The constant flood of news and information has decreased attention spans drastically. Everywhere you look, there's something new demanding attention. Jennifer Rodia, United Methodist Communications’ chief communications officer, shares some tips on engaging younger audiences.

Neighbors enter church pickleball courts with praise

• Believing that churches should be places to play as well as pray, West Lawn UMC in Reading, PA, and St. Paul’s UMC in Brick, NJ, are providing indoor pickleball courts as inviting gifts to their communities. Learn how both churches have gotten into step with America’s fastest-growing sport, drawing praise from their neighbors. 

Embracing tomorrow and redefining church

• What is a Fresh Expression? The Fresh Expressions United Methodist website states that “a fresh expression of church is a new form of church which is trying to connect with people who don’t normally go to church.” Often, they are born from within the established church but are distinctly outside of the bounds of anything that looks like a church. Learn more about this movement through the experiences of Rev. Nathan Webb from the Western North Carolina Conference.