Is your church struggling to connect with neighbors beyond your walls? In this episode, Rev. Canon Dave Male, Co-Director of Vision and Strategy for the Church of England, shares how churches can move from program-driven outreach to relationship-based ministry. Through his extensive work with fresh expressions of church, Dave reveals why some of the most effective new forms of ministry are also the simplest – often starting with nothing more than a meal and conversation. Learn how one burned-out church planter discovered a simpler, more sustainable approach that grew to 30 groups in three years.

Dave offers practical insights on empowering lay leaders, balancing traditional and innovative approaches, and starting new gatherings that cost virtually nothing. He shares specific examples of churches successfully reaching their neighbors through simple, reproducible methods, and provides two key questions every church can use to discern their next steps. Plus, discover why the future of neighborhood ministry might look more like a dinner table than a church program.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• FREE Webinar: "Beyond the Walls: Simple Pathways to Meeting Neighbors with the Gospel" with Dave Male on February 25th
• How to Start New Christian Communities content upgrade
• Book: "How to Pioneer (Even if You Haven’t a Clue)" by Dave Male
• Book: "Accelerate" by John Kotter

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Mentioned in this episode:

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May 2025 School for Lay Ministry Cohort