The Fresh Expressions Podcast

What changes when we begin to see the image of God—and the gifts of God—in every person? Sue Bessette’s story is one of transformation. She openly shares that there was a time when she avoided people with disabilities. But God began changing her heart, eventually leading her into more than two decades of disability ministry and a habit of seeking out people with disabilities wherever she went. 

That’s how Sue met the young woman who invited her to Miracles of God, a Fresh Expression of church where people with special needs, families, caregivers, and friends participate, contribute, worship, and belong together. 

In this conversation, Sue shares what God has taught her—and continues to teach her—about belonging, giftedness, and recognizing His image in everyone. 

Listen to Sue’s story and discover what the community of Miracles of God has taught her. 

What happens when conversations about faith move into the places where people already gather? Emma Palmer and Dra Lubarsky-Tant share how they are cultivating community in cafés and pubs, creating space for young adults, those navigating church hurt, and others looking for connection. Hear how these everyday third places can break down barriers and open the door to honest conversations, meaningful relationships, and faith. 

How can art and creativity become a place of belonging, discipleship, and peace? 

In this episode of the Fresh Expressions Podcast, Heather Jallad talks with Winfield Bevins about the "new renaissance" emerging at the intersection of faith and art. Together they explore how creativity can foster community, cultivate spiritual growth, and inspire fresh expressions of church in today's world. 

What are today’s college students and emerging adults really searching for and what assumptions might be keeping us from seeing them clearly? 

In this episode of the Fresh Expressions Podcast, Heather Jallad sits down with Jess Trahan to explore the questions, longings, and realities shaping young adults today. Together they discuss common misconceptions about this generation, where they are finding authentic connection and belonging, what the church is getting right, and where new opportunities for mission are emerging. 

Whether you're serving on a campus, leading a church, or simply curious about the next generation, this conversation offers practical insights and hopeful encouragement for cultivating relationships and creating spaces where faith can take root. 

What happens when the trail becomes a place of belonging, spiritual conversation, and encounter with God? 

In this episode, Heather Jallad sits down with Jeff Wadley as he shares how “creation immersion” has opened unexpected opportunities for community, discipleship, and spiritual formation along the hiking trail. Together they explore the idea of wilderness as a “thin place” — where the presence of God feels especially near — and reflect on the ways hikers are finding connection, belonging, and even “tramily” along the journey. 

From the songbook of creation to the sacred rhythms of the trail, this conversation invites listeners to imagine how shared experiences outdoors can become spaces where people encounter both community and the presence of God. 

What happens when the vision of Fresh Expressions is translated not only into another language, but into another cultural context?

In this episode, we talk with Eliseo Mejia, who translated and contextualized Expresiones Divinas, the Spanish edition of Travis Collins’ book on Fresh Expressions. Eliseo shares how the ideas behind Fresh Expressions connect with the rhythms, relationships, and everyday spaces of Hispanic communities across the U.S.

We also explore why making resources available in Spanish matters, because it is opening the door for more pastors and leaders to imagine new forms of church in their own contexts. Our hope is simple: to help place this resource into the hands of Spanish-speaking leaders and churches who are ready to cultivate new communities of faith where people already are.

What if recovery isn’t a niche ministry—but a universal reality?

In this episode, Heather sits down with pastor and recovery leader Jorge Acevedo to explore how the church can better understand addiction, healing, and the power of recovery communities. Drawing from decades of experience, Jorge challenges assumptions, shares personal stories, and invites leaders to recognize where God is already at work—often outside traditional church walls.

Jorge Acevedo has been transformed by grace and now lives for one mission: connecting people to Jesus and the Church. Raised partly in Puerto Rico and moved early to the U.S., he rose from addiction in his youth to lead and mentor across generations. For 27 years, he served as Lead Pastor of Grace Church, a multi-site United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida, and in September 2023 he retired from 39 years of pastoral ministry. Now he coaches, writes, and speaks through Spiritual Leadership Inc. 

This season, we’re diving into the streams of Fresh Expressions — from senior adults and recovery ministry, to arts, outdoors, recreation, and more. Each month, you’ll hear directly from practitioners who are navigating these fresh ways of being church in the world. Their stories will spark your imagination and encourage you to see where God is already at work in your community and how you might join in! So whether you’re a pastor, lay leader, or simply curious about how church can thrive beyond the walls, join us for Season seven of the Fresh Expressions Podcast.

What if church began by listening to the passions already shaping a community?

In this episode, Sharon White shares how a small rural congregation in Waco, Georgia, discovered that bluegrass music was a doorway to belonging. What started as prayerful curiosity grew into the West Georgia Opry, a weekly gathering where music, story, and hospitality now draw nearly 100 people in a town of just 500.

This is a story of paying attention, trusting the Spirit, and discovering how church can take shape far beyond Sunday morning.

Want to hear more rural stories? Check out the Rural Renewal Podcast! https://ruralrenewalpodcast.transistor.fm/

Mindy and Nathan Heimer share how a passion for paddle boarding, their love for God, and deep care for their community have come together to form a beautiful ecosystem—one where God’s mission is growing and their business is blossoming.

In this episode, we explore what it looks like when vocation, faith, and everyday life intersect, and how paying attention to what you already love can open unexpected doors for mission.

In this episode, Heather sits down with Crystal Goetz to explore the shared heartbeat between Messy Church and Fresh Expressions. Together they unpack how intergenerational, creative, and hands-on spaces cultivate openness, curiosity, and connection—often in places far beyond a traditional sanctuary. Crystal shares surprising stories of discipleship that unfolds across generations and reflects on how participatory, experiential communities naturally invite people into belonging from the very beginning.