The Common Ground

Episode 26 - Season 1 Recap

Heather Jallad gives a recap of season 1 of the Common Ground Podcast. She also shares with us an encouragement to continue on in our endeavors of finding common ground in our community.

Episode 25 - Chris and Kelly Henderson

Chris and Kelly are transplants to Georgia by way of Texas. Having been exposed to 3DM disciple-making before learning of Fresh Expression at Mount Pisgah, the two worlds converged in a Fresh Expression called Wind Down Wednesdays at the peak of the pandemic. Bringing more questions than answers and a genuine desire to build relationships with and love their neighbors, Chris and Kelly are leaning into where the Holy Spirit is leading and finding new trust and patience in the journey.

• Contact-chrisphenderson@me.com 
• Reading; Finding Common Ground by Tim Downs; Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez 

Episode 24 - Tyler Jackson

Rev. Tyler Jackson serves as an associate pastor at Mountain Park UMC in Stone Mountain, GA where they are experimenting with new forms of church and what might be possible in the near future. Tyler and I discuss the importance of patience in the fresh expressions journey, bringing people on the journey with you, and the messiness of it all.

• Contact-tyler.jackson@ngumc.net 
• Reading; Contextual Intelligence by Michael beck and Leonard Sweet, Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah, Building a Healthy Multiethnic Church by Mark DeMayz, Everybody Has a Podcast Except for You by The McElroy brothers, We are the Weather by Jonathan Safran Foer
• Listening to: Anything funny! 

Episode 23 - Cheryl McCarthy Part 2

This week we continue our conversation with Cheryl McCarthy. She is the Director of the Ananias Project and prayer intercessor for Fresh Expressions US. In this week's episode, Cheryl and I discuss the importance of prayer support for the pioneer apostles on the front lines of forming new faith communities in an ever-changing world. We also discuss the call to intimacy, vulnerability, and transparency necessary for pioneers to embrace.

• Contact; Cheryl.mccarthy@freshexpressionsus.org, Facebook-Ananias Project 
• Reading; The Bible; 1 John 2:27 

 

Episode 22 - Cheryl McCarthy Part 1

Cheryl McCarthy is the Director of the Ananias Project and prayer intercessor for Fresh Expressions US. In this week's episode, Cheryl and I discuss the importance of prayer support for the pioneer apostles on the front lines of forming new faith communities in an ever-changing world. We also discuss the call to intimacy, vulnerability, and transparency necessary for pioneers to embrace.

• Contact; Cheryl.mccarthy@freshexpressionsus.org, Facebook-Ananias Project 
• Reading; The Bible; 1 John 2:27 

 

Episode 21 - Luke Edwards Part 2

Luke Edwards is the Associate Director of Congregational Development in the Western North Carolina Conference of the UMC and a Trainer and Mission Strategist for Fresh Expressions (FX) US. This week Luke and I discuss the beginnings of the FX movement in the US and how he became a part of it, what is happening with the movement in North Carolina, and the new book he has written on the Fresh Expressions journey, “Becoming Church.” 

• Contact; ledwards@wnccumc.net, Instagram @lukesedwards, new website/podcast/blog- faithfulcommunity.com  
• Reading; Get Together: How to Build a Community with Your People by Bailey Richardson, Kai Elmer Sotto, and Kevin Huynh and listening to the podcast by the same name, https://gettogether.fm/ 

 

 

Episode 20 - Luke Edwards Part 1

Luke Edwards is the Associate Director of Congregational Development in the Western North Carolina Conference of the UMC and a Trainer and Mission Strategist for Fresh Expressions (FX) US. This week Luke and I discuss the beginnings of the FX movement in the US and how he became a part of it, what is happening with the movement in North Carolina, and the new book he has written on the Fresh Expressions journey, “Becoming Church.” 

• Contact; ledwards@wnccumc.net, Instagram @lukesedwards, new website/podcast/blog- faithfulcommunity.com  
• Reading; Get Together: How to Build a Community with Your People by Bailey Richardson, Kai Elmer Sotto, and Kevin Huynh and listening to the podcast by the same name, https://gettogether.fm/ 

 

 

Episode 19 - Glenn Paris

Glenn is a longtime church and community member that is pioneering a fresh expression of church in a local strip mall. In this weeks episode Glenn shares about how she became involved in the Fresh Expressions movement, why she thinks its important, and what God has shown her in the process of starting a fresh expression. 

• Contact; glennhparis@gmail.com 
• Reading; Welcome to Dinner, Church by Verlon Fosner; Contextual Intelligence by Michael Beck and Leonard Sweet; 10 Keys to Reality by Frank Wilczek 

 

Episode 18 - Johannah Meyers Part 2

This week we continue our conversation with Rev. Dr. Johannah Meyers. She is a UMC pastor in South Carolina and is a practitioner, trainer, and Associate Director for Messy Church USA. Messy Church is a worldwide Christian movement that began in the UK around the same time that the Fresh Expression movement began. Messy Church seeks to engage people of all ages in multi-generational and interactive worship and has had great success in building community, making disciples, and birthing new connection to people that are not a part of any church. “A way of being church for all-ages to join in experiencing fun and faith formative activities. Found throughout the globe. Based on the values of all-ages together, celebration, creativity, hospitality, and centering ourselves in Christ” 

 

• Messy Church USA https://messychurchusa.org/ 
• Contact- johannah@messychurchusa.org 
• Reading; Anything about Sabbath keeping 
• Listening- Sandra McCracken’s Psalms 

 

Episode 17 - Johannah Meyers Part 1

Rev. Dr. Johannah Meyers is a UMC pastor in South Carolina and is a practitioner, trainer, and Associate Director for Messy Church USA. Messy Church is a worldwide Christian movement that began in the UK around the same time that the Fresh Expression movement began. Messy Church seeks to engage people of all ages in multi-generational and interactive worship and has had great success in building community, making disciples, and birthing new connection to people that are not a part of any church. “A way of being church for all-ages to join in experiencing fun and faith formative activities. Found throughout the globe. Based on the values of all-ages together, celebration, creativity, hospitality, and centering ourselves in Christ” 

 

• Messy Church USA https://messychurchusa.org/ 
• Contact- johannah@messychurchusa.org 
• Reading; Anything about Sabbath keeping 
• Listening- Sandra McCracken’s Psalms