Church is Changing

Owen Ross is a former Peace Corps volunteer and church planter who currently serves as the church developer in the North Texas Annual Conference. Despite the kind of technical difficulties we've all faced, in this episode Owen and Rachel compare their time in the Peace Corps to the new culture that planters and pastors find themselves in now with digital and online ministry. In March of 1739, John...

George Acevedo and Michael Beck are United Methodist pastors in the Florida Annual Conference and are some of the leaders in our denomination when it comes to Fresh Expressions. They have just released a book called "A Field Guide to Methodist Fresh Expressions" that is a valuable resource for our church today. Listen in on this week's episode where they share about their experiences in the local...

How do we stay spiritually and emotionally strong during this time of social distancing? Join us for a special COVID-19 podcast with licensed counselors Jeff and Jessica Jennings as they offer suggestions for church planters and pastors trying to serve and lead their faith communities through this challenging time. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preachin...

How can we use social media as a tool for evangelism, especially during our season of social distancing? Join us this week as we hear from Rev. Dr. Martin Quick who literally wrote a book on the subject. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitefield. Instead of prea...

You can't start or grow a church by trying to copy what others are doing. It's important to know your local context as you seek to connect with others. Join Roz Picardo and Jason Moore for this week's podcast to hear more about finding your church's local flavor and how to connect with the community while practicing social distancing because of the Coronavirus. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the f...

Matt Johnson is a church planter in West Virginia who just completed a dissertation on "Redeeming Failure" in church planting. Listen in to learn more about some of the reasons church plants fail and how we can fail forward. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitef...

If someone brought "weed brownies" to your church potluck, would you accept them? How do we establish loving and healthy boundaries with those in our faith community? Listen to this week's field preacher story to find out. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitefie...

Adam Weber planted the largest United Methodist church in recent history at Embrace in Sioux Falls. He humbly shares his story and suggestions for how to share the good news of Jesus with those who are "spiritually drowning and asking for help." In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow p...

Listen to this week's Preacher Story to learn about the difference a young child made in the life of this church planter and the faith community. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitefield. Instead of preaching his sermon from a pulpit, Wesley went out from the c...

From an early age, this planter was on a journey to find a place to belong. God used his desire to create a new faith community that is diverse, inclusive, and social justice-oriented so that everyone can find a spiritual home. Join us this week for an incredible conversation with Jasper Peters of Belong Church in Colorado. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field...

In this special “Preacher Story,” we learn how a button at a gay pride parade is a game changer for this church planter. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitefield. Instead of preaching his sermon from a pulpit, Wesley went out from the church and preached in the...

In this week's episode of Field Preachers, Matt Miofsky, pastor of The Gathering in St. Louis, Missouri, answers questions posed by others in the church planting world to learn about his innovative approach to planting. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitefield....

In this week's episode of Field Preachers you will hear from a female church planter who was pregnant while planting. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitefield. Instead of preaching his sermon from a pulpit, Wesley went out from the church and preached in the op...

Have you ever had a "holy angst to stop climbing the suburban ladder?" Join us for this week's episode of Field Preachers as we hear from Christian Coon, co-planter of Urban Village Church which continues to transform lives in and around Chicago, Illinois. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend a...

Let's face it, churches are struggling to bring young adults into church. In this week's episode we'll hear about how a church plant's mission to serve those experiencing homelessness led a college-aged woman to the waters of baptism. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher Geo...

The new year is almost here, so we have another special podcast for you this week. Our host, Rachel Gilmore, will share some of the new shifts or changes to expect in church planting in the United Methodist Church in the coming year. Listen in and share your comments with us! In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encour...

Merry Christmas Eve! Join us for a special episode of Field Preachers where we learn about the planting journey of Stacey Piyakhun, which began one Christmas Eve in Melissa, Texas. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitefield. Instead of preaching his sermon from a...

Sometimes the most powerful stories of hope and togetherness come from the most unlikely places. In this episode of Field Preachers' "Preacher Stories," you'll hear about a medical crisis in the life of a young boy and the impact it had on those around him. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend...

What would it be like to plant a church as a clergy couple? On this week's episode of Field Preachers, we'll hear from Sara Ewing-Merrill, who planted a church with her husband over a decade ago in Portland, Maine. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitefield. Inst...

Sometimes our first impression of someone is not the lasting impression they leave with us. Listen to this story of a planter who was surprised at the end of worship to find a perceived foe was really a supporter of his ministry. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George W...

Tim Ward was an associate pastor at a large church for six years before planting the first multi-site of that church in Reston, Virginia. He turned a painful experience in church as a child into a positive and life-giving opportunity for others to be a part of a faith community that has grown into the largest multi-site ministry of the Virginia Annual Conference. Listen to learn more about his inc...

Church planting isn't easy, and even though we want to help transform the lives of others with God's love, sometimes it comes at a price. Listen to this latest story from a field preacher about the challenges and joys of being faithful to the call of God. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend an...

What do you get when you add a bartender, comedian, and pastor together? Jerry Herships! He's a dynamic church planter in the Mountain Sky Conference who planted "After Hours Denver" a decade ago. Listen to his amazing story on our latest episode of Field Preachers. In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by hi...

Maya Angelou once said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” This week’s podcast is part of our “Stories from the Field” series where we gave a church planter a microphone, an audience, and 7 minutes to tell us a story we will never forget. This particular story is about an unexpected date night that opened the field preacher’s eyes to see his community, artistic ex...

In March of 1739, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, engaged in "field preaching" for the first time after being encouraged by his friend and fellow preacher George Whitefield. Instead of preaching his sermon from a pulpit, Wesley went out from the church and preached in the open air to those who didn't have the time or money to sit in a pew and hear the good news. Thousands of people, mainly...