John Bowen is the author of What is a Fresh Expression of Church? A Beginner’s Guide to a Movement that is Changing the Church.
The first half of the booklet explains what is (and is not!) meant by the phrase “fresh expressions of church,” and unpacks why fresh expressions of church might be needed and how they come about. A case study of the Little Flowers community in Winnipeg MB gives concrete reality to the theory.
The second half of the booklet then deals with some of the questions raised by fresh expressions. For example:
- Is this just the flavour of the month?
- Why are existing churches not enough?
- Is there still a place for traditional churches in a fresh expressions world?
- Isn’t it dangerous for the church to get involved with culture?
- Has a fresh expressions strategy replaced evangelism?
- If we do need to start new churches, what’s wrong with the traditional approach?
- Who can start a fresh expression of church? and,
- What does a fresh expression of church cost?
The author’s conclusion is that fresh expressions is a genuinely missional movement, seeking to incarnate the Gospel in communities where there is presently no Christian witness. As such, it should be endorsed with enthusiasm but also with discernment.
As Rowan Williams has said, “Essentially the Fresh Expressions programme is not simply about a kind of scattered set of experiments. . . . It’s about that gradual, but I think inexorable, shift [towards being more missional] in the whole culture of our church that has been going on in the last few years, and which will undoubtedly continue to grow and develop.”
For the full text of this booklet in PDF format, click here
Most churches identify themselves as friendly communities. Yet the experience of a first-time visitor is often one of confusion, embarrassment and even alienation. John Bowen helps us think through the steps by which we can make that first visit a positive one, so that a visitor will feel confidence to return, to explore the reality of faith, and to move towards discipleship.
The key to good youth ministry is movie and pizza nights, right? Wrong! Val Michaelson writes out of extensive experience of youth ministry in British Columbia and Ontario to help us understand who today’s young people are, and how they can be nurtured in faith. Weaving together theological conviction and practical recommendations, this booklet will be a welcome resources both for youth workers themselves and for congregations just beginning to think about youth ministry.For the full text of this booklet in PDF format, click 
Those who have been in church a long time cannot imagine how intimidating the first encounter with church can be for those who have never tried it before. Using the analogy of a sports fan who invites an inexperienced friend to their first game, Jenny Andison suggests a range of user-friendly activities a church can offer to enable friends to begin to love towards personal faith.
How Discovering People’s Gifts Nurtures EvangelismEvangelism is not an extra program which can be added on to the life of an already busy parish. Rather it is the overflowing of life in a healthy congregation. Judy Paulsen shows us ways to grow a healthy congregation by helping members discover their gifts, so that as the congregation works together, there is an overflow into fruitful and lasting evangelism.
In a world where many are “exploring their spirituality”, how can the church communicate the faith in ways that are faithful but fresh to those who have no background in church or Bible? The authors offer from their experience an outline of how an introductory course of four sessions can be planned and led, including passages for Bible study and leader’s notes. The booklet concludes with sample talks for the four sessions.For the full text of this booklet in PDF format, click 
