“Dave, I’ve got a really big problem,” the voice on the phone said urgently.
The Rev. Canon Dave Male, expecting the worst, asked what had happened.
The response caught him off guard: “I’ve got a horrible feeling I’ve started a church.”
This unexpected confession came from one of Dave’s students in Cambridge, England, who had simply set out to start a prayer group for her child’s school. What began as a handful of Christian parents praying together evolved into a vibrant community addressing local social issues, offering support, and introducing people to the Christian faith. Without intending to, this group of parents had indeed started a church – one that met the needs of their community in ways a traditional church structure might never have imagined.
Dave shared this story during a recent episode of the Pivot Podcast, and it encapsulates the spirit of innovation and adaptability that has characterized his ministry. As hosts Terri Elton and Dwight Zscheile discovered in their conversation with Dave, such unplanned, organic growth of new faith communities is becoming increasingly common – and necessary – in our rapidly changing world.
Dave, now the co-director of Vision and Strategy for the Church of England, has been at the forefront of the fresh expressions movement, pioneering new ways of being church in a post-Christian society. His journey from local pastor to innovative ministry leader offers valuable insights for church leaders grappling with how to faithfully navigate a changing world.
Embrace Fresh Expressions of Church
The story of the accidental church plant that opened our discussion perfectly illustrates what Dave means by “fresh expressions” of church. These are not just stepping stones to “proper” church, but fully-fledged churches in their own right, designed to reach people who might never set foot in a traditional church building.
Dave explains the concept as “the unchanging gospel… freshly expressed” for each generation. It’s about finding new ways to embody the timeless message of Christianity in forms that resonate with contemporary culture and meet people where they are.
Fresh expressions can take many forms, as diverse as the communities they serve. Dave’s own experience with starting “The Net” in Huddersfield provides another compelling example. Recognizing that over 53% of people in the town had no contact with any religious institution, Dave and a small team set out to create a community specifically for those in their 20s and 30s who were disconnected from traditional churches.
They experimented with various approaches, eventually finding success with a mix of social events, storytelling nights addressing real-life issues, and small groups focused on discipleship. Importantly, they banned Christians from joining, ensuring growth could only come through new people discovering faith.
For church leaders, the lesson is clear: be open to new forms of church that meet people where they are. This might mean rethinking traditional structures and being willing to experiment with new approaches. It’s about creating spaces where people can explore faith in ways that feel authentic and relevant to their lives.
Cultivate a Mixed Ecology
Embracing fresh expressions doesn’t mean abandoning traditional forms of church. Rather, it’s about expanding our understanding of what church can be and creating a diverse ecosystem of faith communities that can reach a broader spectrum of people with the gospel message.
In our Faith+Lead work, we refer to this as a “mixed ecology.” It means that there’s no one-size-fits-all model for church in today’s diverse world. Instead, we need a variety of expressions – traditional parishes, fresh expressions, chaplaincies, and more – all working together as part of the body of Christ.
“We need things that are both traditional and new and experimental,” Dave explained. This means fostering collaboration rather than competition between different forms of church. It also involves helping congregations see themselves as part of a larger ecosystem, each playing a unique role in God’s mission.
Rethink Evangelism
Many church leaders struggle with the concept of evangelism, often associating it with pushy or manipulative tactics. Dave offers a refreshing perspective, reminding us that the Greek root of “evangelism” actually means “party” or “celebration.”
“Somehow we’ve lost any sense that this is a party, a celebration of who Jesus is and what he’s like,” Dave noted. He suggests reframing evangelism as simply sharing the joy we’ve found in Christ.
Dave’s approach to evangelism is practical and accessible. He encourages church leaders to clearly define what they’re asking people to do when it comes to evangelism. In his experience, this often boils down to three simple actions:
- Pray specifically for people;
- Share something about your own experience of faith; and
- Invite people to church events.
By breaking evangelism down into these manageable steps, church leaders can help their congregations feel more comfortable and confident in sharing their faith.
Focus on Missionary Discipleship
Dave emphasized the importance of what he calls “missionary discipleship.” This concept brings together the outward focus of mission with the inward journey of discipleship. “There are two movements,” Dave explained, “one is being sent out, the other is being drawn to Jesus, and we need both of those things.”
For Dave, all aspects of life—work, home, social activities—are part of our discipleship journey. Effective Christian formation helps people see how their faith intersects with every area of their lives, not just their Sunday morning activities.
Create a Culture of Innovation
Finally, Dave shared insights on how church leaders can foster a culture of innovation and experimentation. He encourages leaders to create an environment where people feel free to ask “What if?” questions and try new ideas.
“I think it’s about giving people confidence to think about and recognize where they’re answering those kind of ‘what if’ questions or ‘could we do this’ or ‘could we try this,'” Dave says. He suggests giving people the resources and permission to experiment, even if the initial attempts don’t succeed.
Dave’s approach treats unsuccessful experiments not as failures, but as prototypes – steps on the way to finding what works. This mindset can help church leaders and congregations stay nimble and responsive to their changing contexts.
But Does It Work?
Dave shares an encouraging statistic: in the past year alone, 1,400 churches in the Church of England have started something new. This represents a significant grassroots movement of innovation and experimentation.
For church leaders feeling stuck or discouraged, he encourages us to look to the Fresh Expressions movement in the UK as a powerful reminder: change is possible, and it often starts with small, local initiatives.
The future of the church may look different from its past, but as Dave’s experiences show, it can be vibrant, diverse, and deeply connected to the communities it serves. The key is to remain open to where the Spirit is leading and be willing to take those first, sometimes uncertain, steps into a new way of being church.
