How Small, Simple, Faith Communities, Can Help Heal a Lonely World
Never Alone - Conclusion
Throughout the Never Alone series, we have considered some big questions that challenged us to reconsider what it truly means to live and belong in community.
Can church be a place of healing for someone like my friend Tracy, who has experienced it as mostly harmful? Can we create spaces that won’t abandon people like Olive, especially during her last days? Can someone like my brother McKinley, caught in the grip of addiction, find a community that speaks to his soul and offers a reason to pause before making a life-altering decision?
Is the gospel really for the whole world, including those who have never heard it as good news? Can we be the kind of church that doesn’t just repeat the same news to the same people, week after week, but instead embodies a deeper, more radical message that speaks to the loneliness, the isolation, and the fractured world we live in? Can we recover an ecclesiology of gift, in which the good news we are offering is an invitation to true community?
Beyond the Familiar - Ever-Widening Circles
Are we open to the possibility that we’re on the edge of a new Pentecost, a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit that can heal a polarized, fragmented world?
We get a glimpse of what this might look like in Acts 10—one of the most profound moments in the New Testament. At this point, the early church was largely composed of Jewish believers. They were living in community, breaking bread daily, and holding all things in common (Acts 2:44-47). It was a beautiful, holistic vision of church, one where everyone was cared for, not just spiritually but practically, relationally, and emotionally.
But then something radical happens in Acts 10. The circle expands beyond the familiar, moving outward to the “Gentiles.” In Caesarea, Cornelius—a Roman centurion—has a vision from God, calling him to invite Peter to his home. Meanwhile, Peter has a vision of his own—a large picnic blanket descending from heaven filled with unclean animals. He’s told, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane” (Acts 10:15). Peter, initially hesitant, is led to Cornelius’s house, where he preaches the gospel. To his surprise, the Holy Spirit is poured out on Cornelius and his entire household. It’s a dramatic and beautiful moment of inclusion, where the Spirit unites people from very different backgrounds, making them one in Christ.
Peter later shares the story with the Jerusalem church, who, after hearing about the Holy Spirit’s work among the Gentiles, rejoices. “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). This moment marks a massive expansion of the church, a vision of life as ever-widening circles of wholeness, where no one is excluded.
Could movements like Fresh Expressions be leading us toward another Pentecost moment?
Fresh Expressions National Gathering: A Pentecost Moment?
This past weekend, hundreds of people gathered in Atlanta for the Fresh Expressions National Gathering. Two denominations, United Methodists and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, partnered together for three days of Holy Spirit outpouring and holy mischief. Usually, large national conferences like this are dominated by clergy. In the UMC and ELCA, they are also typically monocultural, consisting of primarily white attendees.
In this gathering, over 120 laity were present (about 30 percent of the total attendees). The racial makeup was 60/40, with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) well-represented both in the room and on the stage. In fact, only one white male gave an address, pinch-hitting for a black bishop who had a family emergency. The presenters, panelists, and attendees were a fair representation of LGBTQIA. A queer lay minister, Tracy Rose, led a three-day long Queer Expressions connective. The room was so full that people were sitting on the floor.
One of our jazz-notes was Bishop David Wilson, the first Native American bishop in The United Methodist Church. Bishop Wilson reminded us how people like him are usually excluded from these kinds of gatherings. Or they are expected to be seen but not heard. He taught us about the history of the place where we were meeting and then challenged us to consider the wisdom of Indigenous peoples as we think about building sustainable, inclusive, faith communities.
He taught us of the Seven Generation Principle, rooted in the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) philosophy, reminding us that we should make decisions with an eye toward the well-being of seven generations into the future. This principle speaks to a vision of community that is both intergenerational and interdependent, recognizing that everything is connected.
Bishop Wilson reminded us to think about the whole, including those who have come before us and those who will follow. This means considering the wisdom of the elders and valuing the perspectives of the younger generation, whose values often include authenticity, inclusivity, and relational connection—values that resonate deeply with the gospel message.
Research from the Springtide Research Institute on young people reveals that they are seeking communities that embody curiosity, wholeness, connection, and flexibility. Unfortunately, many traditional church structures aren’t designed to foster these values. They are often rigid, focused on answers rather than questions, and disconnected from the lived experiences of those seeking deeper spiritual connection.
Is the Fresh Expressions National Gathering perhaps a microcosm of an Acts 10-11 Pentecost moment?
The Fresh Expressions National Gathering 2026 will take place in Ocala, FL on February 26-28. The North Central Florida area has the highest concentration of Fresh Expressions in the United States. In 2026, we will lean further into immersive and experiential learning. The vision of next year’s gathering is to be FREE… there will be no cost for registration. We don’t want cost to be a barrier for teams of laity.
Healing Loneliness and Cultivating Connection
So how do we practically cultivate these kinds of healing communities—communities that are not just inclusive in name, but truly embodied in every aspect of our lives?
In his book Together, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy speaks about the profound impact of loneliness on our well-being. He writes, “Building a more connected world holds the key to solving these and many more of the personal and societal problems confronting us today.”
Murthy offers practical suggestions for healing loneliness, many of which align with the values of Fresh Expressions of church:
Spend Time with Loved Ones: Whether they’re near or far, it’s important to make time to connect with those you care about. These small, daily interactions matter.
Focus on Each Other: In a world full of distractions, it’s vital to give people our full attention. Listening deeply and being present is a gift.
Embrace Solitude: Taking time to be alone with our thoughts, to pray, reflect, or engage in creative practices, can help us build a deeper connection with ourselves, which in turn strengthens our relationships with others.
Help and Be Helped: Service is one of the most powerful ways to build connection. Acts of kindness, both large and small, create bonds that strengthen our communities.
These principles are integral to Fresh Expressions of church. They are not about grand programs or complicated structures; they are about simple, intentional acts of love and connection. Starting a Fresh Expression of church is much like organizing family life—it’s about intentionally creating space for love, for connection, and for care.
Small Communities, Big Impact
The most beautiful part of this movement is that it doesn’t rely on large, institutional structures to make an impact. It’s about small, authentic communities where people can be known, loved, and healed. These communities are places where we embrace the small, where we focus on the quality of relationships rather than the quantity.
Imagine a world where each of us commits to cultivating small communities of connection, where loneliness is met with presence, and where people experience wholeness in their relationships, their bodies, and their souls. These communities may be small, but they can have a ripple effect far beyond what we can see.
As we conclude this series, I challenge you to imagine the impact of small, whole communities—enough of them, scattered across the social landscape, that could heal the loneliness of the world. You can start one. Together, we can bring about the kind of community where no one is left behind, where everyone is seen, and where the good news of Jesus is lived out in every relationship, every conversation, and every place.
May we cultivate these communities, one person at a time, with love, presence, and hope for generations present and future.
