Church Leadership Blogs
New and Renewing Churches
Ready to do something new? New and Renewing Churches is here to help!
We exist to create new opportunities for new people to experience Jesus Christ in new ways.
Fueled by a call to reach more people for Jesus Christ, our hope is to discover, develop, and deploy spiritual leaders.
There are lots of ways to reach people in your community:
Small Groups:
The easiest and fastest way to start something new is to gather some new people and just do it! This entry-level method introduces people to your church, forms new relationships, and creates opportunities for people to grow in their faith.
Open a new space:
Whether it be in a home, restaurant, bar, coffee shop, or local gathering place, opening a new space is a great way to create disciples. These new spaces are appealing to people who would not ordinarily step inside of a church building.
Recovery Ministry:
Without question, addiction is rampant in our communities. A recovery ministry provides support and recovery from addiction and allows you to be in relationship with new people in your community.
Start a new worship service:
We live in a world where everything is customizable. Knowing this allows us to tailor worship services using different methods, times, and even days. Adding a new service with new types of worship is a great way to invite new people into your space.
Launch a new faith community:
This begins with a desire to reach out to a new area in your community. Whether a new site of an existing congregation or a new stand-alone body of believers, this multiplies your impact and creates opportunities to introduce new people to Jesus Christ.
Ready to do something new? Contact Executive Director of New and Renewing Church Rev. Suzanne Katschke.
New and Renewing Churches Posts

New UMC congregations and Fresh Expressions are forming throughout North Alabama
The North Alabama Conference commissioned District Developers in December 2022. In less than six months, we have 10 new congregations in formation and 10 Fresh Expressions in progress.
May 08, 2023
Mountain Lakes District celebrates two new United Methodist faith communities
New United Methodist communities developing throughout North Alabama are a boost to the entire Conference.
February 16, 2023
Message from Bishop Wallace-Padgett: New Communities of Faith
On Sunday, February 12, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the United Methodist Church growing in North Alabama again. Twice on the same Sunday.
February 14, 2023



Faith Hooper




Faith Hooper
Ready to do something new? New and Renewing Churches is here to help!
We exist to create new opportunities for new people to experience Jesus Christ in new ways.
Fueled by a call to reach more people for Jesus Christ, our hope is to discover, develop, and deploy spiritual leaders.
There are lots of ways to reach people in your community:
Small Groups:
The easiest and fastest way to start something new is to gather some new people and just do it! This entry-level method introduces people to your church, forms new relationships, and creates opportunities for people to grow in their faith.
Open a new space:
Whether it be in a home, restaurant, bar, coffee shop, or local gathering place, opening a new space is a great way to create disciples. These new spaces are appealing to people who would not ordinarily step inside of a church building.
Recovery Ministry:
Without question, addiction is rampant in our communities. A recovery ministry provides support and recovery from addiction and allows you to be in relationship with new people in your community.
Start a new worship service:
We live in a world where everything is customizable. Knowing this allows us to tailor worship services using different methods, times, and even days. Adding a new service with new types of worship is a great way to invite new people into your space.
Launch a new faith community:
This begins with a desire to reach out to a new area in your community. Whether a new site of an existing congregation or a new stand-alone body of believers, this multiplies your impact and creates opportunities to introduce new people to Jesus Christ.
Ready to do something new? Contact Executive Director of New and Renewing Church Rev. Suzanne Katschke.
New and Renewing Churches Posts

New UMC congregations and Fresh Expressions are forming throughout North Alabama
The North Alabama Conference commissioned District Developers in December 2022. In less than six months, we have 10 new congregations in formation and 10 Fresh Expressions in progress.
May 08, 2023
Mountain Lakes District celebrates two new United Methodist faith communities
New United Methodist communities developing throughout North Alabama are a boost to the entire Conference.
February 16, 2023
Message from Bishop Wallace-Padgett: New Communities of Faith
On Sunday, February 12, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the United Methodist Church growing in North Alabama again. Twice on the same Sunday.
February 14, 2023