What does a distinctly Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement that reaches people neglected by the church look like? Join the Fresh Expressions Florida team as they explore missional mischief-making with everyday people who are cultivating Christian communities of love and grace that serve those outside the typical church.

Hosted by Michael Adam Beck and Isaiah Park, New People // New Ways is a show in partnership with Fresh Expressions Florida of the Florida United Methodist Church and Fresh Expressions UM from Path 1 at UMC Discipleship Ministries. Tune in if you desire to reach new people in new places and through new ways!

Fresh Expressions FL: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/ Fresh Expressions UM: https://tinyurl.com/yubeu2r4

Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FExpressionsFL

Matt Willis-Goode is a punk rock, neurodivergent pastor with 20 years of ministry experience and a passion for breathing new life into small churches. After co-founding The Vine in Haverhill, MA, he spent the next decade serving Peoples UMC and Merrimacport UMC in the Merrimack Valley. Through the Fresh Expressions pathway, Matt discovered language for what he’d been living all along—the Loving First Journey.

By starting with love and deep listening, his congregations have reimagined what church can be. Their building now hums with life through weekly Jazz & Coffee open jam sessions and community gatherings, all rooted in relationship. In this conversation, Matt talks about transformation, creativity, and how punk rock theology meets Methodist mission in the most unexpected places.

What does a distinctly Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement that reaches people neglected by the church look like? Join the Fresh Expressions Florida team as they explore missional mischief-making with everyday people who are cultivating Christian communities of love and grace that serve those outside the typical church.

Hosted by Michael Adam Beck and Isaiah Park, New People // New Ways is a show in partnership with Fresh Expressions Florida of the Florida United Methodist Church and Fresh Expressions UM from Path 1 at UMC Discipleship Ministries. Tune in if you desire to reach new people in new places and through new ways!

Fresh Expressions FL: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/ Fresh Expressions UM: https://tinyurl.com/yubeu2r4

Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FExpressionsFL

Born and raised at Friendship UMC, Kelli Rae Merritt has lived a life as colorful as her tattoos—from studying agriculture and working as a professional piercer to serving as a certified lay minister and chair of her church’s Board of Stewards. She leads the PEZ (Public Education Zoo) ministry, serves with the local food pantry her father helped build, and brings church to places many wouldn’t expect—like tattoo shops and community spaces.

In this conversation, Kelli talks about finding purpose beyond the walls, carrying on her family’s legacy of service, and why she believes everyone—no matter how they look or where they gather—has a place in God’s story.

What does a distinctly Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement that reaches people neglected by the church look like? Join the Fresh Expressions Florida team as they explore missional mischief-making with everyday people who are cultivating Christian communities of love and grace that serve those outside the typical church.

Hosted by Michael Adam Beck and Isaiah Park, New People // New Ways is a show in partnership with Fresh Expressions Florida of the Florida United Methodist Church and Fresh Expressions UM from Path 1 at UMC Discipleship Ministries. Tune in if you desire to reach new people in new places and through new ways!

Fresh Expressions FL: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/ Fresh Expressions UM: https://tinyurl.com/yubeu2r4

Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FExpressionsFL

In this episode we welcome Fresh Expressions practitioner Pastor Marlon Mack. New ways, same Gospel. Pastor Marlon Mack joins us to talk about faith, leadership, and the power of building the Kingdom together.

Born in Dallas and raised in Gary, Indiana, Pastor Marlon Mack has spent his life helping others discover purpose through faith and formation. From serving as a youth minister and educator to founding The Ecclesia, Inc. and Kingdom Connections, his ministry bridges generations and communities with hope. In this conversation, we explore how Pastor Mack approaches leadership, what he’s learning about cultivating transformation in traditional spaces, and how the Spirit continues to call the church toward new ways of being together.

What does a distinctly Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement that reaches people neglected by the church look like? Join the Fresh Expressions Florida team as they explore missional mischief-making with everyday people who are cultivating Christian communities of love and grace that serve those outside the typical church.

Hosted by Michael Adam Beck and Isaiah Park, New People // New Ways is a show in partnership with Fresh Expressions Florida of the Florida United Methodist Church and Fresh Expressions UM from Path 1 at UMC Discipleship Ministries. Tune in if you desire to reach new people in new places and through new ways!

Fresh Expressions FL: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/ Fresh Expressions UM: https://tinyurl.com/yubeu2r4

Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FExpressionsFL

What does a distinctly Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement that reaches people neglected by the church look like? Join the Fresh Expressions Florida team as they explore missional mischief-making with everyday people who are cultivating Christian communities of love and grace that serve those outside the typical church.

Hosted by Michael Adam Beck and Isaiah Park, New People // New Ways is a show in partnership with Fresh Expressions Florida of the Florida United Methodist Church and Fresh Expressions UM from Path 1 at UMC Discipleship Ministries. Tune in if you desire to reach new people in new places and through new ways!

Fresh Expressions FL: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/ Fresh Expressions UM: https://tinyurl.com/yubeu2r4

Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FExpressionsFL

In this episode of New People, New Ways, we welcome Dr. Monika Ardelt—renowned sociologist, wisdom researcher, and pioneer in the study of spiritual aging. Dr. Ardelt is Professor of Sociology at the University of Florida and the creator of the widely used Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS). Her work explores what it means to live and die well, offering deep insights into the roles of wisdom, spirituality, and meaning throughout the human life span.

Dr. Ardelt brings decades of research and personal reflection into a rich conversation that connects seamlessly with the Fresh Expressions movement. Together, we explore questions of aging in community, spiritual development across the life course, and how a Wesleyan imagination might embrace wisdom as a communal practice—not just an individual virtue.

She is also co-editor of Faith and Well-Being in Late Life, a landmark interdisciplinary volume that links spiritual traditions to evidence-based practices for human flourishing.

Learn more about her work and the Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale here Explore her co-edited book: Faith and Well-Being in Late Life

What does a distinctly Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement that reaches people neglected by the church look like? Join the Fresh Expressions Florida team as they explore missional mischief-making with everyday people who are cultivating Christian communities of love and grace that serve those outside the typical church.

Hosted by Michael Adam Beck and Jessica Taylor, New People // New Ways is a show in partnership with Fresh Expressions Florida of the Florida United Methodist Church and Fresh Expressions UM from Path 1 at UMC Discipleship Ministries. Tune in if you desire to reach new people in new places and through new ways!

Fresh Expressions FL: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/ Fresh Expressions UM: https://tinyurl.com/yubeu2r4

Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshexpressionsfl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FExpressionsFL

In this episode of "New People, New Ways," we welcome Rob Hutchinson.

Rob has been in full-time pastoral ministry for over 27 years, serving in diverse settings that range from bustling church plants to intimate congregational gatherings. Currently, he is the Director of Church Development, where he pioneers new strategies to adapt and grow church communities in meaningful ways.

Rob's journey in faith is as unique as his approach to ministry. His personal story of family, shaped profoundly by the power of adoption, mirrors his professional mission to stitch together diverse communities into a unified body of Christ. As one of my doctoral students at United Theological Seminary, Rob focuses on 'Futuring Church' and integrating the work of the Holy Spirit in team discernment processes. His insights in his church development work have also led to the development of the '8 Vital Signs of church vitality,' a ever expanding toolkit helping churches thrive in a rapidly changing world.

About New People // New Ways:

What does a distinctly Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement that reaches people neglected by the church look like? Join the Fresh Expressions Florida team as they explore missional mischief-making with everyday people who are cultivating Christian communities of love and grace that serve those outside the typical church.

Hosted by Michael Adam Beck and Jessica Taylor, New People // New Ways is a show in partnership with Fresh Expressions Florida of the Florida United Methodist Church and Fresh Expressions UM from Path 1 at UMC Discipleship Ministries. Tune in if you desire to reach new people in new places and through new ways!

Fresh Expressions FL: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/ Fresh Expressions UM: https://tinyurl.com/yubeu2r4

In this episode of "New People, New Ways," we welcome Christopher Wells.

Christopher Wells is a seasoned technologist and strategy consultant with nearly 20 years of experience in AI and machine learning, specializing in generative AI, NLP, and data-driven transformation across industries like finance and aviation. He established Chatham Financial's data science division and later advanced Indico Data Solutions' NLP research, driving market competitiveness with strategic innovations and intellectual property. Currently, he consults on AI projects, delivering impactful solutions for diverse business challenges. He holds a Ph. D. in high energy theoretical physics from The Johns Hopkins University.

As author of A Community At Worship, Chris also offers church consulting services, guiding congregations to discover God's will for them as worshippers and revitalize corporate and personal worship. Since 2013, he has served as a worship leader at First Baptist Church of Kennett Square, a passion that began at age 13 as an organist at First United Methodist Church of Corry, PA. Chris is a loving (and somewhat incompetent) husband to Rachel Dorman-Wells and a proud (and somewhat incompetent) father to three children, Iris, Soren, and Etta.

Grab a copy of Chris' book here.

Find Chris online:

About New People // New Ways:

What does a distinctly Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement that reaches people neglected by the church look like? Join the Fresh Expressions Florida team as they explore missional mischief-making with everyday people who are cultivating Christian communities of love and grace that serve those outside the typical church.

Hosted by Michael Adam Beck and Jessica Taylor, New People // New Ways is a show in partnership with Fresh Expressions Florida of the Florida United Methodist Church and Fresh Expressions UM from Path 1 at UMC Discipleship Ministries. Tune in if you desire to reach new people in new places and through new ways!

Fresh Expressions FL: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/ Fresh Expressions UM: https://tinyurl.com/yubeu2r4