US Baptist takes key role in Fresh Expressions 

Fresh Expressions has appointed US Baptist Rob Peabody to develop a national strategy to encourage fresh expressions of church among young adults in Britain.

Rob, the co-founder and international director of Awaken, a non-profit charity that exists to resource the church for action, will work half-time for Fresh Expressions, an organisation that supports new forms of church for people outside of established churches.

In 2011, Rob left his position as campus pastor of a megachurch in East Dallas, Texas, to pioneer and lead fresh expressions for 20s-30s in northeast London. He has been commissioned by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to explore church planting for young adults who do not have any previous links to church.

Rob said, ‘I am extremely honoured and excited about the potential of this new partnership between Fresh Expressions and Awaken. I am praying that this will be the start of a long-term partnership and that God will help us to encourage a new generation of pioneers across the UK – and overseas.

Rob regularly speaks at conferences in the US and across Europe. His first book, Citizen, was published in September 2014, and he wrote a small-group film series entitled Kingdom Rise (March 2013). His latest project, a five-week missional film resource, Intersect, was released in March 2015 as a tool to engage those on the outside of church in spiritual conversations.

Fresh Expressions has also announced the appointment of Ali Dorey, a mission development co-ordinator for the Diocese of Sheffield, as its new director of training. 

Find out more at www.freshexpressions.org.uk