On Wednesday, June 11, conference participants gathered at the Greenville Convention Center for a Learning Lab led by Rev. Dr. Michael Adam Beck, centered on Treasures Old and New, the book he co-authored with Rev. Dr. Steve Harper. The session examined how renewal in the church can arise from a faithful blending of historic Methodist tradition with new, contextually relevant expressions of Christian faith. Beck emphasized the need for a dual mindset—what the book terms “traditioning” and “futuring”—that holds together the theological depth of early Methodism with an openness to innovative and thereby create mission-driven practices for the present age.

At the Learning Lab, Beck encouraged participants to blend Wesleyan tradition with Spirit-led innovation. A major focus for Beck was the rediscovery of field preaching, a hallmark of early Methodism. Now embodied through the Fresh Expressions movement, this model brings church to unconventional spaces like parks, cafés, gyms, and tattoo parlors. Beck highlighted four key traits of this new field preaching:

• Compassion-Driven – Reaches people outside traditional church walls
• Reproducible – Lay-led and easily multiplied
• Time/Rhythm Aware – Aligned with people’s daily schedules, like the 5 am. Methodist gatherings of old
• Wesleyan in Nature – Connected to community for lasting discipleship

The session also lifted up core values for Fresh Expressions of church:

• Inclusive – Rooted in grace and belonging, especially for those neglected by the church
• Accessible – Culturally relevant and connected to people’s context
• Transfiguring – Safe spaces for healing and honest spiritual growth
• Connectional – Networked with each other and the wider church

Jesus Story Simulation
During the session, Beck invited participants to engage in a Jesus Story Simulation, a reflective exercise where attendees considered how different people might encounter the Gospel story based on their backgrounds or beliefs. Participants explored five categories Beck proposed:

• Curious Agnostic
• Antagonistic Atheist
• Church-Hurt “Done”
• Toxic Theology Fundamentalist
• Committed Christian

This simulation encouraged attendees to think deeply about how people from varied spiritual and emotional places might receive Jesus’ story—and how Fresh Expressions can be shaped to meet them where they are.

To learn more about the Fresh Expressions movement, visit the NC Conference Fresh Expressions website.