Bob Jette and Worship in the Wild
Utilizing Meetup.com to Form Spiritual Community with "Dones" in Asheville
I met Bob Jette and his wife Anne through a colleague in the Florida Conference of the UMC who was grieving that some of her favorite church members were moving to western North Carolina. Her loss was our gain! Bob is always laughing, has a huge heart for his neighbors, and is passionate about fresh expressions. He and Ron Johnson, another lay leader at Covenant Community Church, lead a hiking fresh expression that is connecting with area nones and dones. I caught up with Bob this Fall and asked him a few questions. Enjoy!
The Interview
Tell us about your church?
Covenant Community Church is a United Methodist Church in Asheville, NC. Our church's leadership and congregation are passionate about: connecting with God, connecting with each other, and connecting with our community. Covenant Church strives to provide opportunities for all to open doors to Jesus, which open doors to people He loves, and to the places He'll take us.
What is your fresh expression and what is it like?
The FX is, "Worship in the Wild." A FX designed to be inclusive to all, no matter their connection or lack thereof with any religion. Hikers, nature lovers and explorers are invited to "Worship" in the wild with the potential to foster friendships, community, and spiritual connection in the context of the natural world around us.
This FX meets weekly, at 9 am on Sunday mornings, at a trailhead, within a 30-mile radius of our church. The hikes are easy to moderate in difficulty. Introductions are made at the trailhead, and an ice breaker question is asked, which helps us get to know our friends. We then ask a reflection question or tell a "Jesus Story" and the hike begins. We hike on, and the community building begins. At the predetermined reflection point, the question or story is repeated, and the discussion is open for all to contribute, facilitated by the hike leader. After this 10-30 minute reflection, the hike continues to completion.
How did it get started?
"Worship in the Wild" evolved from "Hiking Church" a ministry experiment designed primarily for church members to build community with other church members. In September of 2023, Ron Johnson, an avid hiker and Pastor Sam Burleson met and came up with the vision of a fresh expression that started in October 2023, to reach the nones and dones in our community. People who love Asheville's beautiful surroundings and enjoy hiking would be invited through a Meetup group.
What is one of your favorite stories from it?
On one of the hikes I led, my opening question was "Why do you come to the Worship in the Wild hikes?" There were 9 folks on this hike and 7 were unchurched. 6 of the 7 friends stated in one way or another that they came because they liked the format of spiritual discussions and reflecting on God's blessing without having to go to church. All 7 friends said they had previously attended church. None currently do. This story of "dones" finding a place that they feel included, accepted and invited to worship in their context, makes this my favorite of many blessings I've received from this fresh expression.
Y'all utilize meetup.com. Can you tell us about how it works?
A group page for Worship in the Wild was designed for the Meetup app. The page states the purpose of the group as, "Hikers, explorers, and nature lovers, Worship in the Wild is a time to foster spiritual connection and friendship in the context of the natural world around us". All hikes are posted on the group page including the time of hike, a description and map of the hike as well as directions to the trailhead. Participants R.S.V.P through the app to attend the hike. After the hike has been completed, pictures are posted with permission.
What is something you have learned from leading this fresh expression that would be helpful for others to know?
When asking questions and leading discussions in a group it is way more important for me to ask good questions than to have good answers. Getting to know the members of the community we are trying to build is more important than making a point or ensuring my Christian point of view is made.
What are you excited about coming up in your fresh expression?
Friendships have been made among some Covenant church members and some of W.I.W. attendees that have led to socialization and discipling outside the W.I.W. context. I'm hoping these relationships may lead to other opportunities and expand into new or different FX's. I'm a former “done,” who thinks that the “dones” among us will see the value of what we do in Fresh Expressions and want to share their stories and experiences about reconnecting with the Lord in a FX of their own.
Coming Up in WNCC Fresh Expressions:
We’re starting to make plans for the upcoming Fresh Expressions United Methodist National Gathering in Atlanta, Georgia on February 27-March 1! We would love for you to join us!
You can reply to this email or email me directly at ledwards@wnccumc.org to let me know you’re interested in going. We have some scholarships available to help you get there.
Love Bob Jette and the good work he is doing through FX!