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ABOUT THE LISTENING CHURCH:

Faith communities that connect with their neighbors rely on intentional listening. When we reach out with open ears and open minds, we can shape our church in a way that will meet people where they are and walk alongside them towards Jesus. The Listening Church exists to help the church do this deep community listening. Here you will find resources and support to help you listen to your neighbors in ways that lead to meaningful connection and impactful ministry.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER:

I’m Luke Edwards, author of Becoming Church: A Trail Guide for Starting Fresh Expressions. I’m a United Methodist Minister and the Associate Director of Church Development for the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Over the past six years I have helped launch countless micro faith communities across western North Carolina and North America. I'm the volunteer organizer of Who Let the Dads Out? LKN, a community of dads, father figures, and their children who gather monthly to share a meal and have fun together. Before that I started a

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network of fresh expressions in Boone, North Carolina. Since my training as a social worker, I have spent the last 15 years exploring wholistic models of church-based community engagement. I’ve learned a few things along the way, but the most important lesson I’ve learned is that healthy ministry begins with deep listening. I grew up in an area of western Massachusetts that was recently named the most post-Christian metropolitan area in the United States, where I joined my first micro-faith community at the age of fourteen. Between my upbringing and my work in local, regional, and national levels of the Fresh Expressions movement, I have a unique perspective into the future of the church in a post-Christian society. I live in Denver, North Carolina, where I enjoy

hiking, listening to jazz on vinyl, and cheering for Charlotte FC, my local professional soccer club. Drop me a line anytime at luke@thelisteningchurch.com.

PODCASTS:

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PRESS:

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WHO I'VE WORKED WITH:

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"Wage peace with your listening." -Judyth Hill 
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