Quiet the noise. Listen with intention.
The Listening Church is a resource hub created for church leaders who want to lead differently—by listening first. When you listen deeply—to God, to your people, and to your neighbors—new possibilities begin to emerge.
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Our Mission
We help churches slow down long enough to hear what matters: God’s voice, the dreams of their congregation, and the deep longings of their neighbors. Rooted in spiritual disciplines and grounded in context, our resources guide you through a process of intentional listening that leads to clarity, compassion, and Spirit-driven action.
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Why Listening Matters
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Listening to God anchors your ministry in prayerful discernment, shaping leadership decisions around the Holy Spirit’s leading.
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Listening to your congregation builds trust and strengthens connection—especially when change feels hard or momentum has slowed.
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Listening to your neighbors reveals their passions, dreams, gifts, and longings, inviting churches beyond problem-solving into transformative ministry inside and outside the church walls.
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What You'll Find Here
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A free Spiritual Listening Plan, built around three listening directions: God, congregation, and community. A practical PDF guide to start slowing down and tuning in.
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A bi-monthly newsletter offering practical tips, reflections, and encouragement for spiritual attentiveness in leadership.
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Thoughtfully designed tools and resources—like conversation starters, training guides, and listening practices—for individuals or teams.
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Ready to begin?
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If you're ready to lead with presence and purpose, download the Spiritual Listening Plan today.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER:
Rev. Dr. Luke Edwards is the author of Becoming Church: A Trail Guide for Starting Fresh Expressions and a United Methodist minister. He serves as the Associate Director of Reimagining Congregations for the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, where he helps launch and support micro-faith communities across the region and beyond.
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​Luke began this work in Boone, North Carolina, where he started a network of fresh expressions.​ With a background in social work, Luke brings a wholistic lens to church-based community engagement. He’s spent the last 15 years exploring how faith communities can thrive in post-Christian contexts—drawing insight from his upbringing in Western Massachusetts (once named the most post-Christian metro area in the U.S.) and from his leadership at local, regional, and national levels of the Fresh Expressions movement. Above all, Luke believes that healthy ministry begins with deep listening.
​When he’s not writing or walking alongside church leaders, Luke enjoys hiking trails, listening to jazz on vinyl, and leading a house church. He lives in Denver, North Carolina, with his family and welcomes conversations anytime at luke@thelisteningchurch.com.​
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