1. Talk to someone you know and trust as a spiritual mentor. That may be a pastor, a colleague, or a covenant group. Begin to talk with trusted mentors about and articulate what you are hearing, sensing, feeling, and thinking.

2. Begin an intentional season of prayer and discernment. This might be as something like signing up for a group experience designed for personal time of discernment (see coaching cohort opportunities); or creating your own covenant group to walk with you in prayer. It is intentional.

3. Take a step forward. Is your “nudge” to a specific community? Is it connected to a group of people? Or… perhaps it is unknown. Maybe you just feel “stirred” that God may be calling you to lead something God is doing that is new. Take a step forward!

Possibilities: Spend time and energy in that place. If it is a community – spend time there. If it is a group of people – spend time with them. If it is unknown, take steps to explore, experience and just listen.

4. Contact the NCD Team by filling out this form or email Vona Wilson at vona.wilson@twkumc.org Let us know how God is stirring you. We will reach out for a conversation.

Traditional Church Plants. These are faith communities that make covenant with one another and the TWK Conference to be in communal relationship with Christ and one another as they grow in the faith and serve as the body of Christ in the world. Grounded in the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, these faith communities practice rhythms of discipleship formation, service, and worship. Examples of recent traditional plants: Home Church Nashville and Bluff City in Memphis. A portion of our funds invest in establishing traditional church communities that are anchors throughout the TWK Conference.

Essence Plants. New faith communities that exist in traditional or non-traditional ways and may or may not be able to support themselves. Examples of current Essence plants: Circle of Grace operates in a prison a meets 1/month. Cosecha Community Center is a collaborative partnership that creates environments and fellowship for relationships to develop in the community. A portion of our funds help launch and establish new faith communities in whatever ways God may lead.

Experiments that help people experience the love and grace of Christ. These creative expressions may lead to something else, but they may also simply serve as expressions that help us explore where we see Jesus being present. A portion of our funds help encourage the local church to lead faithful experiments. Example: Trinity Community Commons is an experiment.