Learning from “Fresh Expressions of Church” and the “Loving-First Cycle” through a Case Study from Cape Town

Abstract

Abstract This article outlines and engages the “loving-first cycle” as a contextual model for starting new faith communities and as potentially one of the lessons from “fresh expressions” for the wider church. Initially we describe two alternative approaches to church multiplication and explain the “loving-first cycle” as a contrasting methodology arising from the experience of fresh expressions of church in the UK. Next, we ground the cycle in a case study from Cape Town, South Africa. Then we argue that the cycle has the potential to be an intentional methodology for mission.