Alternatively, when visiting YouTube, type share fresh expressions into the Search box at the top of the page, then click Search. And please spread the word about this video.

If you prefer books to online videos, you might want to check out the latest edition of Encounters on the Edge, number 36: Leading Fresh Expressions: lessons from hindsight. George Lings, director of Church Army's Research Unit - The Sheffield Centre - tells the stories of two fresh expressions pioneers, who are refreshingly honest about the mistakes they have made and what they would do differently now.

Si Jones was leader of Ignite, a youth congregation in Northwood, London. He says, 'Ignite has been the best and the toughest thing I have ever done! There has been a huge cost involved for all people ... not least to my family, where our children were part of a church with only two other children. This cost must not be underestimated as people offer themselves for this form of ministry in the future.'

Looking at the work of Derek Spencer - leader of the Eden youth church in Horsham, Sussex - George Lings says: 'How good in this case he could stop, find support, take advice, and attend to the cracks. He has now come back, ready to move on with a fresh role and deeper wisdom. Many of us know seasons of apparent failures that have been painful but apt tutors.'

Eden is also featured on Share here and here.

Si Jones and Derek Spencer are mission-minded pioneer leaders. In both cases, the emotional and physical energy to plant a fresh expression of church has been huge. How do we look after our pioneers? How do we enable them to plant more than once?

Both stories highlight the high cost of over-investment in the Sunday public event. Stories that start their public life with worship are particularly prone to this.

George Lings says, 'We are grateful to two leaders who were candid about their own stories. It so happens both are examples of youth congregation, but what they saw contains valuable insights for all fresh expressions. In telling these stories I have tried to embed what I see as the many virtues and values as well as the valuable lessons of hindsight. We are still learning.'

Encounters on the Edge 36, Leading Fresh Expressions: lessons from hindsight, is now available and is priced £4.00. To order copies, contact the Sheffield Centre on 0114 272 7451, or email ask@sheffieldcentre.org.uk

The Sheffield Centre website

What Share has to say about Sustaining a fresh expression

It's lovely to read remarks like this. Don't stop – keep them coming. All these warm wishes are good for the soul!

But as I've said to a number of people, if all we've produced is a nice-looking website with a few pretty pictures, then we've failed. The purpose of Share is to connect people so that they can share with each other – lessons learned, and mistakes made – both highs and lows in their work for God.

With this in mind, I have created two new pages – which you should see on the right-hand side of your screen: COMMENT – Things that went well and COMMENT – Things to learn from.

It would be great if you could use these pages to share one or two lessons from your experience. Just click the yellow 'Comment' link on the page, and type your gems of wisdom – even if it's just one sentence. Remember - that nugget of knowledge you take for granted might be exactly what someone needs to read right now.

Check these pages regularly – someone might have replied to your comment, or left useful comments of their own.

And if you enjoyed leaving a comment, please let us know what you think of the rest of the site. Each page has a 'Comment' link near the bottom. We want to know what we've got right, what we've got wrong, what we've missed out, or anything else you want to share with other Share readers.

Keep those comments coming!