Fresh Start
By God's grace, everyone can have one.
Everyone needs a
What is Fresh Start?
Everyone gets stuck. The same mistakes, the habit that won’t break, the feeling that everyone else has it together. Most of us just get better at pretending. Fresh Start is where the pretending stops: a table of ordinary people getting honest about their lives and finding a different way of living, together. We’ve found it in Jesus, but you don’t have to believe anything to come.
Fresh Start is a Christ-centered gathering where people are reconciled to God and to one another and transformed into the people God created them to be. Mondays at 6:30 pm. No sign-up. Come as you are.
FAQS
What is fresh start?
When and where do you meet?
WHO IS FRESH START FOR?
DO I HAVE TO BE A CHRISTIAN TO COME?
Do I have to attend Radiant Church?
What happens on a Monday night?
Will I have to talk or share my story?
Is it confidential?
Is Fresh Start like AA or Celebrate Recovery?
What if I've tried before and failed?
Can I bring someone with me?
Is there childcare?
Does it cost anything?
What if I need more help than a weekly gathering can give?
Who leads Fresh Start?
How do I get in touch?
Fresh Start is a Christ-centered gathering at Radiant Church in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, for anyone who feels stuck. It might be a habit you can't break, a mistake you keep repeating, or a hurt you can't get past. It's a place where the pretending stops. You sit at a table with people fighting similar battles, get honest, and take a next step together.
WHAT IS FRESH START?
What is fresh start?
WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU MEET?
When and where do you meet?
Every Monday at 6:30 PM at Radiant Church, 1300 Metro East Drive, Pleasant Hill, Iowa.
The night wraps up around 8:00 PM. No sign-up needed. Come as you are.
WHO IS FRESH START FOR?
WHO IS FRESH START FOR?
Everyone. We all find ways to cope with life. Some of us numb our pain. Some stay busy so we never have to slow down. Some chase success. Others hide behind anger, perfectionism, food, pornography, alcohol, relationships, or simply pretending everything is okay. The way we cope may be different, but the result is often the same. We get stuck. Fresh Start isn't for "those people." It's for all of us.
DO I HAVE TO BE A CHRISTIAN TO COME?
DO I HAVE TO BE A CHRISTIAN TO COME?
No. You don't have to believe, have your life together, or know Jesus before you come. We've found real freedom in Jesus, and we'd love for you to see for yourself. But you're welcome exactly as you are.
DO I HAVE TO ATTEND RADIANT CHURCH?
Do I have to attend Radiant Church?
No. People come from all over the Des Moines area and from many different churches, or no church at all.
WHAT HAPPENS ON A MONDAY NIGHT?
What happens on a Monday night?
We start with snacks and easy conversation at the tables. Then we have a welcome, a couple of worship songs, and a short teaching, about 15 minutes. After that, everyone moves into men's and women's small groups, where the real conversation happens.
WILL I HAVE TO TALK OR SHARE MY STORY?
Will I have to talk or share my story?
Only if you want to. Many people just listen for the first few weeks. No one will put you on the spot.
IS IT CONFIDENTIAL?
Is it confidential?
Yes. What's shared at the table stays at the table, and we ask everyone not to take photos or post on social media. The only exception is if someone's safety is at risk, when our leaders are required to get help.
IS FRESH START LIKE AA OR CELEBRATE RECOVERY?
Is Fresh Start like AA or Celebrate Recovery?
We share the same heart, but the approach is different. We don't work steps toward sobriety. We follow Jesus toward a whole new life. Freedom from what holds you is a wonderful result, but the goal is bigger. Our path is built on nine movements, starting with honesty: I have a problem. I can't fix myself. But my Father can. So I give Him everything.
WHAT IF I'VE TRIED BEFORE AND FAILED?
What if I've tried before and failed?
Most of us have. Lasting change doesn't come from trying harder. It comes from honesty, from community, and from God's grace. Whether you're walking in freedom or still in the fight, there's a seat for you.
CAN I BRING SOMEONE WITH ME?
Can I bring someone with me?
Absolutely. Bringing a friend or family member often makes that first night easier.
WHAT IF I NEED MORE HELP THAN A WEEKLY GATHERING CAN GIVE?
What if I need more help than a weekly gathering can give?
Fresh Start works alongside professional care. Radiant Counseling offers Christ-centered counseling for individuals, couples, and families. If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988 anytime, or call 911 in an emergency.
WHO LEADS FRESH START?
Who leads Fresh Start?
Fresh Start is led by Pastor Jason K. Shanks, Lead Pastor of Radiant Church, and Bob Larson, Teaching Pastor and Counselor, along with a team of trained table leaders who've walked this road themselves.
DO I HAVE TO ATTEND RADIANT CHURCH?
How do I get in touch?
Email bob@radiantonline.org, or just show up on Monday. We'd love to meet you.
Who is Fresh Start For?
Fresh Start is for people who are ready to stop hiding, tell the truth, and take their next step toward freedom. Whether you’re battling destructive habits, trapped in unhealthy patterns, carrying deep wounds, or simply weary of living the same story over and over, you’re welcome here.
The fresh start creed
We gather in the name of Jesus Christ,
a risen Savior who knows our names.
We tell the truth: we have a problem.
We admit we are broken; we cannot fix ourselves.
We believe our Father in heaven can.
So, we surrender; we give Him everything.
Through Jesus, the Father has made a way home.
We are reconciled to God, and we are being reconciled to one another.
We are not victims, and we are not our disease.
We are responsible people, rescued by grace,
And free by that grace to make new choices.
We wear no label but one: new creation.
We will not live in the past.
We name our struggles honestly, but they are not our identity.
The old has gone; the new has come.
We cannot walk this road alone, and we were never meant to.
We will walk in the power of the Spirit
and in the company of God's people.
We commit to stay the course:
We remain humble. We ask for help.
We examine, confess, connect, restore, and practice.
We exist to follow Jesus.
Here, no one is an outsider; we are all in recovery.
Our goal is not merely a struggle overcome,
but reconciliation: a Savior known and a life made new.
Brokenness is our hinge, not our home.
By God's grace, we can all have a Fresh Start.
Amen.
