Church Planters Ask

Originally recorded for my friends. This started as a private audio I made for pastors and leaders I know personally, walking them through how I built AI agents that actually run parts of my work and life. Enough people asked for it that I'm making it public. I'm not a programmer and I don't write code. Over the past year I built what amounts to a personal AI operating system: an AI chief of staff...

In the early days of church planting, having the right leadership structure can mean the difference between agility and frustration—or even survival and failure. In this episode of Church Planters Ask , Danny Parmelee and Chris Highfill break down the best leadership model for the prelaunch phase, including the triad governance structure that gives church planters accountability without unnecessar...

Your launch team can either be the fuel that propels your church plant forward or the friction that slows it down. So, what’s the best way to develop and lead them well? In this episode of Church Planters Ask , Danny Parmelee and Chris Highfill break down the Top 10 Things you need to do with your launch team—including how to build mission-focused culture, create momentum, avoid common mistakes, a...

Letting go of a volunteer is one of the hardest things a church planter will face—but avoiding the conversation can cause even bigger problems. In this episode of Church Planters Ask , Danny Parmelee and Chris Highfill break down how to transition volunteers with grace, clarity, and integrity. From setting expectations upfront to navigating those tough conversations with honesty and care, they sha...

When someone leaves your church, it can feel personal, painful, and even discouraging. In this episode of Church Planters Ask , Danny Parmelee and Chris Highfill dive deep into a question every church planter faces: What do I do when people want to leave? From their early struggles with guilt-driven retention to the wisdom of sending people off with grace, they share raw, real, and practical insig...

In this episode of Church Planters Ask , Danny Parmelee and Chris Highfill tackle the often-debated question: Should non-believers be part of your church launch team? Spoiler alert: the answer is a resounding YES! 🎉 Discover why incorporating non-believers can bring fresh perspectives, inspire team members, and set the stage for a culture of grace and evangelism. Danny and Chris share real-life s...

In this episode of Church Planters Ask , hosts Chris Highfill and Danny Parmelee explore practical strategies for connecting in a new community—or even reconnecting in one you’ve lived in for years. Drawing from personal experiences and proven methods, they discuss five essential steps for church planters: Pray Strategically – Prayer is foundational. Chris shares how prayer walks and intentional t...

In this episode of Church Planters Ask , titled “What Are the Keys to a Successful Launch?” hosts Danny Parmelee and Chris Highfill dive into the essential elements that contribute to a successful church plant. Drawing on years of experience assessing church planters, they outline five critical "M's" for a strong church launch. Move of God : A successful church launch begins with a spiritual found...

In this episode of Church Planters Ask , Danny Parmelee and Chris Highfill tackle the question, "Should we have a launch team covenant?" They explore what a launch team covenant is and whether it's necessary when forming a church launch team. While Danny shares his personal reservations about formal covenants, citing that they can create barriers, especially with new members or non-believers, Chri...

In the latest episode of "Church Planters Ask," host Danny Parmelee dives into the question: "Do mailers still work for churches?" To explore this topic, Danny is joined by Tim Speweik from Outreach, a veteran in church marketing with over 27 years of experience and involvement in more than 1,200 church plants. Tim shares valuable insights into the evolving role of mailers in an era dominated by d...

In this episode of Church Planters Ask, hosts Danny Parmelee and Chris Highfill dive into the critical topic of selecting the right meeting location for your church plant. This discussion is packed with practical advice and personal experiences that will be invaluable to any church planter navigating the challenges of finding the perfect venue. Chris kicks off the conversation by sharing his journ...

Join Danny Parmelee and Chris Hifill as they dive into the top questions church planters face, sharing their personal experiences and expert insights. In this episode, Danny and Chris introduce the podcast's new format and discuss their journey in church planting—from parachuting into new communities to navigating the challenges of growth and expansion. Whether you're just starting out or looking...

Hear from Daniel and Christina Im on how to raise kids and do ministry. We all know that when you lead a church that you are living in a fishbowl. This affects are children as well and there are things that we can do to help them be all God wants them to be without our calling as a pastor negatively impacting their relationship with God. If you're raising kids and planting a church it's a must lis...

In this episode we hear from Licensed Counselor Rick Egbert as he discusses issues of mental health and church planters. He gives some great advice on how you can stay ahead of the curve on finding a counselor. In addition to keeping you and your family healthy, he also shares how it is good practice for your entire congregation as you model healthy habits and meet counselors in your area. We've s...

What a year 2020 was! Please submit your questions that we will tackle in 2021.

We've taken 101 Questions Church Planters Ask Podcast on the Road! In this episode we are Live at the s2 Conference in Phoenix, AZ. The conference is filled with church planters and established churches that want to be strong enough to multiply. So we put a microphone in front of church planters and asked them to give some advice to current and future church planters.

If you think that doing a Christmas Eve service in your Pre-Launch Phase you may want to think again. While it may be a perfect way to get exposure and gain some launch team members it often will not achieve the outreach you expect. In this episode we'll look at some other options and explain why holding off on a Christmas eve service in Pre-Launch phase may be your best growth strategy.

When you are a church planter, its more than just gathering a crowd for worship services. You need to find ways to embed yourself in the community and help your team to do the same thing. In this episode Danny and special guest Christ Highfill discuss 10 ways that you can engage the community whether you are pre-launch phase or already up and running.

Do you want to know one of the greatest tools to help your church plant? What if I told you that there are people from around the globe that you can hire for projects such as design, web, video, audio, architecture, data entry, IT, marketing and more? The world of freelancers and virtual assistants is at your finger tips.

There really is no reason to plant a church a lone these days. There are multiple church planting networks and denominations to help you. Many planters wonder if they have to choose just one or if it makes sense to have a couple groups you work with. We explore the advantages and challenges of dual affiliation in this episode.

If you do Church Merch right it can be one of your most effective and inexpensive marketing tools. There are so many upsides to equipping your people with the right stuff. Learn when to invest in quality apparel vs when to get promotional SWAG.

If you are new to being a pastor or church planter, chances are someone has told you "You should opt out of social security!" In this episode I will walk through the IRS social security exemption that is allowed for clergy but also explain who qualifies and the dangers of opting out if you don't meet the true exemptions.

It's pretty common for one of your earliest steps in church planting to write a Mission Statement and also Vision and Values Statement. Understanding the differences in these and composing them correctly can really help you communicate with clarity. As the church plant grows transferring mission, vision, and values to your people will be key in accomplishing big things for the Lord.

Many church planters wonder if they need a Seminary degree or a Bible degree Before they start the church plant. In this episode we discuss some of the advantages of formal education but also explore why Seminary isn't for everyone. Also if you do go to seminary either before the church plant or during the plant what you might want to focus on.