Cultivate - Calvary Chapel Church Planting

What does ministry look like in the military? In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, Brian Kelly sits down with Dr. Chris Bassett, a military chaplain, church planter, former police officer, and professor at Calvary Chapel Bible College. Chris shares his remarkable journey from being saved at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa under Chuck Smith’s ministry to serving 35 years in the milit...

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, Brian Kelly sits down with Justin Thomas, president and dean of Calvary Chapel Bible College, to discuss how much biblical knowledge a pastor or church planter should have before stepping into ministry. Justin emphasizes that while no church planter begins fully prepared, pastors must be committed to becoming lifelong learners who continue...

In this collaborative episode between Cultivate Church Planting and Expositors Collective, Brian Kelly and Mike Neglia explore the true nature of church planting through a biblical lens. Moving beyond the modern “startup” mindset, they frame church planting as cultivation—an organic, Spirit-dependent work that requires calling, team, perseverance, and faithfulness. Brian shares lessons from multip...

In this episode, Brian Kelly and Nick Cady discuss who should plant churches and how churches can raise up and send out planters. They emphasize that the key qualifications are not perfection or full preparation, but spiritual health, humility, and teachability. Church planting requires faith, sacrifice, and a willingness to do uncomfortable things, but growth often happens in “need to know” and “...

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, Brian Kelly interviews Rob Salvato about his 30-year pastoral journey at Calvary Vista, including a thoughtful and Spirit-led transition to his successor and the church’s culture of church planting. Rob shares how he intentionally prepared his church for leadership transition by gradually releasing control, empowering staff, and cultivating...

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, Brian Kelly and his guest speak directly to pastors leading healthy existing churches and challenge common objections to church planting. The conversation reframes church planting not as competition, but as a kingdom-minded responsibility. Using practical experience and vivid illustrations, the episode addresses fear of losing people, fear...

Welcome to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast! Brian Kelly is joined by cohost Pilgrim Benham and guest Pastor Zeddie Muzungu of Calvary Chapel Kampala to unpack why Uganda and East Africa are a strategic hotspot for church planting. They talk through the unique advantages and dangers of foreign missionaries, the tribal dynamics that make a neutral outsider surprisingly effective, and the despe...

Brian Kelly sits down with Pilgrim Benham to talk through what makes church plants healthy and sustainable. They cover the move of Calvary Chapel Bible College to the West Church campus in Bradenton, how online and legacy training are expanding, and what planters should consider when choosing urban or suburban contexts. The conversation lands on a “garden planting” model, practical training pipeli...

Welcome to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast with Brian Kelly. In this episode, Brian is joined by Daniel Williams to introduce a special guest, David Downs, who has been serving in Turin, Italy, for nearly two decades. David shares his journey of moving overseas, navigating cultural and bureaucratic challenges, and seeing God provide in unexpected ways. You’ll hear about the realities of plan...

On today’s episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, Brian Kelly and co-host Nick Cady sit down with their friend Kike Torres from Mexico. Over the last 14 years, Kike has been part of planting 13 churches —some from scratch, others through replanting struggling congregations. Kike talks about the central role prayer has played in these works, including a simple but powerful practice of pr...

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, host Brian Kelly and co-host Daniel Williams sit down with Ricardo “Kaka” Monteiro, a church planter and pastor from Brazil. Kaka shares his compelling journey from São Paulo to pastoring a growing church in Curitiba, including how a word from the Lord during the pandemic launched him into leadership. Kaka talks candidly about the decision...

Welcome back to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast ! Inthis episode, Brian Kelly is joined by Pastor Brian Brodersen and Pastor Nick Cady for a lively and insightful conversation about church planting around the globe—from Europe to Latin America to New England. They talk about the need to reignite passion for planting in places where momentum has slowed, and highlight fresh opportunities in pl...

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, host Brian Kelly is joined by Bruce Zachary and special guest Ryan Marr, lead pastor of a thriving church in St. Petersburg, Florida. Together they dive deep into the lessons learned from leading through transition, pastoring in a transient community, and shepherding a church with a complex history and a massive former-Walmart facility. Rya...

Hey everyone, Pastor Brian here, and welcome back to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast. In today’s episode, I sit down with my good friend Aaron Smith, a church planter with one of the most unique sending stories I’ve ever heard. Aaron was originally sent as a missionary to Mexico—but it was actually a church in Mexico that ended up sending him back to the U.S. to plant a church in Florida. We...

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, hosts Brian Kelly and Nick Cady sit down with Joe Paskewich, a seasoned church planter from New England. Joe shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a gospel-deprived region to leading a multi-site church and witnessing a spiritual awakening in one of the most historically resistant areas in America. They discuss the unique challen...

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast , Brian Kelly talks with Alan Stoddard about his journey from pastoring to planting Imagine Church in Cresson, Texas. They discuss the importance of cross-cultural ministry, church planting partnerships, and how technology, like daily online devotionals, can support discipleship. Alan shares his vision for launching on Easter 2025 and becomi...

In this episode, Brian Kelly sits down with two incredible guests, Ted Leavenworth and Tommy Cota, to dive into the power of fellowship and its transformative role in ministry. Together, they unpack the value of creating cohorts intentional small groups of pastors and church leaders designed to provide encouragement, accountability, and shared wisdom.  Whether you’re planting a new church, leading...

Welcome to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast with Brian Kelly! In this episode, I sit down with two incredible leaders, Daniel Williams and Marlon Brown, to dive into a crucial yet often overlooked topic for church planters: personal devotions and caring for the soul. We discuss the importance of cultivating a daily quiet time with God, how it strengthens your relationship with Him, and why it...

Welcome to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast I’m Brian Kelly, joined by my co-host Nick Cady. Today, we’re tackling a topic that every church planter will face, but many find challenging: managing money and finances in a church plant. This is one of those areas where wisdom, planning, and stewardship can make or break a ministry's impact.  We’re thrilled to have Seth Allingham with us for this...

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, I sat down with my friend and assistant pastor, Josiah Hart, here at West Church in Florida. Josiah and I explored the vital role of an assistant pastor—not just as a support but as an essential partner in ministry. We unpacked how an assistant pastor brings balance, depth, and a unique skill set that lifts both the lead pastor and the cong...

Welcome to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, where we explore practical strategies for growing and launching new churches. Today, host Brian Kelly sits down with Billy Almaguer to dive into the unique process of planting a church in a school building. From navigating logistics to building community partnerships, they'll share key insights and lessons learned from their own experiences. Wh...

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast. Today, host Brian Kelly sits down with seasoned pastor Wayne Taylor for a conversation titled, "It's Never Too Late to Plant a Church." Wayne, a key figure in the Jesus Movement, has served faithfully for decades and now embarks on the exciting journey of church planting. Tune in as Pastor Wayne shares his...

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, host Brian Kelly sits down with guests Daniel Williams and Billy Almaguer to discuss the crucial role of staying connected with other pastors and churches during the church planting journey. They dive into the benefits of building strong networks, sharing resources, and learning from one another’s experiences to foster growth and resilience...

Welcome to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast with your host, Brian Kelly, and co-host, Jeff Gipe! In this episode, we're thrilled to have Stephan Calhoun, originally from the United States and now working with Hellenic Ministries in Greece, and Dan Vorm from Fellowship Bible Church. They'll be sharing their inspiring journey of church planting in Greece, highlighting some very exciting...

Welcome to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, where we explore the frontiers of faith and the future of the church. I’m your host, Brian Kelly, joined by my insightful co-host, Daniel Williams. Today, we’re thrilled to have a very special guest, Pastor Zeddie Muzungu from Uganda. In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of church planting in Uganda. Pastor Zeddie will share his unique expe...