Leading Conversations

Yes, it's true, J.D.'s guest today was in fact named after the Old Testament prophet Micah. It's in the Bible if you don't remember. It's that one, just past Jonah. As you hear Micah, the one from Fresno, CA, share his journey. You can see how God can take life's challenges and turn them around for his purpose. Growing up in and around ministry, Micah took on several...

In this episode, JD has a conversation with Dr. John Jackson. He is currently serving as the President of William Jessup University. In his ministry life, he has been a church pastor, a church planter, and a mission leader of a denomination. He has a passion for the local church and a passion for leadership. His ministry experience has taught him valuable lessons about himself and what is essentia...

Some people have been in ministry for a long time and have been a part of some great movements, and then there is Jack Hamilton. He has done both and more. In today's conversation, you will hear Jack's story from the beginning and how God carried him through ministry and service to others ministering. You won't want to miss Jack's story. Listen, and you will truly be inspired....

Joining the conversation today is no stranger to the Excel Network. Dave Bennet has raised more money for churches than most of us will earn in a lifetime. In today's podcast, Dave shares the life-altering moment when his doctor spoke two words, cancer and malignant. Initially feeling abandoned by God, Dave tells JD how he saw purpose through the challenge and how it has changed his life. Lis...

You will want to hear Elisha's story. It is so easy to think about church planting in the context of the United States. Most planters are thinking about how they will start, grow, and reach their communities for Christ. Imagine all those goals in Africa. Elisha Confronted family mysticism to find Christ and then to find the passion for planting churches. You won't want to miss this conve...

You might be surprised about the content of today's interview.  Jonathan Singh is the pastor of Tribe City Church just outside Phoenix, AZ. With parents that immigrated to the United States, he spent his childhood on the rough street corrners of Queens, NY. Jonathan would hand out tracts while his father preached the gospel. Throughout a journey of ministry service, Jonathan always knew in hi...

Today's conversation is with TJ and Jess McCall from Buckeye, AZ. Thier journey has led them through multiple leves of ministry from youth work, associate pastorship, and finally as a lead pastor. It also took them around the country, from Monterey, CA to Paducah, KY, and points in between. They are currently working on a new church plant in Palm Springs, CA. Traveling between Arizona and Cal...

Today's conversation is with Casey and Aimee Graves. Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, they felt led to settle in Temecula, CA. In 2019 they planted The Refinery Church. Throughout their marriage, they served as the principal leaders in starting and reimagining ministries that have proven to be effective in helping people come to know Jesus and grow in Him. Temecula has a diverse popula...

Today's converastion is with Jim Smith, President of the Pacific Church Network. He has been the President since March, 2006. Jim and his wife, Vicki, have 4 married children, and 11 grandchildren. He has been in active pastoral ministry since 1979, serving as a youth pastor and ultimately as a Senior Pastor. His ministry has taken him to many countries around the world on short-term mission...

The man, the myth, the legend, Daniel Nunez is the the guest on the podcast today. His journey has been one of faith in an audacious goal of planting 50 churches in the Mexico. It was just crazy enough that only God could make it happen. With a lot of prayer and a lot of work, by the grace of God, church number 50 was launched last month. Learn how how it was done and how Daniel has set up the fut...

Today's guest on the podcast is Jay Stovall. From the "jewel of the inland empire," Redlands, California. Does life sometimes feel like you are in a perfect storm of challenges? Then you will appreciate Jay's journey. Recently, the Stovalls had insurance claims out on their car, their house, and their medical insurance. During all of this, his wife gave birth to their third chi...

It's an epic episode. Brad and Anne Brucker from Epic Church in Sherwood, Oregon, are interviewed by J.D. It all started with a dance on a rooftop. In addition to EPIC church, they are planting churches and serving African communities with medical care. If you are wondering if you are ready to plant a church, the Brucker's would tell you to "get in the game!" God is doing work...

In today's episode, J.D. interviews Julian and Daisy Delmore. As you listen to their story, you will be encouraged to know that God works beyond what can typically be a statistic. Julian and Daisy are a testament to how faith and trust in God, no matter the challenge or the impossibility of a situation, is rewarded when God makes everything come together in his own way. Julian and Daisy seek...

Today's conversation is with Chris Pinion. A pastor in Kansas City or "K.C.K.," a chaplain, and a volunteer fire chief. Chis makes being a part of his community a big part of his ministry. Coming out of a dysfunctional family, his mom was married eight times; Chris shares how God always has a plan, and that plan continues throughout life. You won't want to miss the ventriloquis...

If you'd like to hear from the individual JD calls one of the smartest persons he knows, here is your chance. Today's interview is with his son Scott Pearring. Raised as the son of a church planter, Scott shares his view from the backseat on the journey that led to Excel and his personal faith and professional growth. If you don't have a plan for your future, you will want one after...

After years of working in ministry together, Jeff and Lisa Harrington decided to retire and move to Hawaii. What could be better than palm trees and beautiful beaches? Of course, planting a church. After Jeff and Lisa had spent some time in Hawaii, they saw how life for people living there is not the same as those who vacation there. God placed a call on their hearts to plant Lion's Den Churc...

The call to church planting can lead someone to many places. In the case of Pastor Chris Finchum, he and his wife were led to Yuba City, CA, from Tampa, FL. After a few trips to visit his wife's family, they both saw the need for a church that could reach the people of the community that had walked away from the Jesus that wasn't the Jesus of the Bible. Of course, the fact that wild chic...

Disregarding her girlfriends' advice to avoid the new football player on their college campus, Deb decided to introduce herself to Larry. That choice lead them both into a remarkable ministry adventure together. They saw God's vision to change from the popular church growth model to a church multiplication model (church planting). Their church caught the vision as, well, and they got goi...

You have probably heard people talk about God's big plan for this world. Most assume that those plans are for someone else. Not Pastor Daniel Nunez. He caught God's crazy, audacious, bold, and inspiring vision to plant 50 churches in Mexico. The really crazy thing is that, in early 2023, he and his team of pastors will be planting church 50. Daniel is an example of how God can do the imp...

Jon and Christian were two friends on different journeys in their faith. Both came to realize that God was more than they had initially imagined. After working in various ministry roles in different areas, Jon and Christian were led to plant Fireside Church in September of 2022 near Phoenix, AZ. They would be the first to tell you that you can't give up on God's call and being genuine to...

Justin and Heidi Fox are planting a church in California. It's just not where you might first think of; this part of California is nearly three hundred miles north of San Francisco, in Arcata, CA. Think redwood forests instead of palm trees. It's a community of artists and creatives. You might want to listen to Justin's tip about having the shortest altar call at the end of a sermon...

Larry Osborne is a pastor, author, mentor, and leadership consultant. He pioneered several concepts that shape our modern church today, teaching teams, multisite churches, and sermon-based small groups. Larry shares his own journey and how his family and their support shaped his faith. You will be encouraged by his story. Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps in ministry. Conne...

Ray and Rachel Hudson are church planters in Berkley, California, arguably one of the most challenging cities in the U.S. to plant a church in. They had to devise a unique plan to reach their community. It's all about loving and serving the city "so hard that they rethink their preconceived notions of faith." Rather than focusing on college students, they strive to impact people who...

Ken Hendrix is a church planter with a long history in ministry that brought him to California for over a decade. Ken and his wife have been back in their home state of Kentucky for several years now. As with most of his ministry work, Ken's original plan was not God's. Inspiration for a church plant became an interim lead pastor position, allowing an existing church to thrive and grow....

Sometimes when you are a church planter, you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Andrew Morrison, a church planter in Colorado, can actually calculate that weight. It starts at 675 pounds and goes up from there. Andrew participates nationally in Strongman competitions. So if you ever feel like you have a lot on your shoulders, you can be encouraged by his story. Send us F...