Leading Conversations

This is part two of our conversation with the Drinkwines. How would you handle your church plant launch when more than half of your launch team is in COVID quarantine and half of your RSVPs cancel for the same reason? Brain & Sarah found themselves in that situation when they launched their second church plant in the Spring of 2022. You will be encouraged by their journey, and you might even w...

How would you handle your church plant launch when more than half of your launch team is in COVID quarantine and half of your RSVPs cancel for the same reason? Brain & Sarah Drinkwine found themselves in that situation when they launched their second church plant in the Spring of 2022. You will be encouraged by their journey, and you might even want to pack up everything you own and move to Na...

Ken and his wife Carolyn lead Mercy Road Church Northeast in Indianapolis, Indiana. They share how their desire to be faithful to God's plan for their ministry, brought them both from southern California and Hawaii to the midwest. After hearing their stories, you may just want to go fishing and eat some cookies. Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps in ministry. Connect he...

If anyone is proof that God has a plan for your life, it is Church planter, Andy Elliott. Currently the pastor of The Beat Church in Round Rock, Texas. The intervention of Christian friends pulled him away from an addiction to alcohol and self-destructive behavior. A willingness to be open to what God wanted him to do, helped him overcome severe social anxiety. You will be encouraged by Andy'...

In this episode, J.D. meets with Josh Ferris, a church planter from Loveland, CO. If there is one takeaway from the conversation, it could be, don't join the Marines without telling your wife first. Beyond that, Josh has learned first hand when you ask God for faith; God provides you with opportunities to develop faith. You will be encouraged by Josh's journey. Send us Fan Mail We want t...

In this episode, you will hear from Luke Allen. Not only a church planter that has planted other churches out of his own, but the COO of Excel Leadership Network. You will be encouraged by his journey, and after listening, you may feel the need to head to a Cracker Barrell restaurant for a challenging conversation.  Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps in ministry. Connect her...

If you have ever been to an Excel Discovery Center, then you have probably met today's guest. From its beginnings, Geoff Wells and his wife Sharon have been a part of Excel Leadership Network. As a retired Army officer, he is often referred to as "The Colonel." Geoff's life story is worth listening to. For anyone that has been lucky enough to meet him, you walk away from that m...

Today's conversation is with Paul Mints, pastor of the TCAL Church in Midland, TX. Paul was fortunate to grow up in a Christian home where both parents demonstrated their commitment to Jesus. His call to ministry came naturally. When Paul was led to plant a church, like most planters, it started with Paul wearing many hats to get all the pieces moving. He developed a novel approach to leaders...

As a church planter or leader, this thought has probably crossed your mind; my work would be much easier if my church were located on a beautiful island paradise in the Pacific. It turns out the opposite is true. Stefen and Amber Fussle launched Awakening church on the island of Maui. Beyond all the typical challenges faced when planting a church, they needed to find a way to navigate a resilient...

Weston Brown led his first church at the young age of 19. He went on to work in various church settings, both large and small, until he finally was led to plant a church in Shreveport, Louisiana. As he shares his journey, he shares how important it is not to get caught up in the operations of a church and lose sight of people in need of the gospel. Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your ne...

Churches across the country have mostly figured out how to operate in a COVID world. It has been a long two years for many to figure out how to reach their communities effectively. Chris Kirish made what many would consider at the time to be a crazy decision. He decided to launch his new church plant entirely online. That wasn't how you started a church. It worked and has led Renovate Church...

After you hear the story of Stuart's life, you'll learn how God's mercy and plan for our lives are real. It was a long road from dealing drugs and time in prison, to now planting a church in Valley Center, CA. Listen to his story and you will be encouraged by the plan that God had for Stuart's life, and for yours. Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps in min...

To say that Tim and Kyah have been on a spiritual journey their whole lives is an understatement. Both separately and together as a couple, God has taken them through some exciting adventures. They are currently planting Neon Chapel in Whittier, CA. Their story will inspire you. Afterward, you will be on the lookout for "Scooter." Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps...

The Pulleys are an example of how sometimes dating the boss is a good idea. The journey of two Californians (one born in Iran)  working together in a restaurant to planting a church in Utah is quite a tale. This month we hear from Nick and Sogol Pulley and how they have grown in ministry together throughout their relationship. You will be encouraged by their story. Send us Fan Mail We want to help...

Imagine being a child, and one morning, you wake up in a completely different country, don't speak the language, and look different from all the other kids. That was how Chan Kwak began his life in the United States when his parents moved the family from South Korea in the middle of the night. His journey has brought him to the streets of Compton, CA, where he has launched LA One Church. You...

Raymond and Cassandra Rojas lead Real Life Church in the San Diego community of Chula Vista. Ther are passionate about serving those in need in their city. Raymond shares his journey to ministry and his call to leaders to take a risk and take a rest. Take some time to hear their story, and it will inspire you. Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps in ministry. Connect here with...

Chris Hall is the Lead Pastor at Catalyst Church Ventura. His passion for church planting and church planting pastors is only matched by his skills as a professional inline skater. Chris' experience has developed him into a valuable resource as a mentor and a coach for new church planters. You will be encouraged by his story. Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps in minist...

Nathan, "Chivo" to those who know him, has first-hand U.S. church planting experience, having led in a church plant re-launch in New Orleans post-Katrina. As an adoptee and adoptive father, Nathan is passionate about children who come from difficult backgrounds. Originally from inner-city Minneapolis, Nathan grew up in a Christian home in a culturally diverse environment. He served a chu...

Dave Lodwig, a pastor in Missoula, Montana, shares how the church was a refuge from a turbulent childhood. Several years in ministry in various roles have led him to River Valley Church, where he is turning around a historic church that had been a fixture of the town for over 130 years. Dave shares the unique challenges, struggles, and triumphs involved in this process. Send us Fan Mail We want to...

Josh is one of the founding pastors of Multiply Indiana, a regional (and multi-denominational) church planting network rapidly planting churches throughout Indiana. Multiply Indiana has the vision to plant 100 churches regionally within the next 16 years in every context of their state (urban, suburban, and rural...) -   MultiplyIndiana.com . Additionally, Josh is the founding pastor of the Mercy...

Matt and Carrie Dilley have been in full-time ministry for the last 10 years. They are passionate about helping people discover their purpose, potential, and most importantly knowing Jesus because they believe that following Jesus makes your life better and makes you better at life. Over the past several years they've grown weary of watching young families become marginalized in the local chu...

Peyton started in Huntington Beach, CA at a megachurch, then went to Wales, and served as the evangelist at Lloyd-Jones’s church Sandfields, and started planting churches in public spaces, like Starbucks. He has served in collegiate campus churches, rural and urban churches, legacy churches, churches in public space…you name it. Peyton has written several books. Most recently Church Plantology: Th...

Paul is almost as passionate about Georgia Bulldogs football as he is about reaching people with the saving message of the gospel. A church planter at heart, Paul planted Rivers Crossing Community Church in 2007. Rivers Crossing is passionate about reproducing other missional churches. He has been married to Farrah for 25 years and together they have four children: Alexandria, Ansley, Gavin, and E...

Pastor Scott and his wife Kim Lackey founded New Story Church in Buffalo, New York. Home of the most zealous football fans the Bills Mafia. Prior to planting New Story Church, Scott and Kim both worked at The Chapel in Getzville, NY, and a church plant locally. Scott and Kim are passionate about building the local church and inviting all to discover the New Story God has for their life. Scott also...

Willie Nolte is the CEO/Mission Lead of Transformation Ministries. Transformation Ministries (TM) is a covenanting association of leaders and 200 churches in the United States, and Northern Mexico committed to seeing more healthy churches. Before joining TM, Willie pastored in local congregations for 32 years in Illinois and California. Willie enjoys reminding church leaders that “No church or lea...