The Ralph Moore Podcast

Norman Nakanishi is a close friend. He leads one of the largest congregations in Hawaii. Yet, his focus is on disciplemaking rather than the thrill of the crowd. He's a disciplemaker who trains young leaders to plant churches. The fruit of his labor stretches across the state, though he tends not to talk about it. We've been friends for more than thirty years. He's a son in the faith to me. This w...

Casey and I met when he attached a very practical comment to a blog post I had written. As we became friends I found him doing most things the world needs from the church. He left a career to plant co-vocationally. He's into disciplemaking as a way of evangelism. His church is into neighboring. They are crossing ethnic divides with intentionality. This church even uses Zoom as a blessing instead o...

So you're doing church online? Good for you! But, Jate has been leading an online congregation for six years. And, his congregation is made up of computer gaming addicts. Though he's uncomfortable with calling it "church," it functions as a church. Since form follows function... you get it! In this podcast, you'll hear about relational evangelism, mutual trust, and people caring for those they've...

Most healthy churches are in a constant state of flux as they respond to their people's needs and the ever-changing external environment. Technology, politics and certainly pandemics demand flexibility. The move from a congregation- centric culture to a church multiplication culture is a once in a lifetime shift for any congregation. It is rare, substantial and can be damaging if not handled caref...

Join Rob as he describes how Len Sweet challenged him to "love your zipcode." In this episode (which overlaps with Part 1) he describes the importance of contextualizing the gospel in ways new to most of us. As he spoke I was left thinking about where my own zipcode fits into Acts 1:8... The results Rob is seeing are stunning and point the way toward doing the gospel in an era that demeans and dim...

You'll love Rob as he describes how his friend "informed" him that he would be a pastor while they were both high on illegal substances. That "prophecy" actualized as both men serve Jesus today. Rob and the 13 churches he's helped plant grasp evangelism as a process rather than an event. Beyond out-of-ordinary processes like "God in a bar," they help people belong before they believe. The results...

Mike has led Inspire Church to an incredible global reach because he and his team saw opportunity when the pandemic hit. From a multisite congregation numbering between five and seven thousand, they popped to more than 60,000 views, settling back to more than 25,000. You'll both be challenged and inspired to try something new by this podcast. Mike and Lisa Kai have been my friends since the 1980s....

In this episode you'll hear how Mike moved from our staff at Hope Chapel Kaneohe Bay (now Anchor Church) to pastor Hope Chapel West Oahu which eventually became Inspire Church. The congregation had struggled for years, probably because it was born in rebellion. You may find that story as humorous as I did when I eventually learned it... You can catch up with Mike  inspirechurch.live Mike and...

Today, Inspire Church touches more than 25,000 people each week. Mike and Lisa Kai have been my friends since the 1980s. Lisa was a valued staff member when Mike found Jesus. He was a broken 20-year-old, already divorced and a single parent. When they began dating, I reached out to Mike, mostly wanting to understand his relationship with Lisa. We became fast friends. I discipled him as did other m...

This is Part 3 of 3 in a series describing the history of Hope Chapel in Hawaii. If you want to know how all those churches got started, you’ll enjoy this series. Aaron Suzuki and I have been friends since 1973. In 1983 we, our families and 20-plus friends left Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach, CA to plant churches in Hawaii. From there we would touch the globe. Beginning with 72 people meeting illegaly,...

This is Part 2 of 3 in a series describing the history of Hope Chapel in Hawaii. Aaron Suzuki and I have been friends since 1973. In 1983 we, our families and 20-plus friends left Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach, CA to plant churches in Hawaii. From there we would touch the globe. Beginning with 72 people meeting illegaly, we planted churches that planted churches, resulting in 60+ congregations in the...

Let's examine eight crucial pivots made by the early church leading to multiplication of disciples, leaders, congregations, cities and nations changed by the gospel. We'll take into account the pre-pivot instructions of Jesus and post-pivot admonitions of Paul. All are applicable today. The session ends with a call to examine the pivot points in your church necessary to establishing a culture of m...

Aaron Suzuki and I have been friends since 1973. In 1983 we, our families and 20-plus friends left Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach, CA to plant churches in Hawaii. From there we would touch the globe. Beginning with 72 people meeting illegaly, we planted churches that planted churches, resulting in 60+ congregations in the state. This is an exchange between two friends reminiscing history. In it you'll...

Kelly is our daughter which makes me very proud. A consumate disciplemaker, she's assisted several church plants. She serves on staff in Aloha Church, San Diego. She is a Fuller grad who leads short term missions teams. She's served in India, Africa and now Turkey among Syrian refugees from the civil war in that country. Clear, concise and funny, she will put shoeleather under your disciplemaking...

Ken Klein has an amazing story of struggle, enlightenment and fruitfulness through disciplemaking. A successful lead pastor, he got fired from a fast-growing church because, "We want to be a megachurch and you're too old to lead a megachurch..." After a few months spent recovering from shock Ken took a "boring" factory job but eventually found himself pastoring co-workers through cancer, divorce,...

This is the third of three interviews with Jimi Calhoun. Jimi grew up in a Christian home. His father and grandfathers were pastors. Along the way, he got caught up in gangs then found himself attending an all-White and Hispanic high school where he learned from both cultures. After playing in big-name rock bands for several years, he "discovered" Hope Chapel in Hermosa Beach, California. Hope Cha...

Today, Jimi takes us on a romp through his first church plant, missionary experience in Belieze and a process of racial reconciliation including a prescription for healing. After that I asked him about his first three books (we'll save the fourth along with his relationship to Oxford University till next week). In 1983 Jimi walked through the doors of Hope Chapel Foursquare Church in Hermosa Beach...

Jimi Calhoun is an author, ethicist and musician. He's a gifted speaker having appeared on NBC, ABC and CBS and at several colleges and seminaries throughout America. He's also a church planter. Jimi’s musical career began with Leon Patillo in a band named Leon’s Creation in the San Francisco Bay Area. He played in the band with jazz musician Dr. John, performing alongside several notable artists...

Another interview with a disciple of Ralph from the Hawaii days. Norman and Ralph connected in 1991. Ralph challenged Norman to consider a path other than his scheduled move into a large pastorate. The result? Pearlside Church was born in a bank lobby with just 4 people. Now a megachurch that plants churches, the entire cluster numbers several thousand people in churches throughout Hawaii. Norman...

This is the third of three interviews between Ralph Moore who planted and Zac Nazarian who succeeded him as pastor of Hope Chapel in Hermosa Beach, California. During the 37 years since the handoff the church has continued multiplying churches from California to India to Africa to Israel. Listen to these two men as they discuss future possibilities. Hint: both men have seperately come to believe i...

This part of the interview spotlights the relationship between Zac and Ralph that ensured success in Hermosa and in Hawaii after these two men passed the baton of leadership. If you're contemplating succession you might take notes on some of the subtleties involved in the actual handoff. For some reason, this church has always been blessed with real estate. In 1975, while Ralph was pastor, they bo...

Want to understand Hope Chapel as a "movement?" You'll enjoy learning how Zac Nazarian showed up to promote his Amway business, left that day mocking Hope Chapel and Ralph but returned later after his wife deserted him. The kicker was that the thing he had mocked had happened just before he lost his wife. Learn the ins, outs and twists of disciplemaking in the relationship between these two old gu...

In this inteview you will hear the pain of a man who hurts because of friends who refuse to believe that systematic racism is a problem for the church. Listen as he tells how he coaches his sons to prevent them from becoming objects of racial violence. Hear his heart when he says that making disciples of Jesus is the answer, but that disciplemaking must include rejecting sin, including the sin of...

Ethan grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he cut meat, earned a degree, worked for a bank, and met his wife, Stephanie. Ethan and Stephanie have three children. Ethan is the president of Renewing Management a firm that has been restoring hope by transforming communities for 16 years. Ethan found Christ later in life and feels compelled to live out his faith in community with others. Ethan serves...

So what happened to the Vineyard Movement after Wimber? If you ever wondered about this or wanted to see how a movement can move forward after the death of its founder you'll enjoy this podcast. A USC professor of religion once wrote a book called Reinventing American Protestantism: Christianity in the New Millenium . In a way, this podcast is a follow-on to his predictions about Calvary Chapel, T...