We Are Send Network: Recent Episodes
North American Mission Board
Join church planting leaders and lead pastors Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner for engaging conversations about all things church planting. We are Send Network — a podcast by church planters on real topics and tough questions — for planters and pastors all across North America.
In this final episode of the We are Send Network podcast, hosts Noah Oldham, Dhati Lewis and Heiden Ratner share their favorite moments and final thoughts. For more content with practical answers to ministry and church planting questions, check out the New Churches Podcast at NewChurches.com.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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After his first cancer diagnosis at 19, Richard Pope still felt God was calling him to plant a church. Years later, and after many obstacles, he planted Canvas Church in Salisbury, Maryland — right after receiving this third cancer diagnosis. But this time was different. The doctors said he had three to five years to live. In this episode, Richard shares his story of redemption, his battle with cancer and his passion to share Christ in what may be his final years.
Read More: The hope we carry: pastor with cancer walks 100 miles with the cross
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Social unrest, world-wide pandemic and political angst. The last two years have forced leaders into a place of humility and endurance as we’ve navigated unpredictable seasons. Rob Wilton, the lead church planter and pastor of Vintage Church in Pittsburgh, shares how he has continued to practice and develop a necessary quality for all church planters: resilience.
Read More: Essential Qualities of a Leader: Endurance (Read Time: 4 Minutes)
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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God was doing something in the hearts of the people at Gracepoint Church in Berkeley, California—even in the midst of the pandemic. It seemed God was calling them to plant another church. So, when lead pastor Ed Kang sent out a Google forms sheet asking who would be interested in planting another church, he was surprised to see 1,154 people sign up. In this episode, pastor Ed shares about how one Google forms sheet led to 35 planting teams — 400 adults and 90 children — being sent out throughout the U.S. to plant churches.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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There are many ways to remind your members of the gospel throughout a Sunday service and the week. In this episode, our hosts talk about how they infuse the gospel in all areas of the life of their church, even some unexpected places.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Everyone is busy, and church planters are no exception. With so many demands for your attention, how do you prioritize your time? What do you say ‘no’ to? In this episode, our hosts discuss where they direct their finite energy, their unique giftings and the way different seasons effect what they give their time to.
Read More: 5 Priorities for Managing Time (Read Time: 4 Minutes)
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Peyton Jones is the author of Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting Churches. It is a result of asking the question, “What do church planters need to know?” In this episode, Jones explains more about the art and science of church planting, rediscovering the first century style of ministry and the difference between planting a church and starting a new church.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Shane Pruitt is the next gen evangelism director for the North American Mission Board, and this summer, he saw thousands of students profess faith in Christ and hundreds acknowledge their call from God into ministry. In this episode, he talks about the “revival generation,” the difference between the universal call of God to all Christians and a unique call from God, and the significance and necessity of calling out the called.
Read More: God Can Use Anyone to Plant a Church (Read Time: 9 Minutes)
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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When you think about a metropolis of church planting activity, Omaha, Nebraska may not be top of mind. But through a few faithful men, God has used one church to plant 13 churches and baptize over 1,000 people. In this episode, Ryan Johnston, a Send Network church planting catalyst, talks about how they’ve been part of a movement of multiplying churches throughout Nebraska and what practices and principles planters throughout North America can learn from what God is doing in the Midwest.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Daniel Yang is the director of Send Institute and a well-known missiologist. On May 4, he unexpectedly suffered a heart attack and immediately underwent a quadruple bypass surgery — an event that would undoubtedly change anyone’s life. In this episode, he talks about what the Lord spoke to him during his hospital stay, his spiritual mentors, listening and obeying the call of God and the future of the church.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Where will your next church planter come from? A seminary? Another church? Or is he sitting in your pew, right now, waiting to be challenged and trained? In this episode, Aaron Cavin, lead pastor of Life Community Church in Quincy, Massachusetts, describes their pipeline process that has allowed them to reproduce healthy church planters from within their congregation. He also talks about the importance of a slow, sustainable pipeline that adequately prepares future planters.
Read More: Getting Multiplication in Your Church’s DNA (6 Minute Read)
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* SEND NETWORK to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Mental health isn’t widely talked about among pastors and church planters, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less of a harmful reality. D.A. Horton is a professor at California Baptist University, and in this episode, he vulnerably shares the ups and downs of his church planting journey and mental health and healing for pastors.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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William “Duce” Branch serves as the assistant professor of Preaching and Bible at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He’s also a rapper, a preacher and was part of a church planting team. At the time, church planting wasn’t on his radar, but he was encouraged by a friend to consider planting a church that was welcoming to hip-hop — something he hadn’t experienced yet. In this episode, he talks about the difference between church planting then and now, contextualization, fame and engaging with social media.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Jimmy Scroggins brings a wealth of experience to the table about church multiplication. He’s the lead pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Florida, and he describes the church culture as “baptisty” when he first got there. This barrier — among other things — prevented them from reaching the unchurched in their community. As intentional and strategic changes have been made, the Lord has used the Family Church community to multiply and spread the gospel throughout South Florida. In this episode, Jimmy talks about their church multiplication strategy, the financial cost of church planting, convocational planting and more.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Church planters are busy. Each week a stream of tasks, people and obligations yell for his attention. It’s easy to get to Friday afternoon only to realize you have a whole sermon to write. In this episode, we talk with H.B. Charles, the pastor-teacher at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville and Orange Park, Florida, about the significance of the preached Word of God, shaping your congregation’s worldview and addressing the felt and real needs of your congregation.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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The phrase ‘gospel driven’ is tossed around a lot in evangelical spaces these days. It’s easy to say, but hard to live by — especially in seasons of pastoring and church planting when the seats and pews of your church are bare each Sunday. In this episode, our hosts interview Jared Wilson, the director of content strategy for Midwestern Seminary, about a subtle threat to gospel-driven church planting.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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At the North American Mission Board (NAMB), it’s all about the gospel. In this episode, our hosts talk with Kevin Ezell, the President of NAMB, about planting churches with Send Network and what it’s like to be part of a family of churches that are planting churches everywhere for everyone.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, visit us online at SendNetwork.com or text “Send Network” to 888123. (Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply. Terms & privacy: slkt.io/1goE.)
Is the multiethnic church a realistic prospect for the Church today? Should planters and pastors pursue this vision? In this episode, our hosts — with Sam Dula who leads the Boulevard program at Send Network — answer these questions and talk about the ways multicultural tensions are affecting church planting and the necessity of partnering with churches who are different from your own.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, visit us online at SendNetwork.com or text “Send Network” to 888123. (Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply. Terms & privacy: slkt.io/1goE .)
We say it all the time in Send Network: We can do far more together than we could apart. No church planter can plant churches alone. He needs people and churches to partner with him and his team to fulfill the ministry God has called them to in their city. But navigating church partnerships can be tricky for the planter and the church, especially when each has different expectations. In this episode, our hosts talk again with Chris Phillips, the lead pastor and planter of Journey Point Church, Denver, Colorado to talk about navigating church partnerships.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, visit us online at SendNetwork.com or text “Send Network” to 888123. (Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply. Terms & privacy: slkt.io/1goE .)
Chris Phillips oozes joy. He finds joy in church planting (even though it’s immensely challenging), and he finds joy in knowing his city and loving his neighbors. He’s the lead pastor and planter of Journey Point Church in Denver, Colorado, and on this episode, our hosts chat with him about where his joy comes from, how to cultivate healthy partnerships and why it’s critical for church planters to know, love and date their city.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text* “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
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Jonah Easley was living as a missionary in China when he and his wife had their first child. They noticed developmental delays and brought him to America where he was diagnosed with autism. Amid having more children — each diagnosed with autism as well — they planted Awakening Church in Seattle, Washington. In this episode, Jonah vulnerably shares about how God has used his family to help him grow emotionally and spiritually, the church planting experience and the spiritual apathy of Washington state.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, visit us online at SendNetwork.com or text “Send Network” to 888123. (Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply. Terms & privacy: slkt.io/1goE .)
There’s a lot of talk these days about leadership in the church. But what’s the difference between leadership development and disciple-making? In this episode, our hosts sit down with Charles Smith. He’s the Senior Vice President for Institutional Relations and Assistant Professor of Christian Leadership at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. They talk about what leadership is, who leaders are, how to differentiate between leadership development and disciple-making and how church planters can lead well.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
In this episode, Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, reflects on 20 years of church planting and ministry experience. He talks about how they planted their church without losing their family, the power and necessity of prayer, and one pivotal word of advice to new planters.
Mentions:
- Vance Pitman Leadership Podcast
- Unburdened: Stop Living for Jesus so Jesus can Live Through You
- The Stressless Life: Experiencing the Unshakeable Presence of God’s Indescribable Peace
A proper view of the Kingdom of God is essential to planting a healthy church. God is expanding His rule and reign throughout the world, and every local church is a temporary tool established by Jesus to expand His Kingdom. In this episode, our hosts sit down with Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, to talk about the essential nature of having Kingdom perspective while church planting.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
For years now, Send Network churches and planters have been planting churches everywhere for everyone in the diverse place that is North America. In this episode, Noah, Dhati and Heiden talk with Félix Cabrera — regional director for Puerto Rico and director of Send Network Español — about how the gospel is moving forward through Spanish-language churches.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
In this episode, Dhati, Heiden and Noah talk about how to think missionally in the summer by looking at the gifts and resources you have in hand and deciding how to use them strategically. They also talk about how to rest with intentionality.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
Noah, Heiden and Dhati talked with special guest Ed Stetzer — executive director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center — at the Send Network breakfast at the SBC annual meeting this week. In this episode, they discuss where the future of the SBC and church planting is headed, covering everything from post-pandemic life to navigating differences.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
When it comes to membership and church plants, it can be complicated. In this episode, Dhati, Heiden and Noah talk about when and how to handle church membership. They also talk about the three-week challenge, how COVID-19 complicated things, and how to move from a social club mindset to a family mindset.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
In this week’s episode, Noah and Dhati react to a conversation from Twitter about church planting and friendships. Noah and Dhati talk about their personal experience, and how relationships and multiplication go together.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online atSendNetwork.com. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&data rates may apply. Terms & privacy: slkt.io/1goE.), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
In this week’s episode, Noah and Heiden — joined by Send Las Vegas team member Josh Carter — each discuss three things church planters should think about when planning the next season of their church’s life.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
In this week’s episode, Noah and Heiden interview Josh Carter, who recently joined the Send Las Vegas team. Josh recently came out of an amazing but challenging church planting adventure in Portland, Oregon, and shares about the spiritual warfare he faced, how he’s processing it and how he paced his church’s planting process.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
In another shot-clock-style episode, Heiden asks Noah questions on topics from Bible translations to multiplying church plants, along with where the name August Gate Church came from. A couple of surprises make it in there too, like home-run wars and missional beard oil.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
From time management to team management, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner talk about the most challenging things about starting a church plant and what is still a struggle for them today.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
It’s a little bit of a trick question, but Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner talk through it with Shane Pruitt in part two of their conversation on evangelism. Plus, they share their three personal favorite ways to share the gospel.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
Has COVID killed the altar call? What’s the difference between an altar call and a gospel invitation, and how do you make them effective? Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Evangelism Director for the North American Mission Board, joins Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner for the first of a two-part conversation on evangelism.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
What does it mean for a church planter to create a bonfire rather than a light post? What’s the best way to multiply small groups, and how much vacation time should a church planter take? In another shot clock style episode, Noah gives Dhati 30 seconds to answer questions on topics relevant to church planters—and topics like his favorite workout and current playlist.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
This week on We are Send Network, Dhati and Noah talk about the dynamics of planting a church in a gentrifying neighborhood. From navigating cultural preferences and unexpected changes, to making people feel welcome no matter their background, the guys talk about finding common ground and gospel effectiveness amid these tensions.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
Take a moment and dream of all the projects and mission opportunities you would take on if you had more people and a little bit more money. “Heart and resources often follow vision. I love bringing mission teams in to enable them to do what my people haven’t been able to do,” said cohost Noah Oldham. In this episode, Noah and Heiden Ratner talk about the advantages and potential drawbacks of having mission teams serve your church plant and how planters can practically help prepare them. Heiden also shares three clear goals he communicates to every mission team.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
What translation of the Bible should we use? What’s the perfect size of a small group? How long should my sermon be? In this shot clock style episode, Noah Oldham gives Heiden Ratner 30 seconds to answer common questions church planters often wonder about—along with some fun preferences, like Jordan or Kobe.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
Church plants inevitably go through an ebb and flow of seasons. There’s the prelaunch and postlaunch seasons, and some seasons are full of success while others seem to pile up with obstacles. In this episode, our cohosts describe how they have stewarded the various seasons of church planting and how they have had to fight coveting the seasons others are in and their own past seasons of success.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123 (Msg&Data rates may apply), or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.
In this episode, the guys respond to listener feedback! They engage with the question of whether church planting team members can themselves be considered church planters. They talk about the role of the lead church planter, his team members and the togetherness and diversity of skills necessary for planting a church.
To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online atSendNetwork.com.
Why should a pastor or church planter consider being part of Send Network? In this episode, our cohosts share their top three reasons why they chose Send Network and love being part of a network that’s working to plant churches everywhere for everyone.
Church planters are never called to the mission alone. In this episode, cohosts Dhati Lewis, Heiden Ratner and Noah Oldham talk about how to develop a church planting team and the different roles people played on their planting teams as they were planting their churches.
For most pastors and church planters, Easter is a big day. And it’s a big evangelistic day as newcomers are more likely to be sitting in the pews. In this episode, Heiden Ratner and Noah Oldham get very practical about how pastors and planters can begin preparing for Easter this year.
In this episode, cohosts Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner are joined by special guest, Michael Byrd, the lead planter and pastor of Faith Community Bible Church in St. Louis, Missouri, to talk about Black History Month and kingdom contributions in the past, present and future — as well as church planting in the inner city.
How do we create a culture of generosity in our churches — especially in a season that has felt more depleting for many of our members? In this episode, pastors Heiden Ratner and Noah Oldham talk about a few ways planters, pastors and church leaders can help create a culture of generosity in their churches where members freely give their time, talents and treasures to those in need.
To read church planting stories and to learn more about how you generously invest in the work of church planting in North America visit AnnieArmstrong.com.
Mentions:
- Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
- NAMB’s Next Step Leader
- The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
The Church is more than a Sunday gathering, but not less. And in this season where many haven’t been able to gather normally, we’ve had to take a step back and truly evaluate what Sunday is all about. Who is it for? The person who doesn’t know Christ? Those who are already in the body of Christ? Both? In this episode, our cohosts talk about who Sunday service is for and why it’s important for Christians to “not forsake the assembly,” even when we can’t meet in person.
Do you have a space where you’re really known? There comes a point in the church planting journey—after you’ve built community for everyone else—that it becomes difficult for planters and their wives to have community for themselves. In this episode, our cohosts discuss why authentic community is vital for church planting families, the models and rhythms of community and obstacles to having it.
Every context is different, and so are the thoughts and preferences of our co-hosts. In this episode, they discuss their preferences between the neighborhood model and the regional model — and how God sometimes led them in a different direction when they planted their churches.
How do the men and women surrounding the Christmas narrative — a story over 2,000 years old — give principles for church planting today? In this episode, co-hosts Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner share what the wise men, Joseph, Anna and Simeon remind us about several nonnegotiable principles of church planting.
How far in advance should pastors plan their sermons? Is it ever appropriate to deviate from your preaching calendar? In this episode, co-hosts Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner discuss how they think through preaching strategies, calendars and team teaching.
If you’re thinking about planting a church, there are three essential elements you must incorporate. In this episode, our co-hosts discuss why prayer, preparation and planning are essential for prospective planters to consider and live out.
Want to learn more about starting a residency at your church or where to find one near you? Visit sendnetwork.com/residencies to learn more about residencies and discover a program nearest you.
Virtually every church plant and pastor needs — or wants — more leaders. But what should pastors be looking for in the potential leaders who sit among them every week? In this episode, hosts Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner discuss their top three leadership qualities they look for as they seek to intentionally identify and train leaders.
To learn more about how you can practically train leaders in your church, check out our Multiplication Pipeline and residency resources.
Mentions:
Leadership resource recommendations:
- Noah Oldham- Leaders that Last by Dave Kraft
- Dhati Lewis- Leading with a Limp by Dan B. Allender
- Heiden Ratner- Vance Pitman Leadership Podcast; Replenish by Lance Witt
With so much going on in the church and in the lives of your members, engaging your city can feel daunting. And with so many needs, it can be hard to know where to start. In this episode, our hosts talk about how and why we should engage our city and communities, practical ideas about where your church can begin and how to holistically engage your city and community — spiritually, emotionally, economically and socially.
To learn more about how you can engage the needs of your city and be part of holistic restoration, download our Send Relief ministry guides.
Pastors and church planters, how are you feeling as you lead your churches through this season of political divisiveness and struggle? It can seem our country — and sometimes our churches — are more divided along political lines than in recent history. In this episode, our cohosts discuss how they’ve been leading their church in this political season and how to help your church pursue unity, love and how to lock arms for the greater mission.
This was filmed in October — prior to election day and the final results of the 2020 election.
A lot of church plants don’t make it to their fifth birthday. And sadly, fewer church plants survive if their planting pastor leaves within the first few years. How does a church planter ensure his church will endure, even if he isn’t around? In this episode, our hosts talk about what elements and systems a planter must establish in order to thrive for the long-haul.
Multiplication Pipeline helps you train leaders in your church and send them on mission. Learn more at namb.net/pipeline.
It takes a lot to plant a church, but there are key skills and characteristics every church planter needs. Using a new, creative format, hosts Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner discuss what they each believe are the top three skills every church planter needs to plant a church.
Mentions:
- The Art of War by Sun Tzu
- The Christ-Centered Expositor: A Field Guide for Word-Driven Disciple Makers by Tony Merida
Discerning the call to plant a church can be tough. It’s unique and personalized to each planter, but there are also common aspects that manifest differently in people’s lives. There’s a lot to consider, and in this episode, hosts Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner help future church planters and sending and multiplying churches know what to look for, what questions to ask and the hard reality of church planting.
Do you feel called to plant a church? We’d love to help. Learn more about our assessment process at namb.net/assessment
Sometimes, pastors and church planters end up taking care of everyone — except themselves — and the grind of ministry wears them down to the point of exhaustion or burnout. Is it selfish to care for yourself so you can better care for those around you? In this episode, We are Send Network hosts Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner talk about the importance of self-care for leaders and practical ways pastors can take care of themselves in busy seasons and beyond.
If you’re a pastor, church planter or in any ministry leadership position, dealing with criticism is unavoidable. Now—perhaps more than ever—pastors are bombarded with emails, phone calls and text messages about how they ought to be handling things. But how should they respond to these criticisms? Is there some criticism that’s helpful and others that are harmful? In this episode, Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner will discuss hard criticism, helpful criticism, and harmful criticism and how to respond to each.
Mentions:
- Dealing with the Rejection and Praise of Man by Bob Sorge
- Read one chapter of Proverbs a day
There’s a lot of church planting networks out there. But what makes Send Network unique? In this episode, Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner discuss who Send Network is, where we’re going and how we’ve seen our values play out this year.
Beginning Sept. 24, new co-hosts Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner will join Dhati Lewis for “We are Send Network.” Here’s a quick word from the guys about what’s in store.
How do you inspire your church planting team to own, sacrifice and hone the vision of your church plant? In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Heiden Ratner, lead pastor and church planter of WALK Church in Las Vegas, Nevada to talk about how church planters can practically help their team own the vision of the church plant and the three types of callings church planting teams members should consider before planting.
If you surveyed your church and asked what the essence of the Church is, what would they say? You may find many members answer along the lines of the church being a vendor of religious goods and services instead of a missionary incubator. In this Send Network Gathering breakout session Brad Brisco — Send Network’s director of bivocational church planting — talks about how vital it is for the Church to regain its missionary mindset and nature.
To view more content from the virtual Send Network Gathering visit sendnetworkgatherings.com.
How can God get the greatest glory in every aspect of your members’ lives and thus solve your city’s greatest problem? Bruce Moore, lead pastor of Christ Fellowship Church in Tampa, Florida, answers this question in this virtual Send Network Gathering breakout session. Moore reminds us that every time God calls us into a God-size vision to solve our city’s problems, we’re invited to start with what He’s already given us — the people, places and resources around us.
To view more content from the virtual Send Network Gatherings visit sendnetworkgatherings.com.
Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world. More than 50% of the population is born outside of the country. So, how do church planters pastor and plant in such a diverse context with varying traditions and viewpoints? In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Kesavan Balasingham, lead pastor of Fellowship Park in Rouge, Toronto, to talk about the historical ethnic tensions in Canada and how their church has continued to make disciples in a multi-ethnic city and church.
Want to learn more about how your church can have candid conversations about race, ethnicity and our present cultural moment? Register for the watch-party style Send Network Gathering on August 20.
Download Undivided: More than a Hashtag at undivided.net on August 20.
This is a “Spouse Spotlight” episode with guest host, Jackie Taylor, a member of the Send Network Spouse Development team and Melinda Pacheco, church planting wife of Redemption Church in Brooklyn, New York. In this episode, Jackie and Melinda discuss how church planting has impacted her family, the blessing of the COVID-19 pandemic and what she wished she had known at the start of their church planting journey.
Related Post: An Interview with Church Planting Wife Melinda Pacheco
What’s next? It’s a question we ask about ourselves, but have we asked it about the leaders we are leading? In this episode, Dhati Lewis sits down with Ed Kang, lead pastor of Gracepoint Church in Berkeley, California, to talk about how he leads and develops the next generation of church planters.
Many church planters look to the promised land of a permanent building, but Mark Lee — lead pastor of Vantage Point Church in Eastvale, California — challenges planters to see their building as a tool and not necessarily the end goal. In this episode, Mark Lee and Dhati Lewis discuss Mark’s church’s move from a portable church structure to a permanent one and the number one reason he recently joined Send Network.
This episode is a recording from the Send Network Gathering in Phoenix, Arizona. Watch content from previous Send Network Gatherings at SendNetworkGathering.com.
Register for the next virtual Send Network Gathering August 20 at 1 p.m. EDT as we release an all-new resource, Undivided: More Than a Hashtag.
Church planter, are you seeking to plant a church or start a worship service? In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Chris and Libby Phillips— planting couple of Journey Point Church in Denver, Colorado—to talk about the difference between planting a church and starting a church and what it means to be for the city, and not just in the city.
Whose church are you planting — God’s Church or your church? In this episode Rob Wilton, lead pastor of Vintage Church Pittsburg, shares four ways to help you ensure you’re planting God’s Church and not just your church. This episode is an excerpt from the May 21 virtual Send Network Gathering.
Watch content from previous Send Network Gatherings at SendNetworkGathering.com.
Register for the next virtual Send Network Gathering on August 20 at 1 p.m. EDT as we release an all-new resource, Undivided: More Than a Hashtag.
Every member in your church is your next potential church planter or church planting team member. This week, Dhati Lewis sits down with Brian Bowman, lead pastor of Valley Life Church in Phoenix, Arizona, to talk about how his church has raised up missional leaders from within their congregation to plant churches in metro Phoenix.
Related Article: 5 ways to generate vision and passion for church planting by Garth Leno
Whether it’s a pandemic, racial injustice, or the critical importance of spreading the gospel to communities across North America through church planting, this is the moment for the Church of Jesus Christ. Moments of crisis are always opportunities for the church to make Jesus known and invite others into His kingdom. This episode is an excerpt from Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, from the May 21 virtual Send Network Gathering.
Watch content from previous Send Network Gatherings at SendNetworkGathering.com.
Register for the next virtual Send Network Gathering on August 20 at 1 p.m. EDT as we release an all-new resource, Undivided: More Than a Hashtag.
When Noe Garcia accepted the job as lead pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church (NPHX) — a church in desperate need of revitalization — the only other non-Anglo person on staff was the janitor. “It wasn’t the church I had always dreamed about, and in the same token, I wasn’t the pastor they’d always dreamed about,” Garcia explained. In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Noe Garcia about his experience with depression, ethnic identity and the immense freedom that accompanied it all while revitalizing NPHX.
You can’t give what you don’t have, and in hard seasons, caring for our souls is one of the first disciples to go. In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Rivers Partin — a planting wife, member of the spouse development team for Send Network and licensed professional counselor — to talk about the challenges and importance of caring for your soul in difficult seasons.
As pastors and church leaders grapple with a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reopening process, they’re having to look at the future of their church with new eyes. What aspects of life and ministry will quickly return to normal, slowly return to normal and what will never be the same again? In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Bruce Moore, lead pastor of Christ Fellowship Church in Tampa, Florida, to discuss churches’ reopening process.
Related Blog: Florida Send Network churches aid healthcare community
Helpful Resources:
- Practical guidelines for returning to church
- Church member return-to-church survey
Mentions:
- Recovery Shapes Document (Courtesy of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Fla.)
- Send Network Virtual Gathering
These days, it feels like we’re being engulfed with bad news. As pastors and leaders, it’s tempting to feel the pressure to say the right thing, at the right time, in the right way without first processing our own thoughts and emotions. In this episode, Dhati Lewis sits down with Noah Oldham, Send Network’s senior director of Deploy, to talk about the need for pastors and leaders to process complex emotions in challenging seasons — especially in light of the recent killing of Ahmaud Arbery.
Related Blog Post: Pastor, you need to process your grief too
Pastoral Care Line: Call 1-844-PASTORS1 to talk to trained, professional counselors, available every day from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Confidentiality is ensured by Focus on the Family.
Pastors and church planters are wearing a lot of hats these days. And while most people see only one side of their lives, their wives see it all—the good days and the bad. This special episode of We are Send Network features Kathy Litton, director of planting spouse development for Send Network and Angie Lewis, a church planting spouse and Send Network vice president, Dhati Lewis’ wife, to talk about how spouses can emotionally support their husbands in this season and beyond.
Related Blog Post: When your husband needs emotional support
Kevin Ezell, president of the North America Mission Board (NAMB), is caring for thousands of pastors and church planters during the present crisis. In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Ezell to talk about how NAMB is caring for North American missionaries and their families during the coronavirus pandemic and how he has navigated leading a organization in an ever-changing and unpredictable season.
Should churches continue to exclusively meet online after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides? In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Bobby Gruenewald, a pastor at Life.Church; Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College; and Micah Fries, senior pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church; about continuing to meet online as a church after the pandemic subsides and if our new way of gathering should be the long-term norm.
Mentions: Church Online
In this special episode, Dhati Lewis sits down with some of the leading church planting practitioners and thought leaders in the nation — Vance Pitman, Ed Kang, Sean Sears, James Roberson and Martín Vargas — to answer your questions about how to practically shepherd your church and continue to fulfill the Great Commission during COVID-19.
Related Blog Post: What has COVID-19 exposed about the Church in North America?
Supporting your husband, taking care of the kids and their schoolwork, following up with members in your church and sharing the gospel — planting wives do a lot. And now, with the COVID-19 outbreak, they do it all from their home. In this episode, Dhati Lewis sits down with Kathy Litton, director of planter spouse development for Send Network, and planting wife Seané Rice, who along with husband, Ryan, serve Connect Church in New Orleans, to talk about the unique challenges and fears COVID-19 presents for planting wives, how their church has continued to serve the community and practical ways their family has stayed healthy in this season.
Related Blog Post: 5 Challenges for church planting wives during COVID-19
In a short time, COVID-19 consumed our world (literally), and the Church has been forced to adjust. The coronavirus has revealed aspects about the Church in North America that have previously been obscure. In this episode, Dhati Lewis and Brad Brisco, the director of bivocational church planting for the North American Mission Board, discuss four things every pastor and church planter should be thinking about today, before COVID-19 subsides.
Mentions:
- “Covocational Church Planting” by Brad Brisco
- “ReThink: 9 Paradigm Shifts for Activating the Church” by Brad Brisco
What we’re seeing right now with COVID-19 is not the crisis—it’s only phase one. How can the Church be prepared for the coming phases of the COVID-19 pandemic? In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College and an expert consultant on crisis management, about the Church’s response to COVID-19, the different phases we’ll experience and the hopeful new normal after the crisis subsides.
COVID-19 has brought Sunday services—and the world—to a temporary halt. These are unnerving, unpredictable times. As pastors and church planters, our initial impulse could be fear — fear of what’s going to happen to our church, our community, our family.
In this special episode, Dhati Lewis sits down (virtually, of course!) with Clint Clifton, church planter and lead pastor of Pillar Church in the D.C. area and the new senior director of development for Send Network, and Noah Oldham, church planter and lead pastor of August Gate Church in St. Louis and the new senior director of deployment for Send Network.
Together, they discuss what pastors need in these unprecedented times, initiatives their churches are doing to stay connected and the hope we have as God’s people.
More information about pastoring amid COVID-19 available here.
Money can’t solve all of your church’s issues, but it can fund the vision. Fundraising is important, but money and finances is a prominent struggle for church planters. On this episode of We are Send Network, Dhati Lewis interviews Matt Lawson, lead pastor of Story City Church in Burbank, CA, to talk about two essential things every church planter needs to fundraise for their church.
Related Blog Post: Maintaining an ongoing relationship with supporters
The numbers don’t tell the whole story, but they tell an important part of it. In 2015, 4,000 churches were planted. In the same year, 3,700 churches closed their doors. Five years later, our numbers aren’t much better. We need to plant and revitalize churches. In this episode, Dhati Lewis interviews Daniel Yang, the director of Send Institute, to talk about the state and stats of North American missions.
Related Blog Post: Church Planting Capacity for the Next Generation
How do pastors start residencies? Should they begin with leaders in their church or draw from people outside of their congregation? On this episode, Dhati Lewis sits down with Clint Clifton— church planter and lead pastor of Pillar Church in Dumfries, Virginia— to talk about how pastors and church planters can practically start residency programs and raise up missional leaders from within their congregation.
Mentions: Interested in receiving a baseline syllabus for your residency program? Email residencies@namb.net.
Related Blog Post: The Essential Resource for Church Planting
“70% of kids who grew up in good churches walk away from Jesus in college,” said Troy Nesbitt, Director of the Salt Network. The college campus is littered with prodigals and students who have never been exposed to Christianity. Learn why and how church plants can reach this demographic as Dhati Lewis and Troy Nesbitt talk about their strategy behind planting churches on major university campuses and why reaching the next generation is vital.
Mentions:
- Interested in the Salt Company Conference? Learn more and register here.
- Click here, for more resources on reaching college students from the Salt Company.
Related Blog Post: The College Campus: A Plentiful Harvest
To see Acts 2 lived out today, you need not look any further than university age students living out their faith. Meeting daily, breaking bread, praying and studying God’s Word regularly—there’s perhaps no easier place to model Acts 2 than on the campus. This week, Dhati Lewis interviews Ed Kang, lead pastor of Gracepoint Church, as he shares about how they develop and train leaders on the college campus toward the vision of having “an Acts 2 church in every college town.”
Related Blog Post: 3 Ways to reach university students
“I wanted to quit so many times,” said James Roberson, lead pastor and church planter of The Bridge Church in Brooklyn, New York. On this episode of We are Send Network Roberson vulnerably shares the unique challenges and fears of planting a church in New York and two essential aspects of church planting anywhere.
Related Blog Post: 3 Ways to endure in Church Planting
Martin Vargas planted Iglesia Church out of a deep need in his community. Forty percent of the people in his community were Spanish-speaking residents, but there were no healthy Spanish-speaking churches in Hollywood, Florida. This week on We Are Send Network, Dhati Lewis sits down with Martin Vargas, lead pastor of Iglesia Church in Florida, to talk about Vargas’ church planting story and his heart to discover and develop three types of church planting leaders in his community and across the world.
Related Blog Post: 3 Things Church Planters Must Do to Multiply
No one has ever said being a multiplying church is easy. At Lifepoint Church, it’s not uncommon for life groups to become churches—and with church multiplication comes the reality of saying goodbye to key leaders and friends. On this episode of We are Send Network Dhati Lewis interviews Dean Fulks, lead pastor at Lifepoint Church in Columbus, Ohio, about how they became a multiplying church through their life groups, the sacrifice of being a multiplying church and the essentials of church planting.
Related Blog Post: The Hardest Part About Being a Multiplying Church
Rob Wilton, founder and pastor of Vintage Church in New Orleans and Pittsburgh sits down with Dhati Lewis, Vice President of Send Network and founder and pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, to talk about church planting at home and in a new city.
Related Blog Post: Church Planting: A Low Road with a High Calling.
We say we love the lost, but do the lost feel loved by us? This week, Dhati Lewis interviews Sean Sears, lead pastor at Grace Church in Boston to discuss the need for church planters to have relationships with non-Christians, and how planters can equip their members to do the same.
Listen to the Evangelism with Johnny Hunt to learn more about how to love your neighbor and share the gospel.
Related Blog Post: Who’s Your One Sunday Initiative.
Everyone has trauma. It’s the great divider in our nation and our relationships, and it keeps us from intimacy and healing. This week, Dhati Lewis interviews Chip Dodd, author of Voice of the Heart: A Call to Full Living, to discuss how we overcome trauma through feeling our feelings, telling the truth to the right people and giving ourselves back to a process that allows us to respond to life, not react to it.
Related Blog Post: Healing from Trauma in a Divided Nation
Pastors—and anyone serving in caregiving vocations—are some of the most vulnerable to burnout. They generously pour out their lives to others, and often at the expense of their themselves. In the midst of shepherding their people and cultivating their hearts to love God and others, their own heart gets lost in the shadow of the needs of others. This week, Dhati Lewis sits down with Chip Dodd, author of Voice of the Heart: A Call to Full Living, to discuss why it is necessary for pastors to be vigilant about what’s going on in their heart.
Bruce Moore sits down with Dhati Lewis, Vice President of Send Network and founder and pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, to discuss planting in the urban context, being resourceful as a church planter and the importance of being plugged in to the Send Network.
Keynon Akers and Shay Bethea sit down with Dhati Lewis, Vice President of Send Network and founder and pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, to discuss the importance of restoration and the best practices while working to restore dignity to underserved people in our communities.
Read more about restoration from Dhati in his blog post Restoration through the Great Requirement.
Dhati Lewis, Vice President of Send Network and founder and pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, sits down with his wife, Angie to discuss managing expectations as well as finding your own stride as a pastor’s wife.
Related Blog Post: Three ways pastors’ wives set healthy expectations
Jackie Taylor and Pam Wolfe sit down with Dhati Lewis, Vice President of Send Network and founder and pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, to discuss how they navigate their roles in the church as pastors wives.
Related Blog Post: Pastor’s Wives: There are no molds
Pastors Sam Calhoun and Jimmy Steele sit down with Dhati Lewis, Vice President of Send Network and founder and pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, to discuss how God used their replant experience to transform, not only their church, but also their community.
Watch this video to hear more about Jimmy and Sam’s unique story.
Sam was recently honored with the inaugural Replanter of the Year Award from NAMB. Read more about this special award here.
Related Blog Post: Three Prayers for a Dying Church
What will it take to see a gospel movement in the United States? “If we’re going to have a movement to the gospel in America, the only hope to that again is the Western U.S.,” says Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Join Dhati Lewis in part two of his interview with Vance Pitman, as they discuss the need for gospel influence in the West and the refreshing ways God has saved many in Las Vegas, in a pre-Christian context.
Follow Vance Pitman on Instagram and Twitter at @vancepitman.
Mentions:
- Hope Church, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Heiden Ratner, senior pastor of Walk Church, Las Vegas, Nevada
How did 16 middle class, Southern Baptist, Anglo-American families plant a church in Las Vegas, Nevada, where people speak 54 languages across a socioeconomically diverse population? Find out in part one of Dhati Lewis’ two-part interview with Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church. Vance discusses how it took getting to Las Vegas to realize the multi-ethnic church is not a new way of doing church, but is the New Testament church, and how their church has intentionally responded to the nations coming to Christ in Las Vegas.
Follow Vance Pitman on Instagram and Twitter at @vancepitman.
Mentions:
- Hope Church, Las Vegas, Nevada
- First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Woodstock, Georgia
- Johnny Hunt, senior vice president of Evangelism and Leadership at North American Mission Board
- Teddy Johnson, lead pastor of Hope Creative at Hope Church
On today’s episode of We Are Send Network: On the Front Lines with Church Planters, host Dhati Lewis interviews Steve Witt, senior pastor of The Well Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the southern part of the continental U.S., most have a general idea of Christianity and the Bible, but with the abundance of cultural and religious differences in Las Vegas, church planting and evangelism present particular challenges. Listen in as Steve discusses how he uses his opportunity as a football coach to share the gospel, his family’s call to move from the familiar comforts of Tennessee to the unknowns of Las Vegas, and how church planters can stay grounded and have longevity in ministry.
To keep up with Steve, follow him on Instagram at @stevethewellchurch.
Mentions:
- The Well Church
On this week’s episode of We Are Send Network: On the Front Lines with Church Planters, Dhati explores Las Vegas with Heiden Ratner, a locally raised church planter who returned to be senior pastor of Walk Church in Las Vegas. Heiden describes the unique experience of having grown up in the neighborhood where his church is now planted and conducting Sunday worship services in the gym where he played middle school basketball. Join us as Heiden talks about the ethnic diversity of Las Vegas, their process of finding a location to worship and how they sought to be a blessing instead of a burden for the school where they worship.
Show Notes:
To keep up with Heiden Ratner follow him on Twitter at @HeidenRatner.
Mentions:
- Walk Church, Las Vegas
- Hope Church, Las Vegas
- The Frequency Conference
- Vance Pitman, Senior Pastor at Hope Church
- Eric Mason, Lead Pastor of Epiphany Fellowship
- Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor of The Village Church
- North American Mission Board
On today’s episode of We Are Send Network: On the Front Lines with Church Planters, Corwin Oglesby interviews Dhati Lewis, the Lead Pastor and church planter of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, GA. In this episode, they discuss the hard beginnings of planting Blueprint, including: his family and church-planting team’s move from Texas to Atlanta, the process of finding a building to meet in and Dhati’s vision for himself as a laborer in God’s kingdom.
Show Notes
- Dhati is the author of “Among Wolves: Disciple-Making in the City” and “Advocates: The Narrow Path to Racial Reconciliation”.
- Mentions:
- Blueprint Church
On today’s episode of We Are Send Network: On the Front Lines with Church Planters, Dhati sits down with Milton Campbell to talk about his experience planting The Midtown Bridge Church in Atlantic Station, Atlanta, Ga. They discuss the specific need for the gospel in Atlanta, the excitement and challenges of reaching the community around Atlantic Station (upscale commercial and residential area) and the process of grieving with his congregation about a former pastor’s moral failure.
Show Notes
To keep up with Milton, follow him on Instagram @miltoncampbell.
Learn more about The Midtown Bridge Church
Mentions:
- Who’s Your One
- UYWI
On this week’s episode of We Are Send Network: On the Front Lines with Church Planters, Dhati sits down with Ryan McCammack to talk about his experience planting Gospel Hope Church in Decatur, on Atlanta’s east side. They discuss the joys and struggles of church planting as a family, the social and economic dynamics of living in an ethnically and generationally diverse community and church, their church’s robust church planting leadership pipeline and more.
Show Notes
Learn more about Gospel Hope Church at gospelhopechurch.com
Mentions in the video:
- Blueprint Church
- Undivided: Your Church & Racial Reconciliation
- Pipeline
- Send Network
Beginning June 9, join Send Network VP Dhati Lewis on the front lines with church planters. Hear stories of camaraderie, church multiplication and neighborhood restoration as Lewis, who started as a church planter, hits the road to chat with planters about life, ministry and the unique privileges and challenges of planting in their context.