One Size Fits None: Recent Episodes
Stephen Webb & Austin Coleman
Church planting is more like custom craftsmanship than we give it credit for. It's been industrialized and monetized but rarely maximized. And while most planters start with noble intentions, the grind wears on leaders and the urge to copy someone else takes hold. But in church planting, there's not a one size strategy that fits all. And even when you think you get it dialed in, things change and surprises come. This is One Size Fits None: a collection of conversations with church planters telling their stories.
What's it like to lead a church in one of most churched and Christian cities in the country? Well James would know. He leads a dynamic church in Lynchburg, VA and continues to reach new people with fresh insights and bold challenges. We like the way this guys thinks!
James on IG
Hill City Community Church
HC3 on IG
Steven brings experience and wisdom to church planting. Having served another church and pastor for years, he brings knowledge that can only be learned through experience. He and his family moved to Murfreesboro, TN with a launch date in mind, only to change a couple times and be better for it. He's another rugged pandemic planter that is going to help you plant strong on the other side of the pandemic.
Steven on IG
Avenue Church on IG
Jeff brings some aged wisdom to the conversation of church planting. Having been on staff at a larger southern California church as well as being well-connected to it's leaders, he has leveraged that experience and exposure to keep a strong footing through building a church in a pandemic among the other normal hurdles of planting. He's also just a real cool dude you'd like to go surfing with.
Jeff on IG
Rhythm Church
Jeremy went from one vacation spot in Asheville, NC to another in Myrtle Beach, SC. After serving a decade at a megachurch as a campus pastor (among other roles), he and his wife dove into church planting near the beach. He has a unique gift of methodically thinking through and communicating expectations and standards. Listen in and you can probably apply some of this thinking in other areas of your life.
Jeremy on IG
Coastway Church on IG
Coastway Church
Money is one of the easiest things to come by in church planting but because it's 1) overthought and 2) idolized then we think it's one of the hardest. You can solve a lot of money problems by simply being a good investment and clear about what that means.
We shake the flow up between interviews with a deeper dive into finances. Where to get money, why, how, what to think about it, and more.
Jason and his wife, Monique, planted Freedom Church in Liberty, Texas where they serve as Lead Pastors, and have three children, Vivianne, John William, and Audrey, and a British lab, Bree.
He is an author, pastor, and a dynamic communicator who has used passion, humor, and creativity to encourage, develop, and inspire people to embrace God’s best for more than two decades.
He has a passion to see people set free from sin, negative thought processes, from mediocrity and passionless Christianity. Jason lives to help people see that there is more to their relationship with God than they could ever imagine, and through both spoken and written words, he wants to help them reach their highest potential in Christ Jesus.
All Jason's Links
Podcast - The Daily Hit
Books on Amazon
- Killing the Orphan Spirit
- Walk Around Grace
- Battle: For Yourself, Your Marriage, Your Family
- What Do You Really Want? 7 Keys to Bearing Fruit
- Free: Winning the War Against Sexual Immorality
- The Prayer Prompt Journal
- Waddles the Duck: Who Am I?
- 21 Days: Kickstarting Your Prayer Life
- 5 Things: A Guide to Help Parents Equip Their Teenagers to Overcome
Forrest and his wife left the wonderful foodie city of Charleston to go home to Kentucky and start Multiply Church in Frankfort. They've been friends of ours for a while and we've been able to cheer them on as they push into the best ahead for their church plant. Forrest has been a great example of building on his previous experiences in different cities, churches, and positions. Listen in. Share this. And give us a good rating.
@ForrestColeman_ on IG
@MultiplyChurch_ on IG
MultiplyKY.com
What would it be like if a special forces solder started a church? Well now we know.
Keith and his wife, Heidi, lead a family and church in the greater Raleigh area of North Carolina. He spent over 14 years in the Army and yielded to yet a higher calling to build the Church as a pastor. He has a lot of experience and wisdom to share, listen well.
@Keith.a.waller on IG
@newlifenc.church on IG
NewLifeNC.Church
Cory leads through vulnerability. It's both encouraging and challenging to hear his story. He's got plenty of wisdom and some of the best one-liners we've heard yet. :) Take some notes and drop some of those nuggets on a friend.
Cory on IG
Redemption Church on IG
Redemption Church online
Ben is born, raised, and planted in Syracuse, NY. He's a former Creative Pastor, and his knowledge on the creative side of church was extra helpful as his church launched online in the middle of a global pandemic. He's the lead pastor of Thrive City Church in the heart of Syracuse. He brings a vulnerability that is uncommon for lead pastors, and shares some of the real and raw of church planting in this season. Listen and share!
Ben Tubbs on IG
Thrive City Church
Thrive City Church on IG
This is a different take on the typical church planter story. Swebb church plant and church leadership story started in Texas (where he was born and raised), went to plant a church in Denver, swung over to Elevation in Charlotte, dropped down to Orlando to plant a campus, and circled back to Austin. The thread that links it all together: building the Church.
Swebb on IG
StephenPWebb.com
Trent does not, by his own admission, fit the cliche church planter mold. He's a little older and thinks a little differently. But that's where the wisdom is. He's served as a fire fighter and with EMS for many years, served churches in different states, and then decided to jump into eastern Tennessee to plant Crosspath. He's a fun guy with some good insights from a few more trips around the sun. And can offer up some solid beard balm recommendations too.
Crosspath Church
Allen went from Dallas to California to South Carolina. He's the catalyst for and lead pastor of Vivid Church outside Columbia, SC. He and his wife both have that "Jonathan complex" we think more should have. You know, the "perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf" thought that propels people into dangerous yet hopeful endeavors where only God will get the glory. He's got a ton of energy, passion, and drive. But Allen points out for us that this isn't about a personality but a decision. And everyone can make a massive impact whatever their skills, circumstances, and personality type. Listen and share!
Allen Kendrick on IG
Vivid Church
Vivid Church on IG
Austin Coleman is the co-host of this podcast so it made sense that he'd be our first interview.
He's the Lead Pastor and Church Planter of Heart & Soul Church in Knoxville, TN. He, his wife, and team launched their church in what some may consider the worst time to do so: September 2020, in the middle of a pandemic.
But as you listen you'll learn how what seemed like an insurmountable barrier is now in the rear-view mirror and they're reaching hundreds each week and continue to grow and speak life into their city.
Connect with Heart & Soul Church at www.heartandsoul.church and on IG @heartandsoul.church.
Connect with Austin on Instagram: @austinrcoleman.
** The first recorded episode of One Size Fits None (although these will drop in a different order for a variety of reasons).
It's a storytelling podcast. We know there are "experts" everywhere - I, Swebb, even claim to be one when it's convenient :) - but this podcast is focused on the stories of the pioneers and planters. From different networks, denominations, and backgrounds, we can all mine for value in their stories.
If we can help you or encourage in some way in your church leadership journey or role, hit us up on Instagram @StephenPWebb and @AustinRColeman. Or at Swebb's website: StephenPWebb.com