Intentional Churches Podcast

Radical Alignment: One Solution, with Doug & Bart

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:51:12 +0000

In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug, Bart, and Erin unpack one of the most critical chapters in Radical Alignment—what alignment really means and why so many churches struggle to achieve it.

From consensus-driven mediocrity to the hidden forces of individualized preferences and institutional thinking, this conversation gets to the root of why churches drift—and how to lead them back to clarity and momentum.

You’ll hear real stories from church leaders, practical insights on identifying misalignment, and a powerful reminder that alignment doesn’t start with strategy—it starts with personal ownership of the Great Commission.

If you’ve ever felt like your church is busy but not moving forward, this episode will help you diagnose the real issue and give you a path toward true alignment.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

Timestamps

00:00 – Why consensus decision-making leads to mediocrity
01:00 – What “alignment” actually means in the church
02:30 – Alignment = mutual ownership of the Great Commission
05:20 – The two forces driving misalignment in every church
08:30 – Real example: programs creeping back post-COVID
10:40 – Institutional thinking vs. mission-driven decisions
12:00 – The hidden danger of language drift on your team
14:00 – Why alignment must be constantly tended
16:30 – The myth of “arriving” at alignment
18:00 – Symptoms of misalignment leaders often ignore
19:30 – Unity vs. consensus: what the Bible actually teaches
21:00 – Why healthy tension is a sign of alignment
22:30 – Stop solving problems—start managing tensions
24:00 – Finding your “true north” as a leadership team
26:00 – Thinking vs. outcomes: what alignment really measures
27:00 – Personal alignment before church alignment
29:00 – Why Great Commission ownership must start with leaders
31:00 – Mind, heart, and action: the alignment framework
33:00 – Tools and assessments to measure real alignment
35:00 – Philippians reimagined through a mission lens
38:30 – Final advice: why alignment is worth the cost
40:00 – Daily practices to sustain alignment
42:00 – Invitation to Alignment Workshops

Radical Alignment: Encouraging Discoveries, with Doug & Bart

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:34:09 -0100

In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, we shift from challenges to encouragement—and what we’re seeing right now across the Church is incredibly hopeful.

While many narratives suggest decline, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Churches are growing. Young people are showing up. Leaders are leaning in. And something deeper is beginning to take shape.

Doug, Bart, and Erin unpack some of the most encouraging discoveries emerging from churches that are aligning around the Great Commission—and what it means for your church, your leadership, and your future.

You’ll hear real stories from churches across the country, insights from the first-ever Partner Church Summit, and practical ways leaders are rediscovering the life-giving power of personally owning the mission of Jesus.

This conversation will challenge the narratives you’ve been hearing—and replace them with something far more powerful: hope rooted in action.

If you’ve been wondering whether the Church’s best days are behind us… this episode is for you.

Timestamps

00:00 – Is the Church really in decline? Challenging the narrative
01:15 – Introducing Radical Alignment and the Alignment Workshop
03:00 – Why church leaders need encouragement right now
04:00 – The Partner Church Summit: unity across diverse churches
06:00 – A spiritual awakening and what’s happening beneath the surface
08:30 – The danger of fear-based church narratives
10:00 – Why the future of the Church is brighter than you think
11:00 – The opportunity with the next generation of leaders
14:30 – What younger leaders are really looking for in older leaders
16:30 – The untapped power of multigenerational leadership
18:30 – The turning point: It starts with you
19:30 – Why owning the Great Commission is life-giving
21:00 – Real stories of churches seeing transformation and growth
24:30 – Practical ways to integrate mission into everyday life
26:30 – Staff vs. personal ownership: breaking the mindset barrier
27:30 – Simple practices: prayer calendars and relational rhythms
29:00 – Preparing to share your faith naturally and consistently
31:00 – Low-cost, high-impact ways to lead your team into alignment
33:00 – Final encouragement for church leaders

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog

YouTube: @IntentionalChurches

Facebook: Intentional Churches

Instagram: @IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

Radical Alignment: Challenging Discoveries, with Doug & Bart

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:20:41 -0100

In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Erin Johnston sits down with Doug Parks and Bart Rendel to talk about their newest book, Radical Alignment.

After more than a decade of working with over a thousand churches, Doug and Bart share the surprising lessons they’ve learned about why alignment in the church is much harder than they expected—and why it matters more than ever.

The conversation explores the hidden challenges many churches face: the pull of Christian consumerism, the difficulty of collaboration between churches, impulsive leadership decisions, and the growing disconnect between evangelism and discipleship.

Doug and Bart also explain why Radical Alignment serves as a “prequel” to their earlier work—laying the biblical and missional foundation for what it truly means to be an intentional church.

If you're a church leader trying to move your church from an inward focus to mission-focused disciple making, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Podcast
01:57 – Why Write This Book Now?
04:30 – The Journey of Learning from 1,000+ Churches
07:05 – Why This Book Is the Best Starting Point for Leaders

08:26 – When Big Vision Meets Real Challenges

11:17 – Why Collaboration Between Churches Is So Difficult

13:10 – The Role of Theology, Mission, and Church Identity

14:11 – Leadership Impulsiveness and “Not Invented Here” Thinking

17:40 – The Dynamic Work of God in Reaching People

22:10 – The Challenge of Christian Consumerism

25:00 – Institutional Thinking vs Personal Mission

27:10 – Why Staff Culture Often Reinforces Consumerism

31:00 – Real Examples of Institutional Thinking in Churches

36:49 – The Dangerous Divide Between Evangelism and Discipleship

39:17 – Rediscovering the Biblical Model of Disciple Making

41:17 – Measuring Spiritual Depth the Right Way

43:11 – The Adventure of Owning the Great Commission Personally

45:00 – How Leaders Can Start Moving Toward Alignment

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog

YouTube: @IntentionalChurches

Facebook: Intentional Churches

Instagram: @IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

Radical Alignment: 1000 Churches (and Counting), with Doug & Bart

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:30:05 -0100

On this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug and Bart kick off Season 10 with a candid and energizing conversation about what’s happening beneath the surface at Intentional Churches.

Yes, there’s a little “Storytime with Bart” (including airline boarding chaos and a mysterious food allergy, but the heart of this episode is much deeper.

Doug and Bart unpack why Radical Alignment and personal ownership of the Great Commission is proving to be one of the most transformative discoveries of their entire ministry journeys.

This isn’t about adding another program.
It’s about rediscovering the fundamental mission of the Church.

If you’re a church leader who feels tired, stretched thin, or stuck maintaining complexity, this episode may reawaken something in you.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – A surprising confession: parenting differently because of Radical Alignment
01:10 – Welcome to Season 10 of the Intentional Churches Podcast
01:26 – Why 2026 feels like a turning point for Intentional Churches
02:00 – Storytime with Bart: Southwest airline boarding chaos
06:46 – Entitlement, culture, and what airlines reveal about society
09:13 – Bart’s unexpected (and serious) allergy scare
12:13 – Transition: Why Radical Alignment is reshaping everything
13:16 – Bart reflects on 20 years of ministry models and what’s changed
16:30 – The discovery: There isn’t one model — there are biblical fundamentals
17:12 – How personal ownership of the Great Commission transforms everything
19:06 – Why many discipleship pathways miss heart transformation
23:28 – Macro strategies vs. micro relational mission
26:24 – Evangelism: From transactional to transformational
30:47 – Why this moment feels urgent in a rapidly changing culture
32:35 – Introducing the Radical Alignment Assessment
34:00 – How simple meeting changes are unlocking momentum
37:58 – A powerful story of conviction and mercy in action
40:22 – 18 churches fly in for 24 hours — what that signals
41:30 – “This is beyond us now.” A movement forming
43:27 – Encouragement for tired church leaders
44:40 – Season 10 preview and what’s coming next

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog

YouTube: @IntentionalChurches

Facebook: Intentional Churches

Instagram: @IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

From Silos to Alignment, with Sean Kelly

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:51:41 -0100

On this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug and Erin sit down with Sean Kelly, Lead Pastor of Mount Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood, Indiana, for a candid conversation about succession, silos, and what it really takes to bring alignment back to a growing church.

Sean shares his journey in Ohio to stepping into a historic, multi-generational church, navigating a leadership transition. Together, they unpack why churches drift into siloed ministry, how misalignment slowly creeps in, and what practical leaders can do to realign their staff, systems, and preaching around the Great Commission.

From staff trust-building tools like the “Four Helpfuls,” to cross-functional VIP teams, to using preaching as a catalyst for radical alignment, this episode is full of actionable insight for senior pastors, executive pastors, and church leadership teams who want to move from good activity to unified mission.

If you’re leading through transition, or sensing your church has energy but lacks clarity, this conversation will help you diagnose misalignment and take your next faithful step forward.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:

intentionalchurches.com

Timestamps

00:00 – “If we were fired tomorrow…”: why change feels harder than it is
00:22 – Welcome to the Intentional Churches Podcast
00:35 – Erin returns after a major generosity initiative
01:29 – Meet Sean Kelly: background, family, and pastoral journey
02:43 – Ministry context: Youngstown, Ohio and multi-campus leadership
04:28 – Why Sean said yes to Mount Pleasant Christian Church
06:18 – Leading through succession: what went right (and why it mattered)
09:47 – Context matters: understanding Greenwood & the Indianapolis area
11:43 – The Restoration Movement and Christian Church distinctives
13:11 – First impressions: culture, DNA, and early warning signs
16:47 – Why silos form—and how leaders unknowingly reinforce them
18:02 – The “Four Helpfuls” tool: right, wrong, missing, confused
21:49 – From good to great: aligning people, roles, and accountability
24:07 – What is a VIP (Very Important Project)?
26:45 – Building alignment through cross-functional teams
29:01 – Low-hanging fruit and momentum-building wins
30:08 – Using preaching to drive Radical Alignment (Erin’s approach)
34:23 – Sean’s preaching framework: mission-anchored sermons
37:21 – Aligning ministry programs with the pulpit
39:02 – Discernment rhythms and organizational focus
42:34 – Final encouragement + Radical Alignment book mention

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog

YouTube: @IntentionalChurches

Facebook: Intentional Churches

Instagram: @IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

AI, Spirituality, and the Future of the Church, with Drew Dickens

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:15:07 -0100

On this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug sits down with longtime broadcaster, ministry leader, and AI researcher Drew Dickens for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on AI, spirituality, and the future of the Church.

With more than 30 years of vocational ministry experience—and a front-row seat to the rise of artificial intelligence—Drew helps church leaders move beyond fear and hype to thoughtfully engage how AI is already shaping the pulpit, the pew, and spiritual formation.

Together, Doug and Drew explore:

Why AI is morally neutral—and how the Church must lead with discernment instead of fear
How AI is quietly becoming a spiritual authority in people’s lives
The threat AI poses to embodiment, community, and relational discipleship
What pastors need to understand about how congregants are already using AI for therapy, prayer, and guidance
How church leaders can use AI responsibly as a tool, not a replacement for Spirit-led formation
Practical ways AI can support relational evangelism without replacing human connection

Drew also shares a powerful personal story that illustrates both the real comfort and the real dangers of AI—and why everything must ultimately be brought back into Spirit-filled community.

If you’re a senior pastor, ministry leader, or church staff member wondering how to lead faithfully in a rapidly changing digital landscape, this conversation will help you think clearly, lead courageously, and shepherd wisely in the age of AI.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:

intentionalchurches.com

Timestamps

00:00 – A late-night conversation with AI that changed everything

01:00 – Welcome to the Intentional Churches Podcast

01:26 – Meet Drew Dickens: broadcaster, ministry leader, and early AI adopter

03:10 – Drew’s journey from national radio to evangelism and contemplative prayer apps

05:19 – Reaching hundreds of thousands daily through Scripture and meditation

06:33 – Why AI is everywhere—and why most people don’t even realize it

07:14 – Is AI “of the devil”? A biblical framework for discernment

08:38 – What history teaches us about technology and temptation

10:30 – Why pastors can’t ignore how AI is shaping everyday spirituality

11:14 – How congregants are already using AI in their spiritual lives

13:37 – The three biggest threats AI poses to the Church

14:55 – Threat #1: AI and the erosion of spiritual authority

16:47 – Threat #2: Disembodiment and the loss of real community

18:06 – Threat #3: Algorithm-driven spiritual formation

19:47 – How pastors should educate and lead their congregations around AI

21:55 – Why transparency from the pulpit matters more than fear

24:39 – Embodiment, discipleship, and why relationships still matter most

26:17 – AI as therapist: what church leaders need to understand now

28:03 – A deeply personal story: grief, AI, and prayer at 1 a.m.

30:31 – Bringing AI experiences into Spirit-filled community

33:22 – Evangelism, awe, and what AI can never replace

35:30 – Why relational evangelism transforms the believer

38:07 – Using AI to practice gospel conversations wisely

39:58 – A powerful evangelism tool pastors should pay attention to

42:34 – AI debating theology: creativity without replacing the Spirit

44:12 – Revival, Gen Z, and the Church’s moment of responsibility

47:13 – AI as a tool for exploration—not authority

48:10 – Where to learn more from Drew Dickens

50:09 – Final encouragement for church leaders navigating AI faithfully

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog

YouTube: @IntentionalChurches

Facebook: Intentional Churches

Instagram: @IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

Leading Alignment in a Fast-Growing Church, with Chris Steele

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:11:30 -0100

On this episode of The Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug talks with Chris Steele about the incredible transformation happening at North Terrace Church in Zanesville, Ohio.

Chris shares the honest story of how their team realized they were making church attenders instead of disciples, and how that single insight pushed them to rebuild unity, clarify their mission, and align everything around the Great Commission.

You’ll hear how that alignment sparked a movement of everyday people leading their friends to Jesus, resulting in 34 baptisms in 2023, 125 in 2024, and already 138 baptisms this year. Chris explains how prayer, simple tools, and personal ownership of “the one” have reshaped their entire culture.

If you’re a church leader looking to rebuild momentum, re-ignite evangelism, or move your people toward mission, this conversation will encourage you and give you practical next steps.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
intentionalchurches.com

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome + Why This Story Matters
01:25 Chris Steele’s Ministry Background
03:02 Early Faith Influences
05:01 Ministry Journey & Leadership Wounds
07:19 Zanesville Culture & Ministry Context
11:17 Opportunities and Challenges in Appalachia
13:35 Rebuilding Generosity and Discipleship
18:15 Early Culture Shifts at North Terrace
23:10 COVID Collapse & Losing Half the Church
24:07 Realizing They Weren’t Making Disciples
26:44 Building a New Discipleship Pathway
28:55 A Turning Point: Staff & Elder Unity
30:42 Discovering IC’s Tools and Language
31:46 The “One More” Mission
34:11 The Baptism Explosion
36:26 Everyday People Leading Their One
37:37 Young Families Searching for Purpose
41:36 Preparing for Future Growth
43:36 How to Join the IC Learning Community

Links

Website: intentionalchurches.com
The Radical Alignment Book
Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog
YouTube: @IntentionalChurches
Facebook: Intentional Churches
Instagram: @IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

The Heart Behind Radical Alignment, with Bart Rendel

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:45:42 -0100

On this episode of The Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug and Bart unpack the heart behind Radical Alignment: The Surprising Journey of Becoming an Intentional Church—the brand-new book that takes church leaders inside the “why” behind the IC toolbox.

Together, they share the behind-the-scenes story of how the book came to life—from early church interviews and the conference book challenge to the powerful stories that emerged along the way. You’ll hear about ice-bath baptisms in Florida, a thousand-person Tennessee church mobilizing 597 members to reach their “One,” and the connection between personal Great Commission ownership and lasting church alignment.

Doug and Bart also explore how urgency, clarity, and obedience are reshaping churches across the IC network, why Radical Alignment serves as a prequel to the original Intentional Church book, and how every leader can reframe their calling through the lens of the Great Commission.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make evangelism personal again—or how to help your church rediscover its core mission—this conversation will encourage, challenge, and reorient you to what matters most.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
intentionalchurches.com

00:00 The Gathering Church and a 70-Year-Old’s Ice Bath Baptism
02:04 Doug and Bart Catch Up on Life, Travel, and Nicknames
05:12 Florida Church Plant Stories: Courage and Obedience
09:51 When Baptism Becomes a Movement
13:06 Planting, Watering, and Trusting God for the Growth
15:23 Inside the “One Life” Project and Culture Change in Churches
18:50 Writing Radical Alignment: The Story Behind the Book
20:53 The “Why” Behind the IC Toolbox
23:08 How IC’s Learning Community Shaped the Book
26:07 Why Radical Alignment Is a Team Study, Not a Solo Read
27:30 The 25 Foundational Beliefs and IC’s Secret Sauce
29:27 Church Stories that Prove Great Commission Alignment Works
31:21 The Hope for Church Leaders Who Read Radical Alignment
34:17 Doug’s Challenge: “Relational Evangelism Is the Football”
35:26 From the Road: Nashville’s Airport Gridlock Story
38:33 Travel Chaos, Grace, and Gratitude
39:30 Closing Thoughts and Book Details

Website: intentionalchurches.com
Get The Book: Radical Alignment
Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog
YouTube: @IntentionalChurches
Facebook: Intentional Churches
LinkedIn: Intentional Churches LinkedIn
Instagram: @IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

Join the conversation and tell us how you’re leading your church toward Great Commission alignment.

Alignment from a Military-Focused Church, with Riley Halliday

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:33:19 +0000

On this episode of The Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug and Erin sit down with Pastor Riley Halliday, a former U.S. Air Force special operations leader who’s now leading Manna Church in Newport News, Virginia.

Riley shares how his church embraces the constant movement of military life as a disciple-making opportunity. With families rotating every two years, his team trains every believer to live on mission, ready to reach their “One” wherever God sends them next.

We unpack how urgency can fuel alignment, what it takes to build a training and sending culture, and why clarity beats complexity every time.

If your church is in a transient community or you need fresh inspiration to fight for alignment around the Great Commission, this conversation will stir you up.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

00:00 Training and Sending with Urgency in a Military Church
00:33 Doug and Erin Welcome Riley Halliday to the Podcast
02:04 Meet Riley: From Air Force Special Operations to Church Planting
05:06 The Birth of Manna Church and a Vision for Military Families
07:26 Launching During COVID and Finding God’s Provision Through a Merger
09:51 How a 100-Year-Old Church Became Manna’s New Home
10:39 Leading Near Military Bases: Nellis, Creech, and Beyond
12:54 The Two-Year Window: Training and Sending Before Families Move
14:13 Micro-Sites, Military Moves, and Multiplying Disciples
15:05 How Military Life Fuels Disciple-Making and Multiplication
16:19 Doug on “Radical Alignment” and Reuniting Evangelism and Discipleship
18:33 Fighting for Clarity and Simplicity in a Growing Church
19:59 How Canyon Ridge Fought for Vision and Alignment
22:08 Creating a Culture That Repeats the Mission
23:36 Practical Tools: Circle-Ups, Vision Rhythms, and For the One Bracelets
27:28 Keeping Alignment Simple, Transferable, and Repeatable
29:00 Fighting Misalignment with Elders, Staff, and New Ideas
31:30 Saying “No” to Good Things to Protect the Mission
33:42 When Church Members Want a Bookstore (and Other Distractions)
34:40 How the IC Toolbox and ChurchOS Keep Teams on Track
37:01 Every New Initiative Is an Opportunity for Alignment—or Drift
38:05 Riley’s Lesson: You Reproduce Who You Are, Not What You Say
39:59 Doug’s Closing Thoughts: Returning to the Root of the Great Commission
40:53 The Radical Alignment Book and Upcoming Assessment

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Landscape of Evangelism in America, with Andy Cook

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:32:45 +0000

Doug and co-host Daniel Goulding sit down with Andy Cook, Executive Director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, to unpack why relational evangelism belongs at the center of discipleship. Together they explore sobering stats (60% of U.S. churches are stagnant or declining), Gen Z’s surprising openness to spiritual conversations, and the practical rhythms leaders can model—from Alpha tables to breakfast-booth friendships.

Daniel shares church-plant lessons around decisions and baptisms, while Andy unpacks BGC research, revitalization cohorts, and the vision behind the Amplify Conference. Along the way, they wrestle with transfer growth vs. true conversion, the seeker-sensitive debate, preaching clearly into cultural issues, and how “radical alignment” mobilizes everyday believers. The conversation is actionable, hopeful, and data-informed.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 The Sobering Statistic: 60% of Churches in Decline or Stagnant
01:03 Meet Co-Host Daniel Goulding and His Church Plant Story
01:21 Andy Cook’s Journey: From Willow Creek to Wheaton College
03:28 Daniel’s Radical Conversion: From Fraternity Life to Faith
06:43 Early Lessons in Relational Evangelism
08:03 Inviting Friends, Broken Hearts, and the “Lonely Bench” at Willow
10:33 Why Evangelism Must Begin with Leaders
13:32 Everyday Evangelism: Breakfast Tables and Baptism Stories
15:02 Making Evangelism a Regular Appointment on the Calendar
16:56 Why Andy Leads Alpha and Steps Outside the Christian Bubble
17:13 Inside the Billy Graham Center and Its Institutes
20:30 State of Evangelism in America Today
23:15 Transfer Growth vs. True Kingdom Growth
24:48 Why Evangelism Feels Scary—and Why It’s Still Biblical
26:20 Bad Evangelism vs. Good Evangelism: Learning Like Toddlers
28:56 Discipleship and Evangelism: Two Sides of the Same Coin
30:40 Can You Have Deep Discipleship Without Evangelism?

32:23 Gen Z’s Spiritual Openness and New Research Insights
34:46 Preaching Boldly into Cultural Issues
36:58 Calling Men to Biblical Masculinity
37:50 Convening Evangelism Leaders at the Billy Graham Center
39:18 Digital Spaces, AI, and the Future of Evangelism
40:18 The Amplify Conference: Keeping Evangelism Central
40:56 The Radical Alignment Assessment and New Data

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Leading through Resistance, with David Ashcraft

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:28:42 +0000

David Ashcraft joins Doug and co-host Daniel Goulding on this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, sharing lessons from decades of leadership at LCBC in Pennsylvania.

From painful early years where elders walked out, to the explosive growth that brought thousands of people across multiple campuses, David unpacks how radical alignment and a relentless focus on “best vs. good” shaped a disciple-making movement.

During their conversation, you’ll hear why alignment matters more than keeping everyone happy, how LCBC codified its culture without losing passion, and what the 90–10 rule teaches us about the need for some people to be upset if you’re truly moving forward. David also unpacks how to discern between “good” opportunities and the “best” mission, and he shares honestly about the personal cost leaders pay to remain faithful through seasons of growth.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 When Elders Walk Out: The Pain of Early Leadership
01:10 Meet Co-Host Daniel Goulding and His Church Plant Story
02:44 David Ashcraft’s Journey: From Texas to Pennsylvania
04:48 Facing Opposition: Letters from Abe and the Worship Wars
07:11 LCBC’s Growth: From 150 to 25,000 Across 25 Campuses
08:23 The Core Issue: Alignment vs. Misalignment in the Church
09:40 Good vs. Best: The Principle that Guides Every Decision
11:19 Lessons from Rapid Growth and Staff Alignment Challenges
14:00 Codifying Culture: From Intuition to Intentionality
16:33 Multi-Site Expansion and Why Limitations Became Opportunities
18:52 Stewardship, Buildings, and Keeping the Mission Central
22:12 Guarding Staff Culture While Scaling Fast
25:56 The 90–10 Rule: Leading with Clarity, Not Popularity
29:20 Picking Battles Carefully Without Losing Alignment
33:52 Codifying the “Gut”: Axioms and Culture Statements
39:02 Encouragement for Leaders in Shrinking or Struggling Churches
43:25 The Real Cost of Growth and Leadership Pain
45:25 Why David Stepped Into The Advantage and Global Leadership Network
47:17 Final Wisdom: Lead, Don’t Chase Popularity

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

From Programming to Pastoring in Rural America, with Ben Ellefritz

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:27:48 +0000

Pastor Ben Ellefritz joins Doug for today’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, exploring what church growth, rural revitalization, and alignment around disciple making look like in real life. As Executive Pastor at The Crossing Church, Ben leads in a context where no town has more than 80,000 people—and some have as few as 125. Despite this, The Crossing is thriving across 12 campuses, reaching thousands each weekend.

During their conversation, you'll hear how their church realigned its multi-site strategy after discovering their previous launch model lacked commitment and sustainability. Their 12th campus launch—built entirely on pre-launch engagement, giving, and disciple-making—became their first financially self-sustaining plant from day one.

Ben also unpacks the intentional language around “Difference Makers” (not volunteers), their high expectations for both staff and lay leaders, and how they use visible scoreboards and discipleship pathways to drive alignment around the Great Commission. This conversation is a must-listen for church leaders in rural, suburban, or multi-site contexts who want to strengthen alignment, empower their people, and move from programming to pastoring.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Redefining Church Strategy in a Shifting Culture
01:45 Meet Ben Ellefritz and The Crossing Church
04:07 From Principal to Pastor: Leadership Lessons
07:35 Revitalizing Rural Churches through Campus Acquisition
09:59 Why They Changed Their Church Planting Strategy
12:53 Defining “Difference Makers” Instead of Volunteers
14:52 Staff Gaps and the Future of Lay Leadership
16:11 Rebuilding Disciple Making from Baptism to Maturity
19:51 Using Scoreboards and Systems to Align Staff
22:03 Training Staff to Pastor, Not Just Program
23:54 What Hasn’t Worked: Lessons from Failure

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Stories from the Road, with Bart Rendel

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:41:35 +0000

Kicking off Season 9 of Intentional Churches, Doug is joined by IC co-founder, Bart Rendel, for a behind-the-scenes look at Intentional Churches, their leadership rhythms, and the realities many pastors face today. Bart introduces “the spanking machine”—a vivid and humorous metaphor born out of ministry burnout. Together Bart and Doug explore the constant pressure church leaders face from the unrelenting pace of weekend ministry and the need to name it honestly.

The heart of the episode centers on the remarkable story of First Christian Church in Newburgh, Indiana. Once a thriving congregation, FCC faced deep decline after leadership transitions, financial hardship, and even a tornado. When the Intentional Churches team engaged with them, they found a deeply committed leadership team willing to lean in and realign around the Great Commission.

Bart and Doug close the episode by reflecting on signs of spiritual awakening across the country, highlighting churches seeing dramatic growth and salvations—not because of gimmicks, but because of alignment with Jesus’ mission. This is an episode for pastors who feel weary, discouraged, or unsure of what’s next. It’s a reminder that the spiritual moment is here—but the church must be ready.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Revival Requires Two Things
01:44 Bart Hates Vacations
02:56 The Origin of “The Spanking Machine”
06:47 Courageous Leadership Stories
07:49 The Comeback of FCC Newburgh
12:06 COVID Super-Spreader Story
16:27 What’s Happening at FCC Now
19:24 Prayer, Pain, and Progress
20:40 Other Signs of Spiritual Momentum
21:52 Bart and Doug’s Random Thoughts
24:46 Are We Ready for Revival?
25:16 The Need for Great Commission Alignment

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Building a Pipeline of Future Leaders, with Paige Peltier

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 03:00:00 +0000

In this final episode of season 8, Doug sits down with Paige Peltier of Leadership Pathway to unpack what it really looks like to develop young leaders for long-term ministry impact. Paige draws on her journey through multiple ministry roles at Chapel Street Church and shares how strategic flexibility in staffing—based on a leader’s growth and God’s prompting—can dramatically impact retention and effectiveness.

Together, Doug and Paige dive into the two-year residency model at the heart of Leadership Pathway, where churches commit to hands-on, intentional development and coaching of next-gen leaders. Paige explains how Leadership Pathway partners with churches not only to recruit residents but also to equip staff with tools for leadership coaching. She also offers direct insights for church leaders wrestling with team structure, staff culture, and how to practically support the growth of Gen Z and Millennial leaders.

For any church leader wondering how to build a pipeline of future leaders and move away from the “microwave mentality” of quick hires, this conversation will provide a hopeful and highly practical blueprint.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Helping People Is Slow, But Worth It
01:17 Meet Paige Peltier
03:16 Paige’s Journey at Chapel Street Church
06:28 Staff Flexibility & Finding Best Contribution
09:47 Churches Must Shift How They Develop Staff
11:11 What Leadership Pathway Really Does
14:27 Why Residencies Are So Valuable
16:15 Development Is Messy—And Mission-Critical
19:49 Gen Z Leaders: What Churches Need to Know
23:14 Advice for Older & Younger Generations
24:45 Leadership Pathway by the Numbers
26:48 What Great Churches Are Doing Right
29:00 One Next Step to Get Started Developing Leaders
31:11 Paige’s Encouragement to Church Leaders

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Finding Clarity & Alignment after Transition, with Maggie Mobley

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Sherwood Oaks Christian Church has walked through significant change in recent years—from a leadership transition after 40 years and weathering the challenges of COVID to launching a new campus. Maggie Mobley, Executive of Ministries at Sherwood Oaks, joins Erin and Doug on today’s episode of Intentional Churches to talk about how to find clarity and alignment during seasons of disruption.

During their conversation, Maggie opens up about the courage it took to sunset beloved events that were no longer missional and how having a common language and calendaring rhythms empowered the staff to have hard, healthy conversations. Together the three also discuss developing a team culture, leading change in different campus contexts, and how Maggie helped transition the staff from skepticism to ownership of a shared vision.

Whether you’re navigating transition on your own team, evaluating programs, or trying to build trust amongst your people, this episode offers rich insights into the power of alignment and evaluation.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 The Cost of Legacy Programs
01:17 Meet Maggie Moberly
03:15 The Unique Context of Bloomington
06:09 Differences Between Campuses
07:06 Church History and Leadership Transitions
09:55 Deciding to Partner with IC
12:49 Wins From Installing ChurchOS
15:27 Killing Sacred Cows with Courage
18:11 How the Team is Developing Differently
20:45 Creating Space for Hard Conversations
22:07 Modeling Feedback and Evaluation

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Reaching the One in a Small Town, with Tom Kopp

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On this week’s episode of the Intentional Churches podcast, pastor Tom Kopp joins Erin and Doug to share the inspiring transformation of Kimball Christian Church in rural Minnesota. Despite being located in a town of just 800, the church has become one of the largest churches in the restoration movement in the state, defying expectations through a strong vision and a deep commitment to The Great Commission.

In this candid conversation, Tom unpacks how focusing on church culture, casting a consistent vision, and making small yet intentional shifts can lead to an outsized impact. From implementing the “three-minute rule” for welcoming guests to celebrating baptisms churchwide, Tom shares practical strategies that any church can adopt, regardless of size.

Together, the three also discuss Tom’s involvement in a ChurchOS One Team cohort, which has catalyzed a new wave of mission-minded leadership among churches across Minnesota. With humor, wisdom, and hard-earned insight, this episode offers a blueprint for revitalization and unity in small church contexts, all while keeping the focus on reaching the one.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Three-Minute Rule: A Culture of Guest Awareness
01:29 Tom’s Ministry Background and Family
04:05 Small-Town Ministry in Kimball, Minnesota
07:49 A 150-Year Legacy and New Growth
09:51 Building a Culture of Joy and Evangelism
12:56 Navigating Growth Resistance
15:32 Dripping Vision Weekly
17:08 The Drift Toward Inward Focus
19:30 ChurchOS Cohort Impact in Minnesota
22:37 Tangible Church Growth and Baptism Stories
26:31 Practical Tips for Churches Starting the Journey
29:17 Personal Connection Over Systems
32:17 Preaching for Transformation
33:08 What Large Churches Can Learn from Small Churches

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

How to Multiply—Not just Attract—Disciples, with Eric Rauch

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Eric Rauch from 2|42 Church joins Doug and Erin for this week’s Intentional Churches conversation—exploring what it means to lead churches through a true disciple-making transformation. Together the three share honest reflections, practical adjustments, and philosophical shifts away from attractional church models and toward multiplying disciples.

The episode explores how both 2|42 and Erin’s church, Canyon Ridge, are redefining what it means to lead congregations into spiritual maturity and mission. They discuss practical shifts—from canceling outdated programs to redesigning volunteer engagement—and offer a window into the tough but rewarding process of redefining metrics and expectations.

Plus Eric shares how his team made it harder, not easier, to get baptized—shifting from events to journeys. Finally they look at what happens when churches stop simply informing and start truly equipping—using tools, powerful questions, and active collaboration to multiply disciples who will be the hands and feet of Jesus.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 No More "Versus": Discipleship and Evangelism
01:06 Meet Eric Rauch from 2|42 Church
04:21 2|42's Multi-Site History and Cultural Dynamics
06:20 Adopting Three Churches Pre-COVID
07:57 Redefining Disciple-Making and Evangelism
10:26 From Attractional to Multiplying Movement
14:33 Why Make the Shift? Leadership Insights
16:37 Tangible Program and Strategy Changes
20:49 Rethinking Group Models: The Kitchen Metaphor
23:29 Discovery Bible Study as Group Strategy
24:56 Rethinking Engagement Pathways
30:27 Volunteer Orientation and Retention
32:10 Baptism: Event to Journey
35:28 Highlights from the IC Conference Pre-Con
38:28 Biggest Takeaways and Collaborative Learning
41:35 Final Thoughts on Collaboration and Next Steps

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Shifting from Consumerism to Discipleship, with Dr. Carlos Kelly

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Dr. Carlos Kelly, Senior Pastor of Beulahland Bible Church in Middle Georgia, joins Erin and Doug for a candid conversation on shifting church culture from consumerism to intentional evangelism and discipleship. With over 26 years in ministry and a legacy-rich church behind him, Dr. Kelly explains how Beulahland’s engagement with ChurchOS has reignited his pastoral passion and started that culture shift away from consumer Christianity.

Together the three talk about the challenges of pastoring in a food desert—where Carlos’ church has become a vital source of basic needs like food and community support. Through strategic clarity, patient leadership, and collaboration with a steering team, Beulahland is seeing younger demographics, especially those ages 18–35, engage at unprecedented levels.

Carlos also discusses the impact of defining clear reach zones for each campus, redesigning the church’s web presence through the lens of “the one,” and creating representation of young adults in leadership and communication roles. If you're a church leader navigating change, this episode offers encouragement, strategic wisdom, and a powerful testimony of what God can do through intentional, Spirit-led planning and teamwork.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Dr. Carlos Kelly Introduction
01:15 Beulahland’s Legacy and Community Impact
05:40 What It Means to Serve in a Food Desert
07:27 Moving from Consumerism to Discipleship
11:48 Practical First Steps Toward Culture Shift
14:51 Fruit from a Younger Generation
19:03 Braxton’s Journey from Attender to Leader
23:12 Shifting from Solo Leadership to Collaboration
29:44 Building the Right Steering Team
33:25 Defining Success and Discipleship Culture
36:06 Two Campuses, Two Reach Zones
37:56 Leading Through Resistance and Grief

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Unleashing Young Leaders on Staff, with Drew Moore

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 27 May 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Today Erin and Doug are joined by Drew Moore of Canyon Ridge Christian Church to talk all about how to unleash—rather than curtail—the dynamic young leaders on your church staff. Following the organizational upheaval of COVID-19, Drew and his team leaned into flexibility, collaboration, and contribution-based leadership—moving away from hierarchical systems and expertise-driven silos.

The result? More than half of their staff is now made up of younger leaders. Drew walks listeners through exactly how this happened—from flattening structures and inviting internal volunteers into staff roles to focusing on unleashing people rather than fitting rigid positions.

Drew also unpacks some practical methods his team has used, like “Development Days,” liberating structures, peer-driven feedback loops, and guided corporate discernment. And these aren't just theoretical tools—they’ve led to real-life multiplication. This conversation is a must-listen for any church leader wanting to future-proof their staff culture and embrace the call to multiply leaders in meaningful ways, no matter their age.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Space to Fail
01:24 Meet Drew Moore
02:25 Canyon Ridge’s Staff Culture Shift
04:51 From Hierarchy to Collaboration
05:28 Where Are Future Staff Coming From?
07:12 Cultivating Contribution from Within
08:29 Challenges of a Young Staff
12:35 Practical Development Structures
16:42 Advantages of a Young Staff
18:24 Innovations from Young Leaders
20:44 Leading Across Generations
24:40 Prioritizing Contribution Over Role
27:54 Guided Discernment & Staff Clarity
30:23 Redefining Multiplication
32:55 Relational Evangelism & Simple Tools
35:17 Releasing Agency to Young Leaders
38:32 Authority, Mess, and the Priesthood
39:05 Mental Models and Generational Collaboration
41:51 Unified Contribution Across Generations

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Live Conference Episode: Leading Through Tension: Real Talk on Alignment, Evangelism & Discipleship

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 13 May 2025 03:00:00 +0000

From digital congregations to rapidly growing local churches, leaders from across the country gather in this special live panel episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, recorded at the IC Conference. Co-hosted by Erin Johnston and Daniel Goulding, Lead Pastor at Echoes Church in Phoenix, AZ, this engaging conversation digs into the real-world challenges churches are facing—from building space constraints and volunteer fatigue to measuring success and navigating cultural shifts.

The panel includes leaders from diverse church contexts—Logan Phillips, Worship Pastor at Stateline Church in Rockford, Illinois, Katie Blemker, Executive Minister at North Terrace Church of Christ in Zanesville, Ohio, Mark Lutz, Lead Pastor of Lux Digital Church, Antoine Davis, Sr., Associate Pastor of Evangelism at Hope Church, in Orlando, Florida. Together they openly share what’s working, what’s broken, and how Intentional Churches tools have helped shape their responses. Topics include evangelism versus discipleship, radical alignment to mission, rethinking metrics, and embracing tension as a sign of progress.

Mark Lutz unpacks how Lux Digital is designed for a very specific "one," and how their ministry methods—including camera angles and language—are tailored for a digital native. Katie and Logan speak to the rapid growth and logistical hurdles they face, while Antoine Davis Sr.'s focus on simplifying the Gospel and engaging the 99 to reach the one has sparked exciting growth and cultural shift in his context. He emphasizes the power of building evangelism into church culture rather than treating it as an event.

This episode is a must-listen for any church leader wrestling with the tension between sending and forming, trying to mobilize a congregation, or simply trying to keep up with what’s next. No easy answers here—just leaders learning together.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Intros
02:30 What’s Keeping You Up at Night?
09:45 Evangelism vs. Discipleship: The Tension
15:10 What’s Working in Your Context Right Now
22:40 Radical Alignment to the Great Commission
28:15 How Are You Measuring Success?
30:00 One Thing to Figure Out in the Next Five Years
31:00 Final Reflections

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!
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Leading Integrated Multicultural Ministries, with Eduardo Rivera

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Eduardo Rivera, a leader within Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, Florida, joins Erin and Doug to talk about what it really means to lead in a multicultural church environment. With deep roots in Puerto Rico and over two decades in Central Florida, Eduardo shares his first-hand experience of how the region has shifted dramatically in Hispanic population and diversity.

Eduardo explains how his calling transitioned from planting a new church to leading existing multicultural ministries, emphasizing the importance of creating spaces where both first-generation immigrants and their second-generation children can thrive spiritually. He describes the need for the Anglo church to embrace Hispanic culture—not as a project of assimilation, but as a movement of true integration grounded in shared values, mission, and trust.

This episode highlights the difference between proximity and unity, the cultural nuances of relational evangelism, and the church's responsibility to engage in local mission right in their own neighborhoods. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how cultural intelligence, leadership collaboration, and genuine curiosity can shape a church culture that honors and celebrates diversity.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Meet Pastor Eduardo
04:15 Eduardo’s journey from Puerto Rico to Florida
08:10 Demographic shifts in Central Florida
11:50 Understanding the realities of Hispanic ministry
15:30 From church planting to leading within Mosaic
18:30 Defining integration vs assimilation
24:10 What the Anglo Church can learn from Hispanic cultures
29:00 Shifting from global to local missions
34:30 Relational evangelism in multicultural settings
38:45 The role of leadership and trust in integration
42:00 Final encouragement to church leaders

Turning the Corner on Church Planting, with Gregg and Leilani Sizemore

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:45:22 +0000

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com/

Gregg and Leilani Sizemore, co-pastors of Creekside Church in Dallas, GA, join the podcast to share their incredible story of planting a church six months before the COVID-19 pandemic. From early momentum to massive disruption, and ultimately to realignment and spiritual renewal, they give church leaders a transparent look into the challenges and breakthroughs that come with living out the Great Commission in a post-COVID world.

They reflect on their early days of ministry, their complementary roles as husband and wife in leadership, and how their personal faith was tested through burnout and the weight of unmet expectations. The Sizemores share how re-engaging with Intentional Churches helped them reassess everything from service structure to language alignment, catalyzing a renewed focus on reaching people far from God.

Listeners will gain practical insights into implementing missional rhythms, navigating cultural and theological preferences within the church, and pushing forward when alignment feels impossible. The episode also explores how pruning and resistance can precede spiritual fruit, and how a single Sunday of breakthrough can make all the long work worth it.

From stories of young families walking away to finding joy in conversations with first-time believers, this episode is packed with hope, honesty, and actionable steps for every church leader fighting to stay faithful to the mission of Jesus.

The Intentional Churches Community is a free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Welcome & Introduction
02:45 Meet Gregg and Leilani Sizemore
06:55 Church Planting Right Before COVID
11:50 Working Together in Marriage and Ministry
16:05 Burnout, Momentum, and Hitting Walls
21:30 Re-engaging with Intentional Churches
26:20 Volunteer Burnout and Cultural Pushback
30:10 Shifting to Evangelistic Focu
35:25 Rolling Out Alignment Through "Bless"
39:20 Fighting for Alignment Through Resistance
42:00 Encouragement to Keep Going
44:30 A Sunday Worth the Fight

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Reaching the Anti-Church Culture, with Jesse DeYoung

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Church leaders often ask, "How do we reach people in places that seem anti-church or post-Christian?" Jesse DeYoung, Executive Lead Pastor of Flatirons Community Church, provides honest and actionable answers to that question in this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast.

Jesse shares his journey from a youth group kid in Kentucky to leading one of the largest churches in Colorado, all while navigating the unique cultural challenges of Boulder County and the Denver Front Range—a region often marked by skepticism, individualism, and a deep love for the outdoors over traditional church.

From rethinking how to engage transient, mountain-loving populations, to challenging his staff to identify someone who might be going to hell and actively pursue them with love and intention, Jesse brings a fresh perspective on evangelism, leadership, and culture.

Doug and Jesse explore:
-Why loving people for who they are—not who they might become—is key to lasting ministry.
-How Flatirons addresses the complexities of legal marijuana use and its impact on church culture.
-The deep roots of misalignment in growing churches and the three key practices for addressing it: the stories you tell, the behaviors you reward, and the incidents you confront.
-The importance of personal evangelism at every level—executive team, staff, and board.
-How Flatirons supports church planting without becoming an over-extended multi-site machine.

This is a must-listen episode for church leaders across the size spectrum—from church planters to executive pastors—who are serious about aligning people to the Great Commission, even in tough cultural climates.

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome & Intentional Churches Community
03:15 Meet Jesse DeYoung & His Ministry Journey
07:50 The Culture of Boulder County & Reaching the Unchurched
14:30 Flatirons’ Origin and DNA of Evangelism
19:20 Stories from the Front Lines (Including the "Weed King")
23:10 Parenting & Pastoring in a Weed-Legal Culture
28:05 Personal Evangelism and Jesse’s “One”
32:20 Culture of Evangelism: Staff, Board, and Church
36:50 Misalignment in Growing Churches & How to Fight It
42:05 Church Planting the Flatirons Way
45:30 Jesse’s Final Words to Church Leaders

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Leading with the Great Commission, with Nate Bush

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0100

Albuquerque presents both deep challenges and incredible opportunities for ministry. Pastor Nate Bush of New City Church shares how his team navigates the complexities of serving a city with both high levels of poverty and a large population of PhDs. He discusses the importance of balancing justice work with evangelism and how New City Church has shifted to ensuring every member owns the Great Commission.

Nate outlines how initiatives like the Shine School Partnership and Getting Ahead have helped connect churches with schools and support individuals in escaping poverty. He also introduces "Go There for the One," a church-wide commissioning strategy aimed at mobilizing every member for personal evangelism.

This episode is filled with practical insights for church leaders looking to impact their communities while keeping the gospel at the center of their mission.

The Intentional Churches Community is free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction to the Intentional Churches Podcast
02:10 - Meet Nate Bush: Church Planting in Albuquerque
06:45 - The Reality of a "Low-Hope" City
12:30 - Balancing Justice Work and Evangelism
18:15 - The Role of Prayer in Church Vision
24:00 - The "Go There for the One" Initiative
29:30 - Encouragement for Church Leaders

Reaching the Nations in Your City, with Juan Carlos Heredia

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0100

The future of the church in America is increasingly multicultural—compelling leaders to be intentional about fostering environments where diverse cultures can thrive together. Juan Carlos Heredia, Spanish Ministry Pastor at Houston’s Sugar Creek Baptist Church, joins Doug for this eye-opening episode of The Intentional Churches podcast to discuss the evolution of Hispanic ministry, the importance of personal ownership in evangelism, and how churches can strategically integrate different cultural groups without forcing assimilation.

During their conversation Juan Carlos shares his personal story of growing up between Ecuador, Mexico, and the U.S., how his calling led him into ministry, and the challenges of leading a Spanish-speaking congregation. He also gets into why Houston is a strategic hub for global missions and how its diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for churches.

This timely episode offers practical advice for churches looking to engage Hispanic communities, emphasizing the need for leadership that understands both cultures and the importance of contextualizing ministry without losing the gospel’s core message.

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - The Importance of Tools in Evangelism
00:17 - Welcome & Introduction to Juan Carlos Heredia
01:42 - Juan Carlos’ Background and Calling to Ministry
04:59 - The Diversity of Houston as a Mission Field
07:14 - Integration vs. Segregation in Houston’s Cultural Landscape
09:09 - Challenges of Hispanic Ministry in America
12:35 - Creating a Culture of Invitation and Evangelism
15:19 - How Sugar Creek Integrates Spanish Ministry
19:10 - The Future of Multicultural Church Partnerships
24:54 - Practical Steps for Assimilation Without Assimilation
30:44 - Personal Ownership of the Great Commission
33:35 - Using Events as Evangelistic Tools
37:22 - The Challenge of Retaining Young Generations in Faith
40:08 - Final Thoughts & Leadership Challenge

BONUS EPISODE: Behind the Scenes of the Intentional Churches Conference

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0100

The Intentional Churches Conference is not your typical church leadership event—it's a movement. In this week’s special bonus episode, Erin sits down to interview Doug all about how The Intentional Churches Conference is evolving and what attendees can expect this year.

Doug explains that IC is about more than just content—it's a collaborative network where church leaders learn from one another in real-time. Last year’s conference highlights included a hands-on coffee-making experiment, a panel of non-Christians sharing their perspectives, and interactive networking designed to spark innovation.
This year, IC is introducing new tools, including a conference-exclusive book—Radical Alignment to Personal Ownership of the Great Commission—and a role-based track system to help church leaders implement practical strategies in their ministries.

If you're looking for an event that prioritizes collaboration over consumption, don’t miss this year’s Intentional Churches Conference!

Join us April 29-30! Register now at intentionalchurchesconference.com.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

Chapters:
00:00 The Unconference: A New Kind of Church Leadership Gathering
01:35 What is IC Becoming? A Collaborative Movement
04:00 Highlights from Last Year’s Conference
06:24 What Makes This Conference Different?
08:51 Practical Ways This Year’s Conference Will Help Church Leaders
11:31 Final Invitation: Join Us in April!

Cultivating a Missional Mindset, with Sheryl Riggins

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0100

What does it mean to cultivate a “missional mindset?” In this week’s episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Momentum Christian Church’s Sheryl Riggins sits down with Erin and Doug to share her personal journey of moving from a traditional church background to a mission-driven approach to faith.

During their conversation, Sheryl opens up about her early years as a preacher’s kid, her career at Coca-Cola, and her unexpected path to leadership at Momentum. She also dives into how Momentum is making shifts to prioritize relational evangelism, from practical preaching series to encouraging personal connections in everyday life.

This episode is full of insights for church leaders looking to mobilize their people, as well as for anyone hoping to make their faith more outward-focused. Listen in to hear Sheryl’s inspiring story and learn how you, too, can be more intentional in reaching the ones close to you but far from God.

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
01:29 Sheryl’s Background and Journey to Momentum
04:46 Sheryl’s Musical Career and Time in Divine
08:31 Career at Coca-Cola and Ministry Priorities
15:26 Activator Training and a Shift in Mindset
21:46 The Role of Scripture in Mobilizing Believers
32:47 Living with Intentionality for the Ones
37:20 How Momentum is Raising Awareness for the Great Commission
41:30 Final Thoughts and Closing

Reaching the “Fat Fringe” through Relational Evangelism, with Mark Ashton

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0100

How can churches move beyond an internal focus to reach their cities with the Gospel? Mark Ashton—lead minister at Christ Community Church in Omaha, NE—joins Erin and Doug on this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, sharing how his church—and a network of 60 churches in Omaha—is making relational evangelism a top priority.

During their conversation, Mark introduces the concept of the "fat fringe"—individuals who self-identify as Christians but lack a genuine faith in Jesus. He explains how to train leaders to engage these individuals in relational evangelism. Mark also walks us through how the Within Reach network was formed, bringing churches together to share best practices, plant churches, and support citywide Gospel efforts.

Throughout the episode, Mark offers practical strategies for church leaders, including how to instill a culture of evangelism within staff and congregations, ways to leverage local networks for greater Gospel impact, and how to overcome competition between churches.

With powerful stories of the church working together and innovative outreach methods—like counseling centers that integrate faith and psychology—this conversation will challenge and inspire pastors and church leaders to rethink the way they see evangelism!

Learn more about Mark and Christ Community Church on their website: https://www.cccomaha.org/.

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for The Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction & Conference Announcement
01:10 Meet Mark Ashton: His Ministry & Evangelism Journey
04:25 The "Fat Fringe" & Evangelism in Omaha
09:01 The Within Reach Network: A Collaboration for the Gospel
16:15 Success Stories from Church Collaboration
20:37 Mark’s Personal Conviction for Evangelism
25:59 Creating a Culture of Evangelism in Church Staff
31:33 How Within Reach Stirs Evangelism Across Churches
34:50 Practical Evangelism Tactics for Church Leaders
40:08 Lessons from Willow Creek’s Evangelism Model
43:30 The Future of Evangelism & Final Takeaways

The Power of Sharing Authentic Stories, with Lou Pizzichillo

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0100

We’re back this week with another powerful conversation, this time with pastor and church planter Lou Pizzichillo of Long Island, NY! Lou and his wife planted Community Church in Long Island back in January of 2020 (ideal timing, as any church leader would know!), and he’s sharing with us the many lessons he’s learned in the five years since.

Together Erin and Doug invite Lou to share his unique story of growing up Catholic in Long Island and how he eventually came to plant an evangelical church in his hometown. Along the way Lou learned the power sharing authentic stories can hold, how to navigate being a church for those who don’t go to church, and the challenges (and opportunities!) of having a lot of 1’s without as many 99’s. Towards the end of their conversation, Lou shares his best advice for continuing to disciple those 1’s in a fast-growing church environment, without expecting them to be “perfect” Christians right out of the gate.

Especially if you find yourself in a similar context to Lou where going to church is the norm, but not everyone knows what an authentic relationship with Jesus truly looks like, you’re not going to want to miss this episode!

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for The Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS
00:00 Navigating Church Planting Challenges
03:01 Cultural Context of Long Island Ministry
06:09 The Birth of Community Church
09:04 Relational Evangelism and Church Growth
11:57 Building a Culture of Authenticity
14:55 Harnessing Technology for Community Engagement
18:11 The Power of Storytelling in Ministry
21:05 Discipleship Challenges in a Growing Church
23:58 Strategies for Effective Discipleship
26:45 Navigating Growth and Cultural Dynamics
30:07 Embracing the Journey of Faith
33:05 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Doing More than “Ordinary” Church, with Jim Sheldon

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0100

Welcome to a new year and a brand new season of The Intentional Churches podcast! We’re switching things up in 2025—shifting from a weekly release schedule to releasing longer, more in-depth conversations with leaders from around the country every other week. We’re so glad to have you along for the ride in Season 7!

To kick things off, Erin and Doug are joined by Jim Sheldon, the Executive Pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA. Jim helped plant Mission in 2011 along with a team of other ministry leaders, and in that time he’s learned what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in Ventura’s unique community. Together Erin and Doug invite Jim to share his ministry story, plus dive in to what he means by doing more than “ordinary” church, aka activating your people to lead and disciple rather than just preaching more head knowledge from stage. The three also hit on how Jim personally pursues the ones in his life, his advice for putting together teams that can be the hands and feet of Jesus as soon as there’s a need, and what it looks like to lead through the unexpected.

We’re excited to kick off this new season, and new format, of Intentional Churches with you! Thanks for tuning in this week!

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for The Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 Understanding the Desire for Depth in Faith
10:30 Creating a Culture of Activation
20:09 Relational Evangelism: The Power of Personal Connection
29:53 Navigating Crisis with Authentic Vulnerability

Creating an Irresistible Staff Culture, with Tracy Bowen | S6E5

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0100

For this final episode of 2024, Erin and Doug sit down with First Orlando’s Tracy Bowen to talk staff culture and how to create an irresistible cultural environment based on pursuing The Great Commission. Tracy holds a unique title at First Orlando—managing director of staff engagement and culture—and she’s used the position to help align the church’s staff towards reaching the ones far from Jesus and the church.

Throughout today's conversation Erin and Doug invite Tracy to share her story—from how she finds new hires that align with the church’s culture to helping build that faithful and fruitful culture from the ground up. Together the three talk about why a healthy culture is so important on a staff team (big or small), how a pursuit of The Great Commission has changed that staff culture, and Tracy’s practical tips for building what she calls an “irresistible” place to work and serve. As we approach the end of the year, this is a conversation you and your staff team are not going to want to miss!

Thanks for another great year of The Intentional Churches podcast! We’ll see you back here in 2025!

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Intentional Churches Podcast
03:07 Tracy Bowen's Role and Background
06:02 The Importance of Church Culture
08:46 Building Relationships and Community
12:05 Aligning Staff with the Great Commission
15:00 Practical Steps for Cultural Improvement
17:59 Staff Engagement and Development
20:53 Communication Strategies for Teams
24:11 Conclusion and Future Insights

Pursuing Greater Alignment on Staff Teams, with Larry Kelley | S6E4

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0100

Larry Kelley has been with New Hope Church in Houston Texas for 16 years now, and in that time he’s seen the church go from a small group gathered in a YMCA auditorium to a large multi-site church. How have Larry and the staff stayed aligned to New Hope’s greater mission amidst all that growth and change? Today’s Intentional Churches episode is all about Larry’s answer to that question.

For this super practical conversation on pursuing greater alignment on your staff team, Erin and Doug invite Larry to share his experience at New Hope—beginning as a video editor up to serving on their executive team today. Together the three discuss how New Hope’s implementation of the IC operating system allowed their staff to come together in reaching their ones, some of the challenges that still exist as the church strives to fulfill The Great Commission, and Larry’s practical advice for churches—and church staffs—of all sizes.

No matter how big or small your team is, the language you use and the mission you follow is so important to the pursuit of alignment. Don’t miss this episode!

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Power of Personal Evangelism
03:08 New Hope Church: A Journey of Growth
05:52 Implementing the Operating System
08:53 Relational Evangelism and Community Impact
11:55 Baptisms and Personal Stories of Faith
14:48 Challenges in Alignment and Communication
18:08 Practical Advice for Church Leaders

Relational Evangelism in the Digital Church, with Mark Lutz | S6E3

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0100

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the way we view online church, but where most churches have gone back to physical services, some decided to go all-in on the digital space. Enter Mark Lutz and his fully-online church, Lux. Mark served as the pastor of a traditional physical church for more than a decade before he felt God calling him into full-time online ministry. Lux launched in 2021, and the lessons Mark’s learned about relational evangelism in this fully online space serve as the foundation for today’s Intentional Churches conversation.

Together Erin and Doug invite Mark to share the story behind starting Lux, his strategies for building actual engagement (not just “likes” or comments) in an online church space, and why relational evangelism and pursuing the one is so important—maybe even more important—online than it is in a traditional church setting. During their conversation Doug digs into IC’s Great Commission Engine, and Mark expands on how Lux implements these tools and others to reach those far from God. The episode ends with Mark sharing stories of usernames turning into actual, life-giving relationships, plus his advice for churches wanting to make their online services more fruitful.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Relevance of Digital Ministry
04:24 Launching a Digital Church: The Lux Experience
08:11 The Impact of COVID-19 on Church Dynamics
11:34 Navigating the Challenges of Digital Engagement
15:43 Understanding Ecclesiology in the Digital Age
18:31 The Great Commission Engine: Strategies for Engagement
23:52 Relational Evangelism in the Digital Space
28:55 Success Stories: Transformative Relationships Online

Making Mission the Main Thing, with Travis Kaiser | S6E2

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0100

Most, if not all, churches have a mission that drives what they do, but how often are we making radical alignment to that mission the main thing? Today on The Intentional Churches podcast Erin and Doug sit down with Travis Kaiser, lead pastor of Florence Baptist Church in Florence, Kentucky. Travis is passionate about fostering a Great Commission-driven mission in every aspect of his church’s culture. How does he do it? Erin and Doug ask him exactly that.

Given Florence Baptist’s historical roots (the church was originally founded in 1855!), Erin and Doug invite Travis to share a bit of the context and history behind the church before jumping into their conversation on mission. Travis then walks us through how the church went from an organization of siloed teams to a culture of mission-focused disciples bent on reaching their ones. Travis also talks about some of the challenges behind aligning to a shared mission, stories of pursuing his ones, and the practical steps any church leader can take today to make a mission based on The Great Commission the main thing for their people and church.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Intentional Churches Podcast
03:05 Travis Kaiser: Background and Church Context
05:53 Radical Alignment and Leadership Challenges
08:51 Building Trust and Relationships in Ministry
12:07 Living the Great Commission: Personal Stories
17:46 Creating a Culture of Mission
21:07 Aligning Staff and Leadership with Mission
26:02 Practical Steps for Greater Alignment
32:04 Conclusion and Conference Invitation

Inviting the Ones, with Mark Weigt | S06.E01

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0100

Welcome to season 6 of The Intentional Churches podcast! For this season of the podcast, we’re talking all about inviting and preparing for that next big event on your church’s calendar in light of The Great Commission. With Christmas right around the corner, this is the perfect time to talk about the invite potential of an event that will ultimately draw people closer to Jesus.

On today’s episode Erin and Doug are joined by Doug’s good friend (and fellow Steelers fan!), Mark Weigt. Mark is the founder and lead pastor of The Ridge Community Church in Milwaukee, WI. For this conversation, Erin and Doug focus in on how we invite our ones well—those far from God and the church. Given the large unchurched population in Milwaukee, Mark is the perfect person to tackle this topic.

Together the three dive into some of the context of Milwaukee’s church population and how that’s affected Mark’s strategies as a church leader—taking a look at how Mark and his team gear up for a big invite potential season like Christmas and the ways leaders can approach inviting their ones. Plus Mark and Doug even share some personal stories of how their relationships with ones led to further connection.

We’re excited for all the conversations to come in season 6!

Don’t forget to register for The 2025 Intentional Churches Conference at a discounted rate here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com/.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Heart of Ministry and Personal Connection
02:03 Understanding the Unique Context of Milwaukee
06:13 Vision and Mission of Ridge Community Church
10:12 Strategies for Big Invite Opportunities
14:00 Engaging Ones: Personal Stories and Community Impact
20:01 Aligning Leadership with the Great Commission
23:46 Practical Insights for Effective Church Growth

Intentional versus Unintentional Churches, with Bart Rendel | S05.E10

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0100

On the final episode of season 5, Erin and Doug invite Intentional Churches’ president and co-founder, Bart Rendel, to the show to outline the differences between intentional and unintentional churches. Bart has a heart for helping church leaders take personal ownership of The Great Commission, and that passion bleeds through every part of this conversation.

Since Bart is Doug’s partner in crime at Intentional Churches, Erin invites Doug to share his expertise too, and together the two outline exactly what an intentional versus unintentional church looks like, the steps every church should take towards being more intentional, and how Intentional Churches has truly become a learning community for church leaders. Doug and Bart wrap up this final episode of the season by sharing practical steps churches can take today to radically align with The Great Commission.

We hope you enjoyed this season of The Intentional Churches podcast!

Download Intentional Churches’ FREE e-book on radical alignment here:
https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Heart of Discipleship
03:05 Understanding Intentional Churches
06:00 Characteristics of Unintentional Churches
12:04 Steps Towards Intentionality
20:44 Building a Learning Community

Ministering to the One and the Ninety-nine, with Brian Hunt and Heather Mahoney | S05.E09

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0100

This week on The Intentional Churches podcast, Doug and Erin sit down with Mission Church’s Sarah Cole. Sarah serves as the Ventura, CA church’s welcome team lead—focusing on creating a volunteer culture that welcomes in everyone and anyone. Why is creating that culture of hospitality important to The Great Commission? How do we recruit and inspire leaders with the “why” behind welcoming new people? The three dive into these questions and more in today’s conversation!

In her time at Mission, Sarah has seen her volunteer team grow from the low numbers of the COVID-19 pandemic to over 200 individuals passionate about serving those new to the church. Together, Erin and Doug invite Sarah to share the biggest challenges—and biggest victories—behind leading such a large volunteer team, how she communicates the “why” behind the work they’re doing on a Sunday morning, and how creating that welcoming environment has led to more and more people coming to know Christ.

Hospitality in our church environments and on our welcome teams may not seem like a huge priority to some, but in reality it’s essential to inviting in and continuing to build a relationship with those who don’t know Jesus. Don’t miss this super practical, encouraging episode!

Download Intentional Churches’ FREE e-book on radical alignment here:
https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Radical Alignment
02:55 Sarah Cole's Journey and Context
06:12 Mobilizing Teams for the Great Commission
12:00 Recruitment Strategies and Team Care
18:03 Creating a Welcoming Environment
24:00 Building a Welcoming Culture
30:02 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Welcoming in the Ones, with Sarah Cole | S05.E08

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Download Intentional Churches’ FREE e-book on radical alignment here:
https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

Discipling Gen-Z, with Grant Skeldon | S05.E07

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Reaching the next generation is a concern for any institution, especially the church. With Gen-Z leaving traditional religion in droves, how do we disciple this next generation and build up faithful, fruitful leaders? Today on The Intentional Churches podcast, Doug and Erin chat with THINQ’S Next Gen director, Grant Skeldon, to break down how exactly to reach young people for Jesus.

As a young leader himself, Grant is on the front lines when it comes to discipling the next generation. Together Doug and Erin ask Grant to outline how Gen-Z is coming to Jesus, the different ways they’re responding to the Gospel, and how to inspire and equip this generation to make disciples. The three conclude their conversation by sharing strategies church leaders can implement today to reach and inspire this generation for Christ.

Learn more about Grant and THINQ here:
https://www.grantskeldon.com/.

Download Intentional Churches’ FREE e-book on radical alignment here:
https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Intentional Churches Podcast
03:03 Understanding Gen Z's Relationship with Faith
05:57 The Role of Prophetic Voices in Reaching Gen Z
09:11 Contrasting Generational Approaches to Evangelism
11:49 The Shift from Experience to Identity in Faith
15:05 Discipleship: The Key to Reaching the Next Generation
17:54 Equipping Gen Z for Evangelism and Discipleship
21:01 Practical Steps for Church Leaders
23:53 Conclusion and Resources for Further Learning

The Power of Going First, with Haley Malone | S05.E06

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 03:00:00 +0000

First Orlando’s Haley Malone never envisioned herself in ministry, but little did this former math teacher and volleyball coach know, she was already doing ministry just by building relationships with those around her. Now Haley serves as First Orlando’s groups director, overseeing all adult groups at the 150 year-old church. Doug sits down with Haley today to talk about how her passion for building authentic relationships translates to mobilizing group leaders, and how anyone—no matter your church size or position—can work to activate your people to make disciples.

During her three years at First Orlando, Haley has personally seen how investing in relationships and living out The Great Commission has led to moments of life-change. Doug invites Haley to share some of those stories on today’s episode, and together they also break down how going first in initiating relationships can inspire your leaders to do the same, why outlining what you’re activating your people toward is so important, and some encouragement for those of us who tend to want to do it all.

Download Intentional Churches’ FREE e-book on radical alignment here: https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Haley Malone and Her Journey
02:53 Haley's Role at First Orlando and Community Building
06:07 Personal Application of the Great Commission
08:53 Stories of Relational Evangelism
11:47 Mobilizing and Activating Church Leaders
15:13 Building Relationships in the Neighborhood
18:03 Tools for Group Leaders and Community Engagement
20:52 The Importance of Relationships in Ministry
24:08 Encouragement for Church Leaders
26:56 Conclusion and Resources for Listeners

Mobilizing Personal Discipleship, with Duane Roberts | S05.E05

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Radical alignment with The Great Commission is a great goal to shoot for, but how do we actually take discipleship and make it personal? On this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, Doug sits down with Calvary Chapel’s executive pastor, Duane Roberts, to talk about authentic relationship-building, organizational alignment in a multi-campus church, and co-creation among teams.

As a 10-campus church in ethnically diverse South Florida, leading Calvary Chapel has its own unique challenges. Together Duane and Doug hit on how Duane and his team promote alignment given these inherent complexities, why co-creation has become key to building up leaders and fostering trust amongst teams, and how Duane’s personal conviction to live out The Great Commission has translated to how he leads his teams. The episode concludes with the fruit Duane has seen from his team’s commitment to personal disciple-making and its transformation of Calvary Chapel from the inside out.

Download Intentional Churches’ FREE e-book on radical alignment here: https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

Combatting Christian Consumerism, with Chris Palmer | S05.E04

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 03:00:00 +0000

For this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, Doug sits down with Chris Palmer, dean of ministry and theology at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, to talk all things Christian consumerism. Doug and Chris have both witnessed the church’s slow evolution towards a more consumeristic, programmatic institution in recent decades. But how can we as church leaders combat that tendency to simply give people another thing they want rather than what they need—the cross of Christ—in our ministries? Together Doug and Chris break down the indicators that your church is leaning consumeristic, look at how to combat those tendencies, and analyze how service, reflection, and emphasizing imperfection can lead us back towards radical alignment with The Great Commission.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

Dismantling the Institutional Mindset, with Chad Booher | S05.E03

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 03:00:00 +0000

A church can be considered an “institution” but that doesn’t mean our churches should have institutional mindsets focused on programs over people. For today’s conversation on radical alignment with The Great Commission Erin and Doug sit down with Chad Booher, the community engagement minister at his local church and an individual passionate about inviting, discipling, and empowering God’s people.

During their conversation Erin and Doug ask Chad to outline how he went from being a consumer in the church to a chief disciple-maker, how that heart change affected his leadership, and the problems he’s seen with an institutional mindset in churches. Erin and Doug also offer their expertise and perspective—challenging listeners to ask themselves if the churches they’re leading in or the ways they’re discipling others are more consumeristic or focused on individual heart change.

Don’t forget to grab your discounted ticket for The Intentional Churches Conference 2025 here: www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Personal Journey
04:19 Breaking Free from the Institutional Mindset
09:59 Living Out the Great Commission Personally
14:15 Shifting the Focus: From Programs to Disciple-Making
19:01 Challenges and Changes in the Church
25:38 Practical Strategies for Breaking the Institutional Mindset
32:36 Conclusion and Call to Action

Radical Alignment with The Great Commission w/ Rodney Elliot | S05.E02

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Erin and Doug are back for this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, sitting down with executive pastor Rodney Elliot to talk radical alignment with The Great Commission. Rodney serves as the executive pastor of Pathway Church in Wichita, Kansas, and during his time in that role he’s worked to align the church’s elder board with the core mission of reaching the one far away from Jesus.

On this second episode of season five, Erin and Doug invite Rodney to share his experience with church and leadership misalignment—the three diving into how Rodney worked to promote radical unity around The Great Commission, the growth Doug has witnessed as part of IC’s partnership with Pathway Church, and the fruit Rodney’s seen as the church and board became aligned toward one mission. As someone who grew up on a family farm, Rodney leaves listeners with some encouragement only a true farmer could give: if we tend to the soil well, 90% of the work of growth has been done already, the rest is in God’s hands.

Don’t forget to snag your early-bird pricing discount for The Intentional Churches Conference 2025! Purchase tickets and learn more here: https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Season Theme: Radical Alignment
03:29 Misalignment in the Church: Resistance to the Great Commission
06:19 Catalyst for Alignment: Reaching a Breaking Point
08:01 Aligning the Elder Board: Personal Great Commission
10:18 Alignment Down to Staff and Key Leaders
18:19 Counterintuitive Approach: Back to Basics
23:35 Farming Analogy: Preparing the Soil for Growth
29:45 Practical Advice: Start with the Great Commission
32:02 Conclusion and Invitation to Intentional Churches Conference

Battling through Misalignment | S05.E01

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome to season 5 of The Intentional Churches podcast! This season we’re talking all about how to radically align our churches and leaders around the promises of Scripture and the truths of The Great Commission. Luke Lezon is our featured guest today—a young lead pastor who’s faced his fair share of misalignment challenges while stepping into a lead pastor role after a major church split.

On today’s episode Erin and Doug invite Luke to share his story, which he does with candor and honesty. Though Luke had to experience the battles of church misalignment firsthand, his experiences gave him the wisdom needed to take on his new leadership role and help shepherd his church into a steadier and more faith-filled future. Together Luke, Erin, and Doug discuss signs of church misalignment, how to turn the ship back toward scriptural alignment, and some practical ways to keep your team and people aligned and pulling in the same direction. Luke leaves listeners with some practical pieces of advice for anyone who’s facing misalignment in their church.

This is going to be a powerful, practical, and relatable season of the show for so many of us in church leadership—don’t miss it!

Follow Luke on Instagram at @lukaslezon and check out LifeBridge Orlando on their website: https://lifebridgeorlando.com/

Grab your discounted tickets for The Intentional Churches Conference in April of 2025 here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com/

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Clarity
03:16 Misalignment and the Challenges Faced by Church Leaders
08:45 Alignment as an Ongoing Process
21:24 Navigating Misalignment and Transition
25:07 Asking Questions and Engaging in Healthy Discussions
27:02 The Role of Leadership in Alignment
29:08 Conclusion and Announcement of Intentional Churches Conference

God’s Faithfulness in the Midst of Battles, featuring Pastor Clint Nolder | IC Conference Bonus Episode

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 03:00:00 +0000

To close up season 4 of The Intentional Churches podcast, we’re releasing another bonus episode from our Intentional Churches Conference 2024, this time featuring our opening session with lead pastor Clint Nolder. Clint leads Foundation Church in Newnan, GA, and during his time with our conference attendees Clint shared on the faithfulness of God in the midst of life’s many battles.

A ministry leader and parent, Clint has encountered his own fair share of battles, but no matter what he’s faced God has remained faithful. Using the story of Elisha and the Armeneans from 2 Kings chapter 6 to show that God will never leave or forsake us, Clint encourages us with practical ways to walk through any battle—leaning on community, viewing our battles as testimony, and choosing vulnerability to declare victory in Christ every time.

Don’t miss out on The Intentional Churches Conference 2025! Claim your discounted rate today: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com/

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: Facing Battles and Finding Strength
20:32 Seeing Battles as Opportunities
29:26 The Importance of Learning from Others
32:40 Conclusion: Thankfulness and Praise

What do Non-Christians Think about Jesus? | IC Conference Bonus Episode

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 03:00:00 +0000

We’re wrapping up season 4 of the Intentional Churches podcast with a few bonus episodes from the 2024 Intentional Churches Conference! This first bonus episode comes from the One Aware panel we did interviewing non-Christians on their thoughts on Jesus, the church, and how they’d ideally want to be approached by Christians. It’s an eye-opening, and convicting, conversation.

A word of caution: this type of conversation is not a casual, one-off conversation to be replicated in any type of context, instead our team conducted this panel as a way to inspire and train the 99 in relational evangelism. We always want to be intentional about what kind of ambassadors for Christ we are in the world, and this was the perfect setting to do just that.

We’re offering a special, early bird rate for the Intentional Churches Conference 2025! Here's the link:
https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com/

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Caution
01:35 Setting the Stage for Spiritual Conversations
03:30 Exploring Non-Christians' Beliefs
06:05 Panelists' Introductions and Backgrounds
13:13 Opinions on the Bible
15:05 Perspectives on Jesus Christ
19:15 Beliefs about the Resurrection
23:16 Thoughts on Life After Death
27:08 Confidence in Beliefs and Openness to Spiritual Conversations
31:22 Past Experiences Attending Church Services
31:51 Childhood Church Experiences and Sense of Community
35:02 Desire for Understanding and Respect in Spiritual Conversations
37:50 Building Trust and Friendship Before Discussing Spirituality
40:41 Questions for God about Purpose and Impact
55:05 Continuing Conversations in a Casual and Accepting Environment

Recruiting and Caring for the Next Volunteers | S04.E08

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 13:38:10 +0000

On this week’s episode of Intentional Churches Doug and Erin are joined by Jill Gillie, executive director of campus ops and projects at Eastside Christian Church in Orange County, California. Jill is an expert when it comes to recruiting, sustaining, and building a volunteer culture, and that’s exactly the expertise she shares during today’s conversation.

A lot changed for churches after COVID-19, including the approach to volunteers. Jill breaks down how her team looks at building that core volunteer base, post-COVID, and what she learned about consistency throughout that time. The three then launch into a discussion on how to recruit volunteers of different generations, creating a true volunteer culture at your church, and Jill’s practical tips for training your volunteer team. Members willing to serve are essential for the success of any church, no matter its size, and this conversation will leave you with practical ways to build a consistent volunteer culture that will continue to grow beyond your annual volunteering push from the pulpit.

CHAPTERS
00:00 The Importance of Volunteers in Church
03:15 Adapting Volunteer Recruitment and Care During COVID-19
11:24 Generational Differences in Volunteering
18:34 Creating a Volunteer Culture
26:43 Practical Tips for Recruiting and Training Volunteers

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

Navigating Politics in our Neighborhoods | S04.E07

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome back to this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast! We’re continuing our discussion on preparing for the push come November that is the 2024 election season. Today Erin and Doug welcome Archbishop Alan Wiggins to the show to talk about navigating politics in our own neighborhoods, which translates into how we lead people well in our churches.

Archbishop Wiggins serves as the senior pastor of Hope Church Orlando, and he’s also the presiding bishop of the International Bishops Conference. Given his passion for pastoring not just the spiritual side of the individual, but the whole person, Archbishop Wiggins rebranded a 50 year-old urban youth center into Frontline Innovation Studios—a place where youth can gather to learn about technology and hone their skills for future jobs. This passion for community serves as a jumping off point for today’s conversation on navigating politics in our neighborhoods.

Together, Erin and Doug talk with Archbishop Wiggins about what he and his church learned from the 2020 election cycle, how church leaders can lead their people well as we head into the fall of 2024, and the role of the church in the community when it comes to politics. Archbishop Wiggins concludes the episode by encouraging listeners to truly be the Church in this political moment—living out The Great Commission in everything we do.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Context
02:36 Navigating the Political Landscape in America
09:24 The African-American Church and Politics
12:29 Reflections on Navigating Politics in 2020
15:25 Leading Through the Political Climate of 2024
20:24 The Role of the Church in the Political Climate
24:20 Practical Advice for Church Leaders
27:18 Returning to the Basics of Scripture
29:16 Living with Urgency and Conviction
31:09 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Navigating Politics from the Pulpit | S04.E06

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 03:00:00 +0000

With election season ramping up and all the political turmoil we’ve experienced as a country in the last few weeks, it’s no wonder church leaders are talking about how to navigate politics from the pulpit. First Orlando’s senior associate pastor, Danny de Armas, joins Erin and Doug for this week’s timely conversation on all things politics and how to engage with what’s going on without becoming addicted to the noise.

Politics is everyone’s favorite talking point, especially those in church leadership where your every potential misstep is recorded and live-streamed on a Sunday. But this is a subject we need to address. Together, Erin and Doug start off by asking Danny what he and his church learned through the turmoil of the 2020 election cycle and what, if anything, he’d do differently this time around. The three then discuss practical ways to keep Jesus at the center of all political discussions, how to mobilize our people to pray in this political season, and encourage church leaders to root themselves in the Gospel before tuning into any news cycle.

Given all that’s happened on the national stage in the last few weeks—and all that will happen this fall—this is a can’t-miss episode on leading our people well from now until November and beyond.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
03:42 Navigating Politics from the Pulpit
05:37 Lessons Learned from the Political Unrest of 2020
09:54 Challenges of Navigating Politics in a Diverse Church
14:12 Being Intentional and Careful in Addressing Political Issues
19:27 The Power of Prayer and Scripture in Navigating Politics
25:09 Advancing the Kingdom of God: The Ultimate Goal

Planning for Physical Expansion without Sacrificing the Vision | S04.E05

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 03:00:00 +0000

What do we as ministry leaders do when our facilities begin to run out of space? Should we immediately begin a building campaign, or are there other creative ways to still serve our people in our current spaces? Too many people in too small a space is a good problem to have, but it can be a hard one to solve. Executive pastor Jeremy Thiessen joins Erin and Doug for this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast to talk how to prepare for physical expansion without losing sight of your church’s vision for developing disciples.

Jeremy has served as the executive pastor for Shelter Cove in Modesto, California for five years, and from 2022 to 2024, saw their weekend attendance double in size. That fast growth prompted Jeremy and his team to start thinking about expansion, and the challenges and opportunities that come with that conversation. Throughout the episode Erin and Doug also share their own insights when it comes to building, creative solutions if a building campaign isn’t possible or isn’t the right way to serve your people, and how to always keep the Great Commission front of mind, rather than getting caught up in a building project.

Whether your church is running out of physical space, or you’re simply needing a word on how to continue discipling your people well—this episode is for you!

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
03:11 Preparing for the Next Season of Ministry
04:07 The Journey of Shelter Cove Community Church
06:01 Transition to an Attractional Model
07:23 Engaging with Intentional Churches
08:47 Experiencing Significant Growth
09:46 National Trends in Church Growth and Space Challenges
14:24 Space Challenges at Shelter Cove Community Church
16:20 Considering Capital Campaign and Building Plans
20:46 Creative Solutions for Space Challenges
23:17 Cautionary Thoughts on Building Projects
25:44 Aligning Vision and Addressing Space Needs
28:55 Practical Advice for Planning and Space Management
32:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Practicing What You Preach: Prioritizing Mental Health | S04.E04

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 03:00:00 +0000

On this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, we’re continuing to talk about how we prepare well for that next big “push” in ministry—specifically how to prioritize our own mental, spiritual, and emotional health as leaders. Licensed professional counselor and Gallup Strengths Coach, Stefanie Rowe, joins Erin and Doug, outlining the crisis many pastors and church leaders are facing when it comes to the state of their mental health.

Throughout their conversation, Stefanie shares stats that might surprise you, including: 1 in 5 pastors are struggling with addiction, 50% struggle with depression, 1 in 3 with burnout, and 60% feel lonely. Additionally, only 1 out of 6 pastors are getting the help they need. So, what can those of us in ministry do to make sure we’re prioritizing our own mental health? Stefanie draws on her years of experience and background as a teaching pastor to outline some best practices for pastors (or anyone!) struggling. Erin and Doug add their own insights, talking about taking intentional time off during slower seasons of ministry, putting relationships first, refusing to neglect your own time with God, and being off social media.

Whatever season of life or ministry you find yourself in, this conversation is full of practical tips to help us all practice what we preach and work to prioritize our own mental health!

Learn more about Stefanie and her work on her website:
https://www.stefanierowe.com/

Two helpful resources Stefanie recommends for pastors and church leaders struggling in any of the areas mentioned in this episode include

The State of Pastors volumes 1 and 2:
https://shop.barna.com/products/the-state-of-pastors-vol-2

The Resilient Pastor:
https://a.co/d/08YrszjG

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:00 | Introduction and Overview
03:10 | The State of Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health of Church Leaders
12:22 | Prioritizing Self-Care: Practicing What You Preach
22:46 | Taking Breaks from Social Media: Reducing Stress and Improving Well-Being
25:31 | Taking Inventory: Reflecting on What Went Well and What Didn't
26:59 | Setting Boundaries: Prioritizing Self-Care for Long-Term Health

Overcoming the Fear of Neglecting the 99 To Reach The One | S04.E03

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 03:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Erin and Doug welcome Holly Gillespie to discuss the importance of designing church systems and processes with the one in mind. They spotlight the need to shift from a buffet-style approach to a more intentional and targeted strategy that focuses on those who are far from God. They talk through the importance of mindset shifts, such as considering what it's like on the other side of the church experience and overcoming the fear of neglecting the 99. They also discuss the need for prayer, team conversations, and small steps to begin implementing these changes.

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:00 Designing Church Systems and Processes with the One in Mind
06:33 The Evolution and Transition in Church
10:43 Shifting from a Buffet-Style Approach to Intentional Targeting
14:07 Mindset Shifts and Overcoming Fear

We'll Be Back Next Week!

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Just a quick break for July 4th. We hope you have a wonderful week and we can't wait to jump back into Season 4 with you next Tuesday.

See you soon!

Generational Differences And The Evolution Of Church Leadership | S04.E02

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 03:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Erin and Doug discuss the evolution of church leadership and the shift in mindset between different generations. They specifically focus on the pros and cons of small group models and the need for integration between church life and everyday life. They talk through the importance of disappointing people at a rate they can tolerate and shifting the mindset from providing answers to equipping and empowering individuals to be the answer. They discuss the priority of building relational fabric in the church and the need for ongoing coaching and training for leaders. They also share practical ideas for weaving relational fabric, such as using gatherings and events as key relational moments and encouraging people to linger longer in Sunday services.

Chapters:
00:00 The Evolution of Church Leadership and the Generational Shift
03:53 The Pros and Cons of Small Group Models
13:04 Disappointing People at a Rate They Can Tolerate
16:31 Equipping and Empowering Leaders
26:25 The Importance of Ongoing Coaching and Training
29:43 Practical Ideas for Weaving Relational Fabric

Understanding Your Church's Relational Reach Zone | S04.E01

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome to season 4! This season is all about helping you prepare for your church's next big push! In this fist episode Erin & Doug talk with Bart Rendel on the concept of the relational reach zone of churches and how it impacts strategic planning for the next season. Bart stresses the importance of knowing who the church is trying to reach and being aware of the potential impact they can have within their relational networks. They suggest practical steps such as identifying the people connected to the church, evaluating the frequency of their attendance, and multiplying the average attendance to estimate the size of the relational footprint. They also highlight the need for individual awareness of personal relational reach zones and the importance of mobilizing and training church members to reach people within their own networks.

Chapters:
00:18 Introduction and Season 4 Focus
02:23 Defining the Relational Reach Zone
04:04 Identifying the Church's Relational Reach Zone
08:03 Guiding Teams with Relational Reach Zone
10:43 Paradigm Shift: Institutional vs. Relational Evangelism
12:57 Community Impact through Relational Reach Zone
14:00 3D Chess: Overlapping Church Footprints
16:06 Planning Next Season with Relational Reach Zone
18:25 Practical Steps for Raising One Awareness
20:44 Annual One Where Audit for Strategy
21:43 Summary of Relational Reach Zone Concept
22:59 Evaluating Programmatic Schedule and Great Commission
24:01 Personal Relational Reach Zone Importance
26:17 Next Steps for Church Leaders and Volunteers
28:16 Evaluating Ministry Programs with Great Commission Questions
29:14 Encouragement for Planning and Reflection

How Do I Manage Stress And Avoid Burnout? | S03.E10

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 03:00:00 +0000

In this last episode of Season 3 Erin and Doug are joined by Mitch Harrison to discuss church leadership challenges, focusing on the critical issue of burnout. Mitch shares his personal journey of experiencing and overcoming burnout, and the need for intentional replenishment. The conversation highlights the importance of balancing stress with restorative practices and offers a framework involving rest, emotional release, renewed purpose, recreation, and meaningful relationships.

This episode encourages leaders to create a sustainable plan for personal replenishment and to foster a supportive culture within their organizations to prevent burnout and maintain effective ministry.

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube:www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Mitch Harrison:
Website: www.refillcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-harrison-3653b539

Chapters:
00:23 Podcast Introduction
01:28 Mitch Harrison's Background
02:19 Question: Managing Ministry Demands
03:03 Mitch's Personal Burnout Journey
05:15 Doug Parks on Burnout in Ministry
06:29 Defining Replenishment
08:45 The Five R's Framework
12:45 Doug Parks on Escapism vs. Replenishment
16:04 Personal Application for Leaders
17:04 Creating a Replenishment Plan
19:10 Doug's Current Challenges with Replenishment
21:04 Mitch on Church Staff Replenishment
22:20 Generational Differences in Work Ethic
24:29 Millennials' Perspective on Work and Burnout
26:43 Organizational Replenishment Practices
28:14 Applying the Framework Corporately

How Can We Achieve Strategic Alignment? | S03.E09

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 03:00:00 +0000

In this episode Erin and Doug discuss strategic alignment in church leadership with guest Allie Bryant. Allie, a Strategic Alignment Executive at Trader's Point Christian Church, explains her role in bridging the gap between strategy and execution. The conversation focuses on common challenges church leaders face, such as project prioritization, resource allocation, and maintaining clear communication of vision and strategy. Allie shares insights into effective project management, the importance of regular strategic planning, and the need for clarity and consistency in defining and communicating mission, vision, and strategy within church organizations.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Chapters:
00:20 Welcome and Introductions
01:00 Allie Bryant's Background
03:00 Defining Strategic Alignment
04:27 Importance of Clarity in Vision and Strategy
06:03 Challenges in Defining Strategy and Vision
08:44 Translating Vision to Execution
10:04 Coordinating Vision with Team Members
13:09 Prioritization and Sequencing in Strategy
17:06 Misalignment as a Major Challenge in Churches
18:46 Evaluating Strategy Regularly
19:43 Coordination of Day-to-Day Strategy
21:08 Example of Misalignment from Mother's Day
25:33 Developing Project Management Skills
29:42 Training Next Generation of Leaders
30:23 Practical Steps for Greater Strategic Alignment

How Can Our Church Integrate With Our Community? | S03.E08

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 28 May 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Bishop Derrick McRae, Senior Pastor at The Experience Christian Center in Orlando, Florida sits down with Erin and Doug to share insights on how churches can better integrate with their communities and meet their needs. He touches on the importance of approaching community integration with a humble posture. Bishop McCrae also highlights the need for churches to develop relationships and partnerships with government officials and other organizations to effectively meet community needs. He encourages churches to have a clear vision and value proposition for their outreach efforts and to actively involve their congregation in outreach activities. Additionally, he stresses the importance of trusting in God rather than political outcomes.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Bishop Derrick McRae:
Website: https://www.eccorlando.com/our-pastor

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and the Church's Role in Communities
02:13 Integrating with the Community: Approaching with Humility and Listening
05:02 Developing Relationships and Partnerships for Effective Outreach
08:24 Creating a Clear Vision and Value Proposition for Outreach
22:43 Navigating Politics in the Church: Trusting in God

How Can The Church Grow And Not Lose It's Vision? | S03.E07

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 21 May 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Erin and Doug talk through the topic of church growth and how to navigate it without losing sight of the church's vision and mission. They discuss the importance of not being afraid of growth and the need to innovate and focus on relational ministry. They caution against reverting to old strategies and highlight the need for personal mission statements aligned with the Great Commission. The epsiode is all about the challenges of growth, the importance of evaluation and pruning, and the need for an aligned true north for the church.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Context
01:42 Observations on Church Growth
09:26 Avoiding Mission Drift
14:42 Fighting the Inward Pull and Getting Back to Basics
21:24 Inviting Others for Evaluation and Reflection
24:01 Embracing the Dynamic Nature of God's Work
25:56 Celebrating Growth and Listening to God's Direction

How Do We Get Our Teams To Collaborate? | S03.E06

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 14 May 2024 03:00:00 +0000

This week Erin & Doug are joined by their good friend Dano and they talk about the importance of collaboration and working well together across teams in church leadership. They discuss the challenges of silos within teams and the need to eliminate them for effective decision-making and creating breakthroughs. They also introduce the concept of co-creation, which is involving everyone in the organization and unlocking their contributions. Their conversation highlights the importance of cross-functionality and prioritization in achieving collaboration.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Collaboration
02:13 Silos and the Need for Cross-Functionality
07:07 Co-Creation: Inviting People to the Kitchen
10:26 Prioritization and Sequencing in Collaboration
13:46 True Collaboration vs Telling and Selling
26:20 Conclusion and Encouragement

How Do I Address Staffing Shortages? | S03.E05

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 07 May 2024 03:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Erin and Doug talk through the challenges of being short-staffed in churches and how to navigate this issue. They discuss the importance of having a developmental mindset and raising up leaders from within the church. They also highlight the concept of agency, where individuals have the freedom and permission to act and contribute. They share examples from churches in Brazil that thrive with minimal staff and discuss the need to challenge assumptions about the necessity of staff positions. They also provide practical tactics for church leaders to address staffing shortages.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Chapters:
00:00 Navigating the Challenges of Being Short-Staffed
06:24 Developing a Mindset of Raising Up Leaders
11:04 The Importance of Agency in Creating a Culture of Engagement
13:27 Learning from Thriving Churches in Brazil
15:46 Challenging Assumptions about Staffing Needs

LIVE From ICCON 24! | S03.E04

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 03:00:00 +0000

This week we were live at the Intentional Churches Conference in Orlando! Erin and Doug gathered with Allie Bryant, Bishop McCrae, and Mike Hickerson at the Intentional Churches Conference. They discuss critical topics for church leaders, focusing on aligning team members with church culture, addressing misalignment, and effectively handling team members who may hinder progress. The conversation explores practical strategies for fostering a cohesive team spirit and aligning individual actions with broader church missions. Through dynamic discussions and sharing of personal experiences, the panel provides insightful guidance on nurturing a productive and harmonious church environment.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Sign up for next year's conference here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com/iccon-25

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/

Allie Bryant is the Strategic Alignment Executive at Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN.
https://tpcc.org/

Bishop Derrick L. McRae is the Senior Pastor of The Experience Christian Center in Orlando, FL.
https://www.eccorlando.com/our-pastor

Mike Hickerson is the Lead Pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA.
https://www.missionventura.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Podcast Introduction
00:13 Panelist Introductions
01:03 Overview of Season Three Focus
03:06 Discussion on Building Culture
10:11 Utilizing Digital Honor Boards
11:16 Sharing Practical Examples and Experiences
17:05 Defining and Developing Outreach Strategies
25:34 Integrating Outreach into Church Strategy
29:18 Shift from Institutional to Relational Approach Post-COVID
38:33 Final Reflections and Questions

How Do We Keep People Moving and Engaged After Easter | S03.E03

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Chris VandeLinde, pastor of Cornerstone Christian Church, shares his church's journey leading up to Easter and the strategies they implemented to engage and activate new attendees. They focused on personal relational evangelism, providing tools and resources for their members to reach out to their 'ones' (people they are praying for). They also emphasized the importance of early entrance opportunities to serve and avoiding cul-de-sacs by keeping new attendees spiritually moving. The conversation concludes with practical next steps for church leaders, including thinking like a church planter and starting small with a core group of members to invest in relationships.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Cornerstone Christian Church:
Website: https://onecornerstone.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OneCornerstoneOnline
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onecornerstone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onecornerstone/
Blog: https://onecornerstone.org/blog

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Overview of Church Goals
00:37 Chris Vandelinde's Background and Church Experience
01:09 Current Challenges and Approaches in Church Leadership
02:31 The Role of Big Events in Church Engagement
07:04 Strategies for Post-Event / Easter Engagement
13:21 The Importance of Relational Evangelism
19:09 Integrating Newcomers Post-Easter / Events
24:08 Concluding Thoughts and Practical Steps for Church Leaders

Finding Future Church Leaders Within Your Church | S03.E02

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Erin & Doug talk with Jeff Bennett from Stadia about developing future church leaders. They emphasize the importance of looking within the church for potential leaders and investing in their development. They discuss the need for a shift in mindset from hiring specialists to becoming people developers. Their conversation also touches on the current shortage of church leaders and the importance of creating a culture of discipleship and development. Practical advice is given, such as asking questions about who you are developing and investing time in raising up the next generation of leaders.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Stadia:
Website: https://stadia.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stadiachurchplanting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stadiachurchplanting/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/stadia
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stadiachurchplanting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StadiaChurchPlanting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stadiachurchplanting

Chapters:
(00:00) Finding Future Church Leaders Within Your Church
(07:51) Shifting from Hiring Specialists to Becoming People Developers
(13:45) Investing in the Development of Future Leaders for Church Multiplication
(27:31) Practical Steps for Developing Future Church Leaders

How Can We Develop the Next Generation of Church Leaders? | S03.E01

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Season 3! Kristin Miller joins Erin and Doug to discuss the importance of developing the next generation of church leaders. Kristin is the Director of Resident Development at Leadership Pathway. She shares insights on what the next generation is looking for in ministry and how churches can become places of development for young leaders. The conversation highlights the need for a long-term approach to development, focusing on soft skills, mentorship, and intentional investment in young leaders. Practical next steps include reevaluating youth ministry to call students to full-time Christian ministry and starting with one person and intentionally investing in their development.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com

The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches

Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Leadership Pathway:

Website: https://www.leadershippathway.org

Instagram: http://instagram.com/leadershpathway

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadershpathway

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershippathway8924

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Welcome

(03:38) Exploring the Next Generation of Church Leaders

(09:07) What Young Leaders Are Looking For

(13:54) Creating a Culture of Mentorship and Development

(26:06) Practical Next Steps for Church Leaders

(29:30) Conclusion

Personal Alignment To The Great Commission | S02.E09

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Matthew Robinson, Executive Pastor at First Orlando, joins Erin and Doug to explore the importance of personal alignment to the Great Commission and how it impacts church leadership teams, staff, and volunteers. The guests share their personal journeys and realizations about the need for personal commitment to the Great Commission. They discuss practical steps for church leaders to align themselves personally and create space for alignment in their teams. The conversation emphasizes the importance of lowering the pressure and focusing on planting seeds rather than closing deals. The episode concludes with a reminder that personal alignment starts with church leaders and flows into the congregation.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Learn more at: https://intentionalchurches.com

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Background

(01:40) The Importance of Personal Alignment to the Great Commission

(03:32) Recognizing Personal Responsibility for the Great Commission

(04:30) The Shift from Institutional to Personal Alignment

(06:19) Personal Realizations and Renewed Commitment

(09:00) The Journey of Personal Alignment

(11:57) Helping Staff and Leaders Align Personally

(13:23) Creating Space for Personal Alignment

(19:29) Churches Getting Aligned Personally

(21:42) Making Space for Alignment in Leadership Teams

(23:11) Practical Steps for Personal Alignment

(26:31) Practical Steps for Church Leaders

(30:17) Summary and Conclusion

Breaking Silos: Aligning Church Leaders, Staff & Boards | S02.E08

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0100

This episode focuses on the topic of alignment in church staff and governance boards. Erin and Doug discuss signs of misalignment, practical steps for achieving alignment, and the benefits that come from being aligned. They also share stories of both epic fails and success stories related to alignment. The episode concludes with a discussion on the first steps church leaders can take towards greater alignment, including leading effective meetings.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast! Learn more at: https://intentionalchurches.com Chapters:

(00:00) Signs of Misalignment

(01:12) Alignment in Church Staff and Governance Boards

(08:43) Creating a Shared True North

(09:29) DNA Statements and Values

(11:54) Corporate Discernment

(13:45) Benefits of Alignment

(19:47) First Steps Towards Alignment

(20:41) Leading Great Meetings

Aligning Visions: Overcoming Misalignment in Modern Churches | S02.E07

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0100

Doug & Erin welcome Bart Rendel on this episode. Bart is the co-founder of Intentional Churches and a seasoned church leader. He shares his invaluable insights and experiences, drawing from his rich background in church planting and leadership. The conversation explores the challenges of alignment and misalignment in church leadership. The Acts 1-8 model is introduced as a framework for alignment, with a focus on personal alignment to the Great Commission. The discussion highlights the importance of avoiding institutional thinking and prioritizing individual relationships and discipleship. Practical tips are provided for moving towards alignment, including personal reflection and the use of alignment tools. The episode concludes with a preview of future topics and the upcoming Intentional Churches Conference.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Learn more at: https://intentionalchurches.com

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Setting the Stage (02:44) Alignment and Misalignment in Church Leadership (08:08) The Challenges of Alignment (09:08) Personal Alignment to the Great Commission (11:02) The Acts 1-8 Model (13:28) Alignment Stories and Examples (24:28) Recent Alignment Wins (26:51) Practical Tips for Moving Towards Alignment (31:39) Conclusion and Future Topics

From Programs to People: The Power of a Disciple Making Church | S02.E06

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0100

Drew Moore, lead pastor at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, discusses the transition to a disciple-making church and the challenges and successes they have experienced. They define disciple-making movements and emphasize the importance of empowering individuals to make disciples. The conversation explores the shift from an institutionally focused approach to one that encourages agency and engagement from all members. They discuss the challenges faced during the transition and the positive outcomes they have seen, such as increased baptisms and volunteer engagement. The conversation also touches on the importance of thinking beyond individual discipleship and considering the impact on relational networks.

To learn more, please visit https://www.intentionalchurches.com

Learn more about Canyon Ridge Christian Church here: https://www.canyonridge.org

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Background

(00:55) Defining Disciple Making Movements

(03:17) Shifting Perspectives on Disciple Making

(05:29) Transitioning to a Disciple-Making Church

(07:51) Unleashing Agency in Disciple Making

(09:55) Challenges and Headwinds in the Transition

(14:10) Overcoming Resistance and Change

(20:34) Fruit and Challenges in the New Approach

(27:24) Challenges and Questions for the Future

(31:12) Thinking about Relational Networks

Breaking the Loneliness Epidemic: Building Authentic Connections in a Digital Age | S02.E05

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0100

This conversation explores the lost art of developing authentic friendships, particularly among the younger generation. The discussion highlights the impact of social media and technology on social connection and the rise of the loneliness epidemic. The importance of deep listening and powerful questions is emphasized as a means to address loneliness and foster meaningful relationships. The conversation also delves into the implementation of these practices in church leadership and preaching. Despite the challenges, there is hope for a culture that values and cultivates authentic friendships.

To learn more, please visit: intentionalchurches.com

Chapters:

(00:00) The Lost Art of Developing Authentic Friendships

(03:00) The Loneliness Epidemic

(05:44) Addressing Loneliness in Church

(08:37) The Power of Deep Listening and Powerful Questions

(11:19) Improving Questioning Skills

(14:28) Implementing Deep Listening and Powerful Questions

(17:46) The Impact on Preaching

(20:41) Practicing Deep Listening and Curiosity

(22:23) Hope for Developing Authentic Friendships

Generational Differences and the Great Commission: How Do We Engage New People? | S02.E04

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0100

In this conversation, Erin Johnston and Doug Parks discuss the influx of new people in churches and the need for intentional engagement. They explore the spiritual awakening happening in America and the importance of repentance and charting a new course for church leadership. They emphasize the need to start with the end in mind, focusing on the Great Commission as a personal mission statement. Practical steps for engaging new people include thinking like a church planter, building relationships, and tapping into the motivations and values of new attendees. They also highlight the significance of host moments and caution against antiquated thinking and strategies.

To learn more, please visit: intentionalchurches.com

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:40) The Influx of New People

(03:01) The Spiritual Awakening in America

(06:21) Repenting and Returning to Scriptural Basics

(10:36) Taking the First Step in the Direction of the Great Commission

(13:07) Engaging Faces and Places

(17:48) The Importance of Host Moments

(23:23) What Every Church Should Be Doing

(26:13) Guarding Against Antiquated Thinking

(27:40) Conclusion

The Road to Church Growth: Personal Relationships | S02.E03

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0100

Doug Parks and Erin Johnston explore how churches can foster relationships in the modern era on this episode of Intentional Churches. They reference Truett Cathy and suggest creating space for people to engage with each other. They also discuss the example of Adamsville Road Church of God, which has seen an increase in attendance and baptisms due to its focus on relationships. Finally, they emphasize that personal relationships are the way forward for the church.

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast! To learn more, please visit intentionalchurches.com.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Setting the Context (01:08) Defining Engagement in Today's Church (03:00) Flipping the Way We Lead (05:22) Relational Engagement and Loneliness (09:08) Creating Space for Connection (10:23) Discouragement and Exhaustion in Church Leaders (12:14) Learning from Chick-fil-A's Relational Approach (15:34) Experimenting with Non-Service Events (17:43) The Hunger for Authentic Relationships (20:33) Getting Back to the Basics (23:53) Church Experiences that Impact Daily Life (26:14) The Power of Personal Engagement

How do I Build a Multiplication Mindset in my Church? | S02.E02

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0100

This episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast explores the concept of building a multiplication mindset in church leaders. The conversation highlights the difference between institutional multiplication and personal multiplication, emphasizing the importance of individual disciple-making. The hosts share their experiences at Canyon Ridge Christian Church and discuss the need for multiplication fluency and the M.A.W.L. process. They also discuss the Acts 1-8 model and the potential of multiplication in a church. The episode concludes with practical tools for developing a multiplication mindset.

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast! To learn more, please visit intentionalchurches.com.

**The ChurchOS Conference is now the Intentional Churches Conference! Learn more and register you and your team at https://intentionalchurchesconference.com

Chapters:

(00:00) The Journey with Jesus and Transformation

(03:00) Understanding Institutional Multiplication

(06:00) The Transformation at Canyon Ridge Christian Church

(09:00) Multiplication Fluency and Personal Disciple Making

(12:00) Shifting Mindset to Personal Multiplication

(16:00) Awareness and Engagement with People Far from God

(18:00) Generational Multiplication and the Gospel

(20:00) Simple Tools for Multiplication

(24:00) Multiplication Mindset in Staff and Elders

(28:00) The Potential of Multiplication in a Church

(30:00) Practical Tools for Developing a Multiplication Mindset

What Does Mobilizing Church People Mean? | S02.E01

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:30:00 -0100

On this first episode of the Intentional Churches podcast, Erin and Doug discuss what it actually means to mobilize our church people. Erin draws from her on-the-ground experience at Canyon Ridge to talk about how that church has pivoted from an inward-facing model to an outward one, all in the hopes of making disciples that make more disciples. Together Erin and Doug break down generational multiplication, why churches have become so reliant on their staff to steer the ship (and how to get away from that tendency), and what it means to cast a church-wide vision that’s people-focused, not content-focused. The episode ends with Doug’s challenge to church leaders to make the Great Commission a personal mission statement before it’s ever an organizational one. Want to hone in on how mobilization can radically transform your people? Don’t miss this conversation!

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast! To learn more, please visit intentionalchurches.com.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Background

(01:08) Defining Mobilization

(03:04) The Importance of Getting People Moving

(06:21) Understanding Multiplication in Church Context

(07:40) The Institutional Mindset in the Church

(08:39) The Impact of COVID-19 on Institutional Thinking

(09:08) The Role of Church Staff in Mobilization

(10:32) Institutional Thinking in Smaller Church Environments

(11:24) Shifting the Focus from Institution to Individuals

(13:44) Helping People Take Baby Steps

(14:37) Building Awareness and Casting Vision

(17:00) Celebrating Baptisms and Empowering Baptizers

(19:18) Transitioning from Institutional Mindset in Host Moments

(20:14) Creating Spaces for People to Find Their People

(22:00) Developing a One-Aware Mindset

(23:55) Sharing Transformation Stories

(25:25) Transitioning from a Cruise Ship to River Rafts

(28:51) Helping Church People Live Dynamic Lives

(30:16) Building Awareness and Praying for Relationships

(32:09) Conclusion

Season 2 Coming Soon!

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0100

I'm a church leader just like you, and are you wanting to see more people in your community come to know Jesus? Are you wanting to fight the Christian consumerism that's emerged in all of our congregations? Are you tired of the same old books, conferences, and podcasts claiming to help with these very real ministry leadership challenges?

Hey there, I'm Doug Parks , CEO and co-founder of Intentional Churches, and it's my personal mission to help shift your focus back to the basic blocking and tackling of ministry leadership, to call us all back to the basics of making the Great Commission a personal mission statement for every Jesus follower. Together, we want to multiply kingdom impact with intentional churches just like the one you serve in leadership. In fact, we built an entire church leadership system that we've now installed in over 600 churches nationwide, and we want to share those learnings and ideas with you and invite you into what's becoming the great collaboration between those church leaders. We're excited about season two of our podcast. We simply call it the Intentional Churches Podcast, and I humbly ask you to consider giving a listen to see what this back to basics call might look like in the church you serve.

Together with my incredible co-host, Erin Johnston. And let me tell you, she's an incredible young millennial executive pastor in a great church. We promised to share thought provoking discussions and actionable takeaways that will resource you to help your people reach and grow the people in your community. So if you're ready to take the big step toward mobilizing and activating your congregation, we oftentimes say mobilizing your 99 to reach and grow their ones. Join us for season two of the Intentional Churches podcast we're launching in early 2024, wherever you listen to or watch your podcast.

https://intentionalchurches.com/

E10: How Can Intentional Churches Help My Church?

Bart Rendel, Doug Parks — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 13:08:47 -0100

Doug and Bart conclude the book series by sharing the various ways that Intentional Churches can partner with your church to help you activate the Great Commission and develop rhythms, habits, and routines for greater Kingdom impact. We’re passionate about seeing churches be more effective and are honored and humbled to serve you and your church!

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com

E09: Vision Activation: Managing Today With Tomorrow in Mind

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 13:07:29 -0100

It’s not enough to just clarify vision for your church – the way to lasting impact and effectiveness is by intentionally activating and measuring your vision rhythmically. Doug and Bart share some of the ways that ChurchOS helps you and your team to develop new habits to help you move steadily towards your vision.

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com

E08: Driving Alignment Towards Your “True North” Vision

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 13:06:02 -0100

Intentional Churches use a clear vision of double kingdom impact to inspire and inform their decisions. They refresh and communicate it often to create ownership, healthy tension, and alignment. But how is “vision” defined in ChurchOS and how is it used as a tensioning tool? Listen in as Doug and Bart share our approach to clarifying vision for greater alignment.

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com

E07: How to Increase Engagement for Your “ONE”

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 13:04:41 -0100

Every healthy, growing church needs a set of simple steps to help people move closer to Jesus, others, and your church. Doug and Bart talk about the Engagement Pathway, a crucial companion to the Great Commission Engine for connecting your “ONE” more effectively. No matter how clear or strong your existing pathway might be, this episode will challenge your thinking!

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com

E06: Focusing on “the ONE”

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 13:02:59 -0100

Everything in ChurchOS revolves around reaching “the ONE”, as Jesus described in the 3 parables in Luke chapter 15. Every church is called to reach the lost and we are deeply passionate about seeing churches get laser-focused on finding the lost and bringing them into the Kingdom! Doug and Bart share how ChurchOS helps churches to not just have a passion to reach “the ONE”, but to be a church BUILT for “the ONE”.

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com

E05: Are You Allocating Your Resources Appropriately?

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 13:00:24 -0100

Every pastor and church leader loves seeing fruitful ministry happen, but there is no innocent yes – saying “Yes” to one ministry means saying “No” to something else. As ministry leaders, we have to be wise with how we invest our resources in order to see the greatest Kingdom impact. Bart and Doug talk about how ministry is a zero-sum proposition and how ChurchOS can help you to allocate your resources with greater focus and intentionality.

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com

E04: The Danger of Poor Evaluation (5 Ways NOT to Evaluate)

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 01:28:28 -0100

Evaluation is crucial if we’re going to improve and have success in our ministry. But all too often, our evaluation flows from subjectivity and personal experience, not an objective standard that is rooted in “true North” to help us accomplish the vision that God has put in our hearts. Doug and Bart share the 5 ways NOT to evaluate as well as why objective evaluation must be a part of our leadership disciplines.

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com

E03: Getting Back to the Basics

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 01:26:07 -0100

The core piece of ChurchOS is called The Great Commission Engine, derived from 3 key Scriptures from the New Testament. Doug and Bart unpack the GCE and share how it all centers around a passion for reaching “the ONE”, as Jesus talked about in the parables found in Luke 15. The GCE is truly about “getting back to the basics” and is relevant and applicable to ANY church, no matter the size, denomination, or context.

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com

E02: What Is ChurchOS?

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 01:23:46 -0100

Every pastor wants to see fruit being produced in their church, but oftentimes we implement strategies without connecting them to a deeper system and it produces inconsistent or unsuccessful results. In many cases, it’s not that the ideas or strategies are off, but that our thinking and how we implement these strategies needs an adjustment. Doug and Bart share more about the power of “operating system” thinking and how the right mindset is key to effectively accomplishing the vision that God has put in your heart. They also discuss the 21 benchmarks that describe what it looks like when a church is effectively operating with ChurchOS.

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com

E01: More Is Possible for Your Church

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 14:16:52 -0100

2020 was a disruptive year, and it is not easy to pastor and lead in a post-COVID reality. But there is hope, and it’s not found in the next “silver bullet” strategy – it’s found in going back to the fundamentals that we find in Scripture. In this episode, you’ll get to know Intentional Churches co-founders, Doug Parks and Bart Rendel, hear their heart for the Church, and get a high-level introduction to ChurchOS.

NEXT STEPS

Check out our book, Intentional Churches, wherever you buy your books
Visit intentionalchurches.com to get free resources and learn more about how we can partner with your church
Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly resource newsletter at intentionalchurches.com/blog
Learn more about the Activate Experience at churchosonline.com