The Unfair Advantage

EP 048 | John Mark Redwine on Reminders and Rhythms to Persevere & Not Quit

Art of Leadership Network — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:45:00 -0500

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, John Mark Redwine shares an honest, decade-long look at the realities of church planting—marked by calling, perseverance, heartbreak, and healing. From planting in the spiritually resistant city of Asheville to navigating postpartum depression, family illness, leadership conflict, COVID, and even a devastating hurricane, John Mark reflects on what it takes to stay faithful when quitting feels easier. Through personal stories, spiritual practices, and hard-earned wisdom, he offers hope-filled encouragement for leaders who feel weary, reminding them that calling, healing, and sustainable rhythms are essential for longevity in ministry.

Welcome to Episode 048 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

The Gathering Church

theascentleader.org

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO IS JOHN MARK REDWINE?

John Mark joined the Coast Guard at 19 and served 8.5 years. During that time he got a Bachelor's in Religion and a Master's of Divinity from Liberty Theological Seminary. Before moving to Asheville he served as Student Director at Echo Church in San Jose, California. In 2013 he and his wife felt God calling them to plant a church. They spent the next two years building a team, planning, dreaming, and researching. In 2015 he and his family moved to Asheville to start the Gathering Church which launched in February 2016. He married Rahel in 2010 and they have three children, Eleanor, Dagny and Elvira.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit http://Generis.com/getstarted today!

Thanks to our sponsor: MOHI.

Partnering with MOHI helps churches establish a culture of outward-focused discipleship early on. By connecting your congregation to Kingdom work in Africa, you foster generosity, compassion, and a vision for serving beyond your local community—values that help shape your church’s identity for years to come.

https://mohiafrica.org/missions/

EP 047 | Chris Goulard on Navigating Personal Finances as a Pastor

Art of Leadership Network — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 23:45:00 -0500

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, David Hibiske sits down with Chris Goulard to tackle a topic many pastors and church planters quietly struggle with: personal finances. Drawing from decades of experience in both Wall Street and church ministry, Chris shares why financial stewardship is not just a practical necessity but a pastoral responsibility. Together, they explore the unique financial realities pastors face, from housing allowance and Social Security decisions to retirement planning and budgeting, while emphasizing the importance of theological clarity, discipline, and long-term vision. This conversation offers pastors practical wisdom to care for their families well today while preparing responsibly for the future.

Welcome to Episode 047 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

Christian Stewardship Network

christianstewardshipnetwork.com

Stewardship Leader Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stewardship-leader/id1479428446

Financial Planning Ministry

https://www.fpm.org/

Chris@fpm.org

WHO IS CHRIS GOULARD?

Chris Goulard, CFP®, MML, serves as Vice President of Stewardship Initiatives at Financial Planning Ministry (FPM), where he helps churches develop estate planning ministries as a cornerstone of their stewardship initiatives. With over 25 years dedicated to promoting biblical financial stewardship, Chris also chairs the Christian Stewardship Network and frequently teaches on stewardship and generosity. After a successful financial services career as a Vice President at Fidelity Investments, MFS, and Prudential Financial, he joined Saddleback Church in 2004 as Pastor of Stewardship. Over 20 years on staff, he led initiatives such as Financial Freedom Workshops, Estate Planning, and a $50 million giving campaign, fostering a culture of generosity. Chris holds a BA in Economics from Dartmouth, a CFP® designation, and a seminary master’s degree. He and his wife, Jenifer, have been married for 35 years and have two adult sons and two amazing daughters-in-law.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit

Generis.com/getstarted today!

http://Generis.com/getstarted

Thanks to our sponsor: MOHI.

https://mohiafrica.org/missions/

EP 046 | Aaron Brockett on Burnout, Growth, and Mission

Art of Leadership Network — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 23:45:00 -0500

In this episode, David Hibiske sits down with Aaron Brockett, Lead Pastor of Traders Point Christian Church. Aaron shares his leadership journey from parachute-drop church planting to long-term pastoral ministry through succession. Aaron reflects honestly on the challenges of early church planting, burnout, and the refining work God does through pain, humility, and endurance. He discusses discovering his leadership and preaching voice over time, the importance of self-awareness and team leadership, and how longevity in one place shapes both credibility and calling. The conversation also highlights Traders Point’s deep partnership with Missions of Hope International and offers encouragement to church planters navigating resistance, revival, and faithfulness in today’s ministry landscape.

Welcome to Episode 046 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

Missions of Hope International: https://mohiafrica.org/missions/

Leadership Pain, by Samuel Chand: https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Pain-Samuel-Chand-audiobook/dp/B075S9S4KY/ref=sr_1_1

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, by Eugene H. Peterson: https://www.amazon.com/Long-Obedience-Same-Direction-Discipleship/dp/1514011204/ref=sr_1_1

WHO IS AARON BROCKETT?

Aaron Brockett is the lead pastor of Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, where he’s served since 2007. Under his leadership, the church has grown into a movement committed to clearing the way for people to encounter Jesus, equipping them for spiritual battle, and sending them out to make a Kingdom impact—in Indianapolis and beyond. At the core of Aaron’s leadership is one conviction: Jesus is the only one who can truly change anyone. The church’s job is to help people get to Him—just like the friends in Mark 2 who tore open a roof to lower someone into Jesus’ presence. That bold, faith-filled act captures the heart of what Aaron believes the church is called to do every day—take ground for the Kingdom of God. Known for his clear, practical teaching and heart for people far from God, Aaron is also deeply committed to raising up and sending out the next generation of leaders. He invests in mentoring, developing, and multiplying leaders inside and outside the church. He serves on the board of Orchard Group, a global church-planting organization, and Strategic Launch Network, which equips and sends church planters across North America. Off the stage, Aaron is a lifelong learner who thrives on challenge and is constantly proving to himself that he can do hard things. He’s a voracious reader, currently learning jiu-jitsu, enjoys rucking with friends, and occasionally signs up for half marathons (even though he questions that decision around mile seven). Aaron and his wife, Lindsay, have four kids and a silver lab named Winston. Together, they’re focused on building a life of purpose, presence, and faith.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit

http://generis.com/getstarted today!

Thanks to our sponsor: MOHI.

https://mohiafrica.org/missions/

EP 045 | Frank Bealer on Developing a Culture of Generosity in Your Church

Art of Leadership Network — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:45:00 -0500

In this episode, David Hibiske sits down with Frank Bealer, CEO of Generis and former Elevation Church leader, to talk about the discipleship-driven approach to generosity every church planter needs. Frank unpacks why pastors must stop “being weird about money,” how to build a healthy, biblical culture of giving from day one, and the practical rhythms that shape generosity year-round. From teaching frameworks to meeting with top givers, Frank offers clear, actionable guidance to help church planters lead confidently in one of the most essential (and often uncomfortable) areas of ministry.

Welcome to Episode 045 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

Generis E-Books & Guides

Generosity 360

Schedule a call with a consultant

Generis Blog

WHO IS FRANK BEALER?

Frank Bealer is a passionate advocate for faith-based leadership, strategic innovation, and community impact. As the Chief Executive Officer of Generis, Frank brings over 25 years of ministry & leadership experience to helping churches and organizations align their mission with actionable strategies that serve their communities effectively. As an instrumental leader at Generis, he partners with churches and faith-based organizations to help them navigate complex challenges, implement innovative strategies, and develop pathways for sustainable growth. A core passion of Frank’s work is transforming the conversation around generosity, helping churches accelerate giving toward their God-inspired vision and equipping leaders with biblical strategies to cultivate lasting cultures of generosity. Driven by a deep love for the local church, Frank believes in the power of faith communities to lead with purpose, generosity, and resilience. His commitment is not just to help organizations grow, but to help them thrive in fulfilling their God-given mission. Frank and his wife Jessica live in the Atlanta area and are blessed with six wonderful children.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit

Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 044 | Jeff Bennett on Finding & Developing Leaders

Art of Leadership Network — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 23:45:00 -0500

Today, David Hibiske sits down with Jeff Bennett, Executive Director of Multiply Project and Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohort coach, to unpack lessons learned from years of church planting and leader development. Jeff shares his personal journey from planting LifeBridge Church to transitioning into coaching and equipping planters nationwide. He offers wisdom on focusing less on “the what” and more on “the who,” developing leaders from within, and shifting from readiness to potential when identifying future church planters. This is a rich conversation on self-awareness, humility, and creating multiplying churches through intentional leader development.

Welcome to Episode 044 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

Multiply Project

Email Jeff Bennett

Jeff Bennett on Instagram

WHO IS JEFF BENNETT?

Jeff Bennett is the Executive Director of Multiply Project, helping church leaders identify, develop and send church planters from within their own church. Jeff also oversees the Flatirons Church Planting Network for Flatirons Church in Colorado. With more than 20 years of church planting experience, Jeff has served as Lead Planter, Executive Pastor and most recently served a decade as Vice President of Church Multiplication for Stadia Church Planting. He has a passion for bringing people together to accomplish big goals and has demonstrated a remarkable ability to build strong relationships with key leaders, foster collaboration, and drive results. Jeff lives outside Atlanta with his wife Lisa. They have two adult daughters, Madison and Macy. If he’s not talking with someone about how to plant more churches, he’s probably watching the Mets and rooting for them to win at least one more World Series in his lifetime.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 043 | Matt Brown on Staffing & Resiliency in Church Planting

Art of Leadership Network — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 23:45:00 -0400

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, host David Hibiske sits down with Pastor Matt Brown, founder of Sandals Church, to reflect on nearly 30 years of church planting. Matt shares his journey from humble beginnings with no funding or network to leading a multi-campus church with over 14 locations. With candor and humility, he unpacks lessons in resiliency, staffing, leadership clarity, and trusting God through setbacks and breakthroughs. His story highlights both the painful missteps and the pivotal decisions that shaped Sandals Church into what it is today, offering wisdom and encouragement for pastors and church planters navigating their own challenges.

Welcome to Episode 043 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

Sandals Church

Every Day A Miracle, by Matthew Stephen Brown

The Debrief Podcast with Matthew Stephen Brown

WHO IS MATT BROWN?

Matthew Stephen Brown is the founding and Senior Pastor at Sandals Church in Riverside, CA. From a small 8-person church plant in 1997, Sandals Church now has 15 physical campuses throughout California, a growing online campus with more than 50 countries tuning in, and a digital presence reaching 110,000 people weekly. In 2021, Matt released his first book, A Book Called YOU: Understanding the Enneagram from a Biblical Perspective. A Book Called YOU helps the reader learn about the person they were made to be and how a biblical view of self-discovery can improve every part of their life. With his second book, Everyday a Miracle: Trusting the God Who Heals Us Inside and Out, Matt asks the question: Where do you go when you need a miracle? He shows the reader that every day, there is an opportunity for a miracle and invites them onto the journey to discover Jesus not only as Savior but as Healer. As Sandals Church continues to grow, the focus is on the gospel being spread throughout the nations as more people embrace the vision of authenticity—being real with ourselves, God, and others.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 042 | Brian Beauford on Finding & Leading Great #2 Leaders

Art of Leadership Network — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 23:45:00 -0400

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, host David Hibiske sits down with Brian Beauford, Executive Pastor of Grace Church in Boston, to explore the unique dynamics of second-chair leadership in church planting. Brian shares his journey from stepping into church planting as a college student to helping launch and grow Grace Church into a thriving multi-campus ministry. He unpacks lessons on finding the right second-chair leader, building trust with your senior pastor, and why understanding personality wiring through tools like Predictive Index can be a game-changer for leadership teams. Whether you’re a planter or a second-chair leader, Brian’s story offers encouragement and practical insights for building healthy, mission-driven teams.

Welcome to Episode 042 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

@bbeauford

Predictive Index Assessment

brian@theproductivepastor.com

WHO IS BRIAN BEAUFORD?

After graduating from college, I married my college sweetheart, who initially saw me as just a friend during our school years. Now we have 3 awesome kids and a crazy dog, I think I broke her with a laser pointer.

During my time at college in Boston, I developed a passion for church planting. This led me to help start a church my junior year.

Now, 18 years later, I serve as the executive pastor of that same church. It has grown to encompass 4 locations, and we’ve been instrumental in planting 7 other local churches.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 041 | Chris Delfs on Making the Hard Calls in Church Planting

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Unfair Advantage podcast, David Hibiske sits down with church planter and cohort coach Chris Delfs. Chris reflects on over 20 years of ministry, from launching LifePointe Church in Elk Grove, California, to navigating the highs, lows, and pivotal leadership decisions that shaped his journey. He shares hard-earned wisdom on building healthy teams, raising funds strategically, making courageous staffing decisions, and staying authentic as a leader. This episode is packed with practical encouragement and insight for planters and leaders ready to go further, faster.

Welcome to Episode 041 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO IS CHRIS DELFS?

Chris Delfs is the Founding Pastor of LifePointe Christian Church in Elk Grove, California, where he’s served since planting the church in 2003. With over 30 years of ministry experience—including the joys and stretch marks of starting a church from scratch—Chris brings a blend of strategic insight, biblical depth, and real-world leadership to everything he does. Under his guidance, LifePointe has grown into a thriving church known for authentic relationships, practical and Biblically grounded teaching, community impact and a passion for multiplication. Chris has a deep heart for equipping leaders and regularly invests in his staff, lay leaders, pastors and church planters through various leadership development environments. His approach is relational, down-to-earth, and built on the conviction that healthy leaders can build healthy churches. He and his wife Heather have been married since 1992 and have three amazing adult children (and two grandkids). Their two oldest boys serve on church staffs, and their daughter is actively involved in the church while pursuing her college degree. When he’s not leading or preaching, Chris enjoys waterskiing, working out, hiking and anything that involves time with his family.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 040 | Sean Morgan on Leading Together: A Healthy Board in Action

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this second episode of a two-part series, David Hibiske sits down again with Sean Morgan to dive deeper into the vital role of church boards. They explore what it looks like for boards to truly support and protect their lead pastor, care for their pastor’s family, navigate compensation wisely, and foster unity even in challenging conversations. Sean offers practical insights for lay leaders and church planters on building healthy governance structures that advance the mission rather than slow it down. Whether you're a new board member, a seasoned elder, or a pastor wanting to strengthen your board relationships, this episode is packed with wisdom on stewarding the sacred trust of church leadership.

Welcome to Episode 040 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

sean@theascentleader.org

Sticky Teams by Larry Osborne

Leadership Pain by Sam Chand

Better Together by Jim Tomberlin & Warren Bird

WHO IS SEAN MORGAN?

Sean started out in ministry serving in a San Francisco area church plant as their Executive Pastor. He went on to help coach and consult with church leaders across the country and eventually founded The Ascent Leader, a first-of-its-kind organization focusing on relational leadership development for local church pastors. He also hosts the Leaders In Living Rooms podcast. Sean recently retired from a 26-year career as a KC-10 pilot in the US Air Force Reserve. His favorite titles are “Stacy’s husband” and “Kaylee and Ayden’s dad.”

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 039 | Sean Morgan on Building a Healthy Board from Day One

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In Part 1 of this two-part series, host David Hibiske is joined by Sean Morgan to discuss one of the most critical—and often overlooked—foundations of church planting: board governance. With decades of experience in church leadership and transitions, Sean unpacks why getting your board structure right from the start matters deeply for your mission and longevity as a planter. They explore the legal, spiritual, and practical aspects of governance, how to identify the right board members, and what Scripture does—and doesn’t—say about board roles. Whether you're in pre-launch or year five, this episode offers key wisdom to help you build a healthy governance culture that supports your calling, avoids pitfalls, and cultivates unity.

Welcome to Episode 039 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO IS SEAN MORGAN?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 038 | Chris Stephens on Life, Leadership, and Vision that Lasts

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 27 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, Chris Stephens shares his remarkable journey from a troubled past to leading one of the largest churches in Tennessee. Growing up in poverty, struggling with addiction, and facing abuse, Chris found hope and purpose in Christ at 22. His story is one of radical transformation, unwavering vision, and relentless faith. Chris discusses the early challenges of planting a church, the importance of vision in leadership, and the critical role of spiritual formation in sustaining ministry. He also shares insights on overcoming fear, building effective teams, and remaining focused on God's calling amid challenges. This conversation is packed with powerful lessons for church planters and leaders looking to make a lasting impact.

Welcome to Episode 038 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

https://www.faithpromise.org

WHO IS CHRIS STEPHENS?

DR. CHRIS STEPHENS (Faith Promise Church, TN) Chris was the Senior Pastor of Faith Promise Church in Knoxville, Tennessee for over twenty-seven years and in 2023 completed a successful succession of the Senior Pastor role to his son. Now, he spends his time working to secure the future of the church by raising money to accomplish the vision of reaching 1% of Tennessee while training church leaders, speaking and traveling on behalf of the church. Chris holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Evangelistic Church Growth. Under his leadership the church grew from 250 to over 8,000 in attendance and a staff that has grown from 5 to 75 with ten locations across East Tennessee, an international campus in Costa Rica, and a global Online Campus. Chris has published ten books: The Climb of Your Life: Reaching the Peak of Your Potential, The Plan of Your Life: Managing What Matters Most, Without: 31 Days to Increase Your Faith, Called Out: What God Calls You Calls You Out, New Rivers, New Roads, All In, Finding Favor, Transformation, Passing the Baton, and So Help Me God. Chris is married to Michele and they have three married children, three granddaughters and four grandsons. They thoroughly enjoy their time spent as Mimi and Pop Pop. They also enjoy traveling together. Pastor Chris can also often be found in his converted barn…the ultimate man cave.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 037 | Brandon Bowers on Missional Conviction, Clarity & Culture

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, Brandon Bowers, Lead Pastor and planter of Awaken Church in Charleston, South Carolina, joins David Hibiske to share his 12-year journey of church planting—from parachuting in with a team of nine to launching two campuses and navigating growing pains. Brandon unpacks the highs, lows, and leadership lessons he's learned along the way, including the importance of missional clarity, team alignment, and staying rooted in conviction. Whether you're just starting out or years into your plant, Brandon’s insights will both challenge and encourage you to lead with purpose and perseverance.

Welcome to Episode 037 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

http://www.awakenchurch.cc

@_brandonbowers

WHO IS BRANDON BOWERS?

Brandon Bowers is the founding and Lead Pastor of Awaken Church in Charleston, SC and is passionate about seeing people far from God awakened to life in Christ. Awaken was planted in 2013 with a team of nine people and is now a multisite church of 2000 people that has celebrated 800+ baptisms. With a heavy focus on small group relational discipleship, almost 50% of weekend attendees are engaged in small groups meeting throughout the region. Brandon received a MA in Missiology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, serves as a Leadership Catalyst with SC Baptist Convention, and is the author of Rise Above the Lies, which details his planting journey with Awaken and leadership insights discovered along the way. He has been married to his college sweetheart Ashley since 2003 and they have four kids and live in the suburbs of Charleston.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 036 | Heiden Ratner on Leading Your Church to be a Place You Love

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Unfair Advantage, we’re hearing from Heiden Ratner—former Division I basketball player turned church planter in Las Vegas, Nevada. Heiden shares his powerful journey from chasing purpose on the basketball court to finding deeper fulfillment through faith in Jesus. With honesty and wisdom, he unpacks what it means to lead a church you actually like, the importance of team alignment over talent, and how clarity in leadership creates healthy culture. Whether you’re planting a church or leading a ministry team, this conversation is packed with encouragement, practical tools, and reminders that God is able to do more than we could ask or imagine.

Welcome to Episode 036 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

https://www.heidenratner.com/

WHO IS HEIDEN RATNER?

Heiden is the husband to Neena Ratner and the father of their four boys, Epaph (9), Asa (6), Heiden Jr. (4), and Lion (2). He serves as the Sr. Pastor of WALK Church in Las Vegas, NV where he preaches regularly. Along with pastoring, Heiden serves as the Las Vegas City Missionary for the church planting network Send Network. Heiden has a passion and calling for sports ministry and he has the honor of serving the NFL Las Vegas Raiders and the WNBA Las Vegas Aces as their Team Chaplain.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 035 | Ray Hudson on Pivots in Planting, Building Your Staff, and Engaging Your City

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, host David Hibiske sits down with church planter Raymond Hudson to discuss his journey of planting a church in Berkeley, California—one of the most challenging places to reach with the gospel. Raymond shares how his early experiences in church planting shaped his calling, the challenges of launching during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of loving and serving a city rather than trying to "fix" it. He also offers key insights on leadership development, team building, and financial sustainability for church planters. His story is a powerful testament to faith, adaptability, and the impact of a deeply embedded, service-oriented church.

Welcome to Episode 035 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

https://www.ourcitycenter.com/

WHO IS RAYMOND HUDSON?

Raymond Hudson is a dedicated leader with over 15 years of experience in ministry, education, and community development. He has passionately served in various pastoral roles, focusing on creating welcoming spaces where people of all backgrounds can grow in their faith, discover their purpose, and impact their communities. In addition to his ministry work, Raymond has led numerous initiatives in education, partnering with schools to support underserved families, championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and mentoring educators to foster culturally responsive classrooms. His heart for empowering others is evident in his work, where he consistently prioritizes equity, collaboration, and innovation to help individuals and organizations thrive. Raymond has been married to his wife Rachel for 17 years, and together, they are the proud parents of four amazing children. As a family, they are deeply committed to faith, service, and creating meaningful connections with those around them. Raymond’s leadership is guided by his passion for helping people maximize their potential, both spiritually and practically, to make a lasting impact in their communities.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 034 | Sean Sears on Planter Pitfalls to Avoid for the Sake of Your Family and Church

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage Podcast, host David Hibiske welcomes back Sean Sears, a seasoned church planter from New England. Sean shares his powerful journey of balancing ministry with family life, including the lessons he learned after nearly losing his marriage during the early years of church planting. He offers profound insights into finding identity in Christ rather than ministry success, setting boundaries to prioritize family, and building healthy leadership that reflects God’s love. This honest and vulnerable conversation is packed with wisdom for planters navigating the challenges of ministry, family, and personal growth.

Welcome to Episode 034 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

https://thatsgrace.org

WHO IS SEAN SEARS?

Sean and Billie started Grace Church with their spiritually disconnected neighbors in the Fall of 2005. They sent out their first church plant in 2009 when they were only running 85 people in weekly attendance. Grace Church has launched a total of 11 other churches with 3 more coming in the next 9 months. Last weekend, 3000+ people attended one of Grace Church’s 4 locations with no ethnic demographic larger than 45%.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 033 | 3 Societal and Church Conversations to be Aware of in 2025

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, David Hibiske dives into three critical societal and church leadership conversations shaping the landscape in 2025. He unpacks the "Negative World Concept," the breakdown of the home and family, and the return to prayer and revival stirrings. This episode is a must-listen for church planters and leaders eager to navigate current challenges and seize opportunities for impactful ministry.

Welcome to Episode 033 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

Life in the Negative World, by Aaron Renn

Episode 20 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast: "Parenting and Planting"

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

John Tyson’s Pray.NYC initiative

Episode 23 of The Unfair Advantage: "Five Bold Convictions on Prayer for Every Church Planter"

WHO IS DAVID HIBISKE?

David Hibiske is the Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives at Saddleback Church, located in Lake Forest, CA. He’s a husband, dad of three amazing kids, and on his time off he loves backpacking and exploring outdoors. Prior to Saddleback he was able to be a part of two church plants, and is passionate about helping ministry leaders reach their potential.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 032 | Multiplying Church 101: The Essentials with Tyler Scott, James Grogan, and Danny Strange

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, Sean welcomes Tyler Scott (CPC in Danville, CA), James Grogan (East Lake in Southern California), and Danny Strange (Three Crosses, Northern California) to explore the steps toward becoming a multiplying church. The discussion emphasizes the "crawl, walk, run" approach to church planting, sharing practical insights from each leader's experience. From embracing self-awareness and addressing organizational challenges to cultivating outward-focused leadership and partnerships, this episode is packed with actionable strategies for pastors and church leaders eager to impact their communities and beyond.

Welcome to Episode 032 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with today’s guest host, Sean Morgan!

EPISODE LINKS

Exponential Conferences: Exponential

WHO IS TYLER SCOTT?

Tyler serves as Lead Pastor at CPC (Community Presbyterian Church) in Danville. Tyler gets to pastor the church that he grew up in! He is a graduate of De La Salle High School, UCLA (B.A.), Pepperdine University (M.B.A.), and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Tyler has served as a pastor at CPC since 2012. Tyler has been married to Bridget for 18 years. She’s an amazing wife, mom, and friend (and chiropractor). Together, they have three bold boys--Trevor (15), Owen (13) and Cole (11).

WHO IS JAMES GROGAN?

James is the Lead Pastor at Eastlake Church, a growing movement of churches founded in Chula Vista, CA, which includes several locations in Southern California and Tijuana, Mexico. James is also a catalyst leader of the San Diego Church Plant Movement. He has worked in full-time local church ministry for over 25 years, with the last 19 spent on staff at Eastlake Church. James and his wife Rebecca have been married for 24 years and have 3 children of their own and have also served as foster parents for a few amazing children.

WHO IS DANNY STRANGE?

Danny Strange is currently beginning his third year as Senior Pastor of 3Crosses, a diverse church in the SF Bay Area (3crosses.org). Prior to serving as Senior Pastor, Danny spent 19 years on staff at 3Crosses, serving in various capacities since 2000. Born and raised in the East Bay, Danny currently lives in Castro Valley with his wife Jessica and six children (Jackson 14, Carter 12, Hudson 11, Brady 8, Harper 6 and Peyton 6).

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 031 | Jake and Kaelia Vayda on Launching Create Church in San Diego

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Only four weeks post-launch, Jake and Kaelia open up about the joys and challenges of planting Create Church in an urban setting of San Diego. They share personal stories of faith, resilience, and the community that has rallied around them during both triumphant and painful times. This conversation covers the practicalities of church planting, lessons in leadership, and the importance of community support, making it an insightful listen for church planters and leaders alike.

Welcome to Episode 031 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with today’s guest host, Sean Morgan!

EPISODE LINKS

Visit Create Church to learn more about Jake and Kaelia’s work in San Diego.

Follow Jake and Kaelia on Instagram for updates: @JakeVayda and @kaekae_janae.

WHO ARE JAKE AND KAELIA?

Jake and Kaelia are passionate about creating spaces of connection that help people act on their good intentions. As the lead pastors of Create Church in San Diego’s Arts District, they recently celebrated one of the largest grand openings in urban San Diego’s history. Their fresh approach to Christianity, currently being developed into a curriculum, resonates with a new generation by blending new language with holistic integration. Their vision of connection extends beyond the church through their real estate company, where they craft beautiful spaces for people to gather, grow, and feel at home. When they’re not creating spaces, you’ll find them on long walks, exploring open houses, or relaxing with the latest Dolby movie (reclining seats baby!). Jake and Kaelia both earned degrees from Point Loma University; Jake holds a Master’s in Ministry, while Kaelia earned a Bachelor’s in Christian Studies.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 030 | Maximizing Your Preaching and Church Calendar for Momentum

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we explore the power of intentional church calendar planning to build momentum and maximize impact in your ministry. Your church calendar can be one of your greatest assets, but too often, we miss out on growth opportunities by failing to plan ahead or aligning our teams with our strategy.

Welcome to Episode 030 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO IS DAVID HIBISKE?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 029 | Lenny Barber on Prioritizing Spiritual Health and Multi-Cultural Ministry

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Don’t underestimate the power of a two-year-old church. Today’s conversation with Lenny Barber, Pastor and planter of The House Church in Ferguson, MO, reminds us of the importance of pastors’ spiritual health and purity of motives in planting. Discover how Pastor Lenny continues to build up a church with multicultural intentionality to welcome people into a space that reflects the diversity of their city.

Welcome to Episode 029 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

@Lenny.Barber

WHO IS LENNY BARBER?

Lenny and Jennie met in Dallas and have been married for 20 years. They have four children – Aidyn 18, Leigh 16, Mykah 15, and Cross 12. They have been in ministry for over 25 years and are passionate about seeing communities transformed by the love of Jesus. Lenny was born and raised in St. Louis, and spent much of his time in and around Ferguson. After living in Texas for a few years, God called them back to St. Louis for full-time ministry. Lenny has worked in every area of St. Louis, from inner city to outskirt suburbs. But his heart has remained in the area where he grew up. They launched The House Church in 2022. They have a desire to see God’s people break down the walls of the church, figuratively, by being the church to those who may never step foot into the building. They have a strong conviction to impact the kingdom through discipleship; training and teaching believers to be leaders in their neighborhoods and community.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 028 | You've Planted, Now What? How to Bring Alignment to Your Church

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

“We’re not after control…we’re after a common goal.” In today’s episode, David Hibiske guides us through eight steps of aligning your ministry after you’ve launched. It’s one thing to be busy, and it can be an entirely different thing to be effective. We’re reminded in today’s episode that we’re not after busyness, but we’re after traction in our mission. Listen in for a ton of practical questions to ask each step of the way and helpful tools to get your ministry in alignment after you’ve launched.

Welcome to Episode 028 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

The Advantage, by Patrick Lencioni

Good to Great, by Jim Collins

WHO IS DAVID HIBISKE?

David Hibiske is the Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives at Saddleback Church. He grew up in Wilmington, NC before moving to Fort Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Seminary. David met his wife, Kendall, while in Seminary and they have two daughters, Ella and Avery, and one son, Andrew. After completing his Master of Divinity, David and Kendall moved to San Jose, CA to join the staff team at South Bay Church (now Echo Church). In 2022, God called them to head to Southern California and join the team at Saddleback Church where David now serves as Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 027 | The Importance of Coaching & Mentorship in Church Planting

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

“If you feel like you have to choose, choose your family.” Coaching plays a crucial role in the success of your leadership. Today, we’re hearing from Ben Pilgreen and Ernest Smith as they discuss the ways coaching impacted more than the health of their churches…it has contributed to the health of their families.

Welcome to Episode 027 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO IS BEN PILGREEN?

Ben Pilgreen is the founder and lead pastor of Epic Church in San Francisco, CA. Ben loves coaching leaders, whether in church or in business. Ben is the host of the Bring It Out podcast. Ben and his wife, Shauna, have four wonderful children and make their home in San Francisco. Read more at benpilgreen.com.

WHO IS ERNEST SMITH?

Ernest Smith didn’t grow up in the church, but when he was finally introduced to Jesus, he has sought to serve the Church ever since. He was on staff at Seacoast Church for over 15 years, where he led many ministries including Students, Family Ministry, College Ministry and Campus Pastor. In addition, Ernest was on the teaching team and a part of the executive team. During this same time, Ernest completed two master’s degrees and started his Doctorate of Ministry at Liberty University, which he finished in 2019. In 2013, Ernest and his family moved from Charleston, SC to Castle Rock, CO to start Front Range Church. Ernest has the honor of serving as the lead pastor of Front Range and getting to lead a great team of staff and volunteers toward reaching and impacting the community. He also serves as president of a mission’s organization called Bread of Life Mission and is an associate at The Slingshot Group. He has a great passion to help church leaders and teams establish healthy rhythms, create, and execute vision and develop leaders that will impact their ministry, church and community. Ernest has been married to his best friend, Sara, for 20 years and together they have two incredible kids, Wyatt and Waverly. In addition, their house is inhabited by a Yorkie (Pearl) and a French Bulldog (Winston). Together, the family loves to travel, play games and cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 026 | Tim Celek's Insights on Reviving the Call & Prioritizing Evangelism in Today's World

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

“Assignments change, but your calling doesn’t.” Meet Tim Celek, Senior Director of Post-Launch Services at Stadia. In today’s episode, guest host, Sean Morgan, leads a conversation with Tim to help us understand the nuances of calling and evangelism in the church today. You’ll hear what Tim has noticed trending in church planters within the last five years, and how to instill an evangelism mindset in the core of your church.

Welcome to Episode 026 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

https://stadia.org/

tcelek@stadia.org

@timcelek on Instagram

WHO IS TIM CELEK?

Tim lives in Costa Mesa, CA with his wife of 45+ years, Sue. In 1988, Tim planted The Crossing Church, and over 30 years had the opportunity to see The Crossing grow, reflect, and impact the coastal community of Orange County. On the church’s 30th birthday, Tim intentionally handed off leadership of The Crossing Church to a young leader and the church continues to thrive and grow. During Tim’s tenure, The Crossing Church had the opportunity to resource and breathe life into 5 new churches, because of this and the many people who poured life and courage into Tim, he desires to pay it forward to the next generation of church starters. Therefore, Tim now serves as Senior Director of Post-Launch Services at Stadia. He coaches, encourages, and guides church planters in leading thriving, growing, and multiplying churches. Tim enjoys Harley riding with Sue, as well as sail boating. When he isn’t on boats or motorcycles, he loves to spend time on E-bikes with his two grandsons, their moms, and his sons-in-law.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 025 | Setting the Tone for a Great Weekend Experience

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 28 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we're discussing the crucial role of weekend services for church planters, emphasizing their importance for spiritual growth, welcoming first-time guests, and creating momentum. David outlines four key ways to enhance weekend experiences: setting the tone spiritually through personal devotion and prayer, culturally by reinforcing vision and excellence, strategically for guest outreach by lowering anxiety and ensuring clarity, and aligning all teams and ministries to work cohesively. Hibiske encourages church planters to prioritize spiritual readiness, inspect and improve cultural standards, focus on guest experiences, and foster team alignment to drive growth and engagement in their churches.

Welcome to Episode 025 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO IS MIKE HICKERSON?

Mike Hickerson is the Lead Pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA. Mike describes himself as a church planter, lucky husband, outnumbered dad of three daughters, Oklahoma Sooner fan, coffee addict, and a struggling surfer.

WHO IS DAVID HIBISKE?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 024 | Unveiling the 7 Game-Changing Shifts in the First 2 Years

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Whether you're planting a church or leading one, these seven shifts will be pivotal in the first two years of development. They set the tone for a community's growth and impact. Remember, it's about a long obedience in the same direction. Take it step by step, and give yourself and your team the grace to grow.

Welcome to Episode 024 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO IS MIKE HICKERSON?

WHO IS DAVID HIBISKE?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 023 | 5 Bold Convictions on Prayer for Every Church Planter

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Prayer—it's not just some spiritual tool you whip out when you need it. Today, Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske talk about how skipping prayer might actually be holding you back more than you think. Starting with pastors’ own private prayer time, Mike and David break down how investing your time and even some cash into prayer can transform the heart of your church. Listen in for practical tips on bringing prayer into your community, making it accessible and meaningful for everyone.

Welcome to Episode 023 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO IS MIKE HICKERSON?

WHO IS DAVID HIBISKE?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 022 | Rick Burge on the Truth About Church Planter Assessments and Building Genuine Partnerships

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

“If you can’t understand who you are, you’re probably misdiagnosing who other people are.” Meet Rick Burge, a dynamic leader and coach with a passion for identifying, developing, and mentoring high-capacity leaders. Rick walks through a detailed list of key characteristics for church planters wanting to build up healthy partnerships. From basic leadership competencies to tips for handling the pressure of planting, Rick guides us thoughtfully through this conversation of healthy church planting.

Welcome to Episode 022 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson.

EPISODE LINKS

https://launchstrong.com

Emotional Intelligence 2.0, by Travis Bradberry

WHO IS RICK?

Twenty years ago, Rick was hired by Steve Stroope, the founder of Lakepointe Church in Dallas, to help execute his vision and strategy to start new, high-impact churches in hard-to-reach cities in North America. In 2007, this movement became the Strategic Launch Network, which was established to better resource, serve, and connect church planters and partner churches. Rick has a passion for identifying, developing, and mentoring high-capacity leaders and provides coaching to church planters, pastors, and other leaders. He has had the privilege of helping start almost 70 new churches in strategic cities, like Boston, Denver, New York, Portland, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. These new churches have now cumulatively baptized over 20,000 people and are actively multiplying other new churches. Prior to serving on staff at Lake Pointe, Rick held various leadership positions at United Parcel Service over a 20-year career. He is married to Kathryn and they have five children and 14 grandchildren.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 021 | Leading Your Plant from a Place of Health & Current Trends

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

ABOUT THE EPISODE

“Jesus has already given us the mission, and He already tells us what heaven celebrates.” Today, Mike Hickerson leads the discussion about trends in church planting, plus key reminders to keep planters in a healthy place of leadership. Find out what planters should be obsessing over, why data is your friend, and why the “rise of ‘nones’” brings hopeful opportunity. It’s all in today’s episode!

Welcome to Episode 021 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO IS MIKE?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 020 | Parenting and Planting

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

ABOUT THE EPISODE

“We overestimate how much energy we need to make an awesome church, and we underestimate how important it is to have a healthy marriage.” Today, we’re joined by hosts Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske in a church-planting conversation centered around the family side of a pastor. Often, in the hustle of church planting, pastors can fall into the trap of prioritizing work over family. This only ends up negatively affecting both the church and your family! Listen in for key takeaways and best practices to maintain strength in your family as you pursue ministry alongside them.

Welcome to Episode 020 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO ARE MIKE AND DAVID?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 019 | How to Lead with Humility and Courage in Different Seasons of Church Planting

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

“The thing I’m after is an exemplary life.” Meet Andy Wood, Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church. In an open and honest interview, Andy encourages and challenges church planters to lead with humility and courage in the various seasons of church planting. With insights into leading alongside a spouse, filling big shoes, and the general identity challenges of pastoring, lean in today for wisdom in your church-planting leadership.

Welcome to Episode 019 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO ARE ANDY AND MIKE?

Andy Wood is the Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church. Andy and his wife Stacie are answering God's call to serve at Saddleback after over a decade of church planting. The Wood's started South Bay Church in 2009 with two other families. South Bay Church officially changed their name to Echo.Church in January of 2018. Echo.Church has become one of the fastest growing churches in the most unchurched area of the United States and is now reaching over 2,300 people in regular attendance in three locations across Silicon Valley.

Andy's passion is to create environments that engage the unchurched people of the Bay Area. Along with leading the church, Andy enjoys investing time in helping church planters and church leaders think more innovatively and strategically to reach people in the most unreached areas of North America. Andy and Stacie have three kids, Caedmon, Sammy, and Karis.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

EP 018 | David Hibiske on the Importance of Commitment and Capacity-Building in Church Planting

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

“There’s something about commitment that brings focus that unlocks growth.” Meet David Hibiske, Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives at Saddleback Church. Today’s encouragement to church planters is to be ridiculously faithful with what God has given you. Whether you are planting a church, or in a season of growth and waiting, there is encouragement for you in today’s episode. David shares two big leaps in leadership that make all the difference in your capacity to allow for church growth.

Welcome to Episode 018 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

WHO IS DAVID HIBISKE?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.

Generis exists to help create a culture of generosity for your church, school, or organization.

EP 017 | The How - Eight Steps for Raising Financial Support

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

“Sometimes we pray generic prayers and expect God to give specific answers, but there is a power in inviting God to show off in the process of planting a church.” Today’s church planting insights include eight steps toward raising financial support. Andy and Mike reflect on their own church plant experiences as they advise church planters on the financial side of the ministry launch. Be encouraged today by fellow church planters as you navigate your own planting journey!

Welcome to Episode 017 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

Funding Your Ministry by Scott Morton

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

WHO ARE MIKE HICKERSON AND ANDY WOOD?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 016 | Ben Pilgreen on the Nuances of Urban Church Plants

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

“If you don’t value team, and if you can’t build a team, it’s going to be lonely, and it’s going to be limiting.” Meet Ben Pilgreen, founder and lead pastor of Epic Church in San Francisco, CA. Today, we get to hear a unique perspective from Ben on his experience planting a church in the urban setting of San Francisco. Discover with us the core church planting elements that stay the same along with the nuances that come with a large, urban context.

Welcome to Episode 016 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

https://www.epicsf.com/

https://shaunapilgreen.com/

Bring It Out Podcast

The Ideal Team Player, 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, and The Motive by Patrick Lencioni

Who Not How, by Sullivan

The Synergist and Predictable Success by Les McKeown

Good To Great, by Jim Collins

Multipliers, by Liz Wiseman

Rocket Fuel, Gino Wickman

At The Table with Patrick Lencioni Podcast

The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

https://alpha.org/

WHO IS BEN?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 015 | The “Who” - The Top Characteristics I Should Look For In A Staff Team

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

“Whenever God does a ‘what,’ He first finds a ‘who.’” Today we are tackling what could be considered one of the most important aspects of church planting–the “who” of your staff team! Mike and Andy remind us there are few “lone rangers” in the Bible. But cultivating a team can be a daunting task when you want to launch a sustainable church plant. Find out key questions to ask and character traits to look for in today’s episode!

Welcome to Episode 015 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni

Good to Great by James C. Collins (the concept of a Level 5 leader)

Integrity by Henry Cloud

Trust by Henry Cloud

Enneagram; Myers-Briggs; etc.

Sticky Teams by Larry Osborne

WHO ARE MIKE AND ANDY?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 014 | Brent Storms on the "Where" of Church Planting

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

ABOUT THE EPISODE

“Perseverance is an underrated characteristic of people who succeed.” Meet Brent Storms, President of Orchard Group, an organization that helps leaders plant churches. In today’s episode, we’re getting practical with the “where” of church planting. A few crucial shifts in the way you approach a planting location can infuse your church with longevity and set it up for success.

Welcome to Episode 014 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

http://orchard.group

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO IS BRENT STORMS?

Brent planted a church in the Boston area in 1999 with help from Orchard Group. He joined the staff of Orchard Group in 2004 and has been serving as President since 2009. He loves helping leaders reach their full potential so that new churches reach their communities with the good news of Jesus. He and his family currently live in Ventura, CA.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 013 | The Where - 5 Questions Before Choosing A Place To Plant

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

“So much of our journey is discovering what God has in mind.” Questions are powerful. Asking the right question with the right heart posture can be used by God to take your church plant far. Oftentimes, as church planters, we come with ready and willing hearts, but we lack the understanding of where God is leading us practically to plant a church. Today’s episode gives you five key questions to prayerfully ask as you discern where to plant.

Welcome to Episode 013 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

Blue Ocean Strategy

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO ARE ANDY AND MIKE?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 012 | Derwin Gray on the Pastor’s Role in Planting Churches of Holiness and Unity

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 09 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

“Planting a church doesn’t start with the people you want to reach. It starts with the God who reached you.” Meet Derwin Gray, speaker, author, and Lead Pastor at Transformation Church. In today’s episode, Derwin gives encouragement to church planters by informing the key characteristics of a New Testament Church, reminding us of the right posture for a church planter’s heart, and challenging us in the areas the church falls short.

Welcome to Episode 012 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

How to Heal Our Racial Divide

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

mike.hickerson@missionventura.com

WHO IS DERWIN GRAY?

Derwin met his wife, Vicki, at Brigham Young University. He played for the BYU Cougars football team. They have been married since 1992 and have two children. After graduating from Brigham Young University, Derwin played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998). During that time, he and Vicki began their journey with Christ and experienced God’s faithfulness and direction as He moved their hearts to know Him and make Him known. Derwin and Vicki began an itinerant speaking ministry in 1999, One Heart At A Time Ministries. Derwin went on to graduate magna cum laude from Southern Evangelical Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, with a concentration in Apologetics, where he was mentored by renowned theologian and philosopher, Dr. Norman Geisler. Following God’s call on their lives and their desire to shepherd people towards transforming their world through the mission of Christ, the Lord transitioned Derwin from his primary role of itinerant speaker to serving as the Lead Pastor of Transformation Church in January of 2010. Coupling his dynamic speaking style with a shepherd’s heart, his intense passion for seeing lives and culture transformed is both contagious and inspiring. In 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Southern Evangelical Seminary. In 2018, he received his Doctor of Ministry in the New Testament in Context at Northern Seminary under Dr. Scot McNight.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 011 | The What - 5 Decisions To Shape My Church Planting Vision

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

“...the more it’s clear the kind of culture I’m trying to create, I’ll attract people that also have similar values…so it’s so good before I go to that building phase to start getting some of this stuff super clear in my heart–one, so I can communicate it, but two, so that I can attract the right kind of people and I’m not having to work so hard to get people convinced about my vision.” On today’s episode, Andy Wood and Mike Hickerson share five key decisions to shape and clarify the vision for a church plant.

Welcome to Episode 011 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO ARE MIKE HICKERSON AND ANDY WOOD?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 010 | Church Planting Year One–The Mistakes and the Miracles with Ron Sylvia

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0400

“A growing church is always led by a growing leader. And whenever a leader stops growing, the church starts dying.” Meet Ron Sylvia, founding pastor of Church @ The Springs. In today’s episode, Ron shares the realities of year one in church planting–especially as a pioneer church planter when there were not too many resources and advice at the time. Ron’s encouragement to new church planters is to listen to the voice of God and stay grounded in the vision and calling. As a church planter, you’re on the front lines of what will be your legendary days…

Welcome to Episode 010 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

https://www.thesprings.net/

WHO IS RON SYLVIA?

Ron & Teddi Sylvia are the founding pastors of Church @ The Springs. The Springs began with only 21 people in an office building and has grown to over 3,000 in attendance across three campuses.

Believing that every person matters to God, Pastor Ron is committed to leading our generation to know Him and growing a community of Christ-followers who will serve Him and the world.

Ron's passion for church planting continues to be the heartbeat of The Springs. Ron has trained thousands of church planters in conferences and coaching networks, and continues to invest in the next generation of churches. The Springs has planted and invested in 42 churches around the world! Pastors Ron and Teddi are the proud parents of three children and eight grandchildren.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 009 | The “Why” - 7 Good Reasons To Plant A Church With Andy Wood & Mike Hickerson

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 07:08:00 -0500

“Church planting is not an easy sport, it’s an obedient sport.” There are good reasons and bad reasons to plant a church. The difference between the two is almost always tied to motivation. On today’s episode, Andy Wood and Mike Hickerson unpack the 7 good reasons to plant a church and share personal stories from their own experiences in church planting.

Welcome to Episode 009 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

The Power of Place: Choosing Stability in a Rootless Age by Daniel Grothe

The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene Peterson

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO ARE MIKE HICKERSON AND ANDY WOOD?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 008 | Mike Breaux and Gene Appel on Church Planting Before it Was Cool

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 07:08:00 -0500

“Back in that day, we didn’t have any church planting resources, any church planting organizations, books on church planting, nothing. So we just prayed.” On this episode we’re joined by Gene Appel, Senior Pastor of Eastside Christian Church, and Mike Breaux who serves on the teaching team of multiple churches throughout the country. Between them, these two ministry giants have over 60+ combined years of church planting wisdom, ministry experience, and encouragement for the next generation of leaders. Mike and Gene share their story of planting Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas in 1993, which was really just the beginning of the story God had written for them. A journey of planting churches that plant churches. They give listeners a front row seat to their first church plant story and close with what they’re most hopeful for with the next generation of planters.

Welcome to Episode 008 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO ARE MIKE BREAUX AND GENE APPEL?

Mike Breaux has spent 40 in ministry trying to bring hope to people. He has worn the hats of student ministry, worship leader, lead pastor, and church planter. He currently is on the teaching team at churches in SoCal, Dallas, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Indiana. He and wife Debbie live in Nicholasville, KY and have 3 kids and 10 grandkids.

Gene Appel, senior pastor of Eastside Christian Church, a multi-site church based in Anaheim, CA, began his ministry as a 20-year old intern at Eastside. Gene returned in 2008 to lead Eastside into its next dynamic chapter. Since that time, Eastside has experienced rapid growth, consistently being named among the 100 fastest growing churches in America. Following in the footsteps of his late father, a pastor and Christian leader, Gene sensed God’s call on his life to ministry at an early age. He is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University and has done additional graduate work at Hope International University, who conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Divinity. Recognized by many as a gifted leader with a passion for following Christ and a sensitivity for hurting people, Gene has coached church leaders from around the world on how to lead churches through healthy change. He is the author of several books and also was an award winning television commentator on CBS2 in Chicago. Gene and his wife Barbara are the parents of 3 married children - Jeremy, Alayna and Jenna, and have three grandsons. Gene’s hobbies include boating, fishing, and water skiing.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 007 | Andy Wood on Defining a Successful Church Plant and Leading a Team By Examining Character, Passion, and Shaping

Art of Leadership Network — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 07:08:00 -0500

What defines a successful church plant? Am I wired to lead? Do I have the right team in the right roles? On today’s episode of The Unfair Advantage, Andy Wood and Sean Morgan unpack both the qualitative and quantitative elements of a “successful” church plant. Then they go a layer deeper to reflect on the characteristics of the planter and the team surrounding them. Reaching people who are far from God is the why. How you’re equipping and setting expectations for yourself and your team is the how.

Welcome to Episode 007 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO IS ANDY WOOD?

Andy's passion is to create environments that engage the unchurched people of the Bay Area. Along with leading the church, Andy enjoys investing time in helping church planters and church leaders think innovatively and strategically to reach people in the most unreached areas of North America. Andy and Stacie have three kids, Caedmon, Sammy, and Karis.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 006 | Andy & Stacie Wood on Being Good at Home And Leading Well in Ministry Together

Art of Leadership Network — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 07:08:00 -0500

“Ministry and family is not an either/or. It’s both/and. But there’s certainly a priority. And if you get to the place where the family is not your priority, eventually you might have to make a choice.” Meet Andy and Stacie Wood. Andy is the Lead Pastor at Saddleback Church, and in this episode, he and his wife, Stacie, flip the script on the Unfair Advantage podcast by offering their own insights as interviewees on the topic of marriage and ministry. We’re joined by a guest host, Sean Morgan, who asks thoughtful questions about the dynamics of ministry and family life.

Welcome to Episode 006 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast.

EPISODE LINKS

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Quest for Authentic Manhood by Robert Lewis

Planters do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 005 | Mike Hickerson on Slowing Down to Plant Well

Art of Leadership Network — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 07:08:00 -0400

“Why would you waste your life right now, in the prime of your ministry, to go teach a couple hundred people at a movie theater in California?” Meet Mike Hickerson, Lead Pastor & Planter of Mission Church in Ventura, CA. In this episode, Mike shares he and his wife Jodi’s personal story as church planters and unpacks some great advice for planters that he wishes he had ten years ago. He encourages planters to “fight to the edges to be around lost people” and challenges all church leaders, “Don’t arrive. Always think like a church planter… because we’re all still on the hook for the great commission.”

Welcome to Episode 005 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

Money Matters in Church by Steve Stroope

Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO IS MIKE HICKERSON?

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 004 | Steve Stroope on Understanding Your Growth Gap

Art of Leadership Network — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 07:08:00 -0400

“If we don’t pay attention to the season of planting, it’s too late to try to manufacture a harvest that we didn’t plan for or plant for.” Meet Steve Stroope, Founding Pastor of Lakepointe Church in Rockwall, Texas. Packed with wisdom from the moment they press record, Andy dives in deep with Steve to better understand what he calls the Growth Gap and how to create leading indicators rather than focusing on goals that come from lagging indicators. In this episode, Steve unpacks the key profiles of church planters (as well as their launch teams), what drove success for Lakepointe, and the most important decisions he made along the way.

Welcome to Episode 004 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

Learn more about Strategic Launch Network

Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business

Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO IS STEVE STROOPE?

Steve Stroope is the Founding Pastor of Lakepointe Church, Rockwall, Texas. Under his leadership, the church grew to more than 13,000 in weekly attendance. In 2020, after 40 years as Lead Pastor, he transitioned into consulting, coaching and writing. He works as an Executive Coach to major corporations all across America. Steve has written 3 books and will be releasing his 4th in 2023, Leading by Letting Go.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 003 | Sean Sears on Keeping the Fire Burning, Identifying Obstacles, & Staying True to Your Mission

Art of Leadership Network — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 07:08:00 -0400

“One of the most dangerous things to happen to your church plant is for you to get to 100 people. Because now you have enough people in your church to distract you from the mission of your church.” Meet Sean Sears, Church Planter & Founding Pastor of Grace Church in Boston, MA. In this episode, Sean shares his deep passion for staying on mission as a church planter by continuously surrounding yourself with the people you’re trying to reach. He encourages planters that you don’t have to create momentum for your church, the Holy Spirit will do that… your job is to identify the barriers that are keeping you from finding that momentum and becoming a “barrier buster”. Self-proclaimed as “the most accidental church planter ever” this is an authentic conversation that will encourage you and reignite your mission for the kingdom.

Welcome to Episode 003 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Andy Wood.

EPISODE LINKS

Learn more about the Strategic Launch Network.

Be on the lookout for catalytic relationships. One of the ways you may be called to invest in these relationships is by joining the first ever Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohort. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/

WHO IS SEAN SEARS?

Sean and Billie started Grace Church in 2005 with 3 Christian college students and their spiritually disconnected neighbors across the street. Grace Church planted their first church in 2009 and has planted an additional eight churches and partnered with another twenty-ish. Sean’s side hustle is real estate, his hobby is old man basketball at the Y and he’s a sucker for documentaries.

SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 002 | Creating Vision People Will Die For With Ray Johnston

Art of Leadership Network — Thu, 05 May 2022 07:08:00 -0400

“There’s shared vision or there’s vision that’s shared.” Meet Ray Johnston, Founding Pastor of Bayside Church in Sacramento. We asked Ray to come on an episode of the podcast to share his wisdom on church planting… we should have asked him to come on five! Planters, Ray’s knowledge is vast… be ready to take quick notes! In this episode, Ray challenges planters on how to lead with vision, how to create momentum in your plant, and how to determine which voices will be the loudest on your journey. He encourages, “Planters need to be really discerning about who they are listening to. Ask yourself, “What are the outcomes I’m looking for?” Once you can define those outcomes, you can better manage the millions of tools to help you get there.”

Welcome to Episode 002 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Andy Wood.

INSIGHTS FROM RAY

The Story Behind the Story: Bayside Church, 1996

You have to be crazy to be a pastor. There’s too much attention, affection, and attack. I didn’t want to be a pastor.
Nothing great ever happens without fresh vision. Fresh vision comes to people who have hope. To get hope, you have to recharge your spiritual batteries.
Our goal was to own Christmas, Easter, and kids. When we launched Bayside, we set out to own these three things. That would have defined success for us.
Whoever wins the kids wins. Wins your community, wins the future, wins the battle for values.

To Preview or Not To Preview

All church plants need to go through four critical stages of planting. Each of these stages should be 3-6 month long.
3 out of 5 new church plants fail, primarily because of low birth weight. Don’t plant too fast.
The 4 stages of church plants:
Stage 1 - Core Group Gathering
Stage 2 - Core Group Development - train your core group, start assigning roles and responsibilities
Stage 3 - Preliminary Worship
Stage 4 - Grand Opening, Public Worship
Too many churches go from Stage 1 to Stage 4.
We did preview services to draft people into the launch team.
Planters need to be really discerning about who they are listening to. Ask yourself, “what are the outcomes I’m looking for?” Once you can define those outcomes, you can better manage the millions of tools to help you get there.

“Secrets” of Church Planting

Creating momentum - people support what they help create.
There’s shared vision or there’s vision that’s shared.
5 questions we asked 100 of our core leaders in the church:
What should we do in the next 1-2 years to reach our community for Christ?
What are we going to do to disciple our people? How do we grow our people spiritually?
How do we get people who are seeking God to serve God?
What are we going to do to unleash passion in our community and around the world?
Got any dreams?
Most people can’t dream what they haven’t seen. They only know the church from what they’ve seen and experienced in the past. Show them a church that will help them dream big about theirs.

Am I the right leader to plant a church?

Go do assessment center testing
Disc profiles - high I or high D are ideal church planters
If you’re wired to lead, you reach for one of 4 things first in the morning: a steering wheel to lead and direct, a microphone to speak, people to care and develop them, a computer to organize it all in a God-honoring way. Church planting tends to do better if the leader is a microphone, steering wheel person who does pretty well with people.
Do most what you do best. Too many people climb the wrong ladder only to realize it’s the wrong ladder.

EPISODE LINKS

Find your top 5 core strengths - Gallup StrengthsFinders

Thrive Conference - May 5th & 6th - Dream Again with Bob Goff

Text “refuel” to 56316 for a daily resource from Bayside

WHO IS RAY JOHNSTON?

Ray Johnston is the founder of Bayside Church in the Sacramento, California area, which has grown to one of the largest congregations in the nation with more than 20,000 people gathering every weekend, and the founder of Thrive Communications and Thrive Churches International (TCI), which host the largest pastors and church staff conferences in the western United States.

A master communicator, Ray is well known for his books The Hope Quotient, and Jesus Called. He has spoken face to face to more than 2 million people over the past 45 years. He has also served in an “interim'' pastoral role to help hurting congregations that range from smaller local churches to megachurches.

Ray has a rich and varied background as a university and graduate-school professor, speaker, and writer, and. A graduate of Azusa Pacific University and Fuller Theological Seminary, he was Chairman of the Department of Youth Ministry at North Park College, an adjunct professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and is a veteran of both youth and adult ministry, having crisscrossed the nation for years as a top instructor for Youth Specialties.

Ray and Carol Johnston have been married for almost 40 years, have four adult children, and a growing number of grandchildren.

To learn more, visit:

www.RayJohnston.com
Conference: www.ThriveConference.org
Twitter: @rayjohnston
Instagram: @rayjohnston77
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ray.johnston.3150?fref=ts
Blog: www.RayJohnston.com

SPONSOR

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.

EP 001 | Carey Nieuwhof on Planting Without Losing Yourself

Art of Leadership Network — Wed, 04 May 2022 07:08:00 -0400

“The difference between 45 hours a week and 65 hours is not necessarily more church growth, it’s just an unhealthy leader.” Meet Carey Nieuwhof, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and church planter. On the maiden voyage of The Unfair Advantage podcast, we’ve set the bar high. Carey shares the story behind the story of his church plant, unpacks the difference between great managers and great leaders, and gets vulnerable and authentic about what the Carey today would tell twenty-five year old Carey just getting started in the church world. You won’t want to miss it.

Welcome to the very first episode of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Andy Wood.

INSIGHTS FROM CAREY

The story behind the story: Connexus Church launch, November 2007
Carey began serving in ministry in Central Ontario in 1995 and recounts the early days of his church plant.
You can do more with 300 aligned people than 3,000 aligned people.
When you plant, you want people around you who believe nothing is impossible with God.
Carey shares, “I wasn’t particularly innovative, I just did attractional church years before anyone else in our community. We were about 5-10 years ahead of anyone else.”

Great managers vs. great leaders: what's the difference?
Great leaders have an entrepreneurial zeal
Managers manage what was already built. Leaders create something out of nothing.
What in your life have you gone from nothing to something on? If you don’t have that story, you may not be right for church planting.
“If you don’t have a good reason to plant a church, that’s a good reason to not plant a church.”

The advantage of being in a room with other leaders
When I first planted, I didn’t have colleagues or peers as resources, I had books.
Cohorts allow you to get insider information. You now have access to the people on stage at the conferences you’ve been attending for years. You can ask your questions, you can get answers. It’s gold.
Most of us really align ourselves by affinity, not by denomination.
If you have the opportunity to go to a cohort as a church planter, do it.

What would Carey say today to a twenty-five year old Carey?
Your value isn’t tied up in what you produce.
There’s another way to get the results you want, but it’s probably not something you would naturally do.
You're gonna push so hard and drive so hard, and work is going to provide so much value for you, you’re probably going to mess up your 30’s and miss some great moments with your kids.
The difference between 45 hours a week and 65 hours is not necessarily more church growth, it’s just an unhealthy leader.

EPISODE LINKS

Whether you’re overwhelmed, overworked or overcommitted, At Your Best is the strategy to get your time, energy and priorities working in your favor. Get a copy of Carey’s most recent book – At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor

WHO IS CAREY NIEUWHOF?

Carey Nieuwhof is a best-selling leadership author, speaker, podcaster, former attorney, and church planter. He hosts one of today’s most influential leadership podcasts, and his online content is accessed by leaders over 1.5 million times a month. He speaks to leaders around the world about leadership, change, and personal growth.

His best-selling book, At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor, is designed to help every leader escape stress and begin living at a sustainable pace and has been profiled by Forbes, Fast Company, and Business Insider.

Careynieuwhof.com

Twitter & Facebook: @cnieuwhof | Instagram & TikTok: @careynieuwhof

SPONSOR

Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.

Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.