Best Converge Church Planting Podcasts (2024)

1
The end of an era 13:53

1+ y ago13:53

13:53

It’s the end of an era for the Unfiltered podcast. We explain why and share what’s next. 0:32 Lee lets listeners know this surreal episode to say good-bye is the last for Unfiltered. 1:28 Lee explains a couple different reasons why Danny and Lee are hanging up the microphones. 3:19 Danny thanks Lee for his impact and investment in Converge’s church…

1
The Value of Disappointment in Church Planting 36:14

1+ y ago36:14

36:14

Episode 49- Church planting is filled with disappointment. It is a massive part of the church planting experience. In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss some of the disappointments they faced and what God taught them through the experience. They found that they are thankful for the disappointments because disappointments grow you. They can show…

1
Why is church planting so hard? 12:11

2y ago12:11

12:11

Starting anything new from the ground up can be difficult. Whether it’s a new business or a new church, nothing is 100% fail-proof. But why is church planting so difficult? Let’s pull back the curtain and have a real and candid conversation about it. 0:28 Lee introduces the topic, which is a subject he and Danny deal with often. Why is church plant…

1
Alongside: A Ministry to Ministry Wives 30:05

2y ago30:05

30:05

Episode 48- There are plenty of resources for Church Planters and Pastors. There are not so many for the wife of the planter. In this episode, Carrie and Loren talk to Coletta Smith of Alongside Ministries. Coletta started Alongside intending to minister to pastors' wives to help them partner with their husbands and view it as a family calling, not…

1
Is a church residency necessary for church planters? 14:45

2y ago14:45

14:45

Residencies – they’re not just for medical students. A residency in a church can be a very helpful season for a future church planter. But what should a residency look like? How can it benefit both a church and someone receiving an education in ministry? And what’s the difference between an internship and a residency? 0:29 Danny introduces the epis…

1
Evaluating Criticism of Your Church Plant 28:35

2y ago28:35

28:35

Episode 47- In church planting, you will find that not everyone likes your ideas or how you do things. And, to be honest, you may not always know. Therefore, it may be essential to have a thick skin because you will face much criticism in church planting. In this episode, Loren lays out three questions that he asks himself each time he hears critic…

1
Always Strive to Improve Your Preaching 16:55

2y ago16:55

16:55

As a pastor, it can be easy to slip into a comfortable rhythm and habit of preaching. And while change isn’t always easy, you should always be looking to improve and develop the way you preach. As the years in ministry slip by, it’s necessary at times to assess if your preaching could use some improvement; whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned past…

1
Finding the Right Partner in Crime for Church Planting 34:49

2y ago34:49

34:49

Episode 46- Having someone with you on your church planting journey can be the biggest blessing. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about their partner in crime, Brent Petersen, and how it changed things for both the church and their family when his family moved to Utah. In addition, they discuss qualities you should look for in that person bas…

1
Church planting in New England 26:09

2y ago26:09

26:09

0:24 Lee introduces episode guest, Wes Pastor. 0:40 Wes introduces himself and explains his connection to Converge 1:36 Lee asks Wes how he became a church planter in Vermont. 1:54 Wes shares that the reasons he planted in Vermont were because it’s an unreached area, it has a rich heritage, and there are lots of college towns. 2:40 Because Wes stay…

1
Setting Your Church Plant up for Success, The Bus Quotient 36:46

2y ago36:46

36:46

Episode 45- In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about things you should think about to set your church plant up for success years down the road. If you were to get hit by a bus (The Bus Quotient), the church would still move forward with God's mission. Loren shares five things to think about to set your church plant up for future success. 1. Don…

1
Takeaways from the Unleash conference 10:51

2y ago10:51

10:51

Recently Converge held our annual Unleash conference. It was a time to gather nationally as a family to learn how to focus on growing every ministry and leader in churches. Highlights of the conference and the topic of ministering the way God made you to be as a church planter are covered in this episode. 0:21 Lee summarizes what Unleash is all abo…

1
Hendersons of Utah and Life Lessons in Church Planting 35:38

2y ago35:38

35:38

Episode 44- David and Victoria Henderson return and share the complex parts of church planting, what God taught them about themselves, and what God revealed to them about Himself. You can find out more about their church at heyneighborhood.com Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com…

1
Where do I start if I think God’s calling me to plant a church? 11:56

2y ago11:56

11:56

You think God might be calling you to plant a church. But you know nothing about church planting. How do you even begin that journey? This episode holds a lot of wisdom about where you start and what to keep in mind as you contemplate this possible future. 0:21 Lee explains that in this episode, he and Danny want to address those who might be on th…

1
Church Planting in a Pandemic: David and Victoria Henderson 33:06

2y ago33:06

33:06

Episode 43- David and Victoria Henderson moved to Daybreak Utah to plant a church at the beginning of the pandemic. In this episode, David and Victoria share their experience of how God called them to Utah and what they are doing in the building phase of their church plant. They share failures and wins in this early phase of Neighborhood church. Fr…

1
Wrestling with your position of influence 14:18

2y ago14:18

14:18

“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a podcast produced by Christianity Today and it has gone viral in popularity. What can we, as church planters and pastors, learn from listening to this story of a popular Seattle church exploding in growth, only to have it all fall apart to leave so many devastated? You don’t have to listen to that podcast first,…

1
Strengthfinders Strengths and Weaknesses in Church Planting 35:46

2y ago35:46

35:46

Episode 42- We all have different strengths and weaknesses. During Church Planter Assessment, Loren and Carrie took many personality tests. The one they found the most helpful was the Strengthfinders assessment. In this episode, they talk about what they learned about themselves, playing to their strengths, and the negative side of your strength if…

1
Are you ready for Easter Sunday? 16:12

2y ago16:12

16:12

Easter Sunday is arguably the most important Sunday of the year for a church. And there can be a lot of pressure on church planters with how they present an Easter service. As planters with experience, Lee and Danny discuss their thoughts on what pastors should and shouldn’t do on Easter Sunday. There are a lot of things for church planters to thin…

1
Learning the Culture and Building Relationships in Your City 29:17

2y ago29:17

29:17

Episode 41- Sometimes you pick up your life and move to a new area to plant a church. Doing research before you go is important, but it is also imperative that you do some things when you get there. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about ways that you can get to know the culture as well as offer your service to the community. Building relatio…

1
Lessons learned seven years into planting a church 16:56

2y ago16:56

16:56

Chris Highfill planted Grace River Church in St. Peters, MO, seven years ago. In that time, the church has grown, relocated a couple of times, and gone from portable to permanent. He shares his journey as a church planter. He talks about the lessons he’s learned as a church planter. And he discusses the vision he has over the next few years so more…

1
The Why and Why Not of Church Planting 27:18

2y ago27:18

27:18

Episode 40- Sometimes, people will ask, “Why are you starting a new church when there are already so many?” In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk through some objections to church planting. Then, they show why a church plant is one of the best ways to fulfill the great commission and why existing churches should support them. Finally, they tell a …

1
Planting and Growing Churches in Togo, Africa 17:28

2y ago17:28

17:28

The country of Togo, Africa, is known as the birthplace of voodoo and a place marked by slave trade. JJ Alderman, his wife, Melissa, and their three daughters live in Togo as Converge global workers, planting churches. JJ talks about what it looks like to plant churches in another country, and how God is moving in Togo. 0:21 Lee introduces special …

1
Putting People into Leadership in Your Church Plant 34:19

2y ago34:19

34:19

Episode 39- In the early days of church planting, it is tempting to let just about anyone take stuff over. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about what to look for in your leaders. Loren came up with another one of his fantastic acronyms. This one says that the people you are looking for must F.A.R.T. Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtoge…

1
Guest Paul Turner discusses church planting in Northeast Ohio 16:59

2y ago16:59

16:59

Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee welcome guest, Paul Turner. Paul is the Coaching Director for Orchard NEO, an organization passionate about planting churches in Northeast Ohio and raising up church planters to spread the gospel throughout the area. 0:24 Lee introduces special guest, Paul Turner. 0:44 Paul introduces himself and explains his role …

1
Evangelism Entropy in Your Church Plant 34:56

2y ago34:56

34:56

Episode 38- Why do so many churches lose their evangelism focus and start to grow inward? In this episode, Loren and Carrie break down page 64 of the book Church Planting Landmines: Mistakes to avoid in years 2-10 by Tom Nebel and Gary Rohrmayer. This page talks about the landmine of evangelism entropy. Loren and Carrie add some of their insight in…

1
Emotionally Difficult Things in the Early Days of Your Church Plant 35:45

2y ago35:45

35:45

Episode 37- From marriages that are ticking time bombs to difficult people to those who want you to be just like their old pastor, the early stage of church planting can be emotionally draining and bring feelings of inadequacy. In this episode, Carrie and Loren discuss people around at the beginning of their church plant and the complex emotions th…

1
A church planter’s focus three months after launch 12:56

2y ago12:56

12:56

An Unfiltered podcast listener has asked, “What should a church planter focus on three months after a church launch?” In this episode, Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss a few things a church planter should focus on once after launch as they get into a ministry rhythm. 0:22 Lee shares that this episode’s topic came from a listener’s question…

1
Growth Barriers and Adding Staff for Your Church Plant 35:13

2y ago35:13

35:13

Episode 35- What do you do when you realize that you have hit your relational capacity as a church planter? In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about growth barriers in your church plant and what you should look for in a person that you are going to bring on staff, whether that is paid or volunteer. Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether…

1
Put me in, coach 13:48

2+ y ago13:48

13:48

A high priority at Converge is to provide church planters with an excellent level of coaching. Having someone who has planted a church walk along side someone learning the ropes is a big factor in a successful church plant. Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss coaching, the value of it, how it’s more than just mentoring and what makes a good c…

1
D.U.M.B. Goals and S.M.A.R.T Goals in Church Planting 33:18

2+ y ago33:18

33:18

Episode 35- As we begin the new year, resolutions are on everyone's minds. In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss setting goals for the church plant and your family. Many people have heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals, but Loren will introduce us to D.U.M.B goals in this episode. D-Do U-Unless (you want) M-Momentum (to) B-Break Follow us on Instagram @ch…

1
Budgeting for multiplication 11:54

2+ y ago11:54

11:54

If you have a vision as a pastor to make church multiplication a priority, it’s best to begin budgeting from the start of your church plant. Whether that’s to launch another church or become multi-campus, it’s a challenge to budget for it. Even though setting aside money in the budget to multiply can be difficult, it can be done. Danny Parmelee ask…

1
034: Marketing Your New Church Plant 27:52

2+ y ago27:52

27:52

Most pastors don't take a "marketing your church" class in seminary. Some people even think of marketing as a bad word when it comes to church, but Loren thinks of it as sewing seeds of awareness in the community. If people don't know you exist, they can't come. In this episode, Loren shares many of the things he has done over the years and shares …

1
The art of evaluation 14:52

2+ y ago14:52

14:52

Evaluation can be a powerful tool to keep your church’s ministry on track. But what should you and your staff or launch team be evaluating? Sunday services, special outreach events, worship, different areas of ministry, and staff performance are just a few. Join Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee as they talk about creating a culture of evaluation i…

1
033: Hard Stuff and Keeping Your Focus Where it Belongs 36:42

2+ y ago36:42

36:42

Where there are people, there is poop! Wise words spoken by Loren Pankratz! In this episode, Loren and Carrie share some difficult things that they experienced from friends leaving the church, relationships with people that they had invested in, and staff changes that almost broke them. They share what gets them through and how their relationship w…

1
The relationship between a lead pastor and a worship pastor 14:57

2+ y ago14:57

14:57

How a lead pastor and the worship pastor work together has an effect on Sunday services. What should the relationship between these two roles look like? How do you work together to ensure attendees are having a meaningful Sunday worship experience? 0:20 Lee Stephenson introduces the episode topic that is relevant to church planters, lead pastors, a…

1
032: Emergency Preparedness for Church Planters 35:44

2+ y ago35:44

35:44

On any given Sunday, many things can go wrong... Like waking up and puking your guts out. What do you do when you can't preach the sermon you prepared? What do you do if the power is out in the building or your technology has a mind of its own??? In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about what you should do today to prepare for these types of eme…

1
Sermon planning and a preaching calendar 16:45

2+ y ago16:45

16:45

In this episode, Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss planning out a preaching calendar. They share practical ways they plan their sermon topics and give insight into how they navigate their preaching calendar. 0:19 Lee introduces the topic of the episode – thinking through your preaching calendar. He asks Danny what his rhythm is when it come…

1
031: Getting Ready for Holidays While Planting a Church 29:59

2+ y ago29:59

29:59

Holidays can be wonderful as well as stressful. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share some of the difficulties they have had when it comes to holidays and they give some ideas of things to think through so that you can avoid the loneliness and getting your family mad at you that they experienced. Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether con…

1
Your leadership style will change over time 17:33

2+ y ago17:33

17:33

Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee talk about how the leadership of a church planter will naturally change. Leadership at the beginning of planting looks very different than when the church is a few years old. 0:22 Lee introduces the topic of discussion: unique changes that take place as a leader. 0:48 Danny says he will share his experiences of lea…

1
030: Carrie is Switching Things Up 31:54

2+ y ago31:54

31:54

Carrie shares that she has made a temporary life change; therefore, some things will change. For everything to work for their family, they will be publishing every other Monday instead of every Monday as they have been. Then, in this episode of Church Planting Together, Loren and Carrie share what they are doing to prepare this time that they faile…

1
029: Five Things we Wish Someone Would Have Told us 32:44

2+ y ago32:44

32:44

Starting out, Loren and Carrie were ready to take on the world... and then reality set in. In this episode, they share five things they wish that someone would have told them before they began their church plant. They figured them out as they went along, but having a plan would have saved some stress and heartache along the way. Here are the five p…

1
Should Churches Hire Remote Staff? 19:16

2+ y ago19:16

19:16

Episode 89 // Should Churches Hire Remote Staff? Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss the pros and cons of church planters hiring remote people for certain tasks and projects. What might it look like to hire someone who never attends your church? 0:21 Lee asks Danny the rhetorical question, “Is it okay to hire someone who may life in a differe…

1
028: Establishing Elders in Your Church Plant 30:27

2+ y ago30:27

30:27

Most church planters want their church to be legit, and establishing elders seems like a way to make that happen. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about the path to eldership in their church plant. They talk about three phases: 1. Document People phase 2. Advisory Board 3. Elders Loren also shares about what goes on at an elder meeting, the r…

1
027: Going to Retreats That You Don't Lead 28:55

2+ y ago28:55

28:55

When you are working hard to fill other people's tanks, yours doesn't get filled. Leading on an empty tank is no good. It can be harmful to both your church plant and to your marriage. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about the importance of attending events that you are not in charge of leading. There are many options out there. Here are a f…

1
Planting in the Heartland district 22:15

2+ y ago22:15

22:15

Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee talk with the Director of Church Planting for Converge Heartland, Steve Krier, to discuss the challenges of planting in rural areas and what life is like in the district. 0:23 Lee introduces podcast guest, Steve. 0:40 Steve discusses where he’s from and where he serves as a pastor. 1:01 Steve shares a “fun fact” ab…

1
026: Staying Neighborly as a Church Planter 30:11

2+ y ago30:11

30:11

Don't Let your church life crowd out your capacity to love your neighbor. In the early days of church planting, it's easy to be intentional about meeting new people. But, as time goes on, things get more and more complicated. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about intentionality around continuing to reach out to those around you. They share w…

1
025: Managing Expectations in Church Planting 30:30

2+ y ago30:30

30:30

Attending a church planting conference is fun, but it can also leave you feeling like you don't measure up. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about how you can manage your expectations and still cheer for and celebrate the church down the street. They discuss the tricky task of finding the sweet spot between working hard, desiring to see God m…

1
Maximizing your launch to gain momentum 16:32

2+ y ago16:32

16:32

As church planters prepare in the last few weeks before launch, what should the church’s grand opening day look like? Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee share their thoughts of what worked and what didn’t work during their experiences. 0:22 This topic is an extension of a previous Unfiltered podcast titled “30 days to launch.” 0:59 Danny discusses t…

1
024: Small Groups in Your Church Plant 31:08

2+ y ago31:08

31:08

Small groups have impacted Loren and Carrie in major ways of their lives. To help people grow in community, this is one of the main strategies in their church plant. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk through the theology behind small groups, thinking through the purpose they serve in your overall mission, and explain why they landed on a close…

1
023: Assimilating Newcomers into the Life of the Church Plant 26:43

2+ y ago26:43

26:43

As church planters, our goal is to help people find Jesus and follow Him with their whole lives. However, it can be difficult to know how to get people from the front door into the church's life and a growing relationship with Jesus. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share what they did to connect people in the early days of the church plant and ho…

1
30 days from launch 18:24

2+ y ago18:24

18:24

What should happen within the last 30 days before a church officially launches? There are a few bases a church planter needs to cover in the last push before a grand opening. 0:22 Lee Stephenson introduces the episode topic and asks Danny Parmelee about his experience of the month before launching a church he planted. 0:49 Danny talks about the imp…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Converge Church Planting Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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