Church planting is tough and affects every area of the church planter's life. Join church planters Loren and Carrie Pankratz (with over 11 years experience) as they delve into their struggles, the times they totally nailed it, and the things they wish they would have done differently in their Utah church plant. You can also expect to hear from church planting couples in different phases of the journey. In each episode, you will find helpful, practical tips for planting a church and keeping y ...
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The Value of Disappointment in Church Planting
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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…
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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…
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Evaluating Criticism of Your Church Plant
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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…
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Finding the Right Partner in Crime for Church Planting
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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…
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Setting Your Church Plant up for Success, The Bus Quotient
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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…
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Hendersons of Utah and Life Lessons in Church Planting
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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…
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Church Planting in a Pandemic: David and Victoria Henderson
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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…
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Strengthfinders Strengths and Weaknesses in Church Planting
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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…
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Learning the Culture and Building Relationships in Your City
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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…
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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 …
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Putting People into Leadership in Your Church Plant
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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…
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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…
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Emotionally Difficult Things in the Early Days of Your Church Plant
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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…
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Growth Barriers and Adding Staff for Your Church Plant
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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…
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D.U.M.B. Goals and S.M.A.R.T Goals in Church Planting
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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…
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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 …
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033: Hard Stuff and Keeping Your Focus Where it Belongs
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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…
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032: Emergency Preparedness for Church Planters
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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…
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031: Getting Ready for Holidays While Planting a Church
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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…
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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…
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029: Five Things we Wish Someone Would Have Told us
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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…
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028: Establishing Elders in Your Church Plant
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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…
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027: Going to Retreats That You Don't Lead
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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…
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026: Staying Neighborly as a Church Planter
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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…
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025: Managing Expectations in Church Planting
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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…
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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…
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023: Assimilating Newcomers into the Life of the Church Plant
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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…
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022: Supporting a Spouse Who Works Tons of Hours While Planting a Church
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How do I support my spouse, who works long hours at her job while we are planting a church? This was a question asked of Loren and Carrie that they didn't have a chance to answer. While everyone's situation is different, Carrie and Loren had an experience where Carrie went from being a stay-at-home mom to working 60 hours a week. In this episode, t…
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021: Managing Your Time While Planting a Church
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Time management is important in every aspect of life. However, for many creative, visionary leaders, managing time does not come naturally. In this episode, Loren shares his day-to-day schedule, and Carrie shares how she was able to be efficient with her time while teaching. In addition, they both share the ground rules they put in place for their …
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020: Seasons of the Church Plant with Their Strengths and Weaknesses
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Church planting consists of ever-changing seasons of ministry. But, for those who don’t enjoy change, it is a continual cycle of celebrating and grieving. In this episode, Loren and Carrie reminisce about the different seasons of the church plant and point out both the strengths and weaknesses of each phase. The seasons discussed are: Prelaunch: Ga…
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019: Keeping Your Personal Budget in Check While Church Planting
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Money is the least fun part of church planting. It is easy to let your personal budget get eaten up with church planting expenses in the early days. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share mistakes that they made and how they eventually fixed the problem and found the ability to give more and give intentionally. In addition, they offer some practic…
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018: Prepare Your Relationship to Handle Challenges in Church Planting
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Church Planting will put great stress on your marriage relationship and we want you to be prepared. This is an episode that you won't want to miss! Kevin and Brooke Llanos have been through serious difficulties in their marriage and now counsel others to grow and maintain a healthy and strong relationship. In this episode, Kevin and Brooke share to…
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017: Brooke and Kevin- When God Decides It's Time to Plant a Church
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Sometimes God decides that it is time for you to plant a church. In this episode, Loren and Carrie interview new church planters, Kevin and Brooke Llanos. They intended to have a neighborhood bible study, but God had other plans. Even though they don't fit the church planter mold, God has been faithful to bring them through every step of the proces…
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016: Get This on the Calendar Now! Vacation!
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It might feel impossible to take a Sunday off in the early days... and later days of church planting, but do it! Do it now! In this episode, Loren and Carrie share how taking time off has been good for their relationship and church. They share why you should take a vacation and how when the resources aren't there. Below is a blog post by Ed Stetzer…
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015: 10 Signs You are Making Your Church Plant About You
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Although most church planters set out with the intention of serving the Lord, it's easy to get on the wrong track and make your church plant about you. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share 10 signs that you are making your church plant about you. Loren also uses the word "environ," which Carrie is pretty sure isn't a word (it turns out it actual…
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014: When it Feels Like Everything is Falling Apart
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When everything is falling apart, there is a good chance that Jehovah Sneaky is at work. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about how Genesis 5:20 and Romans 8:28 were a comfort each time it felt like their church plant was doomed. It felt like it was over when people leaving the church were leading ministries, and close friends moved away. The…
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013: Protecting the Vision of Your Church Plant
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People will try to hijack the vision of your church! In this episode, Loren and Carrie use the analogy of a cruise ship to identify four types of people you will have at your church, both in the first year and always. It is important to protect the vision of your church plant, and the couple gives some suggestions on how to do it, as well as how pe…
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There are many phases of church planting. Many times, we forget to sit back and celebrate our wins. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about the other side of that... taking the time to mourn. Once your church reaches a certain size, relationships change and you may come upon a sense of loss and loneliness. You go from inviting everyone to ever…
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011: Should You Join a Church Planting Network?
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Wondering whether or not you should join a church planting network? Loren and Carrie think you should! In this episode, Loren and Carrie share their experience with Converge Worldwide, give five benefits to joining a church planting network, and talk about things you should look for in a network as you make a decision. First, Loren talks about how …
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010: The Role of Apologetics in Church Planting
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Loren subjected Carrie to hours and hours of apologetics podcasts throughout the years. She wasn't really excited about it at the time. When she began church planting, she finally experienced the practical need for apologetics in church planting. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share how apologetics has helped strengthen their own faith and make …
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We can't plant a church alone, so our focus was on building a launch team in the early days. With the launch team came many challenges, blessings, and bitter-sweet changes. In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss the good, bad, and difficult things about leading and working with your launch team. From working out details of what you will need, to…
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008: Connecting With The Community and Utilizing Mission Teams
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Growing your launch team can be difficult in those early days if you are a parachute drop church plant. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about different things they did to reach out to the community, serve, and ultimately build up their launch team. They talk about Using mailers, having a booth at the fair with a booklet giving more informati…
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Getting ready to launch as a church officially requires lots of steps and people. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about their 18-month prelaunch phase. They had the goal of 10 family units and set out to build that team. Loren set out to make some inroads in the community by reaching out to the local police department and the Mayor, ultimate…
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In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss what it was like when they finally arrived in Utah with two toddlers and a couple of friends. They shared some of the first steps when they got on the ground in Utah, as well as the struggles they faced both personally and in their relationship. Carrie shares that this was probably the most difficult phase …
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005: Leaving Your Home Church to Church Plant
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Right before you leave to plant a church, you might experience the tension of still being at your church and knowing you are leaving. In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss leaving your home church well and bringing along a team when you go. Some of the topics discussed are having clear expectations from your pastor, Learning to trust God when t…
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Fundraising for the church plant is the terrifying part that nobody likes. Since you may not have a congregation to support you in the first few years, it might be necessary. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share that fundraising turned out to be faith-building and convicting as God showed up through the generosity of others. Loren recommended th…
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003: Before You Fundraise for your Church Plant
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Before you begin fundraising for your church plant, there are some things you need to think through. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about taking a trip to talk to church planters in the area. They discuss the importance of learning who you are going to serve, what they value, what they struggle with, and what needs are not being met. Loren …
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002: One of the Best Things you can do Before you Plant a Church
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Knowing that God is calling you to plant a church is one thing, having others affirm that call is another important step. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about their assessment process through the Converge Church Planting Assessment Center, how they benefitted from the wise counsel of others, and how that springboarded them into the next sea…
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001: When God Calls an Average Couple to Plant a Church
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This is the story of how God used two average (who sometimes feel below average) people to plant a church in a challenging place. Loren and Carrie didn't set out to be church planters, but God changed their hearts, and they had to trust Him completely to work it all out. For Loren and Carrie, church planting was always a family affair. In this epis…
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