Author: eric@innovativechurchleaders.org

Serving and Reaching the Poor with Jimmy Dorrell

Jimmy Dorrell is the Co-founder and President Emeritus of Mission Waco and Mission World and hte pastor of The Church Under the Bridge. He shared about reaching the poor with the message of Jesus at Beyond Us in October 2025.

What is Poverty & Who Are The Poor & Marginalized – a condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living.

United States (2025): Family of 4 makes less than $32,150/yr (1 person = $15,650, 11.1% of nation 36.8 million)
In the World (2025): if a person lives on a daily income of $3.00/day or less. (700 million or 8.5% of world)
In the Bible: owns only one coat & no food for the family (Exodus 22:26 and Dt. 1:13)

WHO ARE THE MARGINALIZED?

These are the persons who are denied involvement, for whatever reason, in mainstream economic political, cultural, and social activities. They may be homeless, unemployed, disabled (mental or physical), an ex-offender, an addict, in substance abuse, a person in prostitution, those who are gay, lesbian, transgender, and those from ethnic and religious backgrounds who are often outside social acceptance.

DIAGNOSING POVERTY…Be careful!

A Key Resource: When Helping Hurts by Corbett & Fikkert

Distinguishing the differences between:

RELIEF, REHABILITATION & DEVELOPMENT

Acknowledging your presuppositions why they are poor:

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE >>> EDUCATE THEM
OPPRESSION BY POWERFUL PEOPLE >>> SOCIAL JUSTICE
PERSONAL SINS >>> EVANGELIZE/DISCIPLE THEM
LACK OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS >>> GIVE THEM RESOURCES

Systemic Injustices are one of the barriers we face. (See 13th documentary)

When you feel powerless, you lose hope and become cynical.

Learn to listen to hear people’s stories and learn to empathize with them.

Stand with others and speak truth to power and standing up against the broken system.

This can be empowering! The church needs to be empowering rather than giving a donation or a top.

Change is Hard!

Principles of Change

Can be painful
Requires more than talk
Cannot be forced
Must admit present failure
Alternatives important
New choices feel risky
Encouragers needed
Takes time to really last
Relapses may occur along the way

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2

A fantastic resource for this kind of ministry – Christian Community Development Association

BASIC ESSENTIALS OF “CCD”

“The people with the problems need to be a part of the solutions to the problems.”

Holistic Approach
Empowerment
Listening to the Community
Relocation (presence)
Reconciliation
Redistribution
Leadership Development
Church-Based

Do You Know Your Own Community?

CENSUS DEMOGRAPHICS IN YOUR CITY (Pop., Race, Avg Income-Number below poverty level? Ed. Levels)
8 OF HOMELESS & WHERE THEY LIVE (“STAY”P
PUBLIC & SECTION 8 “AFFORDABLE HOUSING”
% OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN YOUR CITY
% UNEMPLOYMENT/ UNDEREMPLOYMENT
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. Where is the heip?
EX-OFFENDER RE-ENTRY SERVICES
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN YOUR CITY
GANG ISSUES
FOOD DESERTS: ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE & HEALTHY FOOD
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CHILDCARE FOR THE POOR
ADDICTION RECOVERY SERVICES
ARTS FOR LOWER-INCOME YOUTH
CHURCHES INVOLVED WITH THE POOR & MARGINALIZED
Other Issues?

For more resources to help you reach new people or make new disciples, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter here: JOIN US

For an interview with Jimmy Dorrell, go here.

Serving Among the Poor with Jimmy Dorrell

Kingdom DNA Church Planting with Dr. Steve Bezner

Dr. Steve Bezner serves as the Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary. He shared this workshop at the Beyond Us Conference.

Why start churches?

15,000 churches are expected to close in the next twelve months in the United States.
If a church is on the verge of closing, it is beyond “revitalization,” and has moved into the stage of “replanting.”
Even with the talk of “revival” in many headlines, most studies agree that about 25% of Americans attend church on a monthly basis.

General sense of distrust, confusion, and turmoil.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” —Mathew 4:17

The kingdom of God = recognizing the reality of Jesus’ reign here and now.

Living out the teaching of Jesus in light of his grace.

Forgiveness, purity, radical generosity, loving enemies, reconciliation, justice, and so on become ways of life.

The gospel is the message.

The Kingdom is the reality.

A Kingdom DNA church shifts from “program participation” to “embodied obedience.”

A disciple is someone who not only has saving faith in Jesus, but is also actively striving to embody what Jesus commanded.

Sermon on the Mount is a distillation of how to live as a disciple of Jesus.

Kingdom → Disciple → Society

We demonstrate the power of the gospel when we live out Jesus’ teachings.

Example, asking a follower of Jesus about where they work: “Is there anything where you work that goes against the way of Jesus?”
– Yes! Lots!
“Well, then can you fix one?”
– Yes, but they will have lots of questions about why I care.
“Perfect! That is when you will have the opportunity to represent Jesus and even share your faith where you work!”

Kingdom DNA is not competitive DNA.

Instead of thinking competitively we need to think collaboratively!

Kingdom → Disciple → Society → Church

As Kingdom disciples live the Way of Jesus in their domains, the gospel spreads and the church is strengthened (or emerges).

If the Kingdom was Jesus’ primary message, Kingdom DNA churches seek to reclaim that centrality and live it.

Check out the “Kingdom DNA course” and Church planting cohort” at Glocal.net

Q&A:

What about the world wanting us to choose a side when it comes to politics?

We don’t give into the world’s talking points or the world’s categories.
Third way is not the middle but Kingdom which is wholly above and transcendant.
Acknowledge without giving into picking sides.
Always reorient people towards the Kingdom rather than the algorithms and social media.

Bonhoeffer in the 1930s – “America’s religion is nationalism.”

“We move at the speed of family.”

Best way to introduce people new to faith to the Scriptures?

One version of the Discovery Bible Study asks 3 Questions after reading a passage:

What do you discover about God?

What does the passage reveal about God, Jesus, or His plan?

What do you discover about people?

What does the passage teach us about humanity, sin, and our needs?

How will you obey this passage?

Based on the passage, what is God calling you to do this week?
Make a concrete, simple, and measurable plan, often starting with “I will…”.

Another option on hoow to incorporate this into a study:

Start with fellowship: Begin by sharing what you are thankful for, what has caused stress, and any community needs.
Read and retell: One person reads a passage, and then others try to retell it in their own words.
Ask the questions: Discuss the core questions about God, people, and application.
Share and do: Determine how to apply the passage through an “I will” statement and share it with others.
Follow-up: Meet again to share experiences, discuss any challenges with “I will” statements, and ask who you will tell.

Seems that the church planter pipeline is drying up?

Established churches are also at a staffing crisis so they are recruiting people who might have planted had they not been offered a job with resources. However, more and more collaborative networks are helping plant churches together.

For more resources to help you reach new people or make new disciples, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter here: JOIN US

For an interview with Bob Roberts, go here.

Passion for the Mission with Christine Caine

Christine Caine mobilizes people everywhere to live on mission for Jesus. She’s an evangelist and co-founded the anti-slavery organization A21 with her husband Nick.
She shared a powerful message at Beyond Us Conference in October 2025.

For 37 years and in 90 countries Christine has proclaimed the message of Jesus. There’s nothing more important than taking the gospel into all the world.

These are the last words of Jesus before the ascension.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

We must need what we were promised we will receive in order to live out our calling.

We are to be his witnesses not just witnessing.

The Church is born in Acts 1-4!

The Church was born supernaturally! Acts 1-6

There were signs and wonders and people were dropping dead and selling their property! Amazing things were happening!

But there was a problem. They got really comfortable in Jerusalem.

What got them out of their comfort zone was the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7.

Persecution is not a bad thing!

When persecution happens, God is about to move!

“And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” – Acts 8:1 NIV

The Church is being shaken because we need to go out and make disciples – which we were supposed to be doing all along.

There is always a Simon the sorcerer when the real gospel is going out.

There will always be a counterfeit running parallel to the true message of Jesus.

Are we going to follow the counterfeit or be afraid by the counterfeit or are we going to go out in the power and passion of the Holy Spirit!

Christine has seen God doing amazing things everywhere she’s gone this year (which has been 30 countries).

Passion is contagious!

Followers of Jesus need to have a zest of life and a zeal! Instead, too many believers are

We need a passion for Jesus, a passion for the Word, and a passion for the lost.

We ought to be the best at loving, understanding, and connecting with those without Jesus.

The lostology of the Bible is in Acts 15.

We shouldn’t be judging the lost.

1. The lost coin can represent those who were not cared for.

That was Christine’s story. As a child Christine was abused. She didn’t know she had been adopted until she was 33. By the time she discovered this she had been renewing her mind for 10 years with what’s true of her in Christ.

Jesus saved and rescued Christine so that she can be part of rescuing the enslaved today!

2. The lost sheep can represent those who are preoccupied with the distractions of the world.

3. The lost son thought that life without the father would be better than life with the father.

Jesus didn’t tell us to figure out why people are lost, but to love them and help them know him.

There are more people enslaved today than at any time in history.

Too often we are like the Levite and the priest who saw the man on the road as a distraction from their ministry rather than the one they should be ministering to.

Too often we don’t want to be interrupted or inconvenienced. Compassion is not compassion until we cross the street willing to give up our own time, treasure, and talent to serve those in need.

We have His power to be His witnesses!

Walk in love in a world of hatred.
Walk in joy in a world of depression.
Walk in peace in a world of anxiety.

We cannot do this on our own. We need to rely on Him!

We need a fresh wind of the Spirit in our mission work!

Christianity is not a behavior modification program!

We are to BE His witnesses.

We are “living epistles” – God’s love letter to the world.

When we are not about the Father’s business, we end up getting into other people’s business.

We become lost in our pursuit of our own selfish ambition, our religious rituals, our own self- righteousness, our factions, our distractions.

We are supposed to be in the world and not of it, but too often we are of it and not in it.

Don’t buy into the narrative of the world.
Be salt and light!
Bring light to the darkness not add to the darkness.

Why are we so afraid of the darkness? We have the light of Christ within us!

We need to make Jesus’ last commandment our first priority!

We need to mobilize the Church to be about the Father’s business!

For more resources to help you reach new people or make new disciples, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter here: JOIN US

For an interview with Christine Caine, go here.

God Is On the Move! with Christine Caine

Speaking Life To Our World with Glen Scrivener

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews ⁠Glen Scrivener⁠ of ⁠Speak Life Media⁠ and author of ⁠The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality⁠ and ⁠How to Speak Life⁠.

Glen shares about the emerging interest in faith among youth and the importance of empowering laypeople for evangelism.

The conversation also touches on navigating the intersection of politics and the kingdom of God, emphasizing the role of the church in societal change.

🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:

1. The secular narrative is losing its appeal among the youth.
2. People are exploring various spiritual options, including Christianity.
3. Conversations about faith should address the real questions of skeptics.
4. Cultural values like compassion stem from Christian teachings.
5. The church’s role is to scatter seeds of faith, not to force conversions.

THE INNOVATIVE CHURCH LEADER PODCAST AND GIVEAWAYS:

We want to help pastors experience and bring renewal through Spirit-led innovation, reaching new people, and making disciples who make disciples.

Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter at innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us for a chance to win future book giveaways, retreats, cohorts, workshops, and assessments!

Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders.

Re-Leaders and Revitalization with Jon Chasteen

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jon Chasteen⁠, pastor at ⁠Victory Church⁠ and founder of ⁠Re-Leaders⁠.

Jon shares about rebuilding trust after a pastor’s moral failure along with the critical role of re-leaders in church revitalization and raising up leaders.

🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Building trust takes time and consistent actions.
2. Healing and forgiveness are essential in leadership transitions.
3. Church revitalization is as important as church planting.
4. Empowering staff can lead to greater organizational effectiveness.
5. Re-leaders are running a marathon, not a sprint.

THE INNOVATIVE CHURCH LEADER PODCAST AND GIVEAWAYS:

We want to help pastors experience and bring renewal through Spirit-led innovation, reaching new people, and making disciples who make disciples.

Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter at innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us for a chance to win future book giveaways, retreats, cohorts, workshops, and assessments!

Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders.

Frontier People Groups by Chris Clayman

10 Reasons Why Frontier People Groups Should Be Our Priority:

Chris Clayman⁠ of the ⁠Joshua Project⁠, an organization that highlights peoples and places with the least access or response to the gospel shared at the Beyond Us Conference in October 2025.

1. God is gathering worshippers from all peoples and commands us to join Him.

“I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” – Genesis 22:17-18

“Offspring” in this passage is singular. This means through the messiah.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” – Matthew 24:14

ETHNOS/ETHNE

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

“Goyim” = nations = “ethne” = ethnic groups = Gentiles

2. This needs to be a priority because it has not yet happened.

There are seats missing at the wedding banquet.

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” – Revelation 7:9

An unreached people group are those without enough followers of Jesus to advance the gospel.

Unreached people group defined = a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing

Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance.

There are 10,397 people groups.

Unreached (Not Frontier) – 12%
Not Unreached – 57%
Frontier (Not Unreached) – 31%

Primary propagation of the gospel happens through the church.
Many mission efforts work primarily with existing churches, diverting focus away from frontier peoples needing cross-cultural efforts.
Most missionaries go where they are invited, not to frontier people groups.
Frontier people groups make up the largest portion of unreached people groups.

24% of the world’s population are in FPGs

Paul set an example of not building on someone else’s foundation

We have clarity in where the greatest church planting needs are in the world, and populations there are growing rapidly.

There is a great imbalance and injustice of opportunity for those born into FPGs.

Frontier people groups require highly intentional, difficult, cross-cultural mission efforts.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

How do your existing missions or ministry efforts impact the greatest gap of gospel access in the world among frontier people groups?
What steps should you take to address the need among FPGs?

For an interview with Chris Clayman:

Unreached People Groups with Chris Clayman (Joshua Project)

For more resources to help you reach new people, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter here: JOIN US

Excel in Your Leadership with J.D. Pearring

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠J.D. Pearring⁠, the founder of the ⁠Excel Leadership Network⁠.

J.D. shares about the importance of raising up new leaders in the church, the challenges faced by church planters, and the significance of coaching and mentorship in leadership development.

🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Excel Leadership Network serves church planters and leaders.
2. Older churches are increasingly handing off buildings to younger planters.
3. There’s a growing interest among 19 to 29 year olds in church leadership.
4. Unrealistic expectations are a major reason for church plant failures.
5. The church must focus on serving rather than self-preservation.

THE INNOVATIVE CHURCH LEADER PODCAST AND GIVEAWAYS:

We want to help pastors experience and bring renewal through Spirit-led innovation, reaching new people, and making disciples who make disciples.

Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter at innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us for a chance to win future book giveaways, retreats, cohorts, workshops, and assessments!

Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders.

Playgrounds for Kids Around the World with Jeff Rosene

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews ⁠Jeff Rosene⁠ from ⁠Kids Around the World⁠.

Jeff discusses generational change in communities through a unique strategy that combines food, play, and discipleship.

🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Kids Around the World aims to create generational change.

2. Partnership with local churches allows for food distribution and discipleship.

3. Local churches can engage in missions through meal packing, refurbishing playgrounds, and mission trips.

4. Starting small can lead to significant change.

5. Transforming communities requires collaboration and trust.

THE INNOVATIVE CHURCH LEADER PODCAST AND GIVEAWAYS:

We want to help pastors experience and bring renewal through Spirit-led innovation, reaching new people, and making disciples who make disciples.

Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter at innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us for a chance to win future book giveaways, retreats, cohorts, workshops, and assessments!

Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders.

Mobilizing Your People with Dr. Tim Yee

In this episode of the ⁠Innovative Church Leaders⁠ podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠ interviews⁠⁠ ⁠Dr. Tim Yee⁠ about the ⁠Tru Center assessment⁠, which helps individuals understand their motivations and how these insights can enhance church leadership and team dynamics.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. The Tru Center assessment simplifies motivations into eight dimensions.2. Understanding motivations can enhance team dynamics and helps identify patterns of fruitfulness.3. Facilitator training is accessible and impactful for church leaders.4. Urbana Conference will feature Tru Center for all attendees.5. Tru Center aids in mobilizing church members for service and fosters collaboration in ministry.

THE INNOVATIVE CHURCH LEADER PODCAST AND GIVEAWAYS:

We want to help pastors experience and bring renewal through Spirit-led innovation, reaching new people, and making disciples who make disciples.

Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter at innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us for a chance to win future book giveaways, retreats, cohorts, workshops, and assessments!

Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders.

Providing Reasons for Hope with Andy Steiger

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews ⁠Andy Steiger⁠, founder of ⁠Apologetics Canada⁠.

Andy shares about the role of love in apologetics, the need for moral character in church leadership, and humanizing the gospel in a dehumanized world

🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Apologetics is about providing reasons for hope in Jesus.
2. Love is central to effective evangelism and apologetics.
3. The church must humanize the gospel in a dehumanized world.
4. Moral character is crucial for church leaders.
5. Community and relationship are vital in addressing loneliness.

THE INNOVATIVE CHURCH LEADER PODCAST AND GIVEAWAYS:

We want to help pastors experience and bring renewal through Spirit-led innovation, reaching new people, and making disciples who make disciples.

Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter at innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us for a chance to win future book giveaways, retreats, cohorts, workshops, and assessments!

Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders.