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Rich Birch⁠ of ⁠unSeminary.com⁠ breaks down the practical strategies that actually move the needle in church growth. If you’ve been frustrated by low guest retention or wondering why people aren’t inviting their friends, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you can implement this week.

Rich shares surprising data about why traditional marketing is losing its punch and what’s replacing it in terms of actual effectiveness. He walks through his approach to building momentum in just 90 days and reveals a simple tweak that even mega-churches overlook. You’ll also hear about a follow-up framework that changes everything and discover what churches need to stop saying on Sunday mornings if they want guests to actually take next steps.

Having visited 22 churches and consulted with leaders across the country, Rich is seeing clear patterns in what’s working right now. From weekend experiences to connection systems, this episode gives you practical steps you can start implementing immediately.

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.

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast, ⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠ interviews ⁠Steve Kim⁠ from ⁠Apologetics Canada⁠. They discuss the importance of apologetics in the church, the uniqueness of Jesus compared to other religions, and the necessity of biblical literacy in developing a strong Christian worldview. The conversation also delves into the implications of transhumanism and the ethical considerations surrounding technology and humanity’s future.

🔥5 Key Takeaways:

1. Steve Kim’s journey into apologetics stemmed from his own spiritual questions.
2. Apologetics Canada aims to equip the church with resources for a robust faith.
3. Understanding the uniqueness of Jesus is crucial in discussions about faith.
4. Biblical literacy is essential for developing a strong Christian worldview.
5. Transhumanism raises important ethical questions about humanity’s future.

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.

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders ⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interview Nick Shock⁠, pastor of ⁠The Point Community Church⁠, founder of ⁠Doxa Coffee Roasters⁠, and entrepreneur behind ⁠the Way South Food Park⁠. These are just the beginning of their unique efforts in reaching out to their community.

They discuss the importance of fostering community among pastors, innovative strategies for community engagement, and the development of a community hub through a food park and coffee business. They explore creative church planting methods in Austin and future plans for community development, emphasizing the need for relational ministry and addressing local needs.

🔥5 Key Takeaways:

1. Pastors often feel isolated and need community support.
2. Churches should aim to be a blessing to their neighborhoods.
3. Innovative engagement strategies can attract people to community.
4. Creative church planting is essential in urban areas.
5. Collaboration with local organizations can enhance impact.

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.

What does it look like to lead a church that’s anchored in Jesus when everything around you feels like it’s being blown by political winds? 

⁠Dr. Derwin Gray⁠, lead pastor of ⁠Transformation Church⁠, joins us for an honest conversation about staying focused on the kingdom of God in a divided culture. Derwin challenges us to stop using a 250-year-old country as our biblical filter and instead anchor our churches in first-century gospel truth. The result? A church family that’s unified and a living example of Hope to those around them.

Derwin shares the real secret behind their multi-ethnic church community and why he refuses to let the spirit of the age put him in a box. He talks about his book “Lit Up With Love” and why evangelism isn’t about perfecting a sales pitch—it’s about living so authentically in God’s love that others are naturally drawn to what they see. If you’re navigating leadership in these divisive times, this conversation will remind you that people are hungry for the Jesus of Scripture, not a left or right version.

📖 For a chance to win a book from Derwin and other free resources! Be sure to sign up for our newsletter at innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us/

🔥5 Key Takeaways:: 

Navigating Political Divisions and Focusing on the Kingdom

7:33 – The Hunger for Hope and the Role of the Church

10:08 – The Heart Behind ‘Lit Up with Love’

13:10 – Stories of Transformation and Baptism

15:59 – Communicating the Kingdom Without Political Bias

20:36 – Encouragement for Discouraged Pastors

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 and assessments!

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

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders ⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews ⁠McLaren Lewis⁠, pastor of ⁠Mosaic London⁠.

McLaren shares his journey to faith, the challenges of ministry in a post-Christian context like London, and the vision behind Mosaic London, a church plant of ⁠Mosaic in Los Angeles⁠. He emphasizes the importance of community, discipleship, and the need for church leaders to remain encouraged and active in their calling. McLaren’s insights reflect a deep understanding of the complexities of modern ministry and the necessity of building genuine relationships within the church.

🔥5 Key Takeaways:

1. Ministry in London is challenging due to people’s guarded nature.
2. Mosaic London aims to help individuals discover their purpose.
3. Community and relationships are vital for church growth.
4. Discipleship involves teaching others to teach.
5. The church’s foundation is built on community and shared experiences.

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.

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews ⁠Mark DeYmaz⁠ discuss the journey of ⁠Mosaic in Little Rock, ⁠focusing on multi-ethnic ministry, innovative church economics, and community engagement.

Mark shares insights on bridging the gap between humanity and divinity in church outreach, emphasizing the importance of nonprofits and sustainable models for church growth. He offers practical advice for new church leaders, highlighting the need for passion, prayer, patience, and persistence in their ministry efforts.

🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:

1. The importance of multi-ethnic ministry.

2. The church must engage with the community to be relevant.

3. Multiple streams of income are essential for church sustainability.

4. Church economics must adapt to the community’s needs.

5. Passion, prayer, patience, and persistence are key to success.

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.

In this transformative conversation, renowned theologian Dr. N.T. Wright challenges the Western church’s Platonized view of salvation and calls pastors back to the Bible’s actual vision: new heaven and new earth. Discover why understanding resurrection, not just afterlife, changes everything about how we live, lead, and witness today. 

Dr. Wright unpacks Ephesians’ cosmic vision, explains how Western Christianity moralized salvation instead of vocation, and shows why the church is God’s multicultural project displaying new creation to watching principalities and powers.

🔥5 Key Takeaways:

1. The Bible emphasizes a transformative hope for creation, not an escape from it.
2. The church has a responsibility to engage in social justice and beauty.
3. God’s kingdom is already present and active in the world.
4. Misunderstandings about God’s anger can distort the gospel message.
5. The church should model unity and diversity as a reflection of God’s kingdom as seen in Ephesians.

JOIN US FOR OUR 2026 PASTORAL COHORT WITH N.T. WRIGHT!
More info here.

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 and assessments!

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

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews Abbas Khan as he shares his journey from Islam to Jesus and from homelessness to an extended church family at ⁠Gateway Church in Austin⁠.

Abbas talks about the pivotal role Shanika, now his wife, played in guiding him towards his new faith. He reveals the surprising acceptance from his parents and his ongoing concerns about sharing his faith journey with his siblings.

💡 Key Takeaways:

1. Abbas Khan’s Transformative Journey from Islam to Christianity
2. Finding ‘Peace’ Through Faith
3. The Role of Community and Faith in Overcoming Adversity
4. Importance of Understanding and the Holy Spirit in Spiritual Growth

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.

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Paul Johnson⁠ and his son ⁠Drew Johnson⁠.

Paul served for years as lead pastor of ⁠Woodridge Church⁠ near Minneapolis. Now he serves as Generosity Pastor and his son Drew leads ⁠Mercy Hill Church⁠ nearby and ⁠Aspen Grove⁠, their network of churches.

They share about the successful succession and their unique way of networking rather than campusing or church planting.

🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Building a church network requires generosity in leadership which fosters trust and collaboration.
2. Humility is essential for effective leadership, collaboration, and leadership transitions.
3. Shared values and goals strengthen church networks.
4. Effective leadership involves mentoring and supporting others.
5. A clear plan for leadership transition can benefit the entire community.

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.

In this episode of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Dr. Lucy Peppiatt⁠, the President of ⁠Westminster Theological Centre⁠ in Bristol, England.

Lucy discusses ministry in a post-Christian context, the importance of training the next generation of pastors, and the role of theology in effective ministry. She emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of God’s love and the importance of empowering women in the church. .

🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Understanding God’s love is crucial for discipleship.
2. Empowering women in the church benefits everyone.
3. Shared identity in Christ should supersede political affiliations.
4. Time spent with God is vital for renewal.
5. Studying theology can invigorate one’s faith.

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.