Intentional Churches Podcast

Doug Parks & Erin Johnston
  • 4.8 (18)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Daily

Church Leader, shift your focus from mere institutional insights to individual transformation. Be intentional. Join hosts Doug Parks (CEO and Co-Founder of Intentional Churches) and Erin Johnston (Co-Executive Pastor of Canyon Ridge Christian Church) as they share weekly thought-provoking discussions and actionable takeaways that will resource you to help your people encounter Jesus. Take the step toward authentic discipleship of your congregation so you can mobilize the ninety-nine to reach the one.

  1. 6d ago

    Make the Mission Personal, with Cedric Payne

    How do you move a congregation from attending church to owning the mission? Doug sits down with Cedric Payne, senior minister of Alondra Boulevard Church of Christ in Compton, California, to talk about exactly that. Cedric started preaching at 14, went on to Pepperdine and UCLA Law, and worked as a public defender for almost 32 years while serving at Alondra. When his senior minister and close friend died suddenly in 2013, Cedric found himself leading the church. Praying in the empty sanctuary, he heard the Holy Spirit point him back to the Great Commission. That moment changed his preaching and his approach to discipleship. In this episode: The story of Alondra, the shifting demographics of Compton, and why commuters from 40 miles away still call it home. A quick history of the Churches of Christ, the Restoration Movement, and the a cappella worship tradition. How African American Churches of Christ planted 30+ congregations across LA. Why evangelism and discipleship should never have been separatedCynthia's story: one member, one apartment building, four baptisms, and a new Bible study. The challenge of moving longtime members past an institutional mindset, and reaching a younger, post-COVID generation who see church as optional. Why relational ownership of the mission beats model chasingCedric's practical tip: be "one-centric" in everything, and trim the events that don't serve your ones Doug also shares the One More initiative and a 30-day devotional, and an 180-year-old Florida church that is on fire after adopting it. TimelineTime Topic00:00 Cold open: Cedric on the mission to partner with God in transforming the world00:13 Doug's welcome and IC updates: the new Executive Pastor podcast, this show's new direction, Activator small groups01:28 Cedric's story: Los Angeles roots, preaching at 14, Pepperdine, UCLA Law, 32 years as a public defender03:30 Joining Alondra 33 years ago, then the sudden death of his senior minister in 201305:44 Compton's demographic shift and the Monday feeding program07:02 What is the Church of Christ? Restoration Movement, congregational autonomy, a cappella worship10:24 How Black Churches of Christ planted 30+ churches across LA12:14 A commuter congregation and the "church worth driving to" model; Compton as the Hub City18:05 Doug on his own shift from institutional leading to personal ownership19:20 Crying out in the sanctuary, the Great Commission, and discovering IC23:33 Why evangelism and discipleship got separated, and what ownership does to the believer24:23 Stories: Cynthia's apartment building and other members inviting friends28:37 The greatest team sport; what Cedric is learning: "it's hard work"30:31 Breaking the institutional mindset in older members; reaching younger generations32:24 Doug's answer: relational ownership over model chasing; the One More initiative35:12 The 180-year-old Florida church that flipped the switch35:55 Practical tip: be "one-centric" and trim events to focus on your ones38:17 Wrap-up and thanks39:04 Outro: executivepastor.io

  2. Aug 12

    The State of AI in the Church, with Drew Dickens

    Season 11 opens with returning guest Drew Dickens for a state-of-the-union on AI and the church. Four months since the IC Conference ("forty years in AI time"), Drew catches Doug up on the summer of new models, the scramble around AI policy, and why survey numbers on pastor AI usage range from 10% to 78% (hint: we haven't defined what "using AI" even means). From there, the conversation moves to what matters most for church leaders: the shift from generative to agentic AI, the sobering reality that counseling and spiritual formation remain the #1 use of AI worldwide, and what it means that congregants are taking their 3 a.m. existential crises to a chatbot. Drew shares practical steps (survey your people, talk about it from the pulpit, build an AI policy for your church and your families) alongside a real caution about "frictionless faith": when AI removes the friction, it may also remove the very thing that forms us. In this episode: Drew's takeaways from the IC Conference: efficiency excitement from XPs, quiet fear from senior pastorsThe summer of new models: Claude Fable 5, ChatGPT 5.6, Opus V, Gemini 3.6, DeepSeek 4Why fewer than 10% of churches have an AI policy (and how to start one)Which conversations belong to AI, and which belong at the kitchen tableCounseling, companionship, and spiritual formation: still 70-75% of AI useHow pastors should preach when AI is discipling their peopleAgentic AI explained: your team of 20 admins that never calls in sick"Frictionless faith" and the spiritual risks of taking humanity out of the loopWhy Anthropic is hiring philosophers and inviting spiritual leaders to Silicon ValleyTimestamps: (00:00) Welcome back: Season 11 kickoff (00:25) IC 3.0 and the Radical Alignment Assessment (01:16) Drew's takeaways from the IC Conference (03:24) The summer of new models (05:45) AI policy, rogue models, and data centers (07:17) Beyond admin: how churches are using AI (09:59) Less than 10% of churches have an AI policy (11:02) Kitchen table vs. AI conversations (11:42) The #1 use of AI: counseling and spiritual formation (13:35) The 3 a.m. crisis: how pastors should respond (15:30) Will AI change the ecclesiology of the church? (16:45) Talk about it: surveys, forums, and sermon series (17:48) What is agentic AI? (19:43) Predictions on agentic adoption (21:50) Frictionless faith and spiritual risk (24:26) Philosophy, AI labs, and what's left for humans (26:54) Leading without fear + closing call to action Resources: Take the Radical Alignment Assessment: https://alignmychurch.comDrew Dickens' AI & Spirituality podcast (weekly, on Substack): https://drewdickens.com

  3. Jun 23

    IC Conference Main Session 4, with Robbie O'Brien

    What would happen if every ministry, every leader, and every church became radically aligned around the mission of reaching the one? In this closing main session from IC Conference 2026, Robbie O'Brien, Lead Pastor of Salty Church and founder of the Surf Church Collective, challenges church leaders to embrace the radical nature of Jesus and the radical alignment required to fulfill His mission. Drawing from Luke 15, Luke 19, Matthew 28, Acts 1:8, and his own journey from surfer culture to church planting, Robbie reminds leaders that a busy ministry is not always an obedient ministry. Through powerful stories, practical challenges, and compelling illustrations, he calls churches to move beyond managing religious consumers and instead mobilize disciples who are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become witnesses to the ends of the earth. This message is a passionate reminder that radical alignment isn't simply a strategy—it's a commitment to the heart of Jesus and His mission to seek and save the lost. Episode Timeline 00:00 – The Story of “The One”03:09 – Why Radical Alignment Matters04:29 – The Meaning of Radical05:20 – Surf Culture and Following Jesus07:12 – Jesus Was Radical08:12 – Luke 15 and the Heart of God09:05 – The Mission of Jesus10:45 – The “No Socks” Story12:25 – Deny Yourself and Follow Jesus13:45 – Busy Doesn’t Mean Obedient15:15 – Acts 1:8 and the Power of the Holy Spirit17:20 – Witnesses, Not Consumers19:25 – What It Means to Be a Witness20:00 – The Beach as the Ends of the Earth21:10 – Planting Salty Church22:05 – Surf Church Collective25:10 – Rochelle and Stefan’s Story28:20 – Recognizing a Prodigal on the Way Home29:00 – “I’ll Go”30:00 – Isaiah’s Response31:00 – Your Ends of the Earth32:30 – Closing Prayer and Commissioning

  4. Jun 9

    IC Conference Main Session 1, with Dr. Carlos L. Kelly

    This powerful opening session from IC Conference 2026 features Dr. Carlos L. Kelly, Senior Pastor of Beulahland Bible Church, sharing how God transformed his church through a renewed commitment to the Great Commission. Drawing from Luke 5, Dr. Kelly challenges church leaders to leave the shallow waters of comfortable ministry and launch into deeper waters where disciple-making becomes the priority. Through practical lessons, personal stories, and biblical insight, he unpacks three essential challenges for every church seeking greater Kingdom impact: making ourselves available to Christ, modifying our attitudes to trust Christ, and moving forward in total obedience to Christ. Leaders will be encouraged to examine their systems, release sacred cows, embrace alignment, and trust God to produce fruit as they pursue the mission of making disciples who make disciples. Whether your church is just beginning the journey of alignment or continuing to deepen its disciple-making culture, this message offers encouragement, challenge, and a compelling vision for reaching the one. Episode Timeline 00:00 — Welcome and Personal Introduction 02:26 — How Intentional Churches Changed Their Church 03:24 — Luke 5: Launch Out Into the Deep 05:42 — The Call to Go Deeper 09:42 — Make Yourself Available to Christ 12:03 — Small Acts of Obedience Lead to Big Miracles 13:55 — Building the Discovery Team 14:25 — Why We Make Ourselves Available 15:44 — Modify Your Attitude to Trust Christ 17:00 — The Need for an Attitude Adjustment 19:05 — The Church OS Assessment Wake-Up Call 21:18 — Leaving Egos Outside the Room 22:55 — Sacred Cows and Stubborn Attachments 24:02 — “Nevertheless, At Your Word” 25:16 — Move Forward in Total Obedience 26:36 — What God Did at Beulahland 28:25 — The Five Marks of a Disciple 30:05 — Churches Helping Churches 31:12 — From Attendees to Disciple Makers 31:55 — Closing Prayer

  5. May 27

    Radical Alignment: Ways to Not Get Stuck, with Doug & Bart

    What happens when churches disconnect discipleship from evangelism? In this episode, Doug, Bart, and Vince unpack why so many believers never share their faith, how churches drift away from personal ownership of the Great Commission, and why relational evangelism may be one of the most overlooked drivers of real discipleship growth. Vince shares his unlikely story of becoming a Christian before ever meeting one, powerful stories from church planting in Las Vegas, and practical insight into how churches can equip believers to naturally share life, stories, and Jesus. If you've ever wondered why evangelism feels forced, why believers struggle to engage missionally, or how churches can build lasting Great Commission culture, this conversation is for you. New to Intentional Churches? Start here:intentionalchurches.com Timestamps 00:00 — The evil clown who came to destroy a church… and forgot to do it01:26 — Welcome + introducing Vince Antonucci + Alignment Workshops02:39 — Vince's background: Jewish mother, gambler father, America's Most Wanted story, and discovering Jesus without ever meeting a Christian05:33 — “I held a meeting of all the Christians I knew… it was just me.”06:30 — Why relational evangelism became Vince’s lifelong passion07:26 — Why the Great Commission is still the one thing Jesus clearly told us to do09:06 — How did the church drift away from personal ownership of evangelism?12:30 — Why close friendships with lost people change everything13:33 — Church planting in Las Vegas: the rookie pimp story and unexpected transformation16:48 — The evil clown story: from sabotage plan to salvation story19:31 — The collaboration behind The One More Initiative22:22 — Vince’s journey creating an evangelism campaign for churches25:26 — How The One More Initiative fits into Radical Alignment strategy27:28 — Discipleship vs evangelism: why churches often separate what Jesus joined together30:08 — Why living on mission accelerates spiritual growth33:27 — Why many church leaders have given up hope that believers will share their faith33:52 — Forced evangelism vs natural evangelism35:14 — The story of Destiny: from never sharing Jesus to leading friends to faith37:11 — Evangelism Explosion, control, and what happens when mission becomes overly scripted41:53 — The One More Book: guidebook, devotional, inspiration, and practical equipping45:56 — Practical next steps for church leaders46:42 — Vince’s challenge: Are we equipping people to actually know what to do?48:30 — Bart’s “Relational Reach Zone” exercise50:07 — Why the Great Commission was always meant to be a team sport

  6. May 13

    Radical Alignment: Steps to Jump-Start the Journey, with Doug & Bart

    What actually happens when a church fully embraces radical alignment to the Great Commission? In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug Parks, Bart Rendel, and Erin Johnston unpack the disruption, tension, and transformation that come when churches begin aligning every layer of ministry around reaching “The One.” From staff culture shifts and elder board challenges to personal conviction and congregational change, this conversation explores why lasting Great Commission momentum takes patience, honesty, and a willingness to rethink how we lead. Doug and Bart also walk through practical tools from the Radical Alignment framework, including assessments, heart-mind-strength alignment, and how churches can begin building a culture where mission becomes everyone’s responsibility. If your church is wrestling with change, struggling to stay focused on mission, or wondering how to create lasting alignment, this episode will encourage and challenge you.  Timestamps 00:00 – Why radical alignment is disruptive 01:08 – The Alignment Workshop and starting the journey 01:44 – The myth of “quick and painless” church alignment 02:16 – Why Great Commission transformation takes time 03:33 – Playing the long game in church leadership 05:05 – How radical alignment disrupts church culture 07:05 – Losing people while staying committed to mission 08:15 – Early churches that embraced radical alignment 09:59 – Why churches resist ongoing focus on “The One” 11:17 – The fulfillment and joy that come from mission 12:39 – Practical first steps toward radical alignment 13:08 – Getting to the “last 10% of truth” 14:15 – Casting vision and creating healthy tension 16:30 – Seeing the church through a Great Commission lens 18:03 – Stories of “The One” and collaborative mission 19:46 – Understanding the Radical Alignment Chart 21:13 – Heart, mind, and strength alignment explained 24:09 – Evaluating calendars, budgets, and attention 25:54 – The Radical Alignment Assessment and coaching insights 27:19 – Alignment across elders, staff, volunteers, and congregation 29:41 – Learning to lead the church differently 30:35 – “Once you see it, you can’t unsee it” 31:39 – Why groups align at different speeds 33:24 – Why staff and elders may struggle most with change 34:10 – Understanding disruption and organizational change 36:33 – The challenge of knowing where people really are 37:51 – Why believers often don’t want to engage missionally 39:22 – Sincere friendships and reaching “The One” 40:07 – Why self-discovery matters more than behavior management 42:13 – Encouragement for church leaders staying the course 42:51 – Resources, tools, and next steps from Intentional Churches Get started with Intentional Churches

  7. Apr 15

    Radical Alignment: One Solution, with Doug & Bart

    In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug, Bart, and Erin unpack one of the most critical chapters in Radical Alignment—what alignment really means and why so many churches struggle to achieve it. From consensus-driven mediocrity to the hidden forces of individualized preferences and institutional thinking, this conversation gets to the root of why churches drift—and how to lead them back to clarity and momentum. You’ll hear real stories from church leaders, practical insights on identifying misalignment, and a powerful reminder that alignment doesn’t start with strategy—it starts with personal ownership of the Great Commission. If you’ve ever felt like your church is busy but not moving forward, this episode will help you diagnose the real issue and give you a path toward true alignment. New to Intentional Churches? Start here:https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment Timestamps 00:00 – Why consensus decision-making leads to mediocrity 01:00 – What “alignment” actually means in the church 02:30 – Alignment = mutual ownership of the Great Commission 05:20 – The two forces driving misalignment in every church 08:30 – Real example: programs creeping back post-COVID 10:40 – Institutional thinking vs. mission-driven decisions 12:00 – The hidden danger of language drift on your team 14:00 – Why alignment must be constantly tended 16:30 – The myth of “arriving” at alignment 18:00 – Symptoms of misalignment leaders often ignore 19:30 – Unity vs. consensus: what the Bible actually teaches 21:00 – Why healthy tension is a sign of alignment 22:30 – Stop solving problems—start managing tensions 24:00 – Finding your “true north” as a leadership team 26:00 – Thinking vs. outcomes: what alignment really measures 27:00 – Personal alignment before church alignment 29:00 – Why Great Commission ownership must start with leaders 31:00 – Mind, heart, and action: the alignment framework 33:00 – Tools and assessments to measure real alignment 35:00 – Philippians reimagined through a mission lens 38:30 – Final advice: why alignment is worth the cost 40:00 – Daily practices to sustain alignment 42:00 – Invitation to Alignment Workshops

  8. Mar 18

    Radical Alignment: Encouraging Discoveries, with Doug & Bart

    In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, we shift from challenges to encouragement—and what we’re seeing right now across the Church is incredibly hopeful. While many narratives suggest decline, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Churches are growing. Young people are showing up. Leaders are leaning in. And something deeper is beginning to take shape. Doug, Bart, and Erin unpack some of the most encouraging discoveries emerging from churches that are aligning around the Great Commission—and what it means for your church, your leadership, and your future. You’ll hear real stories from churches across the country, insights from the first-ever Partner Church Summit, and practical ways leaders are rediscovering the life-giving power of personally owning the mission of Jesus. This conversation will challenge the narratives you’ve been hearing—and replace them with something far more powerful: hope rooted in action. If you’ve been wondering whether the Church’s best days are behind us… this episode is for you. Timestamps 00:00 – Is the Church really in decline? Challenging the narrative 01:15 – Introducing Radical Alignment and the Alignment Workshop 03:00 – Why church leaders need encouragement right now 04:00 – The Partner Church Summit: unity across diverse churches 06:00 – A spiritual awakening and what’s happening beneath the surface 08:30 – The danger of fear-based church narratives 10:00 – Why the future of the Church is brighter than you think 11:00 – The opportunity with the next generation of leaders 14:30 – What younger leaders are really looking for in older leaders 16:30 – The untapped power of multigenerational leadership 18:30 – The turning point: It starts with you 19:30 – Why owning the Great Commission is life-giving 21:00 – Real stories of churches seeing transformation and growth 24:30 – Practical ways to integrate mission into everyday life 26:30 – Staff vs. personal ownership: breaking the mindset barrier 27:30 – Simple practices: prayer calendars and relational rhythms 29:00 – Preparing to share your faith naturally and consistently 31:00 – Low-cost, high-impact ways to lead your team into alignment 33:00 – Final encouragement for church leaders Website: intentionalchurches.com The Radical Alignment Book Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog YouTube: @IntentionalChurches Facebook: Intentional Churches Instagram: @IntentionalChurches X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

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Church Leader, shift your focus from mere institutional insights to individual transformation. Be intentional. Join hosts Doug Parks (CEO and Co-Founder of Intentional Churches) and Erin Johnston (Co-Executive Pastor of Canyon Ridge Christian Church) as they share weekly thought-provoking discussions and actionable takeaways that will resource you to help your people encounter Jesus. Take the step toward authentic discipleship of your congregation so you can mobilize the ninety-nine to reach the one.

Information

  • Creator
    Doug Parks & Erin Johnston
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    92
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Intentional Churches