36 episodes
Intentional Churches Podcast Doug Parks & Erin Johnston
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- Religion & Spirituality
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4.8 • 15 Ratings
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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.
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Planning for Physical Expansion without Sacrificing the Vision | S04.E05
What do we as ministry leaders do when our facilities begin to run out of space? Should we immediately begin a building campaign, or are there other creative ways to still serve our people in our current spaces? Too many people in too small a space is a good problem to have, but it can be a hard one to solve. Executive pastor Jeremy Thiessen joins Erin and Doug for this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast to talk how to prepare for physical expansion without losing sight of your church’s vision for developing disciples.
Jeremy has served as the executive pastor for Shelter Cove in Modesto, California for five years, and from 2022 to 2024, saw their weekend attendance double in size. That fast growth prompted Jeremy and his team to start thinking about expansion, and the challenges and opportunities that come with that conversation. Throughout the episode Erin and Doug also share their own insights when it comes to building, creative solutions if a building campaign isn’t possible or isn’t the right way to serve your people, and how to always keep the Great Commission front of mind, rather than getting caught up in a building project.
Whether your church is running out of physical space, or you’re simply needing a word on how to continue discipling your people well—this episode is for you!
New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background03:11 Preparing for the Next Season of Ministry04:07 The Journey of Shelter Cove Community Church06:01 Transition to an Attractional Model07:23 Engaging with Intentional Churches08:47 Experiencing Significant Growth09:46 National Trends in Church Growth and Space Challenges14:24 Space Challenges at Shelter Cove Community Church16:20 Considering Capital Campaign and Building Plans20:46 Creative Solutions for Space Challenges23:17 Cautionary Thoughts on Building Projects25:44 Aligning Vision and Addressing Space Needs28:55 Practical Advice for Planning and Space Management32:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts -
Practicing What You Preach: Prioritizing Mental Health | S04.E04
On this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, we’re continuing to talk about how we prepare well for that next big “push” in ministry—specifically how to prioritize our own mental, spiritual, and emotional health as leaders. Licensed professional counselor and Gallup Strengths Coach, Stefanie Rowe, joins Erin and Doug, outlining the crisis many pastors and church leaders are facing when it comes to the state of their mental health.
Throughout their conversation, Stefanie shares stats that might surprise you, including: 1 in 5 pastors are struggling with addiction, 50% struggle with depression, 1 in 3 with burnout, and 60% feel lonely. Additionally, only 1 out of 6 pastors are getting the help they need. So, what can those of us in ministry do to make sure we’re prioritizing our own mental health? Stefanie draws on her years of experience and background as a teaching pastor to outline some best practices for pastors (or anyone!) struggling. Erin and Doug add their own insights, talking about taking intentional time off during slower seasons of ministry, putting relationships first, refusing to neglect your own time with God, and being off social media.
Whatever season of life or ministry you find yourself in, this conversation is full of practical tips to help us all practice what we preach and work to prioritize our own mental health!
Learn more about Stefanie and her work on her website:https://www.stefanierowe.com/
Two helpful resources Stefanie recommends for pastors and church leaders struggling in any of the areas mentioned in this episode include
The State of Pastors volumes 1 and 2:https://shop.barna.com/products/the-state-of-pastors-vol-2
The Resilient Pastor:https://a.co/d/08YrszjG
Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Chapters: 00:00 | Introduction and Overview03:10 | The State of Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health of Church Leaders12:22 | Prioritizing Self-Care: Practicing What You Preach22:46 | Taking Breaks from Social Media: Reducing Stress and Improving Well-Being25:31 | Taking Inventory: Reflecting on What Went Well and What Didn't26:59 | Setting Boundaries: Prioritizing Self-Care for Long-Term Health -
Overcoming the Fear of Neglecting the 99 To Reach The One | S04.E03
In this episode, Erin and Doug welcome Holly Gillespie to discuss the importance of designing church systems and processes with the one in mind. They spotlight the need to shift from a buffet-style approach to a more intentional and targeted strategy that focuses on those who are far from God. They talk through the importance of mindset shifts, such as considering what it's like on the other side of the church experience and overcoming the fear of neglecting the 99. They also discuss the need for prayer, team conversations, and small steps to begin implementing these changes.
Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Chapters:00:00 Designing Church Systems and Processes with the One in Mind06:33 The Evolution and Transition in Church10:43 Shifting from a Buffet-Style Approach to Intentional Targeting14:07 Mindset Shifts and Overcoming Fear -
We'll Be Back Next Week!
Just a quick break for July 4th. We hope you have a wonderful week and we can't wait to jump back into Season 4 with you next Tuesday.
See you soon! -
Generational Differences And The Evolution Of Church Leadership | S04.E02
In this episode, Erin and Doug discuss the evolution of church leadership and the shift in mindset between different generations. They specifically focus on the pros and cons of small group models and the need for integration between church life and everyday life. They talk through the importance of disappointing people at a rate they can tolerate and shifting the mindset from providing answers to equipping and empowering individuals to be the answer. They discuss the priority of building relational fabric in the church and the need for ongoing coaching and training for leaders. They also share practical ideas for weaving relational fabric, such as using gatherings and events as key relational moments and encouraging people to linger longer in Sunday services.
Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Chapters:00:00 The Evolution of Church Leadership and the Generational Shift03:53 The Pros and Cons of Small Group Models13:04 Disappointing People at a Rate They Can Tolerate16:31 Equipping and Empowering Leaders26:25 The Importance of Ongoing Coaching and Training29:43 Practical Ideas for Weaving Relational Fabric -
Understanding Your Church's Relational Reach Zone | S04.E01
Welcome to season 4! This season is all about helping you prepare for your church's next big push! In this fist episode Erin & Doug talk with Bart Rendel on the concept of the relational reach zone of churches and how it impacts strategic planning for the next season. Bart stresses the importance of knowing who the church is trying to reach and being aware of the potential impact they can have within their relational networks. They suggest practical steps such as identifying the people connected to the church, evaluating the frequency of their attendance, and multiplying the average attendance to estimate the size of the relational footprint. They also highlight the need for individual awareness of personal relational reach zones and the importance of mobilizing and training church members to reach people within their own networks.
Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Chapters:00:18 Introduction and Season 4 Focus02:23 Defining the Relational Reach Zone04:04 Identifying the Church's Relational Reach Zone08:03 Guiding Teams with Relational Reach Zone10:43 Paradigm Shift: Institutional vs. Relational Evangelism12:57 Community Impact through Relational Reach Zone14:00 3D Chess: Overlapping Church Footprints16:06 Planning Next Season with Relational Reach Zone18:25 Practical Steps for Raising One Awareness20:44 Annual One Where Audit for Strategy21:43 Summary of Relational Reach Zone Concept22:59 Evaluating Programmatic Schedule and Great Commission24:01 Personal Relational Reach Zone Importance26:17 Next Steps for Church Leaders and Volunteers28:16 Evaluating Ministry Programs with Great Commission Questions29:14 Encouragement for Planning and Reflection
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