Team Essentials: Theology, Mission, and Teaching in Church Planting Teams

Host Noah Oldham is joined by Jeff Medders, Bryan Loritts, and Jen Oshman to explore how Theology, Mission, and Teaching apply to church planting teams. They discuss why theology isn’t just the planter’s responsibility, how team members can grow in their understanding of Scripture, and the role of teaching within a team. They also cover expectations for evangelism and disciple-making while balancing work and ministry. Finally, they offer advice on developing and empowering team members.

Jeff Medders is the director of theology and content for Send Network and general editor for New Churches. He is also an author, a preacher, and a PhD student in biblical spirituality at Southern Seminary, studying Charles Spurgeon and the Song of Songs.Jeffis a native Houstonian, where he lives with his wife and two kids.

Noah Oldham is the executive director of Send Network. He served as the founding and lead pastor of August Gate Church for 15 years and the Send City Missionary to St. Louis for almost 10. In both these roles, he led his church and dozens of others to plant churches throughout the St. Louis region and beyond. He holds master’s degrees in Biblical Studies and Christian Leadership and is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach. He writes, speaks, and trains in the areas of two of his greatest passions: the local church and physical fitness. Noah and Heather have been married since 2005 and have five children.

Bryan Loritts is the teaching pastor at The Summit Church. An award-winning author of seven books, Dr. Loritts has spent the bulk of his ministry serving and resourcing the multiethnic church. He co-founded Fellowship Memphis in 2003 and serves as the president of The Kainos Movement, an organization committed to seeing the multiethnic church become the new normal. His ministry takes him across the globe annually, as he speaks at conferences, churches, and retreats. Bryan has been a featured speaker for Catalyst and the Global Leadership Summit. Currently, he serves on the board of Biola University and is a regular visiting professor at Grimke Seminary. He is also the vice president of regions for the Send Network. He is the husband of Korie, and the father of Quentin, Myles, and Jaden.

Jen Oshman is an author (Enough about Me, Cultural Counterfeits, Welcome, and It’s Good to be a Girl), podcaster (All Things), church planter’s wife, and mom of four teen and young adult daughters. She has served as a missionary and church planter for over two decades on three continents. She currently resides in Colorado, where she is the Director of Women’s Ministry at Redemption Parker.