Reaching the Anti-Church Culture, with Jesse DeYoung

Church leaders often ask, "How do we reach people in places that seem anti-church or post-Christian?" Jesse DeYoung, Executive Lead Pastor of Flatirons Community Church, provides honest and actionable answers to that question in this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast.

Jesse shares his journey from a youth group kid in Kentucky to leading one of the largest churches in Colorado, all while navigating the unique cultural challenges of Boulder County and the Denver Front Range—a region often marked by skepticism, individualism, and a deep love for the outdoors over traditional church.

From rethinking how to engage transient, mountain-loving populations, to challenging his staff to identify someone who might be going to hell and actively pursue them with love and intention, Jesse brings a fresh perspective on evangelism, leadership, and culture.

Doug and Jesse explore:
-Why loving people for who they are—not who they might become—is key to lasting ministry.
-How Flatirons addresses the complexities of legal marijuana use and its impact on church culture.
-The deep roots of misalignment in growing churches and the three key practices for addressing it: the stories you tell, the behaviors you reward, and the incidents you confront.
-The importance of personal evangelism at every level—executive team, staff, and board.
-How Flatirons supports church planting without becoming an over-extended multi-site machine.

This is a must-listen episode for church leaders across the size spectrum—from church planters to executive pastors—who are serious about aligning people to the Great Commission, even in tough cultural climates.

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CHAPTERS:
 00:00 Welcome & Intentional Churches Community
 03:15 Meet Jesse DeYoung & His Ministry Journey
 07:50 The Culture of Boulder County & Reaching the Unchurched
 14:30 Flatirons’ Origin and DNA of Evangelism
 19:20 Stories from the Front Lines (Including the "Weed King")
 23:10 Parenting & Pastoring in a Weed-Legal Culture
 28:05 Personal Evangelism and Jesse’s “One”
 32:20 Culture of Evangelism: Staff, Board, and Church
 36:50 Misalignment in Growing Churches & How to Fight It
 42:05 Church Planting the Flatirons Way
 45:30 Jesse’s Final Words to Church Leaders

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