CPP #601 – Larry Walkemeyer on Being a River Church

What if your church stopped trying to be a lake and became a river instead?

In this episode, Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell sit down with Larry Walkemeyer, longtime pastor of Light & Life Christian Fellowship and the author of The River Church. Larry shares the radical vision God gave him and his wife Deb: instead of growing bigger, their church would grow deeper and wider by sending. That vision turned 39 parking spots into 33 church plants.

Larry unpacks the biblical inspiration behind the river metaphor (Ezekiel 47), the ego-surrendering challenges of multiplication, and how prayer, generosity, and Spirit-led leadership shaped a culture of movement. Along the way, he shares powerful stories—from sending a former gang member to plant a thriving church, to watching a seemingly “failed” plant bear unexpected fruit on Capitol Hill.

If you're a church planter or pastor dreaming of a multiplying movement, this conversation will stir your spirit and expand your imagination.

Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• The River Church
• Reliant Mission: reliant.org/cpp
• NewBreed Training

Thanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.

Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.