Intentional Churches Podcast

Dr. Carlos Kelly, Senior Pastor of Beulahland Bible Church in Middle Georgia, joins Erin and Doug for a candid conversation on shifting church culture from consumerism to intentional evangelism and discipleship. With over 26 years in ministry and a legacy-rich church behind him, Dr. Kelly explains how Beulahland’s engagement with ChurchOS has reignited his pastoral passion and started that culture shift away from consumer Christianity.Together the three talk about the challenges of pastoring in a food desert—where Carlos’ church has become a vital source of basic needs like food and community support. Through strategic clarity, patient leadership, and collaboration with a steering team, Beulahland is seeing younger demographics, especially those ages 18–35, engage at unprecedented levels.Carlos also discusses the impact of defining clear reach zones for each campus, redesigning the church’s web presence through the lens of “the one,” and creating representation of young adults in leadership and communication roles. If you're a church leader navigating change, this episode offers encouragement, strategic wisdom, and a powerful testimony of what God can do through intentional, Spirit-led planning and teamwork.New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignmentCHAPTERS:00:00 Dr. Carlos Kelly Introduction01:15 Beulahland’s Legacy and Community Impact05:40 What It Means to Serve in a Food Desert07:27 Moving from Consumerism to Discipleship11:48 Practical First Steps Toward Culture Shift14:51 Fruit from a Younger Generation19:03 Braxton’s Journey from Attender to Leader23:12 Shifting from Solo Leadership to Collaboration29:44 Building the Right Steering Team33:25 Defining Success and Discipleship Culture36:06 Two Campuses, Two Reach Zones37:56 Leading Through Resistance and GriefWebsite: https://intentionalchurches.comThe Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17CThe Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurchesFacebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurchesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurchesX/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurchesJoin the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Drew Moore, Lead Pastor at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, dives into empowering young leaders in today's church staff culture. He shares how their team shifted from rigid hierarchies to collaborative structures post-COVID, resulting in a dynamic workforce where over half are young leaders. Drew discusses practical strategies such as 'Development Days' and peer feedback loops, emphasizing the value of contribution over position. His insights are a game-changer for church leaders aiming to nurture the next generation while fostering an inclusive environment.

From digital congregations to rapidly growing local churches, leaders from across the country gather in this special live panel episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, recorded at the IC Conference. Co-hosted by Erin Johnston and Daniel Goulding, Lead Pastor at Echoes Church in Phoenix, AZ, this engaging conversation digs into the real-world challenges churches are facing—from building space constraints and volunteer fatigue to measuring success and navigating cultural shifts.The panel includes leaders from diverse church contexts—Logan Phillips, Worship Pastor at Stateline Church in Rockford, Illinois, Katie Blemker, Executive Minister at North Terrace Church of Christ in Zanesville, Ohio, Mark Lutz, Lead Pastor of Lux Digital Church,  Antoine Davis, Sr., Associate Pastor of Evangelism at Hope Church, in Orlando, Florida. Together they openly share what’s working, what’s broken, and how Intentional Churches tools have helped shape their responses. Topics include evangelism versus discipleship, radical alignment to mission, rethinking metrics, and embracing tension as a sign of progress.Mark Lutz unpacks how Lux Digital is designed for a very specific "one," and how their ministry methods—including camera angles and language—are tailored for a digital native. Katie and Logan speak to the rapid growth and logistical hurdles they face, while Antoine Davis Sr.'s focus on simplifying the Gospel and engaging the 99 to reach the one has sparked exciting growth and cultural shift in his context. He emphasizes the power of building evangelism into church culture rather than treating it as an event.This episode is a must-listen for any church leader wrestling with the tension between sending and forming, trying to mobilize a congregation, or simply trying to keep up with what’s next. No easy answers here—just leaders learning together.New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Guest Intros02:30 What’s Keeping You Up at Night?09:45 Evangelism vs. Discipleship: The Tension15:10 What’s Working in Your Context Right Now22:40 Radical Alignment to the Great Commission28:15 How Are You Measuring Success?30:00 One Thing to Figure Out in the Next Five Years31:00 Final ReflectionsJoin the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!Website: https://intentionalchurches.comThe Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17CThe Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurchesFacebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurchesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurchesX/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Eduardo Rivera, a leader within Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, Florida, joins Erin and Doug to talk about what it really means to lead in a multicultural church environment. With deep roots in Puerto Rico and over two decades in Central Florida, Eduardo shares his first-hand experience of how the region has shifted dramatically in Hispanic population and diversity.Eduardo explains how his calling transitioned from planting a new church to leading existing multicultural ministries, emphasizing the importance of creating spaces where both first-generation immigrants and their second-generation children can thrive spiritually. He describes the need for the Anglo church to embrace Hispanic culture—not as a project of assimilation, but as a movement of true integration grounded in shared values, mission, and trust.This episode highlights the difference between proximity and unity, the cultural nuances of relational evangelism, and the church's responsibility to engage in local mission right in their own neighborhoods.  Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how cultural intelligence, leadership collaboration, and genuine curiosity can shape a church culture that honors and celebrates diversity.New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignmentCHAPTERS: 00:00 Meet Pastor Eduardo 04:15 Eduardo’s journey from Puerto Rico to Florida 08:10 Demographic shifts in Central Florida 11:50 Understanding the realities of Hispanic ministry 15:30 From church planting to leading within Mosaic 18:30 Defining integration vs assimilation 24:10 What the Anglo Church can learn from Hispanic cultures 29:00 Shifting from global to local missions 34:30 Relational evangelism in multicultural settings 38:45 The role of leadership and trust in integration 42:00 Final encouragement to church leadersJoin the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!Website: https://intentionalchurches.comThe Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17CThe Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurchesFacebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurchesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurchesX/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com/ Gregg and Leilani Sizemore, co-pastors of Creekside Church in Dallas, GA, join the podcast to share their incredible story of planting a church six months before the COVID-19 pandemic. From early momentum to massive disruption, and ultimately to realignment and spiritual renewal, they give church leaders a transparent look into the challenges and breakthroughs that come with living out the Great Commission in a post-COVID world.They reflect on their early days of ministry, their complementary roles as husband and wife in leadership, and how their personal faith was tested through burnout and the weight of unmet expectations. The Sizemores share how re-engaging with Intentional Churches helped them reassess everything from service structure to language alignment, catalyzing a renewed focus on reaching people far from God.Listeners will gain practical insights into implementing missional rhythms, navigating cultural and theological preferences within the church, and pushing forward when alignment feels impossible. The episode also explores how pruning and resistance can precede spiritual fruit, and how a single Sunday of breakthrough can make all the long work worth it.From stories of young families walking away to finding joy in conversations with first-time believers, this episode is packed with hope, honesty, and actionable steps for every church leader fighting to stay faithful to the mission of Jesus.The Intentional Churches Community is a free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community.New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignmentCHAPTERS: 0:00 Welcome & Introduction02:45 Meet Gregg and Leilani Sizemore06:55 Church Planting Right Before COVID11:50 Working Together in Marriage and Ministry16:05 Burnout, Momentum, and Hitting Walls21:30 Re-engaging with Intentional Churches26:20 Volunteer Burnout and Cultural Pushback30:10 Shifting to Evangelistic Focu35:25 Rolling Out Alignment Through "Bless"39:20 Fighting for Alignment Through Resistance42:00 Encouragement to Keep Going44:30 A Sunday Worth the FightWebsite: https://intentionalchurches.comThe Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17CThe Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurchesFacebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurchesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurchesX/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurchesJoin the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Jesse DeYoung, Executive Lead Pastor of Flatirons Community Church, shares his journey from youth group kid to leading one of Colorado’s largest churches. He discusses the challenge of reaching an anti-church culture in Boulder, emphasizing the importance of valuing individuals as they are. Jesse tackles the complexity of cannabis culture and its impact on church, and advocates for personal evangelism and innovative outreach strategies. He urges leaders to focus on relational connections, creating an environment that invites newcomers, and maintaining a unified church culture.

Albuquerque presents both deep challenges and incredible opportunities for ministry. Pastor Nate Bush of New City Church shares how his team navigates the complexities of serving a city with both high levels of poverty and a large population of PhDs. He discusses the importance of balancing justice work with evangelism and how New City Church has shifted to ensuring every member owns the Great Commission.Nate outlines how initiatives like the Shine School Partnership and Getting Ahead have helped connect churches with schools and support individuals in escaping poverty. He also introduces "Go There for the One," a church-wide commissioning strategy aimed at mobilizing every member for personal evangelism.This episode is filled with practical insights for church leaders looking to impact their communities while keeping the gospel at the center of their mission.The Intentional Churches Community is free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/communityDon’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignmentCHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction to the Intentional Churches Podcast02:10 - Meet Nate Bush: Church Planting in Albuquerque06:45 - The Reality of a "Low-Hope" City12:30 - Balancing Justice Work and Evangelism18:15 - The Role of Prayer in Church Vision24:00 - The "Go There for the One" Initiative29:30 - Encouragement for Church LeadersWebsite: https://intentionalchurches.comThe Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17CThe Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurchesFacebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurchesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurchesX/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurchesJoin the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

The future of the church in America is increasingly multicultural—compelling leaders to be intentional about fostering environments where diverse cultures can thrive together. Juan Carlos Heredia, Spanish Ministry Pastor at Houston’s Sugar Creek Baptist Church, joins Doug for this eye-opening episode of The Intentional Churches podcast to discuss the evolution of Hispanic ministry, the importance of personal ownership in evangelism, and how churches can strategically integrate different cultural groups without forcing assimilation.During their conversation Juan Carlos shares his personal story of growing up between Ecuador, Mexico, and the U.S., how his calling led him into ministry, and the challenges of leading a Spanish-speaking congregation. He also gets into why Houston is a strategic hub for global missions and how its diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for churches.This timely episode offers practical advice for churches looking to engage Hispanic communities, emphasizing the need for leadership that understands both cultures and the importance of contextualizing ministry without losing the gospel’s core message.The Intentional Churches Community is free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/communityDon’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment 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 Importance of Tools in Evangelism00:17 - Welcome & Introduction to Juan Carlos Heredia01:42 - Juan Carlos’ Background and Calling to Ministry04:59 - The Diversity of Houston as a Mission Field07:14 - Integration vs. Segregation in Houston’s Cultural Landscape09:09 - Challenges of Hispanic Ministry in America12:35 - Creating a Culture of Invitation and Evangelism15:19 - How Sugar Creek Integrates Spanish Ministry19:10 - The Future of Multicultural Church Partnerships24:54 - Practical Steps for Assimilation Without Assimilation30:44 - Personal Ownership of the Great Commission33:35 - Using Events as Evangelistic Tools37:22 - The Challenge of Retaining Young Generations in Faith40:08 - Final Thoughts & Leadership Challenge

The Intentional Churches Conference is not your typical church leadership event—it's a movement. In this week’s special bonus episode, Erin sits down to interview Doug all about how The Intentional Churches Conference is evolving and what attendees can expect this year.Doug explains that IC is about more than just content—it's a collaborative network where church leaders learn from one another in real-time. Last year’s conference highlights included a hands-on coffee-making experiment, a panel of non-Christians sharing their perspectives, and interactive networking designed to spark innovation.This year, IC is introducing new tools, including a conference-exclusive book—Radical Alignment to Personal Ownership of the Great Commission—and a role-based track system to help church leaders implement practical strategies in their ministries.If you're looking for an event that prioritizes collaboration over consumption, don’t miss this year’s Intentional Churches Conference! Join us April 29-30! Register now at intentionalchurchesconference.com.New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignmentWebsite: 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 Unconference: A New Kind of Church Leadership Gathering01:35 What is IC Becoming? A Collaborative Movement04:00 Highlights from Last Year’s Conference06:24 What Makes This Conference Different?08:51 Practical Ways This Year’s Conference Will Help Church Leaders11:31 Final Invitation: Join Us in April!

What does it mean to cultivate a “missional mindset?” In this week’s episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Momentum Christian Church’s Sheryl Riggins sits down with Erin and Doug to share her personal journey of moving from a traditional church background to a mission-driven approach to faith.During their conversation, Sheryl opens up about her early years as a preacher’s kid, her career at Coca-Cola, and her unexpected path to leadership at Momentum. She also dives into how Momentum is making shifts to prioritize relational evangelism, from practical preaching series to encouraging personal connections in everyday life.This episode is full of insights for church leaders looking to mobilize their people, as well as for anyone hoping to make their faith more outward-focused. Listen in to hear Sheryl’s inspiring story and learn how you, too, can be more intentional in reaching the ones close to you but far from God.Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignmentWebsite: 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 Welcome and Introduction01:29 Sheryl’s Background and Journey to Momentum04:46 Sheryl’s Musical Career and Time in Divine08:31 Career at Coca-Cola and Ministry Priorities15:26 Activator Training and a Shift in Mindset21:46 The Role of Scripture in Mobilizing Believers32:47 Living with Intentionality for the Ones37:20 How Momentum is Raising Awareness for the Great Commission41:30 Final Thoughts and Closing