The Unfair Advantage

ABOUT THE EPISODEPrayer—it's not just some spiritual tool you whip out when you need it. Today, Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske talk about how skipping prayer might actually be holding you back more than you think. Starting with pastors’ own private prayer time, Mike and David break down how investing your time and even some cash into prayer can transform the heart of your church. Listen in for practical tips on bringing prayer into your community, making it accessible and meaningful for everyone.Welcome to Episode 023 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske. EPISODE LINKSDo ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS MIKE HICKERSON?Mike Hickerson is the Lead Pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA. Mike describes himself as a church planter, lucky husband, outnumbered dad of three daughters, Oklahoma Sooner fan, coffee addict, and a struggling surfer.WHO IS DAVID HIBISKE?David Hibiske is the Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives at Saddleback Church. He grew up in Wilmington, NC before moving to Fort Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Seminary. David met his wife, Kendall, while in Seminary and they have two daughters, Ella and Avery, and one son, Andrew. After completing his Master of Divinity, David and Kendall moved to San Jose, CA to join the staff team at South Bay Church (now Echo Church). In 2022, God called them to head to Southern California and join the team at Saddleback Church where David now serves as Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives. SPONSORSThanks to our sponsor: Generis.A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

Rick Burge shares key characteristics for church planters and emphasizes the importance of building healthy partnerships. He discusses leadership competencies, handling pressure, and the significance of emotional intelligence in successful church planting. Rick's experience in identifying and mentoring high-capacity leaders shines through as he guides listeners on the journey of church planting.

ABOUT THE EPISODE“Jesus has already given us the mission, and He already tells us what heaven celebrates.” Today, Mike Hickerson leads the discussion about trends in church planting, plus key reminders to keep planters in a healthy place of leadership. Find out what planters should be obsessing over, why data is your friend, and why the “rise of ‘nones’” brings hopeful opportunity. It’s all in today’s episode!Welcome to Episode 021 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson. EPISODE LINKSDo ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS MIKE?Mike Hickerson is the Lead Pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA. Mike describes himself as a church planter, lucky husband, outnumbered dad of three daughters, Oklahoma Sooner fan, coffee addict, and a struggling surfer.SPONSORSThanks to our sponsor: Generis.A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

ABOUT THE EPISODE“We overestimate how much energy we need to make an awesome church, and we underestimate how important it is to have a healthy marriage.” Today, we’re joined by hosts Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske in a church-planting conversation centered around the family side of a pastor. Often, in the hustle of church planting, pastors can fall into the trap of prioritizing work over family. This only ends up negatively affecting both the church and your family! Listen in for key takeaways and best practices to maintain strength in your family as you pursue ministry alongside them. Welcome to Episode 020 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and David Hibiske. EPISODE LINKSDo ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO ARE MIKE AND DAVID?Mike Hickerson is the Lead Pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA. Mike describes himself as a church planter, lucky husband, outnumbered dad of three daughters, Oklahoma Sooner fan, coffee addict, and a struggling surfer.David Hibiske is the Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives at Saddleback Church. He grew up in Wilmington, NC before moving to Fort Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Seminary. David met his wife, Kendall, while in Seminary and they have two daughters, Ella and Avery, and one son, Andrew. After completing his Master of Divinity, David and Kendall moved to San Jose, CA to join the staff team at South Bay Church (now Echo Church). In 2022, God called them to head to Southern California and join the team at Saddleback Church where David now serves as Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives. SPONSORSThanks to our sponsor: Generis.A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

“The thing I’m after is an exemplary life.” Meet Andy Wood, Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church. In an open and honest interview, Andy encourages and challenges church planters to lead with humility and courage in the various seasons of church planting. With insights into leading alongside a spouse, filling big shoes, and the general identity challenges of pastoring, lean in today for wisdom in your church-planting leadership. Welcome to Episode 019 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood. EPISODE LINKSDo ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO ARE ANDY AND MIKE?Andy Wood is the Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church. Andy and his wife Stacie are answering God's call to serve at Saddleback after over a decade of church planting. The Wood's started South Bay Church in 2009 with two other families. South Bay Church officially changed their name to Echo.Church in January of 2018. Echo.Church has become one of the fastest growing churches in the most unchurched area of the United States and is now reaching over 2,300 people in regular attendance in three locations across Silicon Valley.Andy's passion is to create environments that engage the unchurched people of the Bay Area. Along with leading the church, Andy enjoys investing time in helping church planters and church leaders think more innovatively and strategically to reach people in the most unreached areas of North America. Andy and Stacie have three kids, Caedmon, Sammy, and Karis. Mike Hickerson is the Lead Pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA. Mike describes himself as a church planter, lucky husband, outnumbered dad of three daughters, Oklahoma Sooner fan, coffee addict, and a struggling surfer.SPONSORSThanks to our sponsor: Generis.A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you're ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!

“There’s something about commitment that brings focus that unlocks growth.” Meet David Hibiske, Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives at Saddleback Church. Today’s encouragement to church planters is to be ridiculously faithful with what God has given you. Whether you are planting a church, or in a season of growth and waiting, there is encouragement for you in today’s episode. David shares two big leaps in leadership that make all the difference in your capacity to allow for church growth.Welcome to Episode 018 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood. EPISODE LINKSDo ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS DAVID HIBISKE?David Hibiske is the Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives at Saddleback Church. He grew up in Wilmington, NC before moving to Fort Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Seminary. David met his wife, Kendall, while in Seminary and they have two daughters, Ella and Avery, and one son, Andrew. After completing his Master of Divinity, David and Kendall moved to San Jose, CA to join the staff team at South Bay Church (now Echo Church). In 2022, God called them to head to Southern California and join the team at Saddleback Church where David now serves as Pastor of Strategic Ministry Initiatives. SPONSORSThanks to our sponsor: Generis.Generis exists to help create a culture of generosity for your church, school, or organization. 

Experienced church planters share insights on raising financial support for ministry launch, emphasizing vision, relationships, and sustainable fundraising. Topics include holistic financial planning, building genuine connections, emotional intelligence in requests, impact of vision tours, and navigating financial partnerships in church planting.

“If you don’t value team, and if you can’t build a team, it’s going to be lonely, and it’s going to be limiting.” Meet Ben Pilgreen, founder and lead pastor of Epic Church in San Francisco, CA. Today, we get to hear a unique perspective from Ben on his experience planting a church in the urban setting of San Francisco. Discover with us the core church planting elements that stay the same along with the nuances that come with a large, urban context.Welcome to Episode 016 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood. EPISODE LINKShttps://www.epicsf.com/https://shaunapilgreen.com/Bring It Out PodcastThe Ideal Team Player, 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, and The Motive by Patrick LencioniWho Not How, by SullivanThe Synergist and Predictable Success by Les McKeownGood To Great, by Jim CollinsMultipliers, by Liz WisemanRocket Fuel, Gino Wickman At The Table with Patrick Lencioni PodcastThe Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencionihttps://alpha.org/Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS BEN?Ben Pilgreen is the founder and lead pastor of Epic Church in San Francisco, CA. Ben loves coaching leaders, whether in church or in business. Ben is the host of the Bring It Out podcast. Ben and his wife, Shauna, have four wonderful children and make their home in San Francisco. Read more at benpilgreen.com.SPONSORSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  

“Whenever God does a ‘what,’ He first finds a ‘who.’” Today we are tackling what could be considered one of the most important aspects of church planting–the “who” of your staff team! Mike and Andy remind us there are few “lone rangers” in the Bible. But cultivating a team can be a daunting task when you want to launch a sustainable church plant. Find out key questions to ask and character traits to look for in today’s episode!Welcome to Episode 015 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood. EPISODE LINKSThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick LencioniThe Advantage by Patrick LencioniGood to Great by James C. Collins (the concept of a Level 5 leader)Integrity by Henry CloudTrust by Henry CloudEnneagram; Myers-Briggs; etc.Sticky Teams by Larry OsborneDo ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO ARE MIKE AND ANDY?Andy Wood is the Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church. Andy and his wife Stacie are answering God's call to serve at Saddleback after over a decade of church planting. The Wood's started South Bay Church in 2009 with two other families. South Bay Church officially changed their name to Echo.Church in January of 2018. Echo.Church has become one of the fastest growing churches in the most unchurched area of the United States and is now reaching over 2,300 people in regular attendance in three locations across Silicon Valley.Andy's passion is to create environments that engage the unchurched people of the Bay Area. Along with leading the church, Andy enjoys investing time in helping church planters and church leaders think more innovatively and strategically to reach people in the most unreached areas of North America. Andy and Stacie have three kids, Caedmon, Sammy, and Karis. Mike Hickerson is the Lead Pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA. Mike describes himself as a church planter, lucky husband, outnumbered dad of three daughters, Oklahoma Sooner fan, coffee addict, and a struggling surfer.SPONSORSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  

ABOUT THE EPISODE“Perseverance is an underrated characteristic of people who succeed.” Meet Brent Storms, President of Orchard Group, an organization that helps leaders plant churches. In today’s episode, we’re getting practical with the “where” of church planting. A few crucial shifts in the way you approach a planting location can infuse your church with longevity and set it up for success. Welcome to Episode 014 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Mike Hickerson and Andy Wood. EPISODE LINKShttp://orchard.groupDo ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS BRENT STORMS?Brent planted a church in the Boston area in 1999 with help from Orchard Group. He joined the staff of Orchard Group in 2004 and has been serving as President since 2009. He loves helping leaders reach their full potential so that new churches reach their communities with the good news of Jesus. He and his family currently live in Ventura, CA.SPONSORSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.