Breaking Barriers

Should your church focus on individual discipleship plans or corporate pathways? In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Pastor Bobby and Pastor Andrew tackle a listener's question about why Mercy Hill Church chose a church-wide discipleship pathway over individualized plans. Discover the 5 reasons behind their Acts 2 "flywheel" approach (Gather, Group, Give, Go), why simplicity beats complexity in discipleship, and how to align your church's front-stage and back-stage conversations. Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and ministry teams wrestling with discipleship strategy, church growth, and creating sustainable pathways for spiritual formation.

****Spotify keeps removing episodes due to the music in the PreRoll Bumper (Even though we have the license to use it), so for now, we're uploading episodes without the Bumper until we can get it resolved.***PART 2: What does pastoral ministry really cost? Not just your time—but your emotions, your body, and your soul?Former lead pastor Ben Tugwell planted and grew Integrity Church for over 15 years. He had coaches, healthy boundaries, took time off, and did "all the right things." Yet six months after transitioning out of vocational ministry, he's still discovering just how much the role affected him.In this honest conversation, Ben breaks down the "relational tightrope" pastors walk every Sunday—navigating people in crisis, unrepentant sin, disgruntled members, and hundreds of heartbreaking situations that pile up over years. He shares why even healthy pastors carry an unavoidable weight, and how emotional intelligence and self-awareness are critical for long-term ministry effectiveness.Ben's Coaching Program: ⁠⁠Citizenscoaching.com

What does pastoral ministry really cost? Not just your time—but your emotions, your body, and your soul?Former lead pastor Ben Tugwell planted and grew Integrity Church for over 15 years. He had coaches, healthy boundaries, took time off, and did "all the right things." Yet six months after transitioning out of vocational ministry, he's still discovering just how much the role affected him.In this honest conversation, Ben breaks down the "relational tightrope" pastors walk every Sunday—navigating people in crisis, unrepentant sin, disgruntled members, and hundreds of heartbreaking situations that pile up over years. He shares why even healthy pastors carry an unavoidable weight, and how emotional intelligence and self-awareness are critical for long-term ministry effectiveness.Ben's Coaching Program: Citizenscoaching.com

Are you playing it too safe in your church leadership? In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we explore the concept of living on the "edgy side of wise"—taking calculated risks that honor God without crossing into foolishness. Discover practical strategies for risk-taking in four critical areas. Learn why preparing the jars before the miracle matters, how to invest in growth when you don't have all the resources, and why stewardship might mean sending rather than just saving.

Are you playing it too safe in your church leadership? In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we explore the concept of living on the "edgy side of wise"—taking calculated risks that honor God without crossing into foolishness. Discover practical strategies for risk-taking in four critical areas. Learn why preparing the jars before the miracle matters, how to invest in growth when you don't have all the resources, and why stewardship might mean sending rather than just saving.

The Why, Where, When, and Who of Multisite Church

Discover the 6 most common reasons churches plateau and stop growing. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we explore why many faithful, spiritually deep churches remain stuck... from policy paralysis and lack of clear vision to being personality-driven instead of process-driven. Learn practical strategies to overcome growth barriers. Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conferenceWebsite: ⁠https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com⁠Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers

What does it really look like to be a pastor's wife? Not the Pinterest-perfect version—the real, messy, beautiful reality. Anna pulls back the curtain on 20 years of ministry life, from church planting with toddlers to navigating special needs adoption while her husband leads a growing church. She tackles the hard questions: How do you keep your identity when you're known as "the pastor's wife"? What do you do when you can't say yes to everything? How do you find joy when ministry demands feel overwhelming? Discovering freedom in your calling, serving from your actual gifts, and supporting your pastor husband without losing yourself. If you're a pastor's wife feeling stuck, a pastor wanting to set your wife up for success, or a church leader wondering how this all works, this conversation is for you.Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conferenceWebsite: ⁠https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com⁠Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers

Part 2 of the conversation around church planting vs multisite church: Are multi-site campuses and church plants really the same thing? Pastor Andrew and Pastor Jonathan Yarborough dive deep into the crucial differences between campus planting and church planting strategies. Using the starfish vs spider analogy, they explain the critical differences with a "both, and" mindset, not an "either, or"; and the "magnet effect" that keeps churches from multiplying.Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conferenceWebsite: ⁠https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com⁠Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers

What's the difference between launching a multi-site campus and planting a church? We explore why we believe multi-site campuses serve as growth strategies while church plants function as multiplication strategies [unSeminary], and why treating them as identical could limit your church's long-term kingdom legacy. We look at the "multiply everything" principle and how it prepares churches for both campus expansion and church planting success. Perfect for pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders navigating growth and multiplication strategies.Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conferenceWebsite: ⁠https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com⁠Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers