New Churches Podcast

Host Matt Carter welcomes Noah Oldham, Bryan Loritts, and Trevin Wax to discuss the importance of relationships in church planting as part of the nine essentials of a faithful and effective church planter series. They emphasize that real ministry is inherently relational, requiring planters to cultivate healthy connections in various areas, including marriage, family, their core team, unbelievers, new converts, and friendships. The discussion explores what maturity and health look like in these relationshipsMatt Carter is vice president of mobilization for Send Network, the largest church planting network in North America. He was also founding pastor of The Austin Stone Church. During his tenure at The Stone, the church sent over 300 full-time missionaries to unreached people groups around the world. Matt holds an MDiv from Southwestern Seminary and a Doctorate in Expositional Preaching from Southeastern Seminary. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children.Noah Oldham is the executive director of Send Network. He served as the founding and lead pastor of August Gate Church for 15 years and the Send City Missionary to St. Louis for almost 10. In both these roles, he led his church and dozens of others to plant churches throughout the St. Louis region and beyond. He holds master’s degrees in Biblical Studies and Christian Leadership and is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach. He writes, speaks, and trains in the areas of two of his greatest passions: the local church and physical fitness. Noah and Heather have been married since 2005 and have five children.Bryan Loritts is the teaching pastor at The Summit Church. An award-winning author of seven books, Dr. Loritts has spent the bulk of his ministry serving and resourcing the multiethnic church. He co-founded Fellowship Memphis in 2003 and serves as the president of The Kainos Movement, an organization committed to seeing the multiethnic church become the new normal. His ministry takes him across the globe annually, as he speaks at conferences, churches, and retreats. Bryan has been a featured speaker for Catalyst and the Global Leadership Summit. Currently, he serves on the board of Biola University and is a regular visiting professor at Grimke Seminary. He is also the vice president of regions for the Send Network. He is the husband of Korie, and the father of Quentin, Myles, and Jaden.Trevin Wax is vice president of resources and marketing at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. A former missionary to Romania, Trevin is a regular columnist at The Gospel Coalition and has contributed to The Washington Post, Religion News Service, World, and Christianity Today. He has taught courses on mission and ministry at Wheaton College and has lectured on Christianity and culture at Oxford University. He is a founding editor of The Gospel Project, has served as publisher for the Christian Standard Bible, and is the author of multiple books, including The Thrill of Orthodoxy, The Multi-Directional Leader, Rethink Your Self, This Is Our Time, andGospel Centered Teaching. His podcast is Reconstructing Faith. He and his wife, Corina, have three children.

Host Jeff Medders welcomes Tony Merida, Jared C. Wilson, and Vance Pitman for a new season of the New Churches podcast to discuss the nine essentials of a faithful and effective church planter! They explore the origins and necessity of these essentials, emphasizing the importance of both faithfulness and effectiveness in church planting. The conversation begins with the first essential—Heart—highlighting the spiritual life, holiness, and personal relationship with Jesus that a church planter must cultivate. Jeff Medders is the director of theology and content for Send Network and general editor for New Churches. He is also an author, a preacher, and a PhD student in biblical spirituality at Southern Seminary, studying Charles Spurgeon and the Song of Songs. Jeff is a native Houstonian, where he lives with his wife and two kids.Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, N.C, and is the vice president of planter development for Send Network. He also serves as a Board member for The Gospel Coalition. Tony has written several books including, The Christ-Centered Expositor, Love Your Church,and multiple volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series. He’s happily married to Kimberly, and they have five children.Jared C. Wilson is pastor for preaching and director of the pastoral training center at Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri, and an assistant professor of pastoral ministry and author in residence at Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of over 25 books and the co-host of the For The Church Podcast and The Heart of Pastoring Podcast. Jared and his wife, Becky, have been married for 29 years.Vance Pitman is president of Send Network, founding pastor of Hope Church, and author ofUNBURDENED: Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live Through YouandThe Stressless Life: Experiencing the Unshakable Presence of God's Indescribable Peace. As a seasoned church planter and now leader of the largest church planting organization in North America, Vance seeks to inspire people to join in God’s eternal, redemptive mission of making disciples by multiplying the Church all over North America so that the nations may come to know Him.  Vance and his wife Kristie have four children and four grandchildren and live in Georgia.

In this engaging discussion, Vance Pitman, Tony Merida, and Matt Carter share their insights on church planting and transitioning in ministry. They explore the emotional restlessness that often accompanies change and how it can serve as a spiritual invitation. The guests emphasize the importance of collaboration and sending churches in fulfilling God's mission. They also reflect on the relevance of Paul's letters in modern contexts, highlighting teamwork in leadership and the necessity of thriving community and diversity within churches.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UJ0YtjSYCoM Host Jeff Medders brings back guests Trevin Wax and Adam Muhtaseb to discuss the challenges planters face, both inside the church as well as out in the community. Tune in to discover why Titus 3:10 is so often overlooked and disobeyed within the modern-day church planting context and how you can know how to best address “the attention economy” for the betterment of those you’re called to serve. Jeff Medders serves as the Director of Theology and Content for Send Network. He is also an author, a preacher, and a PhD student of biblical spirituality at Southern Seminary, studying Charles Spurgeon and the Song of Songs. Trevin Wax is the Vice President of Resources and Marketing at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. He is the author of multiple books, including The Thrill of Orthodoxy, The Multi-Directional Leader, Rethink Your Self, This Is Our Time, and Gospel-Centered Teaching. Adam Muhtaseb serves as the Baltimore Send City Missionary and is a church planter and pastor at Redemption City Church in Baltimore, Maryland. He earned his master’s of divinity from Southeastern Seminary and was a recipient of the Joe B. Brown preaching award. Helpful Resources: Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here. Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes. The post Handling Conflict in the Church appeared first on New Churches.

Matt Carter, Vance Pitman, and Adam Muhtaseb dive into practical ways churches can engage their cities and transform communities. They explore the importance of good works as reflections of faith and share stories of successful community service initiatives. The conversation emphasizes compassionate outreach over judgment, urging church leaders to prioritize love in their missions. They also discuss the emotional challenges of church planting and the critical role of community support in navigating these hurdles.

Doug Logan, Pastor of Church Planting at Remnant Church, and Jen Oshman, an experienced missionary and author, engage in a vibrant discussion about the inclusivity of the gospel. They dive deep into Titus 2:11, exploring how God’s grace reaches all people and the significance of unity in diversity. The conversation highlights the importance of empowering women in ministry and the value of engaging communities beyond church walls. Personal stories shed light on cultural challenges and the impact of sacrificial service on spiritual growth.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U-_XWA6n7cQ Host Tony Merida meets back up with Trevin Wax and Joel Muddamalle to discuss the planter’s role in cultivating a gospel culture within his church, in alignment with Paul’s instruction from Titus 2:11-15. Uncover why the deity of Christ is so crucial in church planting and preaching today and how your faithful gospel teaching impacts the sanctification of those whom you’re entrusted to shepherd. Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and he serves as the Vice President of Planter Development for Send Network. He is an author and also serves as a board member for The Gospel Coalition. Trevin Wax is the Vice President of Resources and Marketing at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. He is the author of multiple books, including The Thrill of Orthodoxy, The Multi-Directional Leader, Rethink Your Self, This Is Our Time, and Gospel-Centered Teaching. Joel Muddamalle is the Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries and is on the preaching team at Transformation Church. He earned his Ph.D. in Theology with an emphasis on Paul’s household language in Ephesians as it relates to the Old Testament. Helpful Resources: Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here. Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes. The post Doctrine and Culture of a Church appeared first on New Churches.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/D_XQUCzoFTs Host Tony Merida spends time with Vance Pitman and Jen Oshman to demystify the planter’s role in the spiritual formation of the women in the church. Discover how you, like Paul, can serve, engage, recruit, and commission the women of your congregation by casting an intentional vision for their growth and development as disciples of the Word. Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and he serves as the Vice President of Planter Development for Send Network. He is an author and also serves as a board member for The Gospel Coalition. Vance Pitman is the President of Send Network and was the founding pastor of Hope Church Las Vegas. Vance is an author and speaker who seeks to inspire people to join in God’s mission of making disciples and multiplying churches. Jen Oshman is an author (Enough about Me, Cultural Counterfeits, Welcome, and It’s Good to be a Girl), podcaster (All Things), church planter’s wife, and mom of four daughters. She has served as a missionary and church planter for over two decades on three continents. Helpful Resources: Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here. Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes. The post Spiritual Formation of Women appeared first on New Churches.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EuGVMWpD5xs Host Jeff Medders sits down with Doug Logan and Trevin Wax to discuss the implications of Titus 2’s call for the spiritual formation of the men in your church. Uncover the exhortations and encouragements needed for your congregation through the lens of Paul’s care for Titus and his flock. Jeff Medders serves as the Director of Theology and Content for Send Network. He is also an author, a preacher, and a PhD student of Biblical Spirituality at Southern Seminary, studying Charles Spurgeon and the Song of Songs. Doug Logan, Jr. serves as the Pastor of Church Planting at Remnant Church in Richmond, Virginia, and he has authored On the Block: Developing a Biblical Picture for Mission Engagement and The Soul-Winning Church: Six Keys to Fostering a Genuine Evangelistic Culture. Trevin Wax is the Vice President of Resources and Marketing at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. He is the author of multiple books, including The Thrill of Orthodoxy, The Multi-Directional Leader, Rethink Your Self, This Is Our Time, and Gospel-Centered Teaching. Helpful Resources: Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here. Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes. The post Spiritual Formation of Men appeared first on New Churches.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FJIFudTQe8g Host Jeff Medders teams back up with Matt Carter and Tony Merida to share how preachers are made (1:9), what the elements of sound teaching are (2:1), and why it is essential to set an example through preaching (2:7). Learn why a “proclamation mindset” is essential for preachers in the modern-day church planting context. Jeff Medders serves as the Director of Theology and Content for Send Network. He is also an author, a preacher, and a PhD student of biblical spirituality at Southern Seminary, studying Charles Spurgeon and the Song of Songs. Matt Carter is Send Network’s Vice President of Mobilization and was the founding pastor of The Austin Stone Church in Texas. Matt earned a master’s of divinity from Southwestern Seminary, as well as a doctorate in Expositional Preaching from Southeastern Seminary. Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and he serves as the Vice President of Planter Development for Send Network. He is an author and also serves as a board member for The Gospel Coalition. Helpful Resources: Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here. Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes. The post Planters are Preachers appeared first on New Churches.