
New Churches Podcast
The New Churches podcast offers practical answers to your real ministry questions. We aren’t going to provide lofty pie-in-the-sky theories. Instead, we are going to help you in your real ministry context, with your real thoughts, questions, and issues.
Latest episodes

Oct 15, 2024 • 48min
Challenges in the Planting Context
Vance Pitman, the President of Send Network and founding pastor of Hope Church Las Vegas, Trevin Wax, the Vice President of Resources at the North American Mission Board, and Joel Muddamalle, the Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries, dive into the crucial task of confronting culture with biblical truth. They discuss the dangers of legalism, the intersection of faith and modern ideologies, and the importance of sound doctrine. The trio emphasizes the need for church leaders to navigate contemporary challenges with wisdom, ensuring their teachings remain grounded in scripture.

Oct 15, 2024 • 49min
Churches Need Strong Leaders
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jk0jWEz9DAY
Host Noah Oldham sits down with Matt Carter, Vance Pitman, and Doug Logan for a conversation on qualified leadership and sound doctrine through the lens of Titus 1:5-9. Tune in to discover why character is so essential to the health and longevity of your church plant, as well as what it looks like to hold fast to sound doctrine and to likewise hold it out to those whom you shepherd.
Noah Oldham serves as the Executive Director of Send Network. He planted August Gate Church in St. Louis, Missouri in 2009. Noah is a writer and speaker and has a master’s in biblical studies and Christian leadership.
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.
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.
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.
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 Churches Need Strong Leaders appeared first on New Churches.

Oct 8, 2024 • 41min
Planters as Servants of God
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jB85Ww_5su8
Host Tony Merida is joined by pastors and planters Doug Logan and Adam Muhtaseb. They discuss how Titus 1:1-4 informs our ministry identities, establishes our hope and confidence in planting, and allows us to embrace the power of our preaching as shepherds of our flocks. Discover how Paul’s God-centered, Christ-exalting mindset shaped him as a planter and pastor.
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.
Doug Logan, Jr. serves as the Pastor of Church Planting at Remnant Church in Richmond, Virginia. 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.
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 Planters as Servants of God appeared first on New Churches.

Oct 8, 2024 • 41min
Planters Need Mentors
Explore the vital role of mentorship in church planting, focusing on the transformative relationships between seasoned leaders and emerging planters. Discover personal anecdotes that illustrate how mentorship fosters spiritual growth and effective leadership in ministry. The discussion emphasizes legacy and collaboration over merely achieving results. Dive into the biblical foundations of mentorship, highlighting its essential contribution to personal and communal growth in church communities.

Jul 10, 2024 • 22min
Wise Church Planting
In this bonus summer episode, host Jeff Medders meets with researcher, preacher, and church elder Dan Steel to discuss many of the very real pitfalls experienced by church planters today. Tune in to discover how you can wisely navigate the hurdles and complexities of modern-day church planting while remaining faithful to the Lord and to His mission for His church.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
How an effective church planter is similar to a cross-country runner
Why a well-rounded core team is a game changer for any new church
What you can glean from the stories of the struggling church planters who have gone before you
Why charity and clarity are some of the greatest gifts a sending church can give you
How you can combat naivety through investing in wise community
Helpful Resources:
Dan Steel’s book: Wise Church Planting
Yarnton Manor
Lanier Theological Library
Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here.
Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.
Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.
Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):
Ultimately, God says, “Well, hang on—I’ve told you how churches grow: patience, prayer, and preaching.” When we start trusting in the wrong things, we run into danger. — Dan Steel
None of us is the Swiss Army pen knife who can do everything; we all need each other. We’re designed to be interdependent, but that can be quite hard for a planter. — Dan Steel
Sometimes, the ground is hard, our ministry is hard, and we run into thorns and thistles. — Dan Steel
We love to platform the big guys and big guns the Lord has blessed, but in many ways, they’re the minority. They may be the ones we look up to, but they’re unusual. — Dan Steel
There are only a few times that we hear or see Philip do something in Scripture. Most of us are not the Peters, the Jameses, or the Johns. We are the Philips, the Nathanaels, and the Bartholomews serving the Lord. — Jeff Medders
We are obsessed with the highlights, but there are so many lowlights in ministry. God’s grace shines in the lowlights, and he meets us down there as well. — Jeff Medders
The post Wise Church Planting appeared first on New Churches.

May 28, 2024 • 26min
The Past and Future of Church Planting
Vice President Trevin Wax discusses the evolution of church planting, emphasizing reliance on the Holy Spirit and the impact of capitalism. They delve into the importance of apologetics, equipping future pastors, and the need for impactful church growth. The episode explores shifts in church planting trends, challenges faced, and plans for the podcast's future.

May 23, 2024 • 28min
The Discipleship Opportunity
Join pastor, writer, and host Daniel Im as he discusses church growth assumptions, evaluating discipleship pathways, the parable of the sower, success vs. growth, and making disciple makers. Learn how to navigate post-pandemic ministry challenges and prioritize holistic discipleship pathways over rapid expansion in diverse communities.

May 21, 2024 • 29min
Small Groups for Women
Author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin discusses the impact of gender-specific small groups for women, emphasizing the importance of family-like relationships in church culture. She explores the balance between emotions and theology in discipleship, highlighting the benefits of single gender spaces and childcare solutions. Jen also promotes women's biblical literacy through resources like her book and free Bible studies.

May 16, 2024 • 24min
Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution
Hosts Jeff Medders and Tony Merida dive into one of the most difficult areas of leadership development: conflict resolution. Tune in to discover tools with which to view your disagreements, unmet expectations, and miscommunications as growth opportunities rather than situations to flee. Here’s how you can meet your conflicts head-on, honoring Christ and pursuing peace through the help of His Spirit.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
Why you may naturally gravitate away from conflict and what you may be drifting toward instead
Scripture’s examples of relational conflict
How church planting conflict is similar to bringing home a newborn
Words of encouragement for people pleasers and confrontation avoiders
What reconciliation and restoration look like in the context of following Christ
Helpful Resources:
Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here.
Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.
Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.
Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):
It’s easy to show up to the positive parts of ministry: leading, preaching, discipline, and counseling. It’s harder to show up for the more challenging parts: the church discipline or conflict resolution meeting. Faithful, effective leaders show up for both. — Jeff Medders
Some can envision the Christian life as being very doctrinally focused and head-oriented. In reality, it’s doctrine-embodied, relational, people work. — Tony Merida
It’s always growing and dynamic, always with fires to put out. The question is not if you’ll have conflict but how you’re going to deal with it appropriately and in a way that’s Christ-honoring and how you can deal with it without dreading or despising it. — Tony Merida
Jesus came into the world not only to reconcile us to the Father because we are at war with God in our sinful nature, but also to reconcile us to one another. Jesus is the great mediator and reconciler who brings us peace as the Prince of Peace. — Tony Merida
As pastors, it’s very easy to think, “Okay, I need God’s Spirit to help me preach the sermon and help with X, Y, Z.” We forget we need God’s Spirit to help us in our conflict resolution. — Jeff Medders
You have to be comfortable having awkward conversations with people. I’ve learned that Jesus shows up in those awkward conversations because He loves when His people are trying to be united. — Tony Merida
The post Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution appeared first on New Churches.

May 14, 2024 • 29min
Theological Training for Women in the Church
Hosts Vance Pitman and Noah Oldham meet with author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin to discuss the eternal impact of training up the women in our congregations. Tune in to discover how you can help your church plant grow in Great Commission faithfulness from the household and beyond by intentionally investing in women’s theological equipping.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
How women’s theological training benefits the entire congregation
How your preaching and teaching of God’s Word affects men and women alike
What it looks like to cultivate an active learning environment for the women of your church plant
The misconceptions, barriers, and social stigma that women are facing in the church today
Why the call of Ephesians 4:12 is for every believer within the body of Christ
Helpful Resources:
Find Jen on Instagram
Jen’s book: Women of the Word
Jen’s free Bible study: James: Living a Life of Genuine Faith
Jen’s Genesis studies, God of Creation and God of Covenant
Learn more about The Deep Discipleship Cohort
Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here.
Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.
Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.
Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):
We would be poorly served if we kept women theologically uneducated. The problem’s getting worse, not better. We cannot transmit to the next generation a faith that we ourselves can’t articulate. — Jen Wilkin
Women have massive influence in terms of the next generation. So, the more theologically illiterate they are, the more we should expect that of the next generation as well. — Jen Wilkin
To be saved into an individual relationship with Jesus Christ is to be saved into a relationship with His church. The kinds of ideas that have sustained the church for 2,000 years are capable of sustaining the individual in this moment. — Jen Wilkin
When you don’t have women in your local church who are visibly, theologically equipped to do the work of a mother in church, women don’t stop looking for a mother. They will go and find a mother outside of your church. — Jen Wilkin
When it comes to theological training, women need permission from those who are in leadership, and then they need access and to be invited into these learning spaces. — Jen Wilkin
The post Theological Training for Women in the Church appeared first on New Churches.