

New Churches Podcast
Send Network
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

22 snips
Nov 19, 2024 • 42min
Who the Gospel Reaches
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.

Nov 12, 2024 • 40min
Doctrine and Culture of a Church
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.

Nov 5, 2024 • 41min
Spiritual Formation of Women
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.

Oct 29, 2024 • 45min
Spiritual Formation of Men
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.

Oct 22, 2024 • 43min
Planters are Preachers
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.

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.