Church Planter Podcast

What happens when someone dies and comes back? In this episode, Chestly Lunday sits down with Eric Bennett, creator of the Round Trip Death podcast, who has interviewed hundreds of people who have experienced near-death experiences (NDEs). With nearly 2 million downloads, Eric’s conversations explore the intersection of spiritual encounters, scientific inquiry, and how these stories can reshape pastoral care and evangelism—especially among Gen Z.Together, Chestly and Eric unpack how NDEs are “more real than real” to those who experience them and why Gen Z is especially drawn to experiential faith. They discuss the role of Jesus in many of these accounts, how pastors can wisely walk with those who've had such experiences, and how to navigate stories that might not fit neatly into traditional theological boxes.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:RoundTripDeath.comReliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

In this episode, Brooks Hamon sits down with Pastor Jeff Kapusta of Lifepoint Church in Wilmington, NC—a seasoned church planter, leader of a thriving faith community, and author of the new book Fully Alive: God’s Will for Everyone Everywhere.Jeff shares the surprising journey that led him to write Fully Alive—including a vocal cord injury that sidelined him for months—and how that season reshaped his understanding of calling, leadership, and team development. He unpacks the core themes of his book and how churches can connect new believers to God's heart in simple, practical ways. Whether you're planting a new church or pastoring an existing one, this conversation is packed with encouragement, practical wisdom, and tools for mission and maturity.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:Fully Alive bookJeffKapusta.comFor church planters looking to connect, email info@lifepointnow.comThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

Sometimes life hits you unexpectedly. Sometimes it's hard to feel the presence of God. Sometimes you just need a break.In this episode, Aubrey Sampson shares her experiences with grief, including the death of her best friend and co-planter. She explains why we need to practice lament and how to model these situations for our churches.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:AubreySampson.comReliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

The Church is great at transferring information, but doesn't always provide opportunities for kids to see faith lived out or to practice what they're learning. Parents however have an enormous opportunity to model Jesus to their kids and explain the heart of God. David Sunde explains how he's done this in his own life and how you can do the same.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:DavidSunde.comReliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

It's said that you're either in the middle of a storm, going into one, or coming out of one. Life is often defined by the storms we experience. Sometimes they seem overwhelming. Bishop Dudley experienced such a storm and it almost defeated him. But God intervened and now he's able to stand on the other side and encourage others to weather their own. Find out how you can do the same.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:NewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

Adam Cruz helps mission-driven leaders sustain a healthy hustle. Too often, success comes at the expense of our health or vice versa. It doesn't have to be that way, but it does take intentionality. Don't miss this episode as Chestly interviews Adam on how to achieve your goals without burning out.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:The Healed HustleReliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

You want to reach new people in your community, right? But most people who don't attend church services don't pay attention to churches. They drive past five churches to get to the grocery store. So, how do you stand out and get noticed?Small business expert Mike Michalowicz will walk you through how to hear from your community, involve them, and get their attention.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:MikeMichalowicz.comReliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

Drew Hyun, a church planter and network leader in New York City, explains why life is beautiful, disappointing, and hopeful, and what the Christian response to each of those should be. He unpacks three practices that are essential for Christians: gratitude, grief, and grace.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful by Drew HyunReliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

Leadership is a learning curve, we won't always get it right and neither will others. How do you know though when the leadership of your church is on the right trajectory or when you need to part ways? Join Peyton and Pete to find out.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:The Unstoppable ChurchReliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

In partnership with Reliant, we're launching a new series that tackles one of the biggest obstacles in church planting: money.We often discuss new church models for reaching a shifting cultural landscape, but those new models sometimes require new funding models. Raising hundreds of thousands of dollars that starts a three-year sustainability countdown might not be the best way forward for everyone. So Chestly and Jon Crawford discuss new ways to get the funding you need to accomplish the mission.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:Connect with Reliant at partner@reliant.orgReliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.