If you're church planting in difficult soil rather than church starting, then it may not be possible to be self-sustaining in the standard three years that many organizations and donors expect. The economics play by different rules and so should your fundraising strategy. In this episode, Demeko share his experience planting in Houston and why it was important for him to raise support to fund his mission. He gives some tips for fundraising and working with partner ministry like Reliant to expand the kingdom.

Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Connect with Reliant at partner@reliant.org
• Reliant Mission: reliant.org/cpp
• NewBreed Training

Thanks 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.

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.com
• Reliant Mission: reliant.org/cpp
• NewBreed Training

Thanks 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 book
• JeffKapusta.com
• For church planters looking to connect, email info@lifepointnow.com

Thanks 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.