In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Pete Mitchell is joined by Ed Stetzer and Corey Alderin for a conversation on artificial intelligence, church planting, and how pastors can use new tools without losing what matters most.

Ed shares why AI can help smaller churches and church planters multiply their message, especially when they do not have the same staff, budget, or media team as larger churches. Corey, founder and CEO of Sermon Shots, explains how AI can help churches repurpose sermon content for social media while still keeping humans in the loop.

Together, they talk about the opportunities and dangers of AI in ministry, why content creation requires wisdom and caution, and how church leaders can think carefully about what should and should not be handed over to technology.

The conversation also explores how AI may level the playing field for smaller churches, how it can help leaders work more effectively, and why the church has a unique opportunity to lead the conversation on what it means to be human in an increasingly technological age.

If you are a church planter, pastor, or ministry leader trying to understand how AI fits into the future of ministry, this episode will help you think practically, carefully, and missionally.

Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Sermon Shots

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 of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell return to the “church planter diary” format with a real-time update from The Abbey.

Peyton shares what happened on a Sunday when almost everything looked like it was working against them: most of the core team was gone, the room was smaller than usual, a disruptive visitor came in, and Peyton had very little left in the tank after a difficult week.

But instead of becoming a throwaway Sunday, it became one of the most powerful gatherings The Abbey has experienced so far.

Peyton unpacks how the church leaned into open testimony, interactive teaching, Psalm 131, prayer, and honest participation from the whole room. The conversation highlights why church planting can’t be reduced to attendance numbers, polished services, or perfect conditions. Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen when leaders are weak, the room is small, and the Holy Spirit is given space to work.

If you are a church planter who has ever felt discouraged by a low-attendance Sunday, an unexpected disruption, or your own exhaustion, this episode is a reminder that Jesus can still meet his people powerfully in the middle of it.

Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Simplify Church: simplifychurch.com

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 of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones is joined by Andrea Jones and Pamela Nelson for a conversation on ministry burnout, emotional health, and the inner life of a leader.

Pamela brings her experience as a pastor, biblical counselor, coach, and spiritual director to help church planters recognize the warning signs they often ignore: anxiety, numbness, overwork, isolation, unprocessed grief, and the pressure to keep performing when their soul is running on empty.

Together, they talk about why emotional health is not optional for leaders, how identity can become tangled up in ministry success, and why pastors need safe people, honest confession, rhythms of rest, and space to bring hidden beliefs into the light.

The conversation also gets personal as Peyton reflects on his own experience with exhaustion, anxiety, and the cost of pushing too hard for too long. If you are planting, leading, or carrying the weight of ministry, this episode is an invitation to slow down, pay attention to your soul, and let God restore what has been depleted.

Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Pamela Nelson: pamelanelson.org

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