From digital congregations to rapidly growing local churches, leaders from across the country gather in this special live panel episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, recorded at the IC Conference. Co-hosted by Erin Johnston and Daniel Goulding, Lead Pastor at Echoes Church in Phoenix, AZ, this engaging conversation digs into the real-world challenges churches are facing—from building space constraints and volunteer fatigue to measuring success and navigating cultural shifts.

The panel includes leaders from diverse church contexts—Logan Phillips, Worship Pastor at Stateline Church in Rockford, Illinois, Katie Blemker, Executive Minister at North Terrace Church of Christ in Zanesville, Ohio, Mark Lutz, Lead Pastor of Lux Digital Church, Antoine Davis, Sr., Associate Pastor of Evangelism at Hope Church, in Orlando, Florida. Together they openly share what’s working, what’s broken, and how Intentional Churches tools have helped shape their responses. Topics include evangelism versus discipleship, radical alignment to mission, rethinking metrics, and embracing tension as a sign of progress.

Mark Lutz unpacks how Lux Digital is designed for a very specific "one," and how their ministry methods—including camera angles and language—are tailored for a digital native. Katie and Logan speak to the rapid growth and logistical hurdles they face, while Antoine Davis Sr.'s focus on simplifying the Gospel and engaging the 99 to reach the one has sparked exciting growth and cultural shift in his context. He emphasizes the power of building evangelism into church culture rather than treating it as an event.

This episode is a must-listen for any church leader wrestling with the tension between sending and forming, trying to mobilize a congregation, or simply trying to keep up with what’s next. No easy answers here—just leaders learning together.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Intros
02:30 What’s Keeping You Up at Night?
09:45 Evangelism vs. Discipleship: The Tension
15:10 What’s Working in Your Context Right Now
22:40 Radical Alignment to the Great Commission
28:15 How Are You Measuring Success?
30:00 One Thing to Figure Out in the Next Five Years
31:00 Final Reflections

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
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Eduardo Rivera, a leader within Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, Florida, joins Erin and Doug to talk about what it really means to lead in a multicultural church environment. With deep roots in Puerto Rico and over two decades in Central Florida, Eduardo shares his first-hand experience of how the region has shifted dramatically in Hispanic population and diversity.

Eduardo explains how his calling transitioned from planting a new church to leading existing multicultural ministries, emphasizing the importance of creating spaces where both first-generation immigrants and their second-generation children can thrive spiritually. He describes the need for the Anglo church to embrace Hispanic culture—not as a project of assimilation, but as a movement of true integration grounded in shared values, mission, and trust.

This episode highlights the difference between proximity and unity, the cultural nuances of relational evangelism, and the church's responsibility to engage in local mission right in their own neighborhoods. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how cultural intelligence, leadership collaboration, and genuine curiosity can shape a church culture that honors and celebrates diversity.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Meet Pastor Eduardo
04:15 Eduardo’s journey from Puerto Rico to Florida
08:10 Demographic shifts in Central Florida
11:50 Understanding the realities of Hispanic ministry
15:30 From church planting to leading within Mosaic
18:30 Defining integration vs assimilation
24:10 What the Anglo Church can learn from Hispanic cultures
29:00 Shifting from global to local missions
34:30 Relational evangelism in multicultural settings
38:45 The role of leadership and trust in integration
42:00 Final encouragement to church leaders

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com/

Gregg and Leilani Sizemore, co-pastors of Creekside Church in Dallas, GA, join the podcast to share their incredible story of planting a church six months before the COVID-19 pandemic. From early momentum to massive disruption, and ultimately to realignment and spiritual renewal, they give church leaders a transparent look into the challenges and breakthroughs that come with living out the Great Commission in a post-COVID world.

They reflect on their early days of ministry, their complementary roles as husband and wife in leadership, and how their personal faith was tested through burnout and the weight of unmet expectations. The Sizemores share how re-engaging with Intentional Churches helped them reassess everything from service structure to language alignment, catalyzing a renewed focus on reaching people far from God.

Listeners will gain practical insights into implementing missional rhythms, navigating cultural and theological preferences within the church, and pushing forward when alignment feels impossible. The episode also explores how pruning and resistance can precede spiritual fruit, and how a single Sunday of breakthrough can make all the long work worth it.

From stories of young families walking away to finding joy in conversations with first-time believers, this episode is packed with hope, honesty, and actionable steps for every church leader fighting to stay faithful to the mission of Jesus.

The Intentional Churches Community is a free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Welcome & Introduction
02:45 Meet Gregg and Leilani Sizemore
06:55 Church Planting Right Before COVID
11:50 Working Together in Marriage and Ministry
16:05 Burnout, Momentum, and Hitting Walls
21:30 Re-engaging with Intentional Churches
26:20 Volunteer Burnout and Cultural Pushback
30:10 Shifting to Evangelistic Focu
35:25 Rolling Out Alignment Through "Bless"
39:20 Fighting for Alignment Through Resistance
42:00 Encouragement to Keep Going
44:30 A Sunday Worth the Fight

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Church leaders often ask, "How do we reach people in places that seem anti-church or post-Christian?" Jesse DeYoung, Executive Lead Pastor of Flatirons Community Church, provides honest and actionable answers to that question in this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast.

Jesse shares his journey from a youth group kid in Kentucky to leading one of the largest churches in Colorado, all while navigating the unique cultural challenges of Boulder County and the Denver Front Range—a region often marked by skepticism, individualism, and a deep love for the outdoors over traditional church.

From rethinking how to engage transient, mountain-loving populations, to challenging his staff to identify someone who might be going to hell and actively pursue them with love and intention, Jesse brings a fresh perspective on evangelism, leadership, and culture.

Doug and Jesse explore:
-Why loving people for who they are—not who they might become—is key to lasting ministry.
-How Flatirons addresses the complexities of legal marijuana use and its impact on church culture.
-The deep roots of misalignment in growing churches and the three key practices for addressing it: the stories you tell, the behaviors you reward, and the incidents you confront.
-The importance of personal evangelism at every level—executive team, staff, and board.
-How Flatirons supports church planting without becoming an over-extended multi-site machine.

This is a must-listen episode for church leaders across the size spectrum—from church planters to executive pastors—who are serious about aligning people to the Great Commission, even in tough cultural climates.

The Intentional Churches Community is a free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community.

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome & Intentional Churches Community
03:15 Meet Jesse DeYoung & His Ministry Journey
07:50 The Culture of Boulder County & Reaching the Unchurched
14:30 Flatirons’ Origin and DNA of Evangelism
19:20 Stories from the Front Lines (Including the "Weed King")
23:10 Parenting & Pastoring in a Weed-Legal Culture
28:05 Personal Evangelism and Jesse’s “One”
32:20 Culture of Evangelism: Staff, Board, and Church
36:50 Misalignment in Growing Churches & How to Fight It
42:05 Church Planting the Flatirons Way
45:30 Jesse’s Final Words to Church Leaders

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Albuquerque presents both deep challenges and incredible opportunities for ministry. Pastor Nate Bush of New City Church shares how his team navigates the complexities of serving a city with both high levels of poverty and a large population of PhDs. He discusses the importance of balancing justice work with evangelism and how New City Church has shifted to ensuring every member owns the Great Commission.

Nate outlines how initiatives like the Shine School Partnership and Getting Ahead have helped connect churches with schools and support individuals in escaping poverty. He also introduces "Go There for the One," a church-wide commissioning strategy aimed at mobilizing every member for personal evangelism.

This episode is filled with practical insights for church leaders looking to impact their communities while keeping the gospel at the center of their mission.

The Intentional Churches Community is free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction to the Intentional Churches Podcast
02:10 - Meet Nate Bush: Church Planting in Albuquerque
06:45 - The Reality of a "Low-Hope" City
12:30 - Balancing Justice Work and Evangelism
18:15 - The Role of Prayer in Church Vision
24:00 - The "Go There for the One" Initiative
29:30 - Encouragement for Church Leaders

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

The future of the church in America is increasingly multicultural—compelling leaders to be intentional about fostering environments where diverse cultures can thrive together. Juan Carlos Heredia, Spanish Ministry Pastor at Houston’s Sugar Creek Baptist Church, joins Doug for this eye-opening episode of The Intentional Churches podcast to discuss the evolution of Hispanic ministry, the importance of personal ownership in evangelism, and how churches can strategically integrate different cultural groups without forcing assimilation.

During their conversation Juan Carlos shares his personal story of growing up between Ecuador, Mexico, and the U.S., how his calling led him into ministry, and the challenges of leading a Spanish-speaking congregation. He also gets into why Houston is a strategic hub for global missions and how its diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for churches.

This timely episode offers practical advice for churches looking to engage Hispanic communities, emphasizing the need for leadership that understands both cultures and the importance of contextualizing ministry without losing the gospel’s core message.

The Intentional Churches Community is free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - The Importance of Tools in Evangelism
00:17 - Welcome & Introduction to Juan Carlos Heredia
01:42 - Juan Carlos’ Background and Calling to Ministry
04:59 - The Diversity of Houston as a Mission Field
07:14 - Integration vs. Segregation in Houston’s Cultural Landscape
09:09 - Challenges of Hispanic Ministry in America
12:35 - Creating a Culture of Invitation and Evangelism
15:19 - How Sugar Creek Integrates Spanish Ministry
19:10 - The Future of Multicultural Church Partnerships
24:54 - Practical Steps for Assimilation Without Assimilation
30:44 - Personal Ownership of the Great Commission
33:35 - Using Events as Evangelistic Tools
37:22 - The Challenge of Retaining Young Generations in Faith
40:08 - Final Thoughts & Leadership Challenge

The Intentional Churches Conference is not your typical church leadership event—it's a movement. In this week’s special bonus episode, Erin sits down to interview Doug all about how The Intentional Churches Conference is evolving and what attendees can expect this year.

Doug explains that IC is about more than just content—it's a collaborative network where church leaders learn from one another in real-time. Last year’s conference highlights included a hands-on coffee-making experiment, a panel of non-Christians sharing their perspectives, and interactive networking designed to spark innovation.
This year, IC is introducing new tools, including a conference-exclusive book—Radical Alignment to Personal Ownership of the Great Commission—and a role-based track system to help church leaders implement practical strategies in their ministries.

If you're looking for an event that prioritizes collaboration over consumption, don’t miss this year’s Intentional Churches Conference!

Join us April 29-30! Register now at intentionalchurchesconference.com.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:00 The Unconference: A New Kind of Church Leadership Gathering
01:35 What is IC Becoming? A Collaborative Movement
04:00 Highlights from Last Year’s Conference
06:24 What Makes This Conference Different?
08:51 Practical Ways This Year’s Conference Will Help Church Leaders
11:31 Final Invitation: Join Us in April!

What does it mean to cultivate a “missional mindset”? In this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, Momentum Christian Church’s Sheryl Riggins sits down with Erin and Doug to share her personal journey of moving from a traditional church background to a mission-driven approach to faith.

During their conversation, Sheryl opens up about her early years as a preacher’s kid, her career at Coca-Cola, and her unexpected path to leadership at Momentum. She also dives into how Momentum is making shifts to prioritize relational evangelism, from practical preaching series to encouraging personal connections in everyday life.

This episode is full of insights for church leaders looking to mobilize their people, as well as for anyone hoping to make their faith more outward-focused. Listen in to hear Sheryl’s inspiring story and learn how you, too, can be more intentional in reaching the ones close to you but far from God.

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for The Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurches.com/podcast.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
01:29 Sheryl’s Background and Journey to Momentum
04:46 Sheryl’s Musical Career and Time in Divine
08:31 Career at Coca-Cola and Ministry Priorities
15:26 Activator Training and a Shift in Mindset
21:46 The Role of Scripture in Mobilizing Believers
32:47 Living with Intentionality for the Ones
37:20 How Momentum is Raising Awareness for the Great Commission
41:30 Final Thoughts and Closing