What does real discipleship look like when you’re starting a church from scratch?

In this episode, missionary Dallas Brown shares honest, on‑the‑ground lessons from church planting in West Africa, where every believer is a brand‑new Christian and spiritual growth doesn’t happen overnight. From evangelism to discipleship, this conversation explores how the gospel not only saves but truly changes lives—even when growth is slow, messy, and challenging.

You’ll hear real stories about:

• Discipling new believers with no Christian background

• Pastoring immature Christians in a brand‑new church

• Church conflict, spiritual immaturity, and cultural challenges

• Why faithfulness over time matters more than short‑term zeal

• Using systematic Bible preaching to grow believers

• Developing church leaders from scratch

• Avoiding spiritual plateaus in ministry

• Maintaining healthy spiritual habits as a pastor or missionary

This episode is packed with practical insight for pastors, missionaries, church planters, and anyone involved in discipleship or ministry leadership. It’s a reminder that the Holy Spirit works through God’s Word to bring lasting transformation—and that patience is essential when helping people grow in the Lord.

📖 Topics include: Christian discipleship, church planting, missions, evangelism, ministry leadership, spiritual growth, pastoral encouragement, and faithfulness in ministry.

If you’re involved in ministry—or preparing for it—this conversation will encourage you to trust God’s process and keep investing in people.

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Quotes:

Discipleship & Growth

“Do we actually believe that the gospel not only saves, but changes lives?”

“The gospel does transform lives—but not always as quickly as we want.”

“People need time to grow, and you’ve got to give it to them.”

“You bring a bunch of lost people together, and growth gets messy.”

Church Planting Reality

“Starting a church from scratch is exciting—and humbling.”

“There’s a limit to how much a church can grow when everyone is immature.”

“It felt like pastoring the church of Corinth.”

“Growth doesn’t happen overnight—anywhere, if it’s going to last.”

Immature Believers & Conflict

“You put baby Christians together, and they fight constantly.”

“We had a church split over how food should be served.”

“Nobody warned me I’d have to explain that you don’t hire a witch doctor.”

“It’s easy to chase off troublemakers—but that’s not discipleship.”

Preaching & Teaching

“Preaching isn’t just about putting out fires.”

“Systematic preaching deals with problems before they arise.”

“Nobody likes having their toes stepped on by scripture.”

“The Word of God is what transforms lives.”

Faithfulness Over Time

“Faithfulness over time is what produces long‑term results.”

“Flashy zeal fades—steady faith endures.”

“Some people grow slowly, but they grow deeply.”

“The most faithful leaders weren’t always the strongest at the start.”

Leadership & Ministry

“It’s easy to hit a plateau and think you’ve learned enough.”

“If you’re not growing, you can’t help others grow.”

“Healthy habits matter more than ministry activity.”

“I pray God works in my heart as much as He works in theirs.”