March 05, 2026

149| Grow Wider: Practical Steps to Reach More People and Make Disciples

40 minutes

How does a parish actually grow wider?

In this episode of the Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Melissa Wilkinson welcomes back Ed Bradley to take a deep dive into the Grow Wider Anchor - what it means, where parishes often get stuck, and how to start making measurable progress.

If your parish wants to bring people back to church, reach young families, and build a culture of invitation, this conversation will give you both clarity and practical next steps.

And be sure to listen through to the end—Ed shares exactly where he would recommend a parish start in the next 90 days.

Grow Wider Self Evaluation: https://download.rebuiltparish.com/widerevaluation

Key Takeaways

Growing wider starts with a clear burden for those who aren’t coming.

Define your target audience intentionally - know your mission field.

Friendly is not the same as strategically welcoming.

Your digital presence is often your first impression.

Next-gen ministry can be a powerful growth strategy.

Parishioners need confidence and tools to invite others.

Start with intentional hospitality systems, not just good intentions.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to the Grow Wider Anchor

02:00 – Understanding the Four Anchors and Discipleship

07:30 – Where Parishes Commonly Break Down

11:00 – Defining Your Target Audience

16:00 – Friendly vs Strategically Welcoming

20:30 – Weekend Experience and First Impressions

23:30 – Digital Presence as the Front Door

26:00 – Leveraging Next-Gen Ministry

31:30 – Teaching Parishioners to Invite

35:00 – Where to Start in the Next 90 Days

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