What does a world champion roller skater, a transformative mission trip to India, and a text message church merger have in common? They're all part of Sean Arisco's extraordinary journey into church planting and leadership.

Sean's path began far from ministry, competing as a professional roller figure skater and representing the United States internationally. Though raised in a Christian home with early evangelistic zeal (preaching to strangers in grocery store lines), his teenage faith wandered until a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit at age 15 set him on a new trajectory. Despite initial plans to pursue law and politics, Sean found himself drawn to ministry through mentorship and a defining moment preaching to thousands in rural India.

The heart of Sean's story centers on his Sacramento church plant, launched just four weeks before COVID-19 shut everything down. From ambitious growth plans to watching attendance plummet, then rebuilding only to face the "California exodus" of families leaving the state—Sean's resilience through these challenges offers powerful lessons for ministry leaders. Perhaps most remarkable was the unexpected merger that began with a simple text message from another pastor and culminated in joining two congregations in just eight weeks.

Through these experiences, Sean discovered what truly matters in ministry: "Our calling is sacred, but it's not about the type of church we're building—it's about the person we're becoming." This profound realization came after recognizing his own spiritual depletion while building the church. His vulnerability in sharing how he'd grown distant from Jesus while growing his ministry serves as a powerful reminder that God's work in us always precedes His work through us.

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