Forge America Podcast

In this episode, co-hosts Alan Bradford and Terry Ishee continue their series on "Reframing Success" by exploring the vital concept of long-term faithfulness and being truly embedded in a community.

Drawing on real-life stories of missionaries and church planters, Alan and Terry discuss why lasting kingdom impact requires patience, presence, and a departure from quick-fix cultural metrics.

Throughout the episode, they discuss:

⚬     The Long View of Ministry: Examining how true community transformation takes years—much like planting plum trees—and requires leaders to stay faithful through seasons of slow growth and difficulty.

⚬     Releasing the Need for Control: Discussing how leaders must let go of rigid outcomes and personal ambition to fully embrace God's direction and the steady work of long obedience.

⚬     Living In a Place vs. Above It: Exploring the difference between simply residing in a neighborhood versus deeply embedding yourself in its stories, pain, and everyday life.

⚬     The Beauty of Slow Faithfulness: Challenging the modern church growth obsession with massive, instant results, and celebrating the quiet, persistent impact of faithful neighborhood presence.

Join Alan and Terry as they unpack how learning to love and stay put in a specific place can completely transform your approach to leadership and mission.

In this episode, co-hosts Alan Bradford and Terry Ishee kick off a brand-new series centered around the summit theme of "Reframing Success."

Moving beyond traditional metrics of size and speed, Alan and Terry share inspiring stories of church planters who chose steadfast, faithful presence over quick growth.

Throughout the episode, they discuss:

⚬     The Power of Faithful Presence: Examining how leaders who commit to a neighborhood over the long haul cultivate deep, transformational community roots rather than transient success.

⚬     Redefining the Metrics: Challenging the traditional church growth mindset that hyper-focuses on Sunday attendance numbers, highlighting stories of true life change and neighborhood impact instead.

⚬     Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Exploring how steady endurance through organizational hardships and transitions creates a lasting, kingdom-oriented foundation.

⚬     Mission Over Models: Emphasizing that effective ministry is not about replicating a specific organizational model, but about being fully present and incarnational where God has placed you.

Join Alan and Terry as they invite leaders to reexamine what true success looks like through the lens of long-term faithfulness and community impact.

Jacob Hoyer interviews Dishon Mills, Dr. Eric Sandras, Angela LaPlace & Ben LaPlace

Michaele Lavigne, Director of the Center for Spiritual Formation at Nazarene Theological Seminary, takes us through rethinking formation.

Rowland Smith interviews Zac Webb, Christie McMillan, and Sara Matson

(Note: the first bit of this talk was not recorded)

Jacob Hoyer helps us look at Reframing Mission

Link to the Masters Journey

Alan Bradford interviews Marty and Larry Sams from the Village

The Forge America Executive Director, Terry Ishee, unpacks what it looks like to prioritize faithfulness over fruitfulness.

Lead Pastor Ben LaPlace welcomes us to the Village Church and gives us a peak under the hood at what makes the Village special. 

Angela LaPlace and Jacob Hoyer welcome us to our 2026 Forge America Summit at the Village Church in Greer, South Carolina.