Pastor Ben Ellefritz joins Doug for today’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, exploring what church growth, rural revitalization, and alignment around disciple making look like in real life. As Executive Pastor at The Crossing Church, Ben leads in a context where no town has more than 80,000 people—and some have as few as 125. Despite this, The Crossing is thriving across 12 campuses, reaching thousands each weekend.

During their conversation, you'll hear how their church realigned its multi-site strategy after discovering their previous launch model lacked commitment and sustainability. Their 12th campus launch—built entirely on pre-launch engagement, giving, and disciple-making—became their first financially self-sustaining plant from day one.

Ben also unpacks the intentional language around “Difference Makers” (not volunteers), their high expectations for both staff and lay leaders, and how they use visible scoreboards and discipleship pathways to drive alignment around the Great Commission. This conversation is a must-listen for church leaders in rural, suburban, or multi-site contexts who want to strengthen alignment, empower their people, and move from programming to pastoring.

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

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Redefining Church Strategy in a Shifting Culture
01:45 Meet Ben Ellefritz and The Crossing Church
04:07 From Principal to Pastor: Leadership Lessons
07:35 Revitalizing Rural Churches through Campus Acquisition
09:59 Why They Changed Their Church Planting Strategy
12:53 Defining “Difference Makers” Instead of Volunteers
14:52 Staff Gaps and the Future of Lay Leadership
16:11 Rebuilding Disciple Making from Baptism to Maturity
19:51 Using Scoreboards and Systems to Align Staff
22:03 Training Staff to Pastor, Not Just Program
23:54 What Hasn’t Worked: Lessons from Failure

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

Kicking off Season 9 of Intentional Churches, Doug is joined by IC co-founder, Bart Rendel, for a behind-the-scenes look at Intentional Churches, their leadership rhythms, and the realities many pastors face today. Bart introduces “the spanking machine”—a vivid and humorous metaphor born out of ministry burnout. Together Bart and Doug explore the constant pressure church leaders face from the unrelenting pace of weekend ministry and the need to name it honestly.

The heart of the episode centers on the remarkable story of First Christian Church in Newburgh, Indiana. Once a thriving congregation, FCC faced deep decline after leadership transitions, financial hardship, and even a tornado. When the Intentional Churches team engaged with them, they found a deeply committed leadership team willing to lean in and realign around the Great Commission. 

Bart and Doug close the episode by reflecting on signs of spiritual awakening across the country, highlighting churches seeing dramatic growth and salvations—not because of gimmicks, but because of alignment with Jesus’ mission. This is an episode for pastors who feel weary, discouraged, or unsure of what’s next. It’s a reminder that the spiritual moment is here—but the church must be ready.

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

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Revival Requires Two Things
01:44 Bart Hates Vacations
02:56 The Origin of “The Spanking Machine”
06:47 Courageous Leadership Stories
07:49 The Comeback of FCC Newburgh
12:06 COVID Super-Spreader Story
16:27 What’s Happening at FCC Now
19:24 Prayer, Pain, and Progress
20:40 Other Signs of Spiritual Momentum
21:52 Bart and Doug’s Random Thoughts
24:46 Are We Ready for Revival?
25:16 The Need for Great Commission 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

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

In this final episode of season 8, Doug sits down with Paige Peltier of Leadership Pathway to unpack what it really looks like to develop young leaders for long-term ministry impact. Paige draws on her journey through multiple ministry roles at Chapel Street Church and shares how strategic flexibility in staffing—based on a leader’s growth and God’s prompting—can dramatically impact retention and effectiveness.

Together, Doug and Paige dive into the two-year residency model at the heart of Leadership Pathway, where churches commit to hands-on, intentional development and coaching of next-gen leaders. Paige explains how Leadership Pathway partners with churches not only to recruit residents but also to equip staff with tools for leadership coaching. She also offers direct insights for church leaders wrestling with team structure, staff culture, and how to practically support the growth of Gen Z and Millennial leaders.

For any church leader wondering how to build a pipeline of future leaders and move away from the “microwave mentality” of quick hires, this conversation will provide a hopeful and highly practical blueprint. 

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

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Helping People Is Slow, But Worth It
01:17 Meet Paige Peltier
03:16 Paige’s Journey at Chapel Street Church
06:28 Staff Flexibility & Finding Best Contribution
09:47 Churches Must Shift How They Develop Staff
11:11 What Leadership Pathway Really Does
14:27 Why Residencies Are So Valuable
16:15 Development Is Messy—And Mission-Critical
19:49 Gen Z Leaders: What Churches Need to Know
23:14 Advice for Older & Younger Generations
24:45 Leadership Pathway by the Numbers
26:48 What Great Churches Are Doing Right
29:00 One Next Step to Get Started Developing Leaders
31:11 Paige’s Encouragement 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!

Sherwood Oaks Christian Church has walked through significant change in recent years—from a leadership transition after 40 years and weathering the challenges of COVID to launching a new campus. Maggie Mobley, Executive of Ministries at Sherwood Oaks, joins Erin and Doug on today’s episode of Intentional Churches to talk about how to find clarity and alignment during seasons of disruption.

During their conversation, Maggie opens up about the courage it took to sunset beloved events that were no longer missional and how having a common language and calendaring rhythms empowered the staff to have hard, healthy conversations. Together the three also discuss developing a team culture, leading change in different campus contexts, and how Maggie helped transition the staff from skepticism to ownership of a shared vision. 

Whether you’re navigating transition on your own team, evaluating programs, or trying to build trust amongst your people, this episode offers rich insights into the power of alignment and evaluation.

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

CHAPTERS:
00:00 The Cost of Legacy Programs
01:17 Meet Maggie Moberly
03:15 The Unique Context of Bloomington
06:09 Differences Between Campuses
07:06 Church History and Leadership Transitions
09:55 Deciding to Partner with IC
12:49 Wins From Installing ChurchOS
15:27 Killing Sacred Cows with Courage
18:11 How the Team is Developing Differently
20:45 Creating Space for Hard Conversations
22:07 Modeling Feedback and Evaluation

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!

On this week’s episode of the Intentional Churches podcast, pastor Tom Kopp joins Erin and Doug to share the inspiring transformation of Kimball Christian Church in rural Minnesota. Despite being located in a town of just 800, the church has become one of the largest churches in the restoration movement in the state, defying expectations through a strong vision and a deep commitment to The Great Commission.

In this candid conversation, Tom unpacks how focusing on church culture, casting a consistent vision, and making small yet intentional shifts can lead to an outsized impact. From implementing the “three-minute rule” for welcoming guests to celebrating baptisms churchwide, Tom shares practical strategies that any church can adopt, regardless of size.

Together, the three also discuss Tom’s involvement in a ChurchOS One Team cohort, which has catalyzed a new wave of mission-minded leadership among churches across Minnesota. With humor, wisdom, and hard-earned insight, this episode offers a blueprint for revitalization and unity in small church contexts, all while keeping the focus on reaching the one.

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

CHAPTERS:
 00:00 Three-Minute Rule: A Culture of Guest Awareness
 01:29 Tom’s Ministry Background and Family
 04:05 Small-Town Ministry in Kimball, Minnesota
 07:49 A 150-Year Legacy and New Growth
 09:51 Building a Culture of Joy and Evangelism
 12:56 Navigating Growth Resistance
 15:32 Dripping Vision Weekly
 17:08 The Drift Toward Inward Focus
 19:30 ChurchOS Cohort Impact in Minnesota
 22:37 Tangible Church Growth and Baptism Stories
 26:31 Practical Tips for Churches Starting the Journey
 29:17 Personal Connection Over Systems
 32:17 Preaching for Transformation
 33:08 What Large Churches Can Learn from Small Churches

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!

Eric Rauch from 2|42 Church joins Doug and Erin for this week’s Intentional Churches conversation—exploring what it means to lead churches through a true disciple-making transformation. Together the three share honest reflections, practical adjustments, and philosophical shifts away from attractional church models and toward multiplying disciples. 

The episode explores how both 2|42 and Erin’s church, Canyon Ridge, are redefining what it means to lead congregations into spiritual maturity and mission. They discuss practical shifts—from canceling outdated programs to redesigning volunteer engagement—and offer a window into the tough but rewarding process of redefining metrics and expectations.

Plus Eric shares how his team made it harder, not easier, to get baptized—shifting from events to journeys. Finally they look at what happens when churches stop simply informing and start truly equipping—using tools, powerful questions, and active collaboration to multiply disciples who will be the hands and feet of Jesus. 

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

CHAPTERS:
00:00 No More "Versus": Discipleship and Evangelism
01:06 Meet Eric Rauch from 2|42 Church
04:21 2|42's Multi-Site History and Cultural Dynamics
06:20 Adopting Three Churches Pre-COVID
07:57 Redefining Disciple-Making and Evangelism
10:26 From Attractional to Multiplying Movement
14:33 Why Make the Shift? Leadership Insights
16:37 Tangible Program and Strategy Changes
20:49 Rethinking Group Models: The Kitchen Metaphor
23:29 Discovery Bible Study as Group Strategy
24:56 Rethinking Engagement Pathways
30:27 Volunteer Orientation and Retention
32:10 Baptism: Event to Journey
35:28 Highlights from the IC Conference Pre-Con
38:28 Biggest Takeaways and Collaborative Learning
41:35 Final Thoughts on Collaboration and Next Steps

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!

Dr. Carlos Kelly, Senior Pastor of Beulahland Bible Church in Middle Georgia, joins Erin and Doug for a candid conversation on shifting church culture from consumerism to intentional evangelism and discipleship. With over 26 years in ministry and a legacy-rich church behind him, Dr. Kelly explains how Beulahland’s engagement with ChurchOS has reignited his pastoral passion and started that culture shift away from consumer Christianity.

Together the three talk about the challenges of pastoring in a food desert—where Carlos’ church has become a vital source of basic needs like food and community support. Through strategic clarity, patient leadership, and collaboration with a steering team, Beulahland is seeing younger demographics, especially those ages 18–35, engage at unprecedented levels.

Carlos also discusses the impact of defining clear reach zones for each campus, redesigning the church’s web presence through the lens of “the one,” and creating representation of young adults in leadership and communication roles. If you're a church leader navigating change, this episode offers encouragement, strategic wisdom, and a powerful testimony of what God can do through intentional, Spirit-led planning and teamwork.

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

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Dr. Carlos Kelly Introduction
01:15 Beulahland’s Legacy and Community Impact
05:40 What It Means to Serve in a Food Desert
07:27 Moving from Consumerism to Discipleship
11:48 Practical First Steps Toward Culture Shift
14:51 Fruit from a Younger Generation
19:03 Braxton’s Journey from Attender to Leader
23:12 Shifting from Solo Leadership to Collaboration
29:44 Building the Right Steering Team
33:25 Defining Success and Discipleship Culture
36:06 Two Campuses, Two Reach Zones
37:56 Leading Through Resistance and Grief

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!

Today Erin and Doug are joined by Drew Moore of Canyon Ridge Christian Church to talk all about how to unleash—rather than curtail—the dynamic young leaders on your church staff. Following the organizational upheaval of COVID-19, Drew and his team leaned into flexibility, collaboration, and contribution-based leadership—moving away from hierarchical systems and expertise-driven silos.

The result? More than half of their staff is now made up of younger leaders. Drew walks listeners through exactly how this happened—from flattening structures and inviting internal volunteers into staff roles to focusing on unleashing people rather than fitting rigid positions. 

Drew also unpacks some practical methods his team has used, like “Development Days,” liberating structures, peer-driven feedback loops, and guided corporate discernment. And these aren't just theoretical tools—they’ve led to real-life multiplication. This conversation is a must-listen for any church leader wanting to future-proof their staff culture and embrace the call to multiply leaders in meaningful ways, no matter their age. 

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

CHAPTERS:
 00:00 Space to Fail
 01:24 Meet Drew Moore
 02:25 Canyon Ridge’s Staff Culture Shift
 04:51 From Hierarchy to Collaboration
 05:28 Where Are Future Staff Coming From?
 07:12 Cultivating Contribution from Within
 08:29 Challenges of a Young Staff
 12:35 Practical Development Structures
 16:42 Advantages of a Young Staff
 18:24 Innovations from Young Leaders
 20:44 Leading Across Generations
 24:40 Prioritizing Contribution Over Role
 27:54 Guided Discernment & Staff Clarity
 30:23 Redefining Multiplication
 32:55 Relational Evangelism & Simple Tools
 35:17 Releasing Agency to Young Leaders
 38:32 Authority, Mess, and the Priesthood
 39:05 Mental Models and Generational Collaboration
 41:51 Unified Contribution Across Generations

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!

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
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

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