Summary
In this conversation, Andrew Estes and Alan Briggs discuss the critical importance of rest and sabbaticals in ministry. They explore how leaders often overlook their need for rest until they reach a point of exhaustion, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fragility of many leaders' health. Alan shares insights from his journey in coaching leaders, emphasizing the shift from competency to sustainability. The discussion delves into the biblical foundations of rest, the concept of sabbaticals as a gift for replenishment, and practical steps for leaders to embrace rest in their lives and organizations.  

Visit https://www.sabbaticalcoachinggroup.com/ to learn more.  

Keywords
rest, sabbatical, leadership, burnout, ministry, health, coaching, community, sustainability, church planting  

Takeaways
Rest is imperative in ministry.
Alan Briggs emphasizes the importance of sustainability over mere competency.
COVID-19 revealed the fragility of many leaders' health.
Exhaustion often blinds leaders to their need for help.
Sabbaticals are a gift for replenishment, not a punishment.
Micro, medium, and macro rest are essential for leaders.
Sabbaticals should be planned with the intention of returning stronger.
Addressing fears about sabbaticals can help organizations embrace them.
Sabbaticals can develop leadership within teams.  Sound bites
"Rest is imperative in ministry."
"We need to take this seriously."
"We are not as valuable as we think."  

Chapters
00:00 The Importance of Rest in Ministry
02:48 Alan Briggs: A Journey Through Leadership and Coaching
05:52 The Shift from Competency to Sustainability
09:06 The Impact of COVID-19 on Leadership and Burnout
11:52 Understanding Exhaustion and the Need for Community
14:49 The Concept of Sabbatical: A Deeper Dive
17:36 The Shemitah: Biblical Foundations of Rest
20:53 Micro, Medium, and Macro Rest
23:22 Defining Sabbatical: Purpose and Intentions
26:19 Addressing Fears Around Sabbaticals
29:17 The Leadership Development Aspect of Sabbaticals
32:14 Encouraging a Culture of Rest in Organizations
34:58 Practical Steps for a Healthy Sabbatical
38:08 Empowering Leaders Beyond Senior Roles
40:51 The Value of Team and Leadership Development
44:01 Final Thoughts on Rest and Leadership

Summary
In this episode of the Nexus Church Planting Podcast, Andrew Estes hosts Phil and Barb Claycomb to celebrate 20 years of Nexus Church Planting and LeaderCare. They discuss the journey of Nexus, the importance of leader care, and the evolution of church planting. Phil and Barb share personal stories, insights on church planting, and their vision for the future of Nexus, emphasizing the significance of collaboration and leader development.

Takeaways
Embrace the story God is writing for you.
Leader care is essential in church planting.
Collaboration enhances church planting efforts.
Nexus values transforming lives, not just events.
Church planting is a team sport involving families.
Mentoring and coaching are vital for growth.
Nexus aims to raise leaders from within.
Church planting success is about life transformation.
Nexus promotes a collaborative church culture.
Leaders are the legacy of Nexus.

Keywords
Antioch Church, church planting, transformation, leadership development, community, misbehavior, innovation

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Nexus Church Planting
02:08 Meet Phil and Barb Claycomb
02:41 The Early Days of Church Planting
09:26 The Importance of Leader Care
15:00 Partnerships and Collaborations
20:23 Nexus's Mission and Vision
24:51 Nexus's National Influence and Future
31:51 The Autonomy of Church Networks
33:06 The Role of Family in Church Planting
35:25 Navigating Relationships and Community
38:24 Defining Success in Church Planting
52:47 Vision for the Future of Nexus

Visit Nexus.us to learn more!

Summary

In this episode of the Nexus Church Planting podcast, Andrew Estes and Drew Depler discuss the often-overlooked topic of financial stewardship and generosity within the church. They explore the challenges pastors face in discussing money, the importance of vision in fostering generosity, and practical strategies for building a culture of giving. Drew shares his personal journey in ministry and how his experiences have shaped his understanding of stewardship as a form of discipleship. The conversation emphasizes the need for pastors to overcome their fears around discussing finances and to engage their congregations in meaningful ways that connect giving to the church's mission and vision. Additionally, they highlight the role of Christian Financial Resources in supporting churches financially and fostering a culture of generosity.

Takeaways

Discipleship includes teaching about financial stewardship.
Vision casting is crucial for unlocking generosity.
Pastors often fear discussing money due to personal insecurities.
Building relationships with key stakeholders enhances giving.
Generosity should be framed as a spiritual journey, not just a financial obligation.
Churches need to create a culture of gratitude and recognition for givers.
Financial awareness is essential for effective church leadership.
Legacy giving can significantly impact church funding.
Pastors should be involved in their own financial stewardship to lead by example.
CFR provides valuable resources for churches to manage finances and encourage giving.

Sound bites

"We help equip pastors and leaders."
"We need to pay the electric bill."
"It's all connected, right?"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Discipleship in Giving
07:20 Drew Depler's Journey and Experience
15:12 The Role of Vision in Generosity
23:31 Overcoming Fears in Discussing Giving
27:34 Celebrating Generosity and Building Community
28:01 Building Relationships with Givers
28:47 The Tension of Church Planting and Stewardship
31:31 Overcoming Shame in Financial Conversations
32:14 Integrating Spiritual and Financial Conversations
36:53 Maintaining Vision Beyond Planting
38:14 Authenticity and Credibility in Stewardship
42:04 Pastors and Financial Awareness
48:35 Legacy Giving and Long-Term Impact
55:38 Nexus Podcast Outro export.mp4 

Summary
In this episode, Andrew Estes and Jacob Hoyer discuss the importance of a missional mindset in church planting and community engagement. They explore Jacob's journey in church planting, the role of Forge America in equipping leaders, and the historical context of church growth. The conversation delves into the five core principles of missional living, the significance of practitioners in ministry, and the shift from knowledge-based learning to action-oriented discipleship. Jacob shares stories of transformation within church communities and emphasizes the need for a missional mindset in today's church landscape.

Resources
5 Core Principles
5 Core Principles Presentation

Takeaways
- A missional mindset is essential for effective church planting.
- Churches should focus on sending people rather than gathering them.
- The five core principles of missional living are mission, context, community, formation, and practice.
- Training should be action-oriented, helping individuals live out their calling.
- Discipleship is about living in the kingdom, not just acquiring knowledge.
- Practitionership emphasizes the craft of mission as a vocation.
- Church programs should be adapted to focus on training rather than just service.
- Community formation is crucial for effective mission work.
- The historical context of church growth informs current practices.
- A missional culture project can help churches evaluate their effectiveness. 

Keywords
missional mindset, church planting, Forge America, discipleship, church growth, community formation, mission, practitioner, training, leadership

Sound bites
"Mission is a practice to be cultivated."
"Discipleship is about living in the kingdom."
"Every person has a special calling."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Church Planting and Mission Mindset
02:55 Jacob's Journey in Church Planting
05:53 Understanding Forge America and Its Mission
09:02 The Historical Context of Mission in the Church
11:46 Transformational Models in Church Growth
14:53 Missional Reorientation and Its Importance
18:03 Core Principles of Missional Living
21:01 Training Church Leaders for Missional Mindset
29:22 Understanding the Sequence of Missional Principles
31:50 Evaluating Discipleship Outcomes
35:34 Real-Life Examples of Missional Living
38:35 Adapting Missional Mindset Across Church Models
44:14 The Importance of Practitionership
49:52 Shifting from Knowledge to Practice
56:47 Encouragement for Missional Mindset

Summary

In this episode of the Nexus Church Planting Podcast, host Andrew Estes welcomes Joey McLaughlin, lead founding pastor of Elevate City Church in Atlanta, Georgia. They discuss the integration of discipleship into church DNA, the challenges of church planting, and the innovative Equip and EquipX programs designed to create deeply rooted disciple makers. Joey shares his personal journey and insights on multiplying leaders across generations while maintaining the importance of Sunday gatherings.

Takeaways

- Discipleship should be at the core of church activities, not just a component.
- Equip and EquipX programs are designed to create deeply rooted disciple makers.
- Sunday gatherings serve as a centering point for teaching and celebration.
- Church planting involves embracing challenges and learning from them.
- Multiplicative disciple making requires intentionality and relational investment.
- EquipX is a year-long spiritual formation journey.
- The mission is multiplication, and everyone is encouraged to lead.
- Discipleship involves both learning and teaching others.
- Movement is messy, but it's essential for growth.
- Sunday gatherings are likened to a locker room for strategy and celebration.

Sound bites

"Discipleship is our crown." 
"EquipX is a year-long journey." 
"Sunday is the locker room." 
"Movement is messy." 
"The mission is multiplication." 
"Equip is the tip of the spear." 
"Discipleship must be relational." 
"Sunday gatherings are for celebration." "
EquipX transforms disciple makers." 
"Church planting is a learning journey."

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:00:00 Joey's Church Planting Journey
00:00:00 The Equip and EquipX Programs
00:00:01 Integrating Discipleship into Church DNA
00:00:01 The Role of Sunday Gatherings
00:00:02 Challenges and Insights in Church Planting
00:00:02 Conclusion and Resources

Keywords

church planting, discipleship, Equip program, Elevate City Church, Joey McLaughlin, Andrew Estes, Nexus Podcast, leadership, Sunday gatherings, disciple making

Summary

In this episode of the Nexus Church Planting Podcast, Andrew Estes interviews Brady Sticker, founder of Church Candy, a digital marketing agency focused on helping churches grow through effective social media strategies. Brady shares his journey from youth pastor to marketing expert, emphasizing the importance of personal connections and community engagement in church growth. He discusses various strategies for utilizing social media, AI, and advertising campaigns to connect people to local churches. The conversation also touches on revitalizing established churches and the significance of targeting different community sizes. Brady highlights the role of retargeting ads and long-term strategies like SEO in enhancing church visibility and outreach. The episode concludes with resources for churches looking to implement these strategies and grow their congregations.

Takeaways

• Brady Sticker emphasizes the importance of connecting people to local churches.
• Church Candy aims to connect 1 million people to local churches through effective marketing strategies.
• Personal connections and coffee meetings are crucial for inviting people to church.
• Utilizing AI can help automate administrative tasks for pastors, allowing them to focus on ministry.
• Effective advertising campaigns can significantly increase church attendance.
• Building relationships with potential churchgoers can lead to long-term growth.
• Revitalizing older churches requires consistent outreach and engagement strategies.
• Targeting specific community sizes can enhance marketing effectiveness.
• Retargeting ads can help keep the church top-of-mind for potential visitors.
• Long-term strategies, such as SEO and Google Ads, complement immediate marketing efforts.

What can the global church teach us about making disciples right here at home? Join Andrew Estes and Cory Hartman—global voice developer at New Generations and co-author of Future Church—for a powerful conversation on disciple-making movements. Drawing from years of experience in global contexts, church consulting, and pastoral ministry, Cory will share transferable principles that fuel multiplication worldwide and can reshape how we think about discipleship in the West.

About Cory:
Cory Hartman is global voice developer at New Generations, the hub of a family of organizations whose workers catalyze disciple making movements everywhere. He is also an author and collaborator on multiple books on ministry leadership, disciple making, and personal calling. Cory previously co-designed training processes and tools for a church consulting group and served for 13 years as a pastor in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He earned DMin and MDiv degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Raised in central New York State, Cory now lives in central Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Kelly, have four children, one bonus child (daughter-in-law), and one grandchild.

As a church planter, you carry a deep calling—and a heavy load. You lead with vision, hustle, and heart. But in the middle of managing volunteer leaders, discipling spiritual infants, and constantly wearing multiple hats, it’s easy to lose focus or settle for surviving instead of truly thriving.

This webinar is your invitation to pause… and ask a better question.

Not “How can I be the best?” but “What am I truly capable of?”

Join us for a special Nexus webinar with Joseph King Barkley, former church planter and now world-renowned executive coach to high-capacity leaders at Netflix, Intel, and beyond. Joseph works with the Meta Performance Institute (the team behind Jason Jaggard’s Beyond High Performance) and helps leaders stretch beyond competency into calling—beyond success into significance.

In this session, Joseph will bring both pastoral empathy and world-class coaching tools to help you:
• Shift your mindset from managing chaos to unlocking capacity
• Reconnect your day-to-day grind with your deeper God-given calling
• Recognize the limits you didn’t know you placed on yourself or your team
• Learn how to focus on the right things—especially when everything feels urgent

Whether you’re thriving or barely holding it together, you’ll walk away with clarity, challenge, and renewed confidence that God has more for you—and through you.

You were never meant to just perform. You were meant to lead boldly, grow continually, and multiply the Kingdom beyond what you thought was possible.

About Our Guest:
Joseph King Barkley
Executive Coach & President of the Meta Performance Institute

Meta Performance Institute

Joseph King Barkley is a Los Angeles-based leader and coach who has been married to his wife, Katie, for over 20 years. Their most important and exciting work is raising their two daughters, Tessa and Marlow.

Joseph is a former church planter, as well as a television and film songwriter who became a nonprofit and for-profit entrepreneur. He now dedicates his professional energy to helping accomplished individuals and teams who long for more discover what they are capable of and generate the clarity and courage to experience it.

Drawing from a background that spans ministry, the music industry, large-scale nonprofit leadership, and global coaching, Joseph has helped grow organizations from dozens to thousands and coached leaders from startup pastors to executives at Netflix and Intel. He’s spoken to audiences as large as 20,000, developed high-performing teams, and walked with leaders through seasons of transition, burnout, and breakthrough. Whether building culture, crafting vision, or guiding personal growth, Joseph brings a rare combination of creative instinct, pastoral wisdom, and high-performance coaching to every room he enters.

Your brand is more than a logo—it’s how people experience your church or ministry.

In this Nexus Webinar, host Andrew Estes sits down with Alex Holt, Co-Owner and Creative Director of CRTR Studio, to explore why branding matters for church planters and ministry leaders. With over a decade of experience in brand strategy and visual storytelling, Alex helps organizations communicate their mission clearly and meaningfully.

Whether you’re launching a new church, leading a growing ministry, or simply trying to reach your community more effectively, this conversation will equip you with practical tools to build trust, clarify your message, and lead with purpose.

What You’ll Learn:
 • Why your brand already exists (even if you haven’t defined it yet)
 • How to align your visual presence with your mission
 • Tips for digital presence, social media, and first impressions
 • Why clarity is more valuable than creativity

🔗 Learn more about CRTR Studio: https://www.crtrstudio.com
🌱 Learn more about Nexus: https://www.nexus.us

#ChurchBranding #ChurchPlanting #NexusWebinar #CRTRStudio #AlexHolt #ChurchMarketing #Storytelling #ChurchLeadership #BrandStrategy

Join us for this webinar with Roy Moran, author of "Spent Matches," for an insightful discussion on Hybrid Church strategies and disciple-making movements. Roy shares his journey from planting Shoal Creek Community Church to pioneering a model that combines attractional church elements with robust disciple-making practices. Explore how this innovative approach not only attracts attendees but empowers disciples to multiply beyond traditional church walls.

Discover how Roy’s personal experiences led to a significant shift in his understanding of disciple-making, prompting him to rethink the church's role in fulfilling the Great Commission. Gain valuable insights from a decade of practical application and global observations through Roy’s leadership at Shoal Creek and New Generations.

Whether you're a pastor, church planter, or someone passionate about disciple-making, this webinar will equip you with actionable ideas and a fresh perspective on nurturing disciple-making movements in your own context.

#HybridChurch #DiscipleMaking #ChurchLeadership #SpentMatches #ChurchPlanting