Is it time to refresh the old church planting playbook?

In this forward-thinking episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Dr. Eun K. Strawser to explore how church planting must evolve in a post-COVID world. Drawing on her work with the IWA Collaborative, her leadership at Ma Ke Alo o, and insights from her upcoming book You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone, Eun outlines a vision for leadership that is local, diverse, co-vocational, and built on discipleship, not metrics.

🎙️ In This Episode:

Why the old church planting model no longer fits post-pandemic realities

The rise of co-vocational, prophetically bent leaders—especially Black, Brown, and women leaders

Redefining success: from attendance metrics to neighborhood presence

A vision of shared leadership rooted in communal discipleship

The emerging partnership between Northern Seminary and IWA Collaborative

📌 Highlights:

[00:08:00] What the Eva bird teaches us about leadership and local nesting

[00:13:00] Co-vocational leadership and the shift away from big-budget, parachute church plants

[00:22:00] How prophetic, local leaders are already planting churches—whether they call it that or not

[00:29:00] Eun’s forthcoming book: You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone (pre-order available soon)

[00:33:00] Five pillars of the new church planting initiative:

Centering Discipleship (book link)

Intercultural Dynamics

Sharing Leadership

Pastoring Co-Vocationally

Exegeting Neighborhoods

💡 Takeaway:

📖 Resources Mentioned:

Centering Discipleship by Eun K. Strawser (IVP)

Eun’s upcoming book You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone (Fall 2024 – Preorder link coming soon)

Northern Seminary Church Planting Initiative

IWA Collaborative

Lawndale Christian Community Church

Christian Community Development Association (CCDA)