How important is church planting—and does the local Church still matter today?
In this episode of the Be Bold For Jesus Podcast, we sit down with Pastor Kenney Bahr of North Church Coeur d’Alene to unpack the heart behind church planting, the importance of being sent by God, and why reaching people far from Jesus still requires new churches today.
From not even wanting to be a pastor to stepping fully into his calling, Kenney shares powerful stories of faith, obedience, and building a church from the ground up with just a small team. This conversation dives into culture, community, and what it really looks like to live out Acts 2, while emphasizing unity among churches and the mission to see lives transformed by the Gospel.
Whether you’re a church leader, believer, or simply curious if the local church still matters in today’s culture—this episode will challenge and encourage you.
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🎥 Chapters 🎥
(0:00) Introduction to Pastor Kenney
Meet Pastor Kenney and the heart behind his ministry
(0:40) Church Plant in Coeur d’Alene
The story of launching North Church CDA
(1:36) Early Challenges & First Services
Renovation struggles and starting small
(2:59) Growing Up in a Church Plant
How Kenney’s upbringing shaped his perspective
(4:10) Answering the Call
When Kenney and his wife felt led to plant
(5:10) Why Coeur d’Alene?
The unexpected opportunity that led them there
(6:21) Confirming the Calling
A defining moment that solidified their decision
(7:13) From Vision to Reality
The year-long journey to launch
(9:08) Loving the Community
Why Coeur d’Alene became home
(10:30) From Resistance to Calling
Kenney’s journey into ministry
(11:27) Why Church Planting Matters
A shift in perspective on the need for more churches
(13:10) Being Sent
Waiting on God and leadership confirmation
(14:06) Passion for Planting
How the calling grew over time
(15:26) Do We Need More Churches?
Addressing a common question
(16:06) Different Expressions of Church
Why variety helps reach more people
(17:11) Reaching the Unchurched
The mission behind church planting
(18:16) Power of New Churches
Fresh passion and outreach focus
(19:18) Unity Over Competition
Supporting other churches
(20:17) Community-Focused Vision
Building a deeply connected church
(22:15) Same Mission, Different Culture
Adapting to Coeur d’Alene
(23:19) Why Variety Matters
Different approaches reach different people
(25:08) Church Planting Models
Micro, hive, and missionary explained
(26:38) Starting Small
Building through relationships
(27:16) Understanding Culture
Why context matters
(28:27) Learning from Mistakes
Adapting ministry approaches
(30:13) Different City Needs
Spokane vs. Coeur d’Alene
(32:07) Meeting People Where They Are
Engaging everyday life
(33:39) Going to the People
Ministry outside the building
(35:03) Outreach Lessons
Wins and failures
(37:13) Churches Supporting Churches
A powerful story of unity
(38:47) Biblical Foundation
Church planting in Acts
(41:44) Loving Jesus & the Church
Responding to objections
(43:30) True Community
The Acts 2 model
(45:13) Why Church Still Matters
The need for real community
(46:19) The Ongoing Mission
Why planting churches is still essential
(47:20) Get Connected
How to be part of it
(48:35) Closing Thoughts
Final encouragement
