In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, host Greg Nettle, President of Stadia Church Planting, welcomes long-time friend Andy Sikora, planter and lead pastor of Renew Communities in Cleveland. Fresh off a two-week Patagonia trek, Andy reflects on 15 years of church planting and the lessons learned along the way.

Andy shares how he and his wife moved to Cleveland after serving in young adult ministry, eventually launching Renew in 2011. He discusses the critical role of perseverance, the importance of planting with people rather than alone, and the conviction that God must truly call you to the work. He illustrates these principles with stories of sending out new planters—like CrossFields Church and Burning River Church—and highlights the collaborative work of the Kingdom Collective, a Cleveland-based partnership that funds and supports multiplication.

Greg and Andy also explore sustaining a healthy marriage while leading a church, the power of curiosity for ongoing growth, and why planters should focus less on "sexy" locations and more on God's call to specific people, not just places.

Podcast Contents:

• 00:00 – 02:00 Introduction to Andy Sikora, his role in Cleveland, and Greg & Andy's recent Patagonia trip.
• 02:00 – 06:00 How Andy moved to Cleveland, planted Renew Communities, and what early ministry looked like.
• 06:00 – 10:00 The biggest lessons from 15 years of church planting: perseverance, calling, and doing ministry with others.
• 10:00 – 14:00 Creating a multiplying culture: residents, church planting pipelines, and the Kingdom Collective partnership.
• 14:00 – 18:00 How small churches can still send planters: collaborative funding, shared residencies, and unexpected outreach approaches.
• 18:00 – 23:00 Marriage and ministry: supporting your spouse's identity, staying healthy, and loving the unique calling God gives your family.
• 23:00 – 27:00 Calling to a people rather than a place, and why Cleveland has become home for the Sikora family. Closing thoughts.

In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, host Greg Nettle talks with Joey Odom about the intersection of faith, technology, and personal health. Joey—co-founder of ReclaimWell—explains how constant proximity to our phones is reshaping our relationships, productivity, and even our spiritual lives.

They discuss the concept of "digital thorns" — how smartphones, though powerful tools for discipleship and ministry, can choke out meaningful relationships and intimacy with God. Joey shares practical ways to reclaim time and attention, including simple steps like five minutes a day away from your phone, accountability within small groups, and setting "phone-free" zones for family or worship.

Greg and Joey also explore how church leaders can model digital wellness within their teams using ReclaimWell, an app that helps track intentional time spent away from devices. The conversation closes with encouragement for leaders to lead by example, prioritize presence, and put down their phones—literally—to restore focus and relational depth.

Podcast Contents:

• 00:00 – 01:10 | Introduction: Greg Nettle welcomes Joey Odom and sets up the topic of technology and faith.
• 01:10 – 02:30 | The rise of digital discipleship—and the problem of "digital thorns."
• 02:30 – 06:00 | How our relationship with phones mirrors childhood attachments and impacts relationships.
• 06:00 – 08:45 | Practical steps to break constant proximity and reshape habits.
• 08:45 – 11:00 | Building healthy phone boundaries in families and small groups.
• 11:00 – 13:30 | Swapping phones, redefining dependence, and Jesus' parable of the thorns.
• 13:30 – 17:00 | Introducing ReclaimWell—a wellness and productivity tool for digital balance.
• 17:00 – 21:00 | How the app works: habit loops, team leaderboards, and tracking intentional time away.
• 21:00 – 23:00 | The power of "Let me put down my phone" and valuing relationships.
• 23:00 – 25:00 | Giving God the first fruits of your day—disconnecting to reconnect spiritually.
• 25:00 – 28:45 | How churches can adopt ReclaimWell and lead staff in digital wellness.
• 28:45 – 29:05 | Closing thoughts and call to action: visit reclaimwell.com.

In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle sits down with Jay Pathak, National Director of Vineyard USA and co-author of The Art of Neighboring. Jay shares his unexpected journey into church planting, from studying philosophy at Ohio State to planting Mile High Vineyard in Denver after 9/11.

Key themes include:

• The power of a clear calling—and why clarity often means higher cost.

• The challenges of starting with little money, odd jobs, and slow growth.

• Why multiplying leaders is the foundation for multiplying churches.

• Lessons from The E-Myth on building for replication.

• Evangelism as the heartbeat of church planting, no matter the model or denomination.

Jay encourages listeners to pray for God's heart for the marginalized and to stay focused on the essentials: leading people to Christ, making disciples, and training leaders.

Podcast Contents

• 00:00–02:00 | Intro: Greg welcomes Jay Pathak, National Director of Vineyard USA

• 02:00–05:30 | Jay's Ohio State background & early call to ministry

• 05:30–09:00 | Planting Mile High Vineyard after 9/11: obstacles & slow growth

• 09:00–12:00 | The importance of a clear call—and its high cost

• 12:00–15:30 | Lessons from Carol Wimber: "Because it's going to be hard"

• 15:30–18:30 | Multiplication begins with multiplying leaders

• 18:30–21:30 | Insights from The E-Myth for church planting systems

• 21:30–23:30 | Evangelism as the heart of church planting

• 23:30–25:30 | Why unity across denominations matters for mission

• 25:30–26:30 | Final encouragement: focus on people, discipleship, and reproducing leaders

In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle sits down with Brian Hofmeister, founding pastor of Lakepoint Church in Muskego, Wisconsin. Brian shares the powerful story of how his church moved from a single church plant to becoming a multiplying, sending church.

Key themes include:

• How a church of any size can invest in multiplication from the beginning

• Why Lakepoint committed 10% of its budget to future church plants—even in its early years

• Lessons learned from developing residents and sending planters during the COVID-19 pandemic

• A compelling vision for shared church family identity, including joint baptism services

• How to embed multiplication into your church's DNA and avoid burnout as a sending pastor

Whether you're a new church planter, a pastor of an established congregation, or someone investing in church planting, Brian's practical wisdom will challenge and inspire you to think beyond your walls.

🎧 Listen to more episodes and explore church planting resources at Stadia.org.

Connect with Brian and Lakepoint Church at https://www.lakepointmuskego.org.

01:15 - Why Milwaukee? Brian's background and calling 02:00 - Multiplication from day one: giving, sending, mindset 03:00 - Funding church plants as a small church 05:00 - Early attempts at developing church planters 06:00 - Lessons from failure and God's timing 08:00 - Year 8: Becoming a true sending church 09:30 - Residency structure and expectations 11:00 - Coaching residents toward launching 12:00 - Sending people: what the congregation commits 13:30 - Impact on Lakepoint's culture 14:30 - When the culture clicked: "Who's next?" 15:30 - Parenting metaphor: moving toward shared multiplication 16:30 - Partnering churches and co-parenting new plants 17:30 - The messy, slow process of residency and vision 18:30 - Training the next generation of multiplying churches 19:30 - Family reunion baptisms and shared wins 20:30 - Advice to new planters: start with generosity 21:30 - Exact budget %s Lakepoint committed early on 22:00 - Message to established churches: mentorship matters 23:30 - What the church was always meant to be 24:00 - Closing thoughts & future vision

In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, host Greg Nettle welcomes Mark DeYmaz, founding pastor of Mosaic Church in Little Rock and a leading voice in the multiethnic church movement. Mark pulls back the curtain on how his church is thriving through missional vitality and church economics—generating revenue, leveraging real estate, serving the poor, and reaching their community with tangible expressions of the Gospel.

Topics include:

• The three-legged church model (spiritual, social, financial).

• How Mosaic transformed a Kmart into a 100,000 sq. ft. center of ministry and enterprise.

• Why your church needs a nonprofit arm to access grants (including $80B in opioid funds available through 2038).

• The importance of long obedience in the same direction.

• Real stories of hope—including a homeless community preaching courage back to Mark.

Helpful resources:

• Mosaix Network — conferences, coaching, and content

• Mark's books on Amazon

• Midtown Event Center – Mosaic's multi-use space

This is a masterclass in leadership, sustainability, and Gospel innovation. A must-listen for every church leader looking to thrive in the 21st century.

01:00 - Mark's upcoming book on the Prayer of St. Francis 02:45 - Overview of Mosaic Church's mission and context 04:00 - Economic challenges of inner-city churches 06:00 - Transforming a former Kmart into a ministry hub 08:00 - "That is the church" — redefining what church looks like 09:00 - How to get started: shifting your mindset 10:00 - The 3-legged church model: spiritual, social, financial 12:00 - Creating a nonprofit to apply for grants 14:00 - Rethinking biblical stewardship 15:30 - Grants, real estate, and income strategies 17:00 - Opioid nexus grant: $80B available through 2038 18:30 - Mosaix Network and national conference 20:00 - Why it's the premier multiethnic church conference 21:00 - What excites Mark most about the future of church 22:00 - Matthew 5:16 and the power of visible good works 23:30 - Why sustainability takes 7–10 years (or more) 24:30 - Faith and tears: a homeless community encourages Mark 26:30 - Final thoughts and encouragement for church planters

In this powerful conversation, Greg Nettle sits down with author and pastor John Ortberg to discuss his newest book, Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn't Enough. Drawing inspiration from the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, Ortberg reveals why this recovery-based model may actually be the most effective path to real spiritual transformation—for everyone, not just those with addiction.

The conversation covers:

• How AA emerged from discipleship roots in the Oxford Group

• Why most churches struggle with a "wimpy Step One"

• How to foster communities of grace-filled vulnerability

• The critical role of desperation, community, and daily practices in spiritual growth

• How churches can implement the Steps curriculum and even start B12 groups (Bible + 12 Steps)

John also shares about his free daily vodcast ministry, Become New, and upcoming resources for small groups and churches based on Steps, launching Fall 2025.

Whether you're planting a church or trying to revitalize one, this episode offers practical wisdom and a compelling vision for deep, lasting discipleship.

We hope you enjoy this podcast. For more info about Stadia Church Planting and how you can get involved, check out stadia.org. To connect with Greg Nettle, you can find him at GregNettle.com

Episode Index

01:10 - John's new book *Steps* and its origin in the 12 Steps 03:00 - Why *Steps* is for everyone, not just addiction recovery 04:20 - The spiritual roots of AA and the Oxford Group 06:00 - The power of weakness and the gift of desperation 08:00 - Greg shares a baby dedication story and his own approval addiction 10:20 - Why churches struggle with a "wimpy Step One" 12:00 - Biblical examples of desperation and robust transformation 13:20 - How desperation leads to discipleship intensity 14:00 - Discipleship as both program and fellowship 16:00 - Why church needs to be more like an AA meeting 17:30 - The power of confession and shared inadequacy 19:00 - Appropriate vulnerability for pastors and leaders 21:00 - How to help your church take real steps toward transformation 22:20 - Real-life church examples like the "B12 class" 24:00 - Free video curriculum for *Steps* coming Fall 2025 25:15 - Final thoughts: encouragement for church planters

In this powerful episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle is joined by long-time friend and influential church leader Dave Ferguson. Dave is the founding pastor of Community Christian Church, president of Exponential, and co-founder of the global church planting network NewThing—now integrated into Exponential.

The conversation covers:

• Dave's personal and organizational transitions, including appointing a new lead pastor at Community

• A deep dive into his 5-step leadership apprenticeship model (from his book Hero Maker)

• His global perspective on a potential revival among Gen Z, especially in the UK

• The explosive growth of microchurches

• His upcoming book Multiplier (coming March 2026)

• Challenges the Church must face to reach the next generation, including creating safe, peace-filled spaces for those deconstructing or new to faith

A must-listen for anyone passionate about multiplication, innovation, and the future of the Church.

01:15 – Dave's leadership transition at Community Christian 04:05 – Merging NewThing into Exponential 06:40 – Dave's new role as CEO of Exponential 08:00 – Life Planning: What it is and who should do it 12:00 – 5-Step Apprenticeship Model explained 15:20 – Preview of Dave's new book: *Multiplier* 16:15 – The "Quiet Revival" among Gen Z in the UK 19:45 – US stats: A spiritual shift is happening 21:18 – Church hurt & challenges for church multiplication 23:00 – Peace as the new apologetic 24:30 – Global microchurch movement—how it started 27:00 – Story: 177+ microchurches through online training 29:00 – Why now is the time to empower global leaders 29:50 – Final encouragement & close

Greg sits down with Dr. Liz Rios (Founder of Passion2Plant) and Rev. Len Tang (Director of the Fuller Church Planting Initiative) to explore the expanding world of multiethnic, micro, and digital church planting.

They unpack the rapid growth of microchurches, the increasing leadership of women of color in church planting, and the redefinition of success beyond outdated metrics. The conversation also dives into the barriers multiethnic leaders face—especially in funding and power-sharing—and the urgent need for new pipelines that elevate diverse leaders.

Get practical ideas and inspiration for:

• Starting and supporting digital faith communities

• Funding justice-centered churches

• Co-vocational and multi-vocational planting models

• Joining the Multiethnic Church Planting Collaborative

• Training through Passion2Plant

01:45 – The rise of microchurches and reimagined planting models 03:30 – Global influence on U.S. microchurch models 04:00 – Women of color stepping into church planting 05:00 – Digital and micro as natural expressions for multiethnic women leaders 06:30 – Letting go of traditional church planting metrics 07:00 – Digital church planting: cost, reach, and community impact 08:30 – Examples of digital church leaders reinvesting in their communities 10:00 – Financial sustainability and co-/tri-vocational leadership 12:00 – Challenges in multiethnic church planting: politics and funding 13:00 – Expanding the definition of multiethnic: immigrant, ethnic-specific, multiracial 14:30 – Power sharing and leadership dynamics in multiethnic models 18:45 – Kingdom diversity: Galatians and Revelation visions 20:00 – Demographic shifts and the need for diverse leadership pipelines 21:30 – Opportunities: Black church planting summit, Stadia's statement of lament 23:00 – Slowing down, building trust, and unlearning systems 26:30 – How to get involved: Passion2Plant and Fuller's Collaborative 28:00 – Final encouragement and closing thoughts

In this episode, Greg Nettle talks with Dean Sweetman, co-founder and co-CEO of Tithely, a digital giving platform now used by over 50,000 churches worldwide. Dean shares his remarkable journey from being a high school dropout and aspiring surfer in Australia to planting over 60 churches globally and building a church tech company processing billions in donations annually.

Key highlights:

• Dean's unconventional path into church planting across Asia, Africa, and North America.

• Why demographic research + Holy Spirit leading matters when choosing a church plant location.

• How a Starbucks app experience inspired the creation of Tithely.

• The impact of recurring digital giving on financial stability for churches.

• Future of church tech: AI, VR, and holographic gospel preaching.

Resources mentioned:

• Tithely's free tools for church planters (https://get.tithe.ly/)

• Stadia Church Planting (https://stadia.org)

• Learn more about church planting with Stadia: https://stadia.org/discovery

01:18 – Dean's early life & conversion story 02:44 – Becoming a youth pastor and seminary in Australia 04:10 – Global missions & planting churches in Asia and Africa 06:08 – Real estate and bi-vocational ministry 07:30 – Choosing Atlanta for church planting 09:13 – The power of sending leaders to plant 11:00 – Planting 60+ churches through C3 movement 13:07 – The Starbucks moment: inspiration for Tithely 16:09 – Launching the first giving app with his son 17:11 – Sabbatical and shifting from pastor to entrepreneur 18:28 – Explosive growth during COVID (12K churches in 6 weeks) 20:14 – Building an all-in-one church platform 21:11 – Discipleship through digital giving 23:31 – Tech adoption in younger generations 24:18 – Getting started with Tithely 25:01 – Power of recurring giving 26:15 – AI, AR, and the future of church tech

In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle sits down with longtime friend and teaching pastor Tammy Melchien. Tammy has served at Community Christian Church in Chicagoland for over two decades and is releasing her first book, Choosing the Opposite, in October 2025.

Tammy reflects on her journey as a church planter in urban Chicago, the unique challenges of being a single woman in ministry, and the joy of seeing lives transformed in a transient, young professional community. She shares the origin story and key insights from her book—rooted in the Sermon on the Mount—and how following Jesus often means doing the opposite of what feels natural.

Together, they discuss:

• Collaborative sermon prep and teaching team leadership

• Why Choosing the Opposite emerged out of pandemic-era frustration

• How church leaders can love radically, lead humbly, and create margin for hearing God

📖 Preorder Choosing the Opposite (available October 7, 2025)

01:16 - Church planting in Chicago 02:29 - Challenges as a single woman planter 04:21 - High turnover in urban ministry 06:07 - Joys of urban church planting 06:32 - Tammy's new book: *Choosing the Opposite* 08:08 - COVID, conflict, and the failure of discipleship 09:44 - The Seinfeld inspiration for the book title 11:14 - Beatitudes and thinking upside down 12:20 - Loving radically in hard ministry moments 15:24 - Vulnerability and secure leadership 17:05 - Judgment, grace, and honoring others' journeys 20:34 - Hearing from Jesus: margin & intentionality 24:11 - Encouragement for single church planters 25:58 - Why spiritual intimacy matters most 27:07 - Book release details & closing