Welcome to the Podcast, Pastor Mark Kelsey! It was an honour to sit down with Pastor Mark, a legend of the C3 movement and expert in leadership. For this episode, we asked our interns and next-gen leaders to send in the questions on their minds.

Every leader, emerging or experienced, needs to hear these answers!

Pastor Mark Kelsey joined C3 three weeks after it started, planted the first C3 church in America, trained church planters across six continents through Express, and has spent 46 years helping to build a movement that now spans more than 600 churches worldwide.

Whether you're an intern just starting out, a young leader finding your feet, or a pastor wanting to go the distance, this conversation is worth your full attention.
👉 https://formedworld.org📸 Instagram: @formedworld📸 Instagram: @markkelsey📚 Design to Lead; Eric Geiger👉 https://www.amazon.com.au/Design-Lead-Eric-Geiger/dp/1433688751📚 The Master Plan of Evangelism; Robert Coleman👉 https://www.amazon.com.au/Master-Plan-Evangelism-Robert-Coleman/dp/0800788087

The Bible doesn't say horror movies are a sin. It also doesn't say gambling, vaping, or binge-watching MA-rated shows are sins. So where does that leave us?

Simo, Pastor Nate and young adults leader Jack Roberts get into the grey zone, the space between explicit sin and spiritual growth. They talk about what Paul actually meant in 1 Corinthians 6:12, why everything we consume shapes us and how to let the Holy Spirit lead rather than just a rulebook. There's some self-incrimination along the way and a few good one-liners.

Recorded LIVE at Brotherhood Night, this message from Pastor Mark was so profound, we knew we had to get it out to the whole church.

Sharing scriptures that shaped his life, Pastor Mark takes us through his story: From the earliest days of C3 in Sydney (falling flat on his face leading his first meetings) to the power of remaining planted in God's house over 40 years of ministry.

This is a sermon that WILL challenge, encourage and empower you. So are you ready for what God has for you?

Nobody told us the fight God called us to would feel this ordinary. In this episode Simo and Pastor Daz dig into the comparison trap, the grind of everyday life, and why the mundane might actually be exactly where God has you.

They talk about social media highlight reels, gratitude as an underrated weapon, and the story of Caleb — a man who held a vision for 40 years through the desert and came out stronger. If you've been feeling like your life isn't measuring up, this one's for you.

Note: this is part two of a conversation — grab EP9 first for the full picture.

C3 Victory Church is based in Newcastle, Australia. Follow the pod for new episodes and share this one with a mate who needs to hear it.

Australia needs more life-giving churches.

In this episode, Simo sits down with C3 Australia Regional Directors, Pastor Lars and Megan Halvorsen, to unpack Project 100 — the goal to plant 100 new churches and transition 50 more to new leadership in the next decade.

They talk about the difference between a cruise ship church and an aircraft carrier church, why you don't need a mega personality to plant a church, and what to do when God starts stirring something in you again. Whether you're 22 or 65, there's a place for you in this vision.

C3 Church Victory is based in Newcastle, Australia. Follow the pod for new episodes and share this one with someone who needs to hear it.

Should Christians play Video Games, or should we stay away?

Simo and Pastor Daz get honest about why gaming gets such a bad rap from the pulpit, where the real line is between a healthy hobby and an unhealthy escape, and what's actually going on beneath the surface when gaming (or anything else) becomes the thing we run to.

They dig into restlessness, purpose, and the bigger battle men are made for, with practical advice for anyone wanting healthier boundaries. Stick around for a fun top-five childhood games chat at the end.

C3 Victory Church is based in Newcastle, Australia. Follow the pod for new episodes and share this one with a mate who needs it.

Chris is fresh into fatherhood, Nate's obsessing over beehives, and Pastor Daz swings by for one of the most honest conversations about church the guys have had yet.

Is showing up every Sunday just legalism — or are you actually missing something? The crew unpacks why consistent church attendance is harder than ever, what happens when conviction loses its heart, and the surprising stats that back up what scripture has said all along. Pastor Nate and Pastor Daz both share their top reasons for being planted in the house of God, and the guys finish with a practical, zero-pressure challenge for anyone wanting to take a step.

C3 Victory Church is based in Newcastle, Australia. Follow the pod for new episodes and share this one with someone who needs to hear it.

Sign up for a Table Space: https://c3v.churchcenter.com/groups

Are you surrounded by people but still feel alone?

You're not imagining it — and you're not the only one. 43% of Australian men have experienced loneliness. One in three say there's no one to help them if they're in need. And yet we live in the most connected era in human history.

In Episode 6, Simo, Pastor Daz and Chris get honest about the male loneliness epidemic — why it's happening, why men find friendship so hard, and what it actually takes to build real, lasting friendships as an adult. Plus hot takes on marriage, worship music, boundaries and the great hotcakes debate.

This one hits close to home for all three of them. And it probably will for you too.

📚 Books mentioned in this episode:

👉 Boundaries — Cloud & Townsend

👉 Boundaries in Marriage — Cloud & Townsend

👉 Billy No-Mates — Max Dickins

👉 Indistractable — Nir Eyal

👉 Fighting Shadows — Jefferson Bethke & Jon Tyson

C3 Victory Podcast is for everyday blokes who want faith that actually connects with real life. New episodes dropping regularly — follow so you never miss one.

"Just trust God" sounds great — but what does it actually mean when your mortgage is due and your budget is bleeding?

In Episode 4, Simo, Pastor Daz and Nate get practical. This episode gives you full permission to take real, wise, Spirit-led action with your finances — because faith without works is dead, and God can't steer a parked car.

Pastor Daz brings his experience as a financial counsellor, Nate unpacks his personal stewardship framework, and together they explore what it really looks like to partner with God when the bills are piling up.

🔥 In this episode:

• Why "just trust God" is a starting point, not a strategy
• The two dangerous extremes: passivity vs. control
• Faith and wisdom — are they at odds or working together?
• The Parable of the Talents — God trusted YOU with what you have
• Joseph's 7-year economic plan — active, wise stewardship
• The 70/10/10/10 framework from God, Money and Me by Paul De Jong
• Budgeting 101 — give every dollar a job
• When to have the money conversation you've been avoiding
• Financial intimacy in marriage — doing it together
• Book recs: Barefoot Investor, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Richest Man in Babylon

💬 Are you a passive "just trust God" person or a control freak with a spreadsheet? Drop it in the comments 👇

⏱️ CHAPTERS

0:00 Cold Open — Conspiracy Theories & the Algorithm0:35 Welcome | Episode Topic: Trusting God Is Not a Business Plan2:01 Picking Up From Ep 3 — Faith Meets Real Life3:27 Faith Without Works Is Dead6:10 Trusting God Is a Partnership, Not a Passenger Seat7:25 Trust Means You're Still Moving — Nate's Job Story8:26 Two Extremes: Passivity vs. Control9:52 Trust Finds Its Space in Uncertainty11:19 Some People Spiritualise Inaction — "God Will Provide"12:05 Inside a Financial Counsellor's Chair — Pastor Daz13:17 What Does Practical Faith Actually Look Like Right Now?14:18 Flip It: God Has Trusted YOU — The Parable of the Talents17:20 Everything We Have Is Entrusted to Us18:31 Joseph's 7-Year Economic Plan — Genesis 4119:18 Practical Step 1: Take Stock — Build a Budget20:31 Budget Together With Your Spouse21:10 Give Every Dollar a Job22:06 Cut What You Don't Need — Streaming & Subscriptions23:05 Real Client Story: $167/Month on Streaming Services25:04 Save for Christmas in February — Darren's Tip29:36 The 70/10/10/10 Framework — God, Money and Me31:19 Start With Tithing — The First Measure of Trust33:34 Book Recommendations: Barefoot Investor, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Richest Man in Babylon36:18 Permission to Be Practical With Your Faith37:15 The Middle Ground — Wisdom & Stewardship38:08 Call the Bank. Cancel the Subscription. Do It as Worship.39:13 These Aren't Panic Moves — They're the Actions of a Man Who Trusts God40:23 Wrap-Up & Closing Thoughts

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If you checked your bank account this morning and felt that sinking feeling… this episode is for you.

Simo, Daz and Nate get real about the current economic climate: rising fuel prices, inflation, interest rates, plummeting investments — and the very real stress that comes with it, especially for men carrying the weight of providing for their families.

But more than just talking about money, they go deeper — into identity, trust, contentment, and what it actually looks like to place your faith in God when the world feels uncertain.

🔥 In this episode:

- Why financial stress hits men so differently (and what's really going on underneath)

- The danger of making money your identity

- "Could" — the most dangerous word in a comparison culture

- Prosperity gospel vs. genuine trust: where's the tension?

- What Paul really meant by "I have learned to be content" — Philippians 4:11-12

- Why God is more interested in forming you than just giving you things

- The "Five Whys" method to find the root of your fear

- Practical tools: journaling, prayer in the car, talking to a mate

- Matthew 6:25 — the "Do Not Worry" passage unpacked

- Absurd cost-of-living moments (including a $230 fuel fill-up 😳)

💬 What's your most absurd cost-of-living moment lately? Drop it in the comments 👇

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⏱️ CHAPTERS

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0:00 Intro — If Your Bank Account Stressed You Out This Morning

0:36 Welcome Back | New Set & Show Vibes

2:29 The Economic Mood in Australia Right Now

7:35 Men & the Pressure to Provide

8:15 How Are the Guys Actually Feeling? Real Talk

9:29 Nate's Approach — Deal With What's In Front of You

11:46 Don't Watch Your Super Drop Every Day

14:24 Why Economic Uncertainty Hits Men Differently

15:15 When Money Becomes Your Identity

28:35 Comparison Is the Thief of Joy

29:53 "Could" — The Most Dangerous Word

31:59 Redefining Success: What Simo's Wife Said That Changed Everything

33:15 What Are YOUR Definitions of Success?

35:12 The Prosperity Gospel Tension — Does Following God = Getting More?

37:08 Faith vs. Wisdom: Holding the Tension

37:51 "I Have Learned to Be Content" — Philippians 4:11

39:59 Jesus Holds the Tension: A Good Father Knows When to Give

41:29 Trust Is the Root — Where Are You Placing Yours?

42:53 Trust in God, Not in an Outcome

43:55 Practical Recap: Name It, Ask Why, Journal, Talk to God

44:38 The Five Whys — Getting to the Root of Your Fear

45:39 The Power of Journaling (Analog & Old School)

46:39 Talk to God in the Car — Even If You Swear

47:50 Matthew 6:25 — Do Not Worry

49:24 Fun Segment! Most Absurd Cost-of-Living Moments

53:31 Weekly Challenge: Name One Financial Fear Out Loud

53:57 Wrap-Up & See You Next Episode

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