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Welcome to E117 of the Waypoint Podcast! in this candid conversation, longtime pastor and ministry mentor John Hampton opens up about the unseen weight leaders often carry. After more than 40 years in the pulpit and now serving with the Christian Church Leadership Network (CCL), John reflects on the mental and emotional challenges his own family faced and how he wishes the church had responded differently. He shares what he’s learned about compassion, resilience, and the kind of honest care leaders truly need. John also offers practical wisdom for pastors and ministry teams on tending to their own health while shepherding their congregations well.

Get in contact with John [email protected]

Find out more about Waypoint's Leader Care, reach out to Director of Leader Care, Neil Wheeler: [email protected]

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The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!

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In E116, Dyke and Rebecca sit down with Brad and Sissy Giffin from Towne South Church of Christ in Elizabeth City, NC—a thriving congregation with a heart for reaching their community. Brad and Sissy share their story of how God called them into ministry, how they met, and the ways the Lord has faithfully led them through both the highs and lows of church life.

You’ll feel like you’re sitting around the table with old friends as they offer encouragement, wisdom, and practical steps Towne South has taken to keep growing and reaching people for the Kingdom. This conversation is good for the soul—a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness and the joy of persevering in ministry together.

Remember you can always find us at
waypointchurchpartners.com

Follow us at
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instagram @waypointchurchpartners

The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!

Send us a text

What happens when a church reaches the end of its life cycle? Is it possible for something new—and truly alive—to emerge from what was? In this episode, hosts Dyke McCord and Rebecca Hott sit down with authors and consultants Dan Turner and Greg Wiens to talk about their powerful book, Dying to Restart. With decades of experience helping churches navigate decline and rediscover mission, Greg and Dan share practical wisdom, real-life stories, and a bold vision for what it means to “let a church die” so it can live again. If you’re a church leader wrestling with plateau or decline, this conversation will challenge and encourage you toward courageous, Spirit-led renewal.

Find resources here:

dying2restart.org

Remember you can always find us at
waypointchurchpartners.com

Follow us at
facebook.com/WaypointChurchPartners
instagram @waypointchurchpartners

The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!

Send us a text

Episode 114 of The Waypoint Podcast features Jayson French, president of Christ in Youth, as he shares a powerful reminder that the future of the church is bright—but only if we are intentional about raising up and releasing the next generation. Church leaders are called to pass the baton well, equipping young people to step into ministry and lead with courage, vision, and faith.

Learn more about CIY's Pursue events:

ciy.com/pursue

Find out how you can partner with CIY to raise up the next generation of the church: ciy.com/get-involved

Remember you can always find us at
waypointchurchpartners.com

Follow us at
facebook.com/WaypointChurchPartners
instagram @waypointchurchpartners

The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!

Send us a text

Episode 113 of The Waypoint Podcast features a unique and inspiring conversation with Walker Gaulding, a rural pastor who has faithfully served the same congregation for over 38 years. He has discovered creative and meaningful ways to reach both his local community and people around the world. Along the way, he shares wisdom about ministry, longevity, and what it means to stay rooted where God has called him. Listeners will also enjoy fascinating stories from his passion as a Civil War relic hunter. This conversation is both entertaining and deeply encouraging.

Find Rappahannock Church of Christ

Find Walker's Youtube Channel: youtube.com/@thebattlefieldwalker2841

Remember you can always find us at
waypointchurchpartners.com

Follow us at
facebook.com/WaypointChurchPartners
instagram @waypointchurchpartners

The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!

Send us a text

In Episode 112 of The Waypoint Podcast, Dyke and Rebecca sit down with Dave Farris lead pastor of Northstar, who has stepped into a church model that many leaders have considered but few have pursued—Micro Churches. This networks of house churches gather weekly in homes and monthly as a larger congregation,  Dave shares both the challenges and the powerful fruit that comes from this unique approach. His story is one of calling, sacrifice, and inspiration, offering a glimpse into what it takes to lead in this way. We hope this conversation both challenges and encourages you as you consider how God might be calling your church to live on mission.

Dave would love to chat with you or network with other Micro Churches on mission. You can email him at [email protected]

Remember you can always find us at
waypointchurchpartners.com

Follow us at
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instagram @waypointchurchpartners

The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!

Send us a text

In Episode 111, Christian Nelson takes us on a fascinating journey through his unique and unexpected life. From serving in the military, to leading operations and technology for software companies, to pastoring and helping a church grow from one campus to seven, Christian’s story is as inspiring as it is fun to hear. Along the way, he shares valuable insights for churches at the intersection of ministry and technology — including practical thoughts on emerging tools like AI — all through the lens of a pastor who cares most about lives changed by Jesus. And be sure to stick around to the end… you won’t want to miss his gripping near-death story!

Learn more about Intulse here:
intulse.com/church

Remember you can always find us at
waypointchurchpartners.com

Follow us at
facebook.com/WaypointChurchPartners
instagram @waypointchurchpartners

The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!

Send us a text

If you've ever felt the strain of too few volunteers or struggled to build a team that sticks, this episode is for you. Nick Blevins, author of The Volunteer Playbook, joins us to share practical strategies, encouraging insights, and game-changing tools to help you grow a healthy, sustainable volunteer culture. He unpacks the concept of “Reaching Ratios,” explains why your volunteer strategy matters more than ever, and shows how the investment you make now will lead to long-term ministry wins. Whether you're starting from scratch or fine-tuning your systems, this conversation will help you raise your volunteer game and lead with confidence.

Find more from Nick at nickblevins.com

Remember you can always find us at
waypointchurchpartners.com

Follow us at
facebook.com/WaypointChurchPartners
instagram @waypointchurchpartners

The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!

Send us a text

In this episode of The Waypoint Podcast, hosts Dyke and Rebecca sit down with David and Vasti Rengifo, worship leaders at Esperanz Church with a deep passion for cultivating diverse worship—diverse not only in ethnicity, but in generation, musical style, and life experience. Together, they explore the beauty and challenge of building worship that reflects the Kingdom of God: every tribe, every tongue, every story. From gospel to hymns, teens to elders, and every voice in between, the Rengifos emphasize that true unity in worship begins around the table—by listening, learning, and sharing life. If you long for worship that goes beyond the stage and into real relationships, this conversation will inspire and challenge you.

Remember you can always find us at
waypointchurchpartners.com

Follow us at
facebook.com/WaypointChurchPartners
instagram @waypointchurchpartners

The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!

Send us a text

In this episode, hosts Dyke and Rebecca sit down with Jessica Robinson, Children’s Ministry Director at Compass Christian Church in Mechanicsville, VA. Known as a “party planner for Jesus,” her contagious joy and deep love for the littlest disciples will leave you inspired and encouraged. Jessica shares practical wisdom on recruiting and retaining volunteers, building a ministry that welcomes families of all shapes and needs, and creating a culture of celebration and care. Whether you're leading in kids ministry or cheering from the sidelines, this conversation will fill your tank and spark new ideas.

Reach out to Jessica at [email protected]

You can listen to E.L. Jones and Mike Lynn (Jessica's Dad) talk about how compass came to be when two churches merged in Episode 47!

Listen here!

Remember you can always find us at
waypointchurchpartners.com

Follow us at
facebook.com/WaypointChurchPartners
instagram @waypointchurchpartners

The Waypoint Podcast is
hosted and produced by Dyke McCord
hosted, produced, and edited by Rebecca Hott

If you want to find out more about supporting Waypoint Church Plants head to
iplantchurches.com

Register for future Waypoint Events or reach out to any of our Staff!