Unfiltered: Real Church Planting Conversations

Most church planters come to a point where they’ll get the itch to do something new. Hosts Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss what planters should do when they reach this crossroad in ministry.

1:10 Danny discusses the entrepreneurial nature of church planters.

3:00 Lee talks about how moving from survival mode to sustainability can lead to a desire to do something else.

5:10 Danny encourages planters to find other outlets to use their entrepreneurial gifts.

7:15 Danny talks about how he was able to find the fulfillment of doing something new while staying in his role at his church plant.

9:00 Lee says it’s normal for a planter to get an itch to do something else.

10:10 Lee talks about how he deciphered if his itch to replant was from the Lord.

10:55 Danny shares a question to ask yourself when a larger church approaches you about leading their church.

12:00 Lee talks about the need to transition well when leaving your church plant.

12:35 Danny says if a planter leaves before the church is in a permanent facility, it will be difficult for the church to survive.

When should you hire? Who should you hire? How do you know that you can actually afford to hire? Hosts Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee answer these and other important staffing questions for church planters.

1:05 Danny talks about how long it took for his church plant to make its first hire and what the position was.

3:15 Danny shares the best advice he received about making his first hire and how it played out in his church plant.

5:00 Lee explains why both his church plants decided to hire some key staff members before the grand opening and discusses the advantages and challenges of the decision.

9:20 Lee talks about how he identified candidates for his first hires.

11:40 Lee and Danny discuss the support-raising process for new hires.

15:05 Danny talks about how to know when it’s the right time to make a hire.

16:45 Lee discusses two things he uses as a grid and framework for hiring staff.

18:40 Lee and Danny talk about balancing the tension of hiring staff and using volunteers.

20:15 Lee shares the biggest recommendation he’s given a church planter on the hiring process.

When’s the right time for a church plant to add a worship service? Hosts Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee share what they’ve learned over the years, including what did and didn’t work and the best ways to announce the change to your church.

1:25 Danny says he was surprised that the launch team and the other people in his church didn’t share his excitement about adding another service.

4:05 Lee shares that the last two churches he planted started with two services.

5:35 Lee says when you hit 80 percent capacity in one service, it’s time to add a second service.

7:15 Danny talks about one of the biggest fears for a planter when adding a service: losing momentum.

9:00 Danny says it’s important to change the time of both services when adding a service so that everyone has to change.

11:00 Danny and Lee talk about how they let people in their church know they were adding a service. Danny says it’s important to give people time to process the news and explain why you’re doing it. Lee recommends sharing with key leaders before you announce the news to the congregation so that they become spokesmen for the change.

13:00 Lee says children’s ministry leaders need to be brought into the loop far in advance because they will be affected more than any other ministry of the church.

13:30 Four to six weeks before adding a new service, Lee encourages pastors to ask the congregation to volunteer to attend the new service. “Say ‘I need 50 of you right now to commit to going to the 9:30 service,’ and have them raise a hand.”

14:50 Danny warns about giving people “the leftovers” when adding a new service.

16:20 Lee shares how he gave people an incentive to come to the Saturday night service.

16:35 Danny discusses what he loves and hates about Saturday night services as a pastor.

Marlan Mincks, co-director of Converge Assessment Centers, joins hosts Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee for a behind-the-scenes look at how he helps people find and clarify their next step in ministry.

1:05 Marlan talks about what has changed and stayed the same at the assessment center over the years.

2:15 Danny asks Marlan to respond to those who think assessment centers are like a boot camp or an initiation process.

3:45 Marlan shares the qualities that indicate a person is ready to be assessed.

4:55 Marlan discusses why Converge uses a multi-day assessment process.

6:20 Danny asks Marlan how people can know the right time to be assessed.

7:20 Lee asks Marlan if married candidates should bring their spouse to the assessment. Marlan also talks about being assessed if you’re not married.

9:20 Marlan discusses the three outcomes candidates receive at the end of the assessment.

12:10 Marlan shares troubling trends he’s seen in assessment candidates in recent years.

14:30 Marlan talks about one of the craziest things he’s seen at an assessment center.

Is God calling you to church planting ministry? Glenn Herschberger, executive director of Church Planting for Converge Great Lakes, joins Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee to discuss his unconventional journey to become a church planter after working as a police officer for 24 years.

1:45 Glenn discusses how he went from being a police officer to working in ministry.

4:30 Glenn shares how his work as an officer led to his desire to want to plant a church.

6:30 Glenn talks about how God called him to leave his church plant after 11 years to plant a church in Panama City, Panama.

8:55 Glenn discusses what he learned at his first church plant that was helpful in planting a second time, including the importance of understanding the culture(s).

11:00 Glenn talks about what he learned as an international church planter that has helped in his church planting role for Converge Great Lakes.

12:40 Glenn tells a funny story from his time in Panama City.

14:30 Glenn shares his advice for people who feel they are being called to ministry.

16:35 Glenn talks about getting theological training in the middle of his career.

After planting his first church in 2009, Lee Stephenson did it again in 2018. Fellow church planting leader Danny Parmelee talks with Lee about what it’s like to plant a church for the second time.

2:35 Lee discusses his experience planting his first church in an Arizona movie theater in 2009.

6:10 Lee talks about what has been more challenging about planting a second time.

11:00 Lee shares about what has changed in the church planting landscape since he planted the first time.

12:50 Lee discusses the advantages of having planted before.

15:15 Lee talks about an unexpected challenge he faced in his second church plant.

19:45 Lee shares advice for planters thinking about planting for a second time.

20:15 Lee and Danny talk about dealing with the fear that comes with planting for a second time.

Converge church planting leaders Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss the positive and negative aspects of a church wanting to merge with your church plant.

1:15 Danny talks about the opportunities and challenges he’s seen with mergers.

3:00 Lee asks Danny if his church plant was ever approached about a merger.

4:55 Lee talks about why he doesn’t like the word “merger.”

6:40 Danny and Lee discuss how the influx of new people from a merger will affect the culture and leadership of your church plant.

8:25 Lee shares his experience of taking over a facility from a dying church.

9:50 Danny and Lee talk about the importance of doing your homework when a church wants to give you a building.

14:15 Danny says it’s important to get everything in writing and make sure you’re dealing with the people who are really in charge.

15:55 Danny and Lee talk about making staffing/leadership decisions after a merger.

19:05 Lee and Danny share the biggest things to keep in mind when considering a merger.

Converge church planting leaders Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss strategies for creating a culture of evangelism in your church plant.

0:50 Danny talks about the shift he’s seen of emphasizing discipleship over evangelism.

1:45 Lee says the church planters who are coming to Converge’s assessment center aren’t as evangelistic as they used to be.

2:30 Danny discusses his personal experience with evangelism.

4:25 Lee talks about how evangelism has to be a driving factor in the church plant.

5:35 Lee and Danny say church planters need to be modeling evangelism in their daily lives.

7:25 Lee discusses how to create a culture of evangelism during the launch phase.

9:45 Lee says it’s important to help our people understand that lost people are not projects: You’re called to love them, and that means even if they reject your Christ.

11:25 Lee talks about helping people in your church understand their role in evangelism – it’s not just the pastor’s responsibility; we’re all commissioned by Jesus to go and make disciples.

14:25 Danny and Lee discuss the importance of planning intentional times when people will be able to respond to the gospel message (communion, baptisms, special Sundays).

17:00 Lee and Danny talk about what to say when people complain about the gospel being presented too frequently or about the way people are being asked to respond (“Will you say yes to following Jesus?”).

18:25 Lee shares his final thoughts: As a pastor and planter, you have to be doing evangelism. You have to be out in the community, building relationships and letting people know who you are and why you’re there.

Share the gospel and share your stories, including your failures. Create the expectation that everyone needs to share their faith.

As a church planter, you often feel like you’re being pulled in every direction and there’s always more work to do. Converge church planting leaders Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss best practices for managing your schedule.

1:00 Danny talks about things he’s learned about time management over the years.

3:40 Lee shares five questions he asks himself when evaluating his schedule.

5:35 Danny discusses the importance of understanding the rhythms of stress and rest.

7:05 Lee and Danny talk about setting boundaries.

10:45 Lee discusses the importance of planning time off in your calendar.

12:50 Lee talks about two books that he’s found to be helpful.

13:20 Danny and Lee encourage listeners not to fall into the trap of “the tyranny of the urgent.”

Converge church planting leaders Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss how to start and lead a capital campaign at your church plant — by yourself or with the help of a consultant.

0:55 Lee and Danny talk about the different capital campaigns they led at their churches.

3:10 Danny shares his thoughts on campaign lengths.

7:45 Danny says that after going through a campaign most of his fears weren’t realized.

9:20 Danny discusses his opinion on whether to hire a consultant.

10:55 Danny talks about what makes a good consultant.

12:05 Lee says planters shouldn’t be afraid to lead a capital campaign without a consultant.

13:50 Danny talks about how soon a church planter should think about starting his first capital campaign.

14:40 Lee ends the episode by encouraging listeners: When hiring a capital campaign consultant company make sure they fit your culture and understand your context.