We Are Send Network

Church planters are never called to the mission alone. In this episode, cohosts Dhati Lewis, Heiden Ratner and Noah Oldham talk about how to develop a church planting team and the different roles people played on their planting teams as they were planting their churches.

For most pastors and church planters, Easter is a big day. And it’s a big evangelistic day as newcomers are more likely to be sitting in the pews. In this episode, Heiden Ratner and Noah Oldham get very practical about how pastors and planters can begin preparing for Easter this year.

In this episode, cohosts Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner are joined by special guest, Michael Byrd, the lead planter and pastor of Faith Community Bible Church in St. Louis, Missouri, to talk about Black History Month and kingdom contributions in the past, present and future — as well as church planting in the inner city.

In this episode, cohosts Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner are joined by special guest, Michael Byrd, the lead planter and pastor of Faith Community Bible Church in St. Louis, Missouri, to talk about Black History Month and the kingdom contributions of Black Christians in the past, present and future and church planting in the inner city.

How do we create a culture of generosity in our churches—especially in a season that has felt more depleting for many of our members? In this episode, pastors Heiden Ratner and Noah Oldham talk about a few ways planters, pastors and church leaders can help create a culture of generosity in their churches where members freely give their time, talents and treasures to those in need. To read church planting stories and to learn more about how you can generously invest in the work of church planting in North America visit AnnieArmstrong.com.

The Church is more than a Sunday gathering, but not less. And in this season where many haven’t been able to gather normally, we’ve had to take a step back and truly evaluate what Sunday is all about. Who is it for? The person who doesn’t know Christ? Those who are already in the body of Christ? Both? In this episode, our cohosts talk about who Sunday service is for and why it’s important for Christians to “not forsake the assembly,” even when we can’t meet in person.

Do you have a space where you’re really known? There comes a point in the church planting journey—after you’ve built community for everyone else—that it becomes difficult for planters and their wives to have community for themselves. In this episode, our cohosts discuss why authentic community is vital for church planting families, the models and rhythms of community and obstacles to having it.

Every context is different, and so are the thoughts and preferences of our co-hosts. In this episode, they discuss their preferences between the neighborhood model and the regional model — and how God sometimes led them in a different direction when they planted their churches.

How do the men and women surrounding the Christmas narrative — a story over 2,000 years old — give principles for church planting today? In this episode, co-hosts Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner share what the wise men, Joseph, Anna and Simeon remind us about several nonnegotiable principles of church planting.

How far in advance should pastors plan their sermons? Is it ever appropriate to deviate from your preaching calendar? In this episode, co-hosts Dhati Lewis, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner discuss how they think through preaching strategies, calendars and team teaching.