Send Network Podcast

Jonah Easley was living as a missionary in China when he and his wife had their first child. They noticed developmental delays and brought him to America where he was diagnosed with autism. Amid having more children — each diagnosed with autism as well — they planted Awakening Church in Seattle, Washington. In this episode, Jonah vulnerably shares about how God has used his family to help him grow emotionally and spiritually, the church planting experience and the spiritual apathy of Washington state. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

There’s a lot of talk these days about leadership in the church. But what’s the difference between leadership development and disciple-making? In this episode, our hosts sit down with Charles Smith. He’s the Senior Vice President for Institutional Relations and Assistant Professor of Christian Leadership at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. They talk about what leadership is, who leaders are, how to differentiate between leadership development and disciple-making and how church planters can lead well. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

In this episode, Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, reflects on 20 years of church planting and ministry experience. He talks about how they planted their church without losing their family, the power and necessity of prayer, and one pivotal word of advice to new planters. Mentions: Vance Pitman Leadership Podcast Unburdened: Stop Living for Jesus so Jesus can Live Through You The Stressless Life: Experiencing the Unshakeable Presence of God’s Indescribable Peace

A proper view of the Kingdom of God is essential to planting a healthy church. God is expanding His rule and reign throughout the world, and every local church is a temporary tool established by Jesus to expand His Kingdom. In this episode, our hosts sit down with Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, to talk about the essential nature of having Kingdom perspective while church planting. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

For years now, Send Network churches and planters have been planting churches everywhere for everyone in the diverse place that is North America. In this episode, Noah, Dhati and Heiden talk with Félix Cabrera — regional director for Puerto Rico and director of Send Network Español — about how the gospel is moving forward through Spanish-language churches. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

In this episode, Dhati, Heiden and Noah talk about how to think missionally in the summer by looking at the gifts and resources you have in hand and deciding how to use them strategically. They also talk about how to rest with intentionality. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

Noah, Heiden and Dhati talked with special guest Ed Stetzer — executive director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center — at the Send Network breakfast at the SBC annual meeting this week. In this episode, they discuss where the future of the SBC and church planting is headed, covering everything from post-pandemic life to navigating differences. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

When it comes to membership and church plants, it can be complicated. In this episode, Dhati, Heiden and Noah talk about when and how to handle church membership. They also talk about the three-week challenge, how COVID-19 complicated things, and how to move from a social club mindset to a family mindset. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

In this week’s episode, Noah and Dhati react to a conversation from Twitter about church planting and friendships. Noah and Dhati talk about their personal experience, and how relationships and multiplication go together. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

In this week’s episode, Noah and Heiden — joined by Send Las Vegas team member Josh Carter — each discuss three things church planters should think about when planning the next season of their church’s life.  To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

In this week’s episode, Noah and Heiden interview Josh Carter, who recently joined the Send Las Vegas team. Josh recently came out of an amazing but challenging church planting adventure in Portland, Oregon, and shares about the spiritual warfare he faced, how he’s processing it and how he paced his church’s planting process.  To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

In another shot-clock-style episode, Heiden asks Noah questions on topics from Bible translations to multiplying church plants, along with where the name August Gate Church came from. A couple of surprises make it in there too, like home-run wars and missional beard oil. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

From time management to team management, Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner talk about the most challenging things about starting a church plant and what is still a struggle for them today.  To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

It’s a little bit of a trick question, but Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner talk through it with Shane Pruitt in part two of their conversation on evangelism. Plus, they share their three personal favorite ways to share the gospel.  To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

Has COVID killed the altar call? What’s the difference between an altar call and a gospel invitation, and how do you make them effective? Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Evangelism Director for the North American Mission Board, joins Noah Oldham and Heiden Ratner for the first of a two-part conversation on evangelism. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

What does it mean for a church planter to create a bonfire rather than a light post? What’s the best way to multiply small groups, and how much vacation time should a church planter take? In another shot clock style episode, Noah gives Dhati 30 seconds to answer questions on topics relevant to church planters—and topics like his favorite workout and current playlist. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

This week on We are Send Network, Dhati and Noah talk about the dynamics of planting a church in a gentrifying neighborhood. From navigating cultural preferences and unexpected changes, to making people feel welcome no matter their background, the guys talk about finding common ground and gospel effectiveness amid these tensions. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

Take a moment and dream of all the projects and mission opportunities you would take on if you had more people and a little bit more money. “Heart and resources often follow vision. I love bringing mission teams in to enable them to do what my people haven’t been able to do,” said cohost Noah Oldham. In this episode, Noah and Heiden Ratner talk about the advantages and potential drawbacks of having mission teams serve your church plant and how planters can practically help prepare them. Heiden also shares three clear goals he communicates to every mission team. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

What translation of the Bible should we use? What’s the perfect size of a small group? How long should my sermon be? In this shot clock style episode, Noah Oldham gives Heiden Ratner 30 seconds to answer common questions church planters often wonder about—along with some fun preferences, like Jordan or Kobe. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.                        

Church plants inevitably go through an ebb and flow of seasons. There’s the prelaunch and postlaunch seasons, and some seasons are full of success while others seem to pile up with obstacles. In this episode, our cohosts describe how they have stewarded the various seasons of church planting and how they have had to fight coveting the seasons others are in and their own past seasons of success. To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.