Always Forward Podcast

Season 8 of the Always Forward Podcast is just around the bend. In this preview episode, Canon Dan shares about some updates to our podcast, our new partnership, topics we will cover this season, as well as some upcoming events. We can't wait to share this season with you!

Here a bonus episode of the Always Forward Podcast! Listen in on a conversation between Canon Jeff Bailey and Rev. Claude Atcho, Vicar of Church of the Resurrection in Charlottesville, VA, and author of the Reading Black Books (available everywhere books are sold). In this engaging dialogue, Jeff and Claude delve into the profound ways our Anglican heritage ignites perseverance, the significance of immersing oneself in the local context, the enduring importance of joy as the cornerstone of our mission, and so much more. You're in for a treat—don't miss this episode!

On this special unscheduled episode of the Always Forward Podcast Canon Dan speaks with Fr Jason Hill, planter at Kingsfield Mission in Maui, Hawaii. Learn how this young church plant is helping with relief efforts in the wake of the tragic wildfires and how you can support this sister church plant as they bring hope amid the flames. Find out more about Kingsfield Mission and GIVE to their relief efforts on their website at www.kingsfieldmaui.com

Two Canons for Church Planting, Tuck Bartholomew and Jim Salladin, had a conversation around Tim Keller's life and legacy. Both were directly influenced by Dr. Keller's ministry and had plenty to share on this closing episode of Season 7.

Church planting is inherently a sacramental work--so how do we reclaim that sacramental work? Dr. Hans Boersma, keynote speaker at our upcoming Always Forward Conference in September, joins the show to discuss. You can get more details on the conference at www.always-forward.com/af-conference-2023.

How can we assess the health and state of our plants...before it's too late? Jim Griffith joins the show to discuss.

Recently the Global Anglican Future Conference convened in Kigali, Rwanda. Dan shares how church planters can navigate their work with the variety of issues swirling about in the international Anglican Communion.

How are the rich traditions of liturgical worship a gift to the work of starting new churches? Shawn McCain joins the show to interview Dan Alger on his new book, Word & Sacrament: Ancient Traditions for Modern Church Planting

Anxiety doesn't just exist within us; it exists between us. Rev. Kris McDaniel, rector of Trinity Anglican Church in Atlanta, joins the show to discuss family systems theory and how it applies to church planting.

How do spiritual disciplines or practices shape our lives and work in church planting? Fr. Aaron Damiani joins the show to discuss.

Hear the story of a church planting movement that's taking shape in West Virginia from Canon Ben Sharpe.

Your church is full of people who are NOT in full-time vocational ministry like you are. So how can we as church planters faithfully empower our parishioners in their vocational callings? Dr. Nathan Hedman joins the show to discuss.

What do the numbers really say about the Church? Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, joins the show to talk current trends and statistics.

What does it look like to follow a call into church planting? Chase Edgar, Vicar (lead planter) of Church of the Ascension in Anderson, SC shares his story. Interviewed by Seth Cain, Canon for Church Planting for the Diocese of the Carolinas.

What if church planting looked as simple as loving our neighbors as ourselves? Rev. Jamie Sosnowski, lead planter of the Parish Church at Habersham in Beaufort, SC joins the show to tell his story of planting in a community where everyone knows your name.

Is liturgy missional? Or are the two somehow opposed? Shawn McCain returns to the show to talk about how mission and liturgy are inextricably linked.

What can it look like to be Black and Anglican, both in America and globally? We're grateful @_revcameron, lead pastor at @emanspart, lent his expertise and experience in an important conversation about cultural heritage, ethnic identity, and Anglican church planting.

The phrase "Word and sacrament" is thrown around a lot in Anglican circles. But what does it really mean? Canon Dan explains.

Leaving the community you love. Planting during a pandemic. Enduring early struggles. But through it all, faithfulness to Jesus and his call. Kempton Jackson's stepped off the frontlines of ministry to give a plenary session at this year's Always Forward Conference, sharing a word from Luke 10.

It's hard to plant without the right people. But how do you gather them to pack up and follow you into the vision of your church? The Rev. Canon Todd Simonis joins to show to talk about gathering your launch team.

Dan chats with author and leader J.R. Briggs for a fresh perspective on Anglicanism—from the outside looking in—to help us as church planters see more clearly.

In our desire to strategically target cities over the past few decades, many church planting efforts have made the unfortunate mistake of overlooking rural areas. This week we chatted with Joshua Nelson, director of the Spalding Society, about rural church planting--why it matters and how it can be done successfully.

At this year's Always Forward Conference Dan got to sit down with our keynote speaker Dr. Curt Thompson, MD, to talk a little more about navigating trauma and shame in church planting--both within ourselves and the people we serve.

Jed Roseberry joins us to talk about the necessity of forming (and being formed by) sacred space in our church planting efforts.

After a two-year hiatus, we are back! Dan explains where we've been over the break, where we're going and what you can expect.

This week, Dan and Molly chat with Christine Warner from the Matthew 25 Initiative about race, justice, mercy, and what that looks like from the perspective of a new church planter AND in the ACNA as a whole.

On the latest episode of the podcast, Dan and Molly are addressing how to stay in it for the long haul in their latest FB Live! session. In a time of burnout, how do we find perseverance?

This episode of the podcast is the audio taken from a recent talk given by The Rev. Canon Dan Alger about how to think through strategic planning in regards to ReGathering during the COVID-19 pandemic. What should be considered? Who should be involved in those decisions? Is there one right way?

On this episode, The Rev. Canon Dan Alger talks with Bp. Steve Breedlove on the sacrament of Communion in a virtual world. How does it work? What has the College of Bishops said about it? What can church planters do?

On this episode, The Rev. Canon Dan Alger takes just a few minutes to encourage church planters during one of the most important weeks of the Church year that will most certainly look different than it has before.

On this episode, The Rev. Canon Dan Alger talks with The Rev. Karen Miller, LCSW(Anglican priest and Licensed Therapist) about how to recognize and handle anxiety and depression during these uncertain times.

What a couple of weeks it's been. It's hard to know where to begin. The Always Forward team is remembering you daily in our prayers. Canon Dan Alger takes a few minutes to encourage everyone during this time while also giving some practical advice during this global pandemic. We never thought we'd have to record this one-- but here it is!

We wrap up the official podcast for Season 4 with a discussion about how Advent and other liturgical occurrences can impact a church plant. Dan and Shawn discuss their experiences and share some thoughts about how to encourage your church through this, often uncelebrated, liturgical season. Enjoy!

We're almost to the end of Season 4 and Shawn McCain gloriously returns to take up his co-host chair! Our duo talks about branding and why it is more important than you think and offer some helpful tips about how to do a lot with a little. Enjoy!

Season 4 is rolling right along and on episode 3 we are joined by special guests Alex and Fr. Stephen from the Word & Table Podcast. Word & Table has been doing excellent work in both the Anglican and podcasting worlds for a couple of years now and there is a lot to talk about. Enjoy!

Welcome back to Season 4 of The Always Forward Podcast! Dan is without his normal co-host Shawn on this one, but he brings in an amazing guest on the topic of administration, Jessie Meriwether. The two chat about the importance of investing in administration and when a church should look in that direction. Enjoy!

The Always Forward Podcast is back! We kick off Season 4 of the show with Dan and Shawn updating what's been going on in their worlds before talking about promising changes that are coming to the show. They spend the bulk of the episode tackling an intriguing question that Shawn proposed to Dan in a recent conversation. Enjoy!

Justin Reed-Smith joins Dan and Shawn once more on the Always Forward Podcast. This time tackling the idea of hospitality and its place in evangelism. Justin also explains the Minster Model of church planting and how it is impacting the work of the Diocese of Western Anglicans. And don't worry, Shawn didn't know what "Minster" was either.

From Willy Wonka to purpose statements to community vision - Dan and Shawn talk about these oft-criticized foundational elements. How can they be of use? And where do some of the pitfalls within them lie?

What role does beauty play in forming and creating your church community? Should it play a role?! If so, how? We talk with Gary Ball, church planter in Asheville, NC about the idea that beauty is not just decorative, it is formative.

Dan and Shawn talk through some common pitfalls that we experience as Anglicans as well as how we can address these blindspots to better relate to one another and our calling to be disciples of Christ.

Sessions from the Always Forward 2018 Conference. Pastor Kris McDaniel provides a template for our own formation with God as well as how we can form and mentor young men and women who are coming up after us.

Sessions from the Always Forward 2018 Conference. Daniel Yang, Director of the Send Institute, provided a global perspective on our approach to church planting.

Sessions from The Always Forward 2018 Conference. Bp. Stewart Ruch, shared his passion for church multiplication and cautioned attendees with the need to resist cultural pressures.

Sessions from The Always Forward 2018 Conference. Canon Dan Alger, welcomed attendees to the conference, reminding them of both why and how we plant churches within our Anglican context.

Dan and Shawn talk through their top theology and practical books for use when planting an Anglican church.

Dan and Shawn geek out a bit (ok, really it's just Shawn who does the geeking out) with Dr. Eric Geiger as they discuss his take on leadership development and organizational structure in the church.

S2E8 - "Planters at a Pub on a Podcast: Matters of Mission" by Dan Alger & Shawn McCain

Church planting is not just an urban adventure or for the overseas mission fields. Rural America is in need of the Gospel and church plants to bring it to them. Dan and Shawn chat with Fr. Victor Shreffler about his experience, insight, and prayers for rural church planting in this episode of the Always Forward Podcast.

Shawn and Dan are back! Shawn's family has grown by one child and Dan is finalizing his dissertation. It's been an exciting time for these two gents and they're excited to be back for the Spring session of the Always Forward Podcast. For this first episode, Jenny Noyes, Executive Director for New Wineskins, joins us to talk about the importance of mission...even in a new church plant.

Molly Ruch shares her perspective with us on the role of community in church planting as well as the role of the church planters wife.