Pastor to Pioneer

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, Britton Smith interviews Mark Douglas, exploring his journey from a traditional pastoral role to a more transformative approach to ministry. Mark shares his experiences of feeling inadequate and frustrated within the prevailing church model, the challenges he faced in his ministry, and the realizations that led him to seek a different path. The conversation delves into the systemic issues within the church, the importance of evangelism, and the personal struggles that shaped Mark's faith journey. He discusses the challenges of resignation, the healing process through grace, and the importance of community. 

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, Britton Smith interviews Suzie Judd, a pastor and catalyst for disciple-making movements. Suzie shares her journey of faith, her early life, and the formation of her church with her husband, Matt. They discuss their approach to evangelism, the impact of signs and wonders, and the importance of empowering believers to share their faith. Suzie emphasizes the need for lasting fruit in ministry and the challenges they faced in transitioning their church's focus towards equipping every believer to be a laborer in the harvest.

In this episode, Nick Roe shares his journey from being a youth pastor to stepping away from the traditional church model to pursue real estate and personal wellness. He discusses his early faith experiences, the challenges he faced in church leadership, and the business mindset he applied to ministry. Nick reflects on the struggles with bitterness and the importance of seeking help, ultimately leading to personal transformation and a focus on health and wellness. Nick emphasizes the importance of personal growth, discipleship, and the impact of this transition on his family, ultimately encouraging others to embrace their own journeys of faith without fear of judgment.

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, Britton interviews Duncan Slaughter, who shares his transformative journey from a life of partying to becoming a devoted follower of Jesus. Duncan recounts his early life filled with challenges, a supernatural encounter that changed his perspective, and his eventual decision to pursue seminary and church planting. He emphasizes the importance of discipleship and community in his ministry, ultimately leading to the establishment of a network of house churches in Houston. He discusses the importance of discipleship, the balance between structure and being spirit-led, and the role of authenticity and vulnerability in building community. Duncan reflects on his early mistakes in leadership, the significance of reproducible methods, and the value of life change groups in fostering spiritual growth. 

In this conversation, Britton Smith and Neal Karsten explore the complexities of transitioning church models, focusing on the challenges and opportunities presented by different approaches to disciple-making. They discuss three primary paths: transitioning existing churches, adopting a hybrid model, and pioneering new works. The conversation highlights the emotional and practical difficulties faced by pastors and congregations during these transitions, emphasizing the importance of understanding foundational issues and the dynamics of church movements. 

In part 2 of our mini series, Neal Karsten join us again to discuss 8 different cracks we see in the foundation of the institution. The conversation explores the challenges faced by modern churches regarding branding, competition, and the implications of centralization versus decentralization. They emphasize the importance of aligning church practices with biblical foundations rather than merely following established customs. They explore the complexities of church customs, the role of money in church dynamics, and the importance of flexibility in church practices. They discuss the potential for being the church without financial dependence and the need for a decentralized approach to money management. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of examining the foundations of church models, identifying key issues such as consumerism, and the importance of personal reflection and repentance in the church community.

This is episode 1 of a special 3 part podcast series with our guest Neal Karsten. In episode 1,  Britton and Neal navigate the complexities of church community, discipleship, and the impact of COVID-19 on traditional church models. They reflect on their experiences of gathering in homes, the challenges of empowering others, and the need for foundational changes within the church system. The discussion also highlights the importance of evaluating practices against biblical standards and recognizing the difference between individuals and the church system they operate within. In this conversation, Neal and Britton explore the complexities of church dynamics, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. They discuss the challenges of separating the church from the institutional system, the impact of consumerism on church attendance and engagement, and the importance of foundational issues in church models. 

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, Britton interviews Guy Caskey, who shares his transformative journey from a troubled youth to a passionate disciple-maker and church planter. Guy discusses his early struggles with identity and substance abuse, his radical encounter with God, and his subsequent call to ministry. He reflects on the challenges of navigating traditional church culture, the importance of discipleship, and the impact of global missions. Throughout the conversation, Guy emphasizes the need for authenticity, relationship-building, and a Christ-centered approach to ministry. In this conversation, Guy Caskey shares insights on maintaining relationships across different church models, the challenges of working within mega church structures, and the importance of spiritual parenting. He emphasizes the need for identity, intimacy, and influence in ministry, and discusses the significance of trusting God for provision while navigating financial security. The dialogue also touches on the importance of casting vision for community and investing in a few to reach many, while cultivating a culture of spiritual parenting and ensuring the sustainability of church multiplication efforts.

In this episode, Britton and Daniel Towner discuss Daniel's journey from a non-church background to becoming a pastor and pioneer in Philadelphia. Daniel shifted from an acting career in New York City, to a pastoral role in ministry, including a role as a director of discipleship, and is now pioneering a simple movement. The conversation highlights the importance of faith, community, and the pursuit of lost souls. He emphasizes the importance of prayer, the challenges of support raising, and the transformative power of being present in the community. Daniel discusses the significance of listening to God's guidance and the need to avoid comparison with others in ministry. He encourages listeners to embrace their unique calling and to be open to the work God is doing in their lives and communities.

In this episode, Mark Goering shares his transformative journey from a traditional pastoral role to embracing a simple church model focused on disciple-making. He reflects on his struggles with faith, identity, and mental health, and how a group of believers helped him find authentic faith. Mark discusses the challenges he faced while trying to implement new methods of church leadership and the eventual decision to step away from traditional structures to pursue a more organic approach to ministry in Queens, New York.   Learn more at https://multiplyingdisciples.us

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, Britton interviews Chris and Sarah Greenwood, who share their journey from traditional pastoral roles to exploring new forms of ministry. They discuss their early life experiences, the challenges of pastoral expectations, and the importance of discipleship. The conversation highlights their realizations about the limitations of traditional church models and their desire to seek out those who are not actively pursuing faith. Chris and Sarah emphasize the need for a more personal and relational approach to ministry, ultimately leading them to consider new directions in their calling. They share their transformative journey from pastoral ministry to the marketplace, discussing the challenges and growth they experienced along the way. They emphasize the importance of seeking people, the dynamics of family life during transitions, and the newfound compassion Chris has developed in his role as a financial planner. The couple reflects on their faith journey, the significance of community, and the lessons learned about dependency on God during difficult times.

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, Joe Schimmels from NOVO shares his transformative journey from a non-religious background to becoming a passionate disciple-maker. He discusses the importance of inner healing, identity in Christ, and the loneliness often felt in pastoral roles. Joe emphasizes the distinction between apostolic and pastoral epistles, advocating for a movement mindset that focuses on multiplying disciples rather than merely growing local churches. He also highlights the significance of authority and power in prayer, drawing parallels to his experiences in various ministry contexts. In this conversation, Joe Schimmels discusses the importance of understanding authority in prayer, the role of expectation, and the need for training in spiritual authority. He shares real-life stories of healing and emphasizes the significance of engaging with unbelievers and transitioning conversations to spiritual discussions. The conversation highlights the necessity of intimacy with the Father and encourages listeners to embrace their spiritual aches for more in their lives and communities.   Novo Website: https://novo.org/

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer Podcast, Britton interviews Brent Hoffman, a former worship pastor and church planter. Brent shares his journey from being a worship leader to leading multi-site churches, discussing the challenges of church growth, leadership sustainability, and the shift towards discipleship and simplicity in ministry. In this conversation, Brent Hofen shares his transformative journey from traditional church leadership to a model of simple obedience and disciple-making. He discusses the importance of co-laboring with other believers, the shift to "tent-making" for income, and the profound rest he has found in following Jesus' teachings. Brent emphasizes the significance of spiritual conversations, the sacredness of time, and the impact of these changes on his family, highlighting the joy of seeing his children engage in the mission of spreading the gospel.

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer Podcast, host Britton interviews Todd Linder from Launch Point, which works with people transitioning from ministry to the marketplace. Todd discusses his background, the challenges faced by pastors transitioning out of ministry, and the importance of aligning personal values with organizational culture. Todd emphasizes the significance of relationships over numbers and the need for emotional health in navigating these transitions. He discusses the process of translating church experience into marketable skills, the significance of understanding one's 'why' in job searching and the necessity of building a supportive network for successful career transitions. Visit the Launch Point website and take the quiz:  http://go.ministrytomarketplace.co/ptp

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, host Britton talks with Mike Wiggin, who shares his journey through pastoral ministry, church planting, and the evolution of his approach to disciple making. Mike discusses the challenges he faced in his early ministry, the dynamics of raising a family with young marriages, and the importance of simplicity in ministry. He emphasizes the need for a shift from traditional church models to a focus on making disciple makers, ultimately leading to the establishment of X2 networks and a new vision for ministry. In this conversation, Mike Wiggin discusses the evolution of church models, focusing on the emergence of micro churches and the challenges faced by traditional church structures. He emphasizes the importance of community, the need for a shift in paradigms, and the role of shepherds in sustaining movements. Mike also shares insights on church planting trends and offers advice for those looking to pioneer disciple-making movements, highlighting the necessity of listening to the Holy Spirit and innovating beyond traditional frameworks.

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, Britton hosts Pocho and Ale Blanco from Costa Rica, who share their inspiring journey of faith, ministry, and the radical changes they have embraced in their ministry. They discuss their personal stories of coming to faith, the challenges of traditional church structures, and their transition to a more disciple-focused approach to ministry after the Lord gave them a new vision. The conversation highlights the importance of listening to God's voice, the need for authentic community, and the fulfillment that comes from obedience to God's calling.

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, Britton and Dana Bryan discuss the emotional and relational journey of transitioning from traditional pastoral roles to simpler, house church models. Dana shares his personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of relationships in fostering transformation and maturity. They explore the role of Jesus in this journey and encourage listeners to invite Him into every aspect of their lives, highlighting that true maturity involves understanding and navigating relationships with grace and love.

In this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, Britton and Chris Galanos discuss the transformative journey of church planting and the shift from traditional models to a multiplication-focused approach. Chris shares his personal story of starting a church in Lubbock, Texas, the challenges faced during the transition, and the importance of prayer and community in ministry. They explore the significance of coaching for pastors and the need for a collective journey in pursuing movements. Chris emphasizes the importance of expecting a great harvest and being open to where God leads, encouraging listeners to embrace the journey of faith and transformation. Website: https://www.experiencelifenow.com From Megachurch to Multiplication: A Church's Journey Toward Movement book- https://www.amazon.com/Megachurch-Multiplication-Churchs-Journey-Movement/dp/173286960X

In this conversation, Jordon Baker shares his journey from being an associate pastor to engaging in disciple making movements. He discusses the natural progression of his ministry and the importance of prayer and community in fulfilling the Great Commission. Jordon emphasizes the need for flexibility in disciple making, the significance of abiding in Jesus, and the value of collaboration with other ministries who do church differently than us. He also highlights the global initiative of 10 Days of Prayer and the integration of prayer with disciple making efforts. Links: 10 Days of Prayer: www.10days.net Ministering to the House or to God?, by Watchman Nee: https://www.ministrysamples.org/excerpts/THE-DIFFERENCE-BETWEEN-MINISTERING-TO-THE-HOUSE-AND-MINISTERING-TO-THE-LORD-1.HTML

Bo Johnson shares his journey from being a pastor to transitioning his church to meet in homes. He discusses his passion for house churches and the importance of building relationships and making disciples. Bo explains the process of selling the church building and the challenges they faced. He also talks about the benefits of house churches, such as increased intimacy and focus on discipleship. Bo's ultimate goal is to help others start house churches and create a network of interconnected gatherings. He expresses his hope to see a shift in the body of Christ towards more intimate and relational gatherings in homes.

Lewie Clark and Ryan Seibert share their journeys from the institutional church to disciple-making work in Chicago. They discuss the challenges of integrating disciple-making and pastoral ministry, the importance of love and hospitality in building kingdom communities, and the role of singles and families in discipleship. They emphasize the need for tailor-made discipleship and the value of proximity and community in the discipleship process. They also highlight the significance of love as the central focus of discipleship and the essence of God's character.   Get the book "Imitating Jesus: Love, Friendship, and Disciple-Making": https://www.amazon.com/Imitating-Jesus-Love-Friendship-Disciple-Making/dp/1449743862   View Website: https://www.iconministries.org

Rick and Ashley Socks share their journey from getting married young to becoming pastors and eventually starting a home church. They faced challenges in their marriage and ministry, including infertility, health issues, and strained relationships. They share their journey of transitioning from traditional church ministry to a more organic and family-focused approach. Through their experience, they have learned to trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to shape their ministry. They encourage others to embrace simplicity and authenticity in their faith journey.

Steven Lee shares his journey from being a pastor in a traditional church to starting a house church. He talks about the challenges he faced and the questions he had to wrestle with, including his identity and the role of preaching. Steven emphasizes the importance of personal transformation and authenticity in ministry, rather than just following a specific model. He shares a powerful story of a sermon that impacted him and reminded him of the true focus of his ministry: pointing people to Jesus. In this conversation, Steven and Britton discuss the importance of cultivating a deep friendship with Jesus and how it impacts our relationships with others. 

Cody Mahaffy shares his journey from a life of partying and spiritual bondage to encountering the Holy Spirit and surrendering his life to Jesus. He discusses his discernment process and the year of discernment he and his wife embarked on, which led them to leave their full-time ministry positions and pursue a new calling. He and his wife, Moriah, have different gifts and perspectives, but they are learning to challenge and support each other as they navigate this journey. 

In this episode, Britton interviews Karl House, the leader of the Way Micro Churches in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Karl shares his journey from being a pastor to pioneering the micro church movement. They discuss the importance of relationships with Jesus, the Bible, community, and the world in micro churches. Karl emphasizes the freedom and flexibility in micro churches, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and individuals to actively participate. He also highlights the need for everyone to play a role in micro churches, creating an environment where everyone can contribute and grow.

Donnie Dickens, a pastor from Alabama, had a strong desire for more impactful ministry and realized that the traditional mold of ministry was not the best approach. Through research and reading books by Frank Viola, he discovered alternative ways of doing church and saw the need for a shift in focus. In this episode, he emphasizes the importance of genuine worship, smaller but more clear disciple making, and breaking free from traditional practices that may hinder growth. 

In this conversation, Luc Jackson and Britton discuss their experiences with simple church and the importance of intergenerational relationships. They talk about the joy of doing church with family and the value of including older generations in the church community. They also explore the difference between their previous experiences in traditional church settings and their current journey in simple church. Luc shares his struggle with the loss of his father and the search for a spiritual father figure. They encourage pastors on a similar journey to embrace their fears and surround themselves with wise mentors.

Tim Mezera shares his journey from pastoring a multi-site church to transitioning to house churches and disciple-making in Detroit. The transition was prompted by a realization that the focus on numbers and finances was not aligned with the call to make disciples. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Tim had a powerful encounter with the fear of the Lord and a renewed focus on the Great Commission. He and his wife made the decision to rethink church and transitioned to a network of house churches. 

On the final episode of Season 4, we cover the topic of how to raise financial support well. This is for those pastors who decide they want to go the route of raising support and pioneering full-time. We have John and Devin Marshall from New Hampshire along with Matt Schneider from Massachusetts. They share their own wrestling and experiences with raising full support and what this has looked like in each of their lives.

Eric shares practical advice and wisdom for pastors who are considering transitioning into the marketplace. He talks about common mistakes and practical first steps. www.ihelppastorsgetjobs.com eric@Ihelppastorsgetjobs.com

Welcome to episode 7 of season 4! Today we have Logan Wolf joining us from Salt Lake City, Utah. Logan and his wife moved out to Salt Lake in 2011 to plant a church and later transitioned to starting a network of house churches. We shared a lot of laughs and stories on today's episode as we each reflect on our failures in this transition process and what we have learned along the way.   Logan Wolf - pastor@crosspointutah.com

Welcome to episode 6 of season 4 of the Pastor to Pioneer Podcast. Today I have Josh Chaffin from Central Michigan and Justin Roper from Charlotte, North Carolina. We are discussing the topic of how do you help you family transition well from pastoring to pioneering? These guys share a lot of wisdom and things they have learned along the way through their different timelines and experiences.

Today I have Damian Gerke from Tampa, Florida. And Neil Karsten from Holland, Michigan joining us as we jump into episode five of this season and talk about the topic that your job is NOT your calling. It's a common question. It's a common wrestling a lot of pastors have. Let's dive in.        

Welcome to episode 4 of season 4! Today we continue to talk about how do you transition well from being a pastor into pioneering, disciple making, and simple church movements? Today we're having a conversation around this topic of how transparent should you be with your church when you're starting to grow in conviction and wrestling through some big questions about what it means to follow Jesus and be the church. How transparent should you be with people? When should you be transparent? What group of people should you be transparent with? How transparent should you be when you decide to leave and why you're leaving? Today I have two friends on the podcast that are at different places on this journey. Jim Pool from Detroit and Delton Lehman from Pennsylvania. Jim transitioned away from being a pastor two years ago, and Delton is in the middle of that process right now. He is going to be transitioning out of his role as a pastor in the prevailing model of the church at the end of the year. 

  Welcome to episode 3 of this season of the Pastor to Pioneer Podcast. We have a great conversation with Matt Schneider in New England, and Isaac Dagneau in British Columbia. These guys are at two very, very different points of the journey from pastor to pioneer, but really share some very interesting and helpful insights about how do you engage your leadership in the church? How do you have conversations? What to consider? They share some things to think through, and some really incredible things that I hope is as encouraging for you as much as it was for me.

Welcome to episode two of this season of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast. This season, we're continuing to tackle the topic of how do you transition well from pastoring in the prevailing model of the church to pioneering disciple-making and simple church movements. Today I've got Neil Karsten and Patty Nemazi to talk about how do you do this well in terms of relational considerations? How will relationships change? What do you do about the change in those relationships? Both of them will get to share their stories and share incredible wisdom and insight for pastors who are making the transition, how to do this well, and how they considered the relational impact of making a transition. I hope it's encouraging for you as much as it was for me.

We are kicking off Season 4! On this episode of the Pastor to Pioneer podcast, I have two friends that join me, Tyler Dipprey and Jordan Baker. You may remember Tyler, who has been on the podcast before. He's from Lubbock, Texas, and was part of a team that transitioned a church of 10,000 people and 10 campuses into a decentralized network of house churches, so he experienced the approach of trying to transition a whole church.  Jordan, on the other hand, was not a senior pastor, but was an associate pastor of a church in Mansfield, Ohio. He didn't try to transition the whole church, but he was sent out by his church to continue the work of pioneering disciple-making and simple church movements.  This episode covers two different perspectives. They bring up so many amazing thoughts to consider when you're going through that questioning of these things like, "I'm having conviction about the church and following Jesus, is it just for me or is it for the whole church? Do I just get sent out or do I try to transition my whole church?"

Hello and welcome for the final time—this season—to Pastor to Pioneer.  This week brings both Britton's travels and season three to a close.  Britton reconvenes with Neal and Matt to wrap things up, and shares with them about being ready to move his family into his mom's house as they discern what God has in store for them next.  The guys spend some time talking about various aspects of detox that are necessary for pastors when they step away from the prevailing model of the church.  Britton shares some of the insights he gained on this topic from his time on the road, while Matt and Neal join in by sharing from their experience coaching pastors.  The guys discuss the difficulties of attempting to detox, process, and separate from something while you're still in that self same environment.  As things draw to a close, Britton shares about his desire to be more mindful of living into several of the things God taught him while on the road, no matter where this next season of life brings him and his family.

Hello all, and welcome to the penultimate episode of season three of Pastor to Pioneer.  As Britton nears the culmination of his travels and conversations, he connects with Taylor and Laura Birkey in the suburbs of Chicago.  It's a reunion for them, as in college Taylor and Britton had together been part of a group that looked a lot like a house church.   Taylor and Laura share with Britton what they've been up to since that time, revealing that they were both lay leaders in their prevailing-model church, and Taylor was an elder for a long time.  Years ago, though, they began to ask questions about why we do church the way we do it, and Britton recommended they read Letters to the Church by Francis Chan.  That led to some deeper conversations with the other church elders.  When COVID hit, they pivoted as a church body to everyone meeting in homes.  They tried many different iterations of this but as COVID restrictions lifted they decided to not go back to what they had been doing previously.  The church now meets three Sundays a month in homes around the western suburbs of Chicago, and once a month gets together for a larger gathering.  As the conversation continues, Taylor and Laura share that not only was their church body going through a major transition, but they were personally doing the same.  They bought an old fixer upper home that required major amounts of work.  Taylor and Laura talk about the difficulties and frustrations of desiring to host people in their home yet not having it be in good condition to do so.  They discuss the parallels to letting people into the unfinished work of their home and letting people into the unfinished work of their hearts, as well as the value of a “long work” in the midst of a culture that only wants quick change and immediate results.  In other areas of the day-to-day, Laura is currently a life coach and a photographer, as well as holding down a few other side gigs.  Taylor works in marketing and communications for Lions Clubs International.   Instagram: @instatay and @lulubizu  

Hello and welcome back to Pastor to Pioneer season 3.  This week, on episode 20, Britton—still on the road—connects with Nick and Caren Harringshaw.  Nick and Caren are based in St. Paul, MN, and have known our host for quite some time.  Caren was part of the first house church that Britton experienced, dating back to 2014 when he was first exploring the world of simple church. Caren shares how that time transformed her life—how she then continued to be part of the gathering that met at Britton's home and became part of the Smith family.  Caren and Nick go on to discuss moving to the Twin Cities area for a teaching job for Caren, how they had separate ministries there, as well as the challenges of those ministries coming together.  Nick had been a well known presence in the Frogtown area of St. Paul and Caren was joining in on that.  They realized that they were helping people have powerful encounters with God but it never translated to lasting discipleship.  Nick and Caren have recently stepped away from their other ministries and into intentional disciple making and simple church planting in their own neighborhood as missionaries.  Nick and Caren have 1 year old twin girls and share the ways in which their world shrank drastically when the girls were born.  They also talk about how they wrestled with what felt like a shrinking impact.  They realized, however, that they have grown and that God has taught them so much through slowing down and prioritizing their family.  They have come to realize that you can't bypass or work around your family to help others become a spiritual family.  

Welcome back to life on the road with Pastor to Pioneer.  This week for episode 19 of season 3, Britton reconnects with an old friend.  Peter Schuett now lives in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, and shares about the beginning of his walk with the Lord, from the darkness of drugs and alcohol to coming through the tunnel to the light on the other side thanks to God's grace.  As Peter walked through these things, the Lord gave him the heart of an evangelist and the desire to share God's story in his life.  He eventually became a youth pastor and then an outreach pastor at a church in Holland, MI for several years.  Peter and his wife Jessie then felt called to return to their home of the Twin Cities.  From there, Peter worked with an evangelistic ministry that did large outreach events in various parts of Africa.  Though he saw major impact there, he realized that the work wasn't causing him to become more like Jesus.  Rather, he was coming home stressed out, burned out, and virtually inaccessible to his wife and two daughters for long chunks of time.  When Peter realized this, he stepped away from what he viewed as ministry, and into a property management position.  Peter shares that he has lately realized that his family itself is ministry, not something separate from ministry.  He is beginning to recognize that the goal is not easily measured “impact" but rather growing in Christlikeness.

Hello and welcome dear listeners, to episode 18 of season three of Pastor to Pioneer.  This week Britton connects with Tim King in Rapid City, SD.  Tim was a pastor in Kentucky for several years before feeling called to start a new church in Rapid City.  Tim shares that he entered the venture with hopes that things would be different this time around, only to discover as time went on that this new church experience was winding its way into the exact same place as his old church experience.  Tim recollects that as he pondered these things, he realized that the issues he was seeing were foundational—and they had never been addressed.  This led him to asking more and more questions, especially why-oriented ones like “Why do we even do this?”  As Tim and Britton parse some of the whys and what-fors, they also dig into cattle branding in South Dakota as well as Britton's moth-agedon situation that he barely survived while on the road in South Dakota.  Currently, Tim remains a pastor in the church—one who asks questions, tries to make changes, and encourages others to ask deeper, why-oriented questions as well.

Hello, hello, and welcome to episode seventeen of season three of Pastor to Pioneer (on the road edition).  This week, Britton reconnects with old friend and former college dorm mate Alan Briggs, who currently resides in Colorado Springs, CO.  Britton and Alan connected at an event in Phoenix, AZ that Alan was helping to run with his current organization, Stayforth—a ministry designed around coaching leaders and curating events for them to slow down, catch their breath, and recharge.  Alan was a pastor for 13 years, working primarily with church planters.  In this time, he observed several heart issues that needed to be addressed, and so began coaching those leaders.  In doing so, he realized that he himself was coming more alive, and so felt led to step out of pastoral ministry and into the thing that was bringing him life.  Stayforth was birthed out of this transition.  As Alan shares about all of this, he also touches on several important insights regarding change.  He addresses the need to “disorient before you can reorient,” and how leaders can learn and grow in that space of vulnerability, especially if they have someone to walk through the process with them.  Alan dives into his work with guiding leaders, discussing his four steps to change:  1. Naming 2. Permission 3. Practice. 4. Leverage. Email: alan@stayforth.com Website: www.stayforthdesigns.com  Coworking Space: www.gathercos.com   

Hello listeners, and welcome to episode sixteen of season three of Pastor to Pioneer!  This week we are back to Britton on the road, as he connects with David Hinman, a former pastor of 30 years.  David shares with Britton about his journey with the church.  He was a pastor in the traditional American church model for over three decades, leading everything from large churches to small church plants, but the more time he spent in that model, the more discontent he became with it.  As David began to explore other expressions of church, he started hearing from overseas about movements that emphasized disciple making.  He decided to step into this idea full on, and began starting simple churches in Phoenix, AZ.  As he began this new work he started realizing how important prayer was in movement.  He and the team from New Generations—an organization David is involved with—interviewed disciple-making movements from around the world and discovered some consistent keys to impact-making prayer.  David and Britton dive into these key prayer factors, as well as the importance of prayer in regards to spiritual warfare in a given area or city.  He encourages anyone wanting to step into a movement of disciple-making and simple church planting to start with prayer!   He is passionate about helping others in movements around the world grow in prayer through -  www.movementprayer.org.  He currently helps shepherd the network of simple churches and disciples with the Phoenix Underground - https://www.phxunderground.org/ David can be reached at - Dhinman@newgenerations.org  

Hello and welcome to the reunion episode of Pastor to Pioneer!  This week, Britton checks in with Matt and Neal from his adventures out on the road.  Matt and Neal give updates of what they are seeing in New England and West Michigan, respectively, and Britton shares what he has been learning through having his family as his primary ministry, including the growth he has seen in all of them.  The guys discuss the difference between having a Spirit-led conviction about doing church differently rather than just doing it out of convenience.  As a part of this, they also dig into the reality that a growing number of people are discontent with the church as we know it.  The guys also encourage and remind each other—and any listeners—that if we are faithful with what God brings us, then God will take care of any growth and multiplication that is meant to happen, and that Jesus, not some form of church or multiplication, is the true and only treasure.

Welcome back to Pastor to Pioneer, on the road edition!  This week Britton converses with Tyler Dipprey, a former megachurch pastor based out of Lubbock, Texas. Tyler shares with Britton his experience as a pastor of two different megachurches, thinking that was the best way to reach people.  He was a pastor at Experience Life Church in Lubbock, TX with over 8,000 people attending across 10 campuses.  They had seen 10,000 people come to faith in the span of 8 years, but soon began to realize that the financial cost of the current church structure couldn't hold up if they hoped to see the vision that was burning in their hearts come to pass - 1 million people giving their lives to Jesus in the West Texas area.  Church leadership started to feel convicted that simple, reproducible ways of making disciples and being the church was the way to go for their overseas work and realized that was what God wanted for them as well.  They started by trying a hybrid gathering of sorts, and then began to take more radical steps towards changing what Sunday worship looked like.  They saw many people leave, but relaunched the church to be a decentralized network of house churches.  Tyler shares with Britton that he is often asked “Would you do it again?”  and “Did it work?”  But he keeps coming back to the importance of the question of “What is Jesus asking you to do” instead—living into his present call rather than wondering what could have been different in the past.  Tyler has started a few different businesses since the church transitioned to its current form and no longer has paid pastors.  He and his coworkers have received a lot of interest in what they are doing through the book they wrote about their church's journey.  He now spends most of his time coaching and training pastors and others in the legacy church on how to transition into this simple way of discipleship and being the church.  While Tyler and his co-leaders thought the Lord was going to use them to reach West Texas, they have seen their work spread around the world. Book:  From Megachurch to Multiplication https://www.experiencelifenow.com/store/p/from-megachurch-to-multiplication www.experiencelifenow.com  

Hello all!  Welcome back to Pastor to Pioneer, where this week we hear about what the simple church all boils down to as Britton shares a meal and garners wisdom from Josh Spinks, a Baton Rouge area pastor of over twenty years.  Josh and Britton break bread together, Cajun style, as they talk through what it was like for Britton's family to experience a crawfish boil courtesy of Josh's family, and what a fantastic cultural experience that was.  Josh also shares how he planted a church twelve years ago without any guidance or anyone to coach them, but with the desire to start something with disciple making and simple church principles at the forefront.  Josh divulges to Britton that he regrets starting to meet as a big group every week because he saw that people often seemed to want to take the path of least resistance.  It often appeared easier for people to come to a large gathering where little was expected as opposed to sitting knee to knee in a house where much more was expected. Josh also talks about the need for both elephant and rabbit churches, the elephant church being the current church system which takes a lot of resources and has a long gestational period before there is reproduction, while a rabbit church is a simple church that takes little resources and reproduces quickly.  Josh is still the pastor of The Way Church in Denham Springs, LA but much of his time is spent in his role as the Director of Made to Multiply.  This is an initiative of e3 Partners to train 1 million people in how to have gospel conversations, how to make disciples and gather in simple ways.  He does a lot of training in traditional churches throughout the country, also looking for people who want to be sent out as pioneers to start new movements of disciple making and simple church initiative. josh.spinks@e3partners.org www.e3partners.org  

Hello and welcome back to a new episode of Pastor to Pioneer.  This week, Britton continues his time on the road and meets up with Melvin Airhart, a man based in Birmingham, AL and involved in ministry for over five decades.  Melvin shares with Britton about his experiences in Bible college from fifty years ago and how even then, it seemed like much of what the church in America was doing didn't line up well with what he read in the Bible.  Even though he had no ambitions of being a pastor, Melvin became one after Bible college because he had a deep desire to look after and guide God's people.  As he got into the role of pastor, though, he still didn't see the things he read in the New Testament actually happening in the church, so he went to seminary, thinking he must have missed something because he didn't have enough training.  Melvin continued to try new things in ministry and was a pastor at 6 churches over the course of 45 years.  Eventually, though, he experienced a powerful vision from God that guided him to move to a simpler expression of the church. Melvin shares with Britton about the difficulties of speaking critically about the church without it being taken personally by those involved in it, as well as the ongoing  debate over how much of the culture should be used in the church to reach the culture versus creating a counter culture that reaches people by standing out.  Melvin also discusses the fact that he hasn't preached a sermon in over three years but has seen more fruit in his current approach.  Instead of preaching to people he tries to ask good questions to get them to see what the Spirit is saying to them through the Bible.  Melvin ties this to stories of doing ministry in Honduras and planting traditional churches—but he soon realized how many resources it took to plant churches this way.  Instead, he started training his Honduran friends to make disciples and plant house churches.  Over the past few years they have seen nearly 1500 house churches planted.  He found that a lot of the people he was ministering to were coffee growers.  This led him to start a coffee business called Principio Coffee, though he still isn't a coffee drinker.  The profits from the coffee business fund the work in Honduras. In addition to the coffee business, Melvin has started a life coaching business to help fund the work of planting house churches and disciple making in Birmingham, AL where he lives.  You can find more info about his coffee www.principiocoffee.com  

Welcome back to Pastor to Pioneer!  Join us as we tackle another week on the road with Britton, who this time around connects with Patti Namazie, a former stay at home mom who felt prompted to join her church's missions department, and then eventually felt led by the Lord to become a pastor. Patti discusses how her vision was initially squashed by her pastor, but that he later apologized and asked her to start a new campus in Sarasota, Florida.  As much as she didn't want it to be like the church she had come from—all about the Sunday morning show—it eventually did.  Ultimately, Patti got burned out and tired of being more production manager than pastor, leaving that church to plant a new one with a colleague in Pensacola, Florida.  Again she had hopes that things would go differently, but again—much to Patti's frustration—they wound up the same.  She and the other pastor were not on the same page about how to continue, and so Patti stepped away in January of this year.  Patti shares with Britton the ways in which she and her husband Steve are attempting to discern what is next.  She wonders if she should be raising support or finding a traditional job.  As Patti and her husband balance this with stepping into disciple making and engaging in simple church, she has been pleased to discover that most of her time IS NOT going into managing the Sunday morning product and just making sure the show goes on.  She has the heart of an evangelist and now feels free to be among those who don't know Jesus and to share the Gospel with them. Patti also shares how grateful she is and how valuable it has been to connect with others who are like minded and pursuing similar things and to be encouraged by and learn from those people along the way.     Patti's email: pnamazie@gmail.com  

Hello and welcome to Pastor to Pioneer, On the Road Edition.  This week, Britton connects with Lee Wood, a former pastor in the prevailing American church model from Tampa, FL who has gone through a variety of difficult life circumstances.  Lee shares with Britton some of his painful memories, including being dropped off at an orphanage by his dad as a young child after his mom died in a house fire, as well as his first wife dying from pancreatic cancer.  Lee also emphasizes, however, how good and faithful God was in the midst of everything, so it should come as no surprise that he continued to see the faithfulness of the Lord as he began to feel called out of familiarity and into smaller, simpler versions of the church.  Even though it was a rough beginning—starting with training in 2013, Lee saw several of his attempts as starting simple churches fail—he continued to lean on and listen to God, learning to do so better and better, and eventually realizing that those early attempts were failing because of a poor foundation and wrong focus.  Lee was putting all of his efforts into launching start-up simple churches rather than emphasizing disciple making and community creating.  Lee shares, though, how he started in Tampa and learned with others how to listen and truly obey Jesus.  As they did, God started doing amazing things.  Over the span of a decade he saw God build a network of simple churches and various practical and tangible expressions of God's grace and love to the community - from tutoring, to a school, to a fitness center and more. Lee and his wife Stacy recently moved from Tampa to Fort Meyers to start a new work similar to what they did in Tampa.  They have started a fitness gym business called Catalyst Community Gym where they hope to model a self sustaining way of ministry as well as a provide a place to connect with those who don't know Jesus. Resources: 1Body Church Tampa - 1body.church Lee's Book: 7 Things in 7 Years -  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6189ae9b760e043246e262da/t/6207a93229eb29355a27b457/1644669235034/lee+woods+seven+things.pdf Love One Another Documentary - https://loveoneanother.life Zume Training - https://zume.training  

Welcome back to Pastor to Pioneer!  This week we listen in as Britton connects with Jonathan and Cheyenne Phillips, a couple based in Fort Meyers, FL who have occupied pastoral leadership roles while in the midst of feeling called to make a change.  Johnathan and Cheyenne share with Britton about the difficulties of realizing a processing that a change needed to happen.  They are open, honest, and raw as they discuss how they weren't on the same page for parts of this journey, particularly because Jonathan processed many of his thoughts individually and didn't talk things through with Cheyenne until much later.  The two of them discuss the things they have learned from the mistakes they made, and what it looks like for them to be on the same page when it comes to making big decisions.  Once Cheyenne and Jonathan sorted things out and came together, they both felt clearly that the Lord was asking Jonathan to leave his role as senior pastor at their church.  They don't yet know what's next, but are stepping into following Jesus a little bit at a time as He leads them through this process.  They know the future involves making disciples and being the church in simple ways in their home but they are waiting on the Lord to walk them through exactly how to get there.  As they share with Britton, Jonathan and Cheyenne talk through the reality of returning to their first love, Jesus…of being in relationship with Jesus simply to know and love Him, and that people do not need a new formula or model, but just, simply, need Jesus.  Jonathan and Cheyenne share all this even as they are in the middle of it, trying to figure out which page they're on and exactly when to turn it, listening to God along the way and trusting that He will show them these things even as they walk by faith.