Church Planter Podcast

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones sits down with members of Sexaholics Anonymous to talk about a struggle many leaders face, but few talk about.Behind the scenes, sexual addiction, lust, and hidden sin are impacting pastors, leaders, and everyday believers. Shame keeps people silent, and isolation keeps them stuck.Through honest stories of addiction, relapse, and recovery, this conversation brings things into the light. It challenges leaders to stop hiding, get help, and build cultures where people can be known, supported, and set free.Resources and Li

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones sits down with Brian Sanders, founder of The Underground Network, to talk about the relationship between disciple making and microchurch planting. Brian explains why churches aren’t meant to be planted first and disciples made later. Instead, churches should emerge from the soil of mission as disciples are formed in real life and real relationships. The conversation explores mobilization, calling, relational networks, and why smaller expressions of church often mobilize more people for mission than larger models.They also discuss the importance of proximity in discipleship, why microchurches form naturally out of relational networks, and how discovering your “where” (your calling to a people or place) often leads to new ministries and new church expressions. If you’re interested in disciple making movements, microchurches, or mobilizing everyday believers for mission, this conversation will challenge how you think about church planting...and where it

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones sits down with movement researcher, author, and practitioner Steve Addison to talk about his new book Everywhere: How God Multiplies Disciples and Churches. Drawing from stories around the world, from prisons in Texas to underground movements in the Middle East and Asia, Steve shares how ordinary believers are being used by God to spark disciple-making movements in some of the most unlikely places. They discuss why movements don’t spread through professionals but through everyday disciples, how simple obedience and simple tools lead to multiplication, and why the gospel is still the driving force behind every movement of God.If you’re a church planter, disciple maker, or leader who wants to see multiplication rather than addition, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to rethink what’s possible when ordinary people take Jesus’ command to make disciples seriously.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:EverywhereNewBreed TrainingTha

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton and Andrea Jones sit down with Tiffany Stein—pastor, church planter’s wife, and author of Mourning God: Grieving Loss, Wrestling with God, and Finding Your Way Back to Life.Tiffany shares her powerful story of faith, loss, and leadership after the death of her infant son, David, who lived for 53 days. As a pastor in a highly visible church context, her grief unfolded publicly, forcing her to wrestle not only with devastating loss, but with the haunting silence of God that followed.This conversation goes beyond theology and into the raw, emotional terrain church planters and ministry leaders often face but rarely discuss. Tiffany unpacks:What it means to “mourn the God you thought you knew”Why emotional doubt can be more destabilizing than intellectual doubtThe danger of quick-fix theology and Christian clichésWhy the Church desperately needs a robust theology of lamentHow leaders can grieve authentically while still shepherding othersThe humbling disciplin

In this rich and forward-looking episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones sits down with two seasoned practitioners of multiplication: Larry Walkemeyer and John Teter, co-authors of The Making of a Multiplier: Four Seasons to Maximize Your Kingdom Legacy.Between them, Larry and John bring decades of church planting, denominational leadership, mentoring, and movement-building experience. From planting 30+ churches out of Light & Life Fellowship in Long Beach to launching businesses like 5000 Pies in Compton as a discipleship engine, these leaders don’t just talk multiplication, they live it.In this conversation, they unpack:Why so many leaders fail to finish well, and how to avoid itThe four-season framework of leadership development (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter)Why Barnabas is the ultimate model of a multiplierThe overlooked power of investing in others instead of chasing platformHow multiplication legacy can outlive visible ministryLarry shares from his own “winter” season of influence with

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell explore a foundational idea behind Discipology: before you make disciples, you must first become one. But that doesn’t simply mean being saved, it means allowing the character of Jesus to shape your life. Peyton explains how the New Testament qualifications for leaders ultimately describe a life that reflects Christ’s character. From there, he introduces the Shalom Star, a practical tool designed to help believers evaluate whether their lives are growing in healthy, Christ-like balance across six key areas: spiritual life, honor (responsibilities), affections, learning, others, and mental health. Together, Pete and Peyton discuss why imbalance in a leader’s life can undermine their witness, how discipleship shapes character through proximity to Jesus, and why personal transformation must come before effective disciple-making.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:TakeShalom.comDiscipologyBook.comReliant Mission: reliant.org/c

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones sits down with pastor, author, and leadership coach Joey Cook to explore a creative and rapidly growing approach to disciple making—right on the golf course.Joey shares his journey of faith, from growing up in a small Ozark Mountains church to discovering the deeper relational love of God that now fuels his ministry and leadership. That personal transformation has shaped his passion to help people experience the love of the Father and extend it to others. The conversation centers around a unique disciple-making movement happening inside golf communities around the world. Through a partnership with PGA professionals and the Bible Caddy podcast, Joey and others are helping launch “feature groups” at country clubs—spaces where golfers gather, build friendships, study Scripture, and talk honestly about life and faith.What began as a simple idea has quickly multiplied to more than 160 groups globally, connecting believers and non-believers alike through s

The topic was supposed to be “Discipling the Next Generation”…and we got there, just not how you’d expect.In this episode, Peyton and Pete unpack an often-overlooked ingredient behind disciple-making movements: mentorship.Peyton shares what it’s been like to have a legend like Ralph Moore personally investing into his church plant and why having a mentor can change the trajectory of your ministry (and your life). From stories of writing letters to paying for coaching that reshaped his future, Peyton makes the case that too many church planters are pouring out without ever letting someone pour into them.They also tackle:Why Gen X leaders struggle to ask for helpThe difference between wanting mentorship and committing to itWhy skin in the game mattersThe cost (and value) of being discipledWhy you should always have someone ahead of you — and someone behind youIf you’re planting, leading, or simply feeling like you’re figuring it out alone…this episode is a reminder: You weren’t meant to. And if we’re serious ab

In this powerful conversation, Peyton sits down with his longtime mentor and friend, Larry Walkemeyer, to unpack why disciple-making must come before church multiplication, and why so many movements stall when they skip that step.Drawing from themes in Discipology and Larry’s forthcoming book The Making of a Multiplier, this episode explores the deep connection between time, teaching, and tactics — the three rhythms of Jesus’ disciple-making strategy that ultimately led to explosive Kingdom impact.Larry shares:Why the priesthood of all believers is the theological foundation of mobilizationHow relational disciple-making fuels true multiplicationA powerful personal vision that reshaped his ministry philosophyWhy you can’t teach multiplication into existence The difference between a “lake mentality” and a “river mentality” churchYou’ll also hear stories of everyday believers who became disciple-makers simply because someone walked closely with them long enough for the fire to catch.If you’re passionate about ch

What do Van Halen, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and a boring radio station have in common?For Kris Langham, they were all part of the journey that led him to faith.In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell sit down with Kris Langham, founder of Through the Word, to unpack his remarkable salvation story and the vision behind one of the most accessible Bible engagement tools in the world.Kris shares how a simple audio Bible teaching format grew into Through the Word, a free app with a 10-minute audio guide for every chapter of the Bible (now approaching 1 million users).But this conversation goes deeper than technology.Together, the guys explore:Why most Christians feel anxiety when they hear “go make disciples”The critical difference between discipleship and disciple-makingHow we often reproduce the way we were discipled, for better or worseWhy disciple-making moves at the speed of relationshipHow introverts might actually make the best disciple-makersHow the new Discipology Plan i

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones pulls back the curtain on the long, surprising, and deeply personal journey behind Discipology.What began as a question while writing Church Plantology turned into a multi-year exploration of how Jesus actually formed disciples who multiplied. Peyton shares how studying Jesus chronologically—not thematically—reshaped his understanding of disciple making, exposed a leadership pipeline problem in the church, and led to the development of the now-central Time, Teaching, and Tactics frameworkAlong the way, Peyton talks candidly about the challenges of trailblazing a paradigm where little prior research existed, the spiritual weight of the project, and how a season of prayer and unexpected clarity shaped key tools like the Shalom framework. Pete Mitchell guides the conversation with humor and insight, helping surface why Discipology isn’t just another discipleship book, but a reproducible system aimed at mobilizing everyday believers.If you’ve ever wonder

In this episode, Peyton Jones is joined by Elliot Sands, president of Faith First, for a thoughtful and candid conversation about politics, unity, and disciple-making in today’s divided world. From his upbringing as a missionary kid in Nigeria to his work helping Christians navigate cultural and political fractures, Elliot brings a grounded, pastoral perspective to one of the most volatile challenges facing the Church right now.If you’re a church planter trying to lead faithfully without alienating half your congregation — or wondering how to shepherd people through cultural chaos without losing gospel clarity — this episode will give you language, framework, and hope.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:LiveFaithFirst.orgReliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your f

What if the real problem in the Church isn’t multiplication… but mobilization?In this episode, Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell go deep into Peyton’s new book Discipology: The Art and Science of Making Disciples—and why Jesus’ original training model might be the missing engine behind today’s stalled movements.Fresh off a trip to Wales (and a bucket-list encounter with punk icon Johnny Rotten), Peyton breaks down the Time, Teaching, and Tactics framework—how Jesus spent three years forming the Twelve, and why most modern discipleship models stop short of real disciple-making.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:Reliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

In this raw and deeply personal episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell wrestle with heartbreaking news about one of Peyton’s writing heroes, Philip Yancey.What happens when a trusted Christian voice falls? How do leaders reconcile great theology with moral failure? And what does this moment teach church planters about integrity, temptation, confession, and the danger of hidden lives?Drawing from Scripture, personal experience, and years in ministry, Peyton and Pete explore why no one simply “wakes up” and chooses failure—and why isolation, secrecy, and unmanaged wounds often precede a fall. They discuss boundaries, accountability, confession, and the hard but necessary question every leader must ask: Who really knows me?Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:Reliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else i

Peyton Jones sits down with theologian, historian, and mission scholar Dr. Howard Snyder for a wide-ranging conversation on the gospel, the Kingdom of God, and what it truly means to follow Jesus in a fractured world. Drawing from his newest and most ambitious work, Consider the Lilies: How Jesus Saves People and the Land, Snyder challenges the Church to recover a fuller, more biblical vision of salvation—one that includes not only people, but creation itself.In this episode, Dr. Snyder explains why much of modern theology has become “too small,” how Scripture reveals God’s covenant not only with humanity but with the land, and why Jesus’ mission cannot be reduced to escaping the world rather than renewing it. The conversation explores discipleship, church planting, justice, stewardship, culture, and why the Church must be prepared to speak faithfully into the decades ahead.For church planters, pastors, and leaders wrestling with the divide between the spiritual and the tangible, this episode offers a compell

Joshua Brown—known as the Pressure Washing Pastor—joins Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell for one of the most compelling conversations the Church Planter Podcast has had in a long time. From a traumatic childhood and growing up without a father, to burnout in vocational ministry, to building a multi-million-dollar pressure washing business as a platform for disciple-making, Joshua shares a raw, redemptive story of identity, calling, and obedience.In this episode, Joshua unpacks how marketplace ministry became a powerful context for evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development—training young people, forming character before competency, and multiplying leaders outside the walls of the church. The conversation explores co-vocational ministry, service-based businesses, and why pressure washing (of all things) has become a surprisingly effective tool for mission.If you’re a church planter wrestling with sustainability, burnout, or how to mobilize disciples beyond Sunday services, this episode will stretch you

People leave church plants...and it’s not always a bad thing. In this honest conversation, Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell talk about why people leave, how leaders often take it personally, and why a healthy send-off matters more than trying to hold people tightly. Along the way, they address the dangers of platform-first leadership, social media posturing, and why character (not notoriety) is what sustains long-term gospel impact.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:Reliant Mission: reliant.org/cppNewBreed TrainingThanks for listening to the church planter podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people, no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

In this candid conversation, Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell talk honestly about the emotional and spiritual weight of church planting—the burnout, the doubts, the financial strain, and the moments when you wonder why you ever said yes. Drawing from years of experience, they reflect on why so many church planters quit, why calling matters more than strategy, and how disciple-making offers a hopeful path forward in a season when church planting feels increasingly difficult.The episode also includes a powerful, real-time story of God’s provision as Peyton shares how prayer, fasting, wise counsel, and unexpected generosity led to a breakthrough for their church’s next gathering space. It’s a reminder that while church planting is rarely easy, God is still active, still guiding, and still opening doors for those willing to trust Him.If you’re a church planter feeling tired, discouraged, or unsure whether the sacrifice is worth it, this episode offers both realism and renewed perspective for the journey ahead.Resou

In this episode, Peyton Jones sits down with author, artist, and founder of Creo Arts, Winfield Bevins, to explore why beauty may be the most overlooked catalyst for mission in our generation. Drawing from his new book, How Beauty Will Save the World, Winfield unpacks how art, imagination, and creative calling can open spiritual doors that arguments and strategies often cannot.Winfield shares his personal journey—from a troubled teen discovering hope through an art teacher, to planting a church through an art gallery, to now leading a nationwide movement that empowers artists and churches to become “missionaries of beauty.” Together, Peyton and Winfield dive into how church planters can recover a biblical, Spirit-empowered vision of creativity, cultivate guilds and galleries within their communities, and lead with beauty in a divided world.If you’re longing for fresh imagination in ministry—or wondering why evangelism feels stuck—this conversation will reframe how you see discipleship, mission, and the arts.R

In this episode, Pete and Peyton dive into one of the most explosive topics resurfacing online today: End Times theology. With Revelation videos going viral on TikTok and Instagram, people—especially younger generations—are asking fresh questions about the last days, the Antichrist, and whether current events signal something bigger. Peyton unpacks how church planters can step into that conversation with clarity instead of confusion.Together, they explore the difference between dispensationalism, covenant theology, and historicist readings of Scripture, why many popular End Times interpretations miss the point, and how Jesus’ words in Matthew 24–25 fit into the larger storyline of redemptive history. Peyton highlights key resources that help ground leaders in sanity, not sensationalism—and explains why getting Revelation right matters for mission, evangelism, and discipleship.Whether you love talking prophecy or avoid it at all costs, this episode will equip you to lead your people wisely, pastor skeptics com