Church Planting Together

The Value of Disappointment in Church Planting

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 49- Church planting is filled with disappointment. It is a massive part of the church planting experience. In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss some of the disappointments they faced and what God taught them through the experience. They found that they are thankful for the disappointments because disappointments grow you. They can show a window into what is going on in your heart and allow God to change you. Follow us on
Instagram @churchplantingtogether

Alongside: A Ministry to Ministry Wives

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 48- There are plenty of resources for Church Planters and Pastors. There are not so many for the wife of the planter. In this episode, Carrie and Loren talk to Coletta Smith of Alongside Ministries. Coletta started Alongside intending to minister to pastors' wives to help them partner with their husbands and view it as a family calling, not just "his gig."

Alongside ministers to pastors' wives in several ways. The most significant growth that she sees happens in the free cohorts. These cohorts are led by trained coaches, who guide participants through a series of conversations. These conversations help participants see their ministry in a new light and build relationships with others who understand.

Carrie is one of the Alongside coaches because she believes strongly in this ministry. If you would like to join a cohort or to see what other resources they have to offer, visit the Alongside website at www.alongsideministrywives.com

Don't forget to sign up for the mailing list to receive great resources and be the first to know when their podcast launches this fall.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

Evaluating Criticism of Your Church Plant

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 47- In church planting, you will find that not everyone likes your ideas or how you do things. And, to be honest, you may not always know. Therefore, it may be essential to have a thick skin because you will face much criticism in church planting. In this episode, Loren lays out three questions that he asks himself each time he hears criticism.

Is this just a matter of taste?
Is it a difference in strategy or vision
Is it clear in scripture?

The first two don’t need to beat you up, but the third should cause you to question and potentially make a change. The gospel is vital in our lives to admit where we are failing, repent, and move forward.

Carrie lays out her perspective on dealing with criticism and how she and Loren have learned to handle it better in their relationship. She also talks about how criticism can help us grow. It is part of the sanctification process.

Finding the Right Partner in Crime for Church Planting

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 46- Having someone with you on your church planting journey can be the biggest blessing. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about their partner in crime, Brent Petersen, and how it changed things for both the church and their family when his family moved to Utah. In addition, they discuss qualities you should look for in that person based on your strengths and personality.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

Setting Your Church Plant up for Success, The Bus Quotient

Mon, 30 May 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 45- In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about things you should think about to set your church plant up for success years down the road. If you were to get hit by a bus (The Bus Quotient), the church would still move forward with God's mission. Loren shares five things to think about to set your church plant up for future success.

1. Don't be a one-man show. Put teams in place with goals and boundaries
2. Raise up leaders to teach
3. Be wise about salary
4. Have a process for removing or hiring a pastor
5. Have 'fishermen' in your DNA

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

Hendersons of Utah and Life Lessons in Church Planting

Mon, 16 May 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 44- David and Victoria Henderson return and share the complex parts of church planting, what God taught them about themselves, and what God revealed to them about Himself. You can find out more about their church at heyneighborhood.com

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

Church Planting in a Pandemic: David and Victoria Henderson

Mon, 02 May 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 43- David and Victoria Henderson moved to Daybreak Utah to plant a church at the beginning of the pandemic. In this episode, David and Victoria share their experience of how God called them to Utah and what they are doing in the building phase of their church plant. They share failures and wins in this early phase of Neighborhood church. From failed worship nights to popular Bunco nights and block parties, the Hendersons are doing their best to serve their community.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

Strengthfinders Strengths and Weaknesses in Church Planting

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 42- We all have different strengths and weaknesses. During Church Planter Assessment, Loren and Carrie took many personality tests. The one they found the most helpful was the Strengthfinders assessment. In this episode, they talk about what they learned about themselves, playing to their strengths, and the negative side of your strength if you are an achiever. Then, Loren talks about reigning that in for the good of his family, church, and other staff members to sustain the pace in ministry. Early on, it is crucial to put guardrails in place.

Learning the Culture and Building Relationships in Your City

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 41- Sometimes you pick up your life and move to a new area to plant a church. Doing research before you go is important, but it is also imperative that you do some things when you get there. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about ways that you can get to know the culture as well as offer your service to the community. Building relationships with other pastors and public servants in the city can teach you more than you realize. You also might all want to move to our town after listening to this episode!

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

The Why and Why Not of Church Planting

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Episode 40- Sometimes, people will ask, “Why are you starting a new church when there are already so many?” In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk through some objections to church planting. Then, they show why a church plant is one of the best ways to fulfill the great commission and why existing churches should support them. Finally, they tell a story of how an older church chose to support them to leave a legacy and how that had a significant impact on Loren and Carrie and the people of Centerville, Utah.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

Putting People into Leadership in Your Church Plant

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0700

Episode 39- In the early days of church planting, it is tempting to let just about anyone take stuff over. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about what to look for in your leaders. Loren came up with another one of his fantastic acronyms. This one says that the people you are looking for must F.A.R.T.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

Evangelism Entropy in Your Church Plant

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0700

Episode 38- Why do so many churches lose their evangelism focus and start to grow inward? In this episode, Loren and Carrie break down page 64 of the book Church Planting Landmines: Mistakes to avoid in years 2-10 by Tom Nebel and Gary Rohrmayer. This page talks about the landmine of evangelism entropy.

Loren and Carrie add some of their insight into this topic from their church planting experiences. Loren has found over the years that the book is so right!

Emotionally Difficult Things in the Early Days of Your Church Plant

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0700

Episode 37- From marriages that are ticking time bombs to difficult people to those who want you to be just like their old pastor, the early stage of church planting can be emotionally draining and bring feelings of inadequacy. In this episode, Carrie and Loren discuss people around at the beginning of their church plant and the complex emotions that came with it. They share several things you might want to be prepared for as you embark on the church planting journey. They also share how hard it was on their marriage and what they wish they would have done.

Growth Barriers and Adding Staff for Your Church Plant

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0700

Episode 35- What do you do when you realize that you have hit your relational capacity as a church planter? In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about growth barriers in your church plant and what you should look for in a person that you are going to bring on staff, whether that is paid or volunteer.
Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

D.U.M.B. Goals and S.M.A.R.T Goals in Church Planting

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0700

Episode 35- As we begin the new year, resolutions are on everyone's minds. In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss setting goals for the church plant and your family. Many people have heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals, but Loren will introduce us to D.U.M.B goals in this episode.
D-Do
U-Unless (you want)
M-Momentum (to)
B-Break

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

034: Marketing Your New Church Plant

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 04:00:00 -0700

Most pastors don't take a "marketing your church" class in seminary. Some people even think of marketing as a bad word when it comes to church, but Loren thinks of it as sewing seeds of awareness in the community. If people don't know you exist, they can't come. In this episode, Loren shares many of the things he has done over the years and shares the importance of under selling and over delivering.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

033: Hard Stuff and Keeping Your Focus Where it Belongs

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 04:00:00 -0700

Where there are people, there is poop! Wise words spoken by Loren Pankratz! In this episode, Loren and Carrie share some difficult things that they experienced from friends leaving the church, relationships with people that they had invested in, and staff changes that almost broke them. They share what gets them through and how their relationship with each other and their relationship with the Lord is stronger for it.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

032: Emergency Preparedness for Church Planters

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0700

On any given Sunday, many things can go wrong... Like waking up and puking your guts out. What do you do when you can't preach the sermon you prepared? What do you do if the power is out in the building or your technology has a mind of its own??? In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about what you should do today to prepare for these types of emergencies. Stay tuned for Loren's emergency sub plans for pastors... coming to a website near you. (Don't steal our idea)

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

031: Getting Ready for Holidays While Planting a Church

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0700

Holidays can be wonderful as well as stressful. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share some of the difficulties they have had when it comes to holidays and they give some ideas of things to think through so that you can avoid the loneliness and getting your family mad at you that they experienced.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

030: Carrie is Switching Things Up

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Carrie shares that she has made a temporary life change; therefore, some things will change. For everything to work for their family, they will be publishing every other Monday instead of every Monday as they have been. Then, in this episode of Church Planting Together, Loren and Carrie share what they are doing to prepare this time that they failed at the last time Carrie taught. Loren also compares it to early on in the church plant and starting a building campaign.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

029: Five Things we Wish Someone Would Have Told us

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0600

Starting out, Loren and Carrie were ready to take on the world... and then reality set in. In this episode, they share five things they wish that someone would have told them before they began their church plant. They figured them out as they went along, but having a plan would have saved some stress and heartache along the way.

Here are the five points:

1. Remember you are a team
2. Take the long view
3. Rest
4. Check your finances
5. Role of the spouse

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

028: Establishing Elders in Your Church Plant

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0600

Most church planters want their church to be legit, and establishing elders seems like a way to make that happen. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about the path to eldership in their church plant. They talk about three phases:

1. Document People phase
2. Advisory Board
3. Elders

Loren also shares about what goes on at an elder meeting, the role of his elders at his church, and a great way to pray through scripture.

Resources:

Winning on Purpose by John Edmond Kaiser

Transforming Prayer by Daniel Henderson

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

027: Going to Retreats That You Don't Lead

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0600

When you are working hard to fill other people's tanks, yours doesn't get filled. Leading on an empty tank is no good. It can be harmful to both your church plant and to your marriage. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about the importance of attending events that you are not in charge of leading. There are many options out there. Here are a few that Loren and Carrie mentioned in this podcast.
A Weekend to Remember
Love and Respect
Hume Lake Christian Camps
Any conferences you are invited to through your network (Converge Worldwide has a ton)
Husband in Pursuit and Wife in Pursuit by Ryan and Selena Frederick

Loren and Carrie also talk about the importance of making time for each other and doing non-church-related things together.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

026: Staying Neighborly as a Church Planter

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0600

Don't Let your church life crowd out your capacity to love your neighbor. In the early days of church planting, it's easy to be intentional about meeting new people. But, as time goes on, things get more and more complicated. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about intentionality around continuing to reach out to those around you. They share why it is essential and give practical examples and resources for reaching your community and loving your neighbor.

The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door by Dave Runyon and Jay Pathak

Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation by Jen Schmidt

101 Ways to Reach Your Community (Designed for Influence Series) Book 4 of 4: Designed for Influence | by Steve Sjogren

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

025: Managing Expectations in Church Planting

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0600

Attending a church planting conference is fun, but it can also leave you feeling like you don't measure up. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about how you can manage your expectations and still cheer for and celebrate the church down the street. They discuss the tricky task of finding the sweet spot between working hard, desiring to see God move in huge ways, and being content with the results. It's not an easy task.

Article: Sisters, You Have Permission to Lead an Ordinary Life by Melissa Kruger

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

024: Small Groups in Your Church Plant

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0600

Small groups have impacted Loren and Carrie in major ways of their lives. To help people grow in community, this is one of the main strategies in their church plant. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk through the theology behind small groups, thinking through the purpose they serve in your overall mission, and explain why they landed on a closed group model. They also give some practical tips for hosting small groups in your home.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

023: Assimilating Newcomers into the Life of the Church Plant

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0600

As church planters, our goal is to help people find Jesus and follow Him with their whole lives. However, it can be difficult to know how to get people from the front door into the church's life and a growing relationship with Jesus. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share what they did to connect people in the early days of the church plant and how they were forced to rethink things when it didn't produce the results they were hoping for.
Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

022: Supporting a Spouse Who Works Tons of Hours While Planting a Church

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0600

How do I support my spouse, who works long hours at her job while we are planting a church? This was a question asked of Loren and Carrie that they didn't have a chance to answer. While everyone's situation is different, Carrie and Loren had an experience where Carrie went from being a stay-at-home mom to working 60 hours a week. In this episode, they talk about how they worked through the challenges of sharing duties around the home, learning to communicate, and supporting one another emotionally and spiritually. As two domestically challenged people, they had a lot to work through.

Link to the Ten Minute Cleanup blog post
Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

021: Managing Your Time While Planting a Church

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0600

Time management is important in every aspect of life. However, for many creative, visionary leaders, managing time does not come naturally. In this episode, Loren shares his day-to-day schedule, and Carrie shares how she was able to be efficient with her time while teaching. In addition, they both share the ground rules they put in place for their family early on and how they continue to make their family a priority. If you are a bi-vocational planter and have figured out how to do this effectively, contact us. We'd love to talk to you!

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

020: Seasons of the Church Plant with Their Strengths and Weaknesses

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0600

Church planting consists of ever-changing seasons of ministry. But, for those who don’t enjoy change, it is a continual cycle of celebrating and grieving. In this episode, Loren and Carrie reminisce about the different seasons of the church plant and point out both the strengths and weaknesses of each phase.

The seasons discussed are:

Prelaunch: Gathering a launch team

Prelaunch 2: Preparing to launch

Post launch

Moving to two services

Adding paid staff

019: Keeping Your Personal Budget in Check While Church Planting

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Money is the least fun part of church planting. It is easy to let your personal budget get eaten up with church planting expenses in the early days. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share mistakes that they made and how they eventually fixed the problem and found the ability to give more and give intentionally. In addition, they offer some practical tips and share how Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University afforded them the tools to get things under control in their personal budget and the church budget.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

018: Prepare Your Relationship to Handle Challenges in Church Planting

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0600

Church Planting will put great stress on your marriage relationship and we want you to be prepared. This is an episode that you won't want to miss! Kevin and Brooke Llanos have been through serious difficulties in their marriage and now counsel others to grow and maintain a healthy and strong relationship. In this episode, Kevin and Brooke share tools and tricks to have better communication and remain a team in your marriage. They also share resources like The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman and Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. The majority of the resources they use are from an organization that is local to them called Healthy Marriage Coalition.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

017: Brooke and Kevin- When God Decides It's Time to Plant a Church

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0600

Sometimes God decides that it is time for you to plant a church. In this episode, Loren and Carrie interview new church planters, Kevin and Brooke Llanos. They intended to have a neighborhood bible study, but God had other plans. Even though they don't fit the church planter mold, God has been faithful to bring them through every step of the process so far. In this episode, they talk about how God leads them and some of the blessings and challenges along the way. Hopefully, this will bring some encouragement to others.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

016: Get This on the Calendar Now! Vacation!

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0600

It might feel impossible to take a Sunday off in the early days... and later days of church planting, but do it! Do it now! In this episode, Loren and Carrie share how taking time off has been good for their relationship and church. They share why you should take a vacation and how when the resources aren't there.

Below is a blog post by Ed Stetzer containing free and discounted resources for pastors broken down by state. I have not checked all of these to see if they are current, but it is a great starting place. Also, I included a link to Hume Lake Christian Camps.

List of Pastors' Retreats and Getaways

Hume Lake Christian Camps

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

015: 10 Signs You are Making Your Church Plant About You

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0600

Although most church planters set out with the intention of serving the Lord, it's easy to get on the wrong track and make your church plant about you. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share 10 signs that you are making your church plant about you. Loren also uses the word "environ," which Carrie is pretty sure isn't a word (it turns out it actually is).

There are probably hundreds, but here are the ten that they chose:

1. You find your identity in the church plant's success or failure
2. When someone leaves the church, it absolutely crushes you
3. You are not willing to adapt to the culture
4. You are unwilling to sacrifice personally
5. You are willing to sacrifice your marriage and family
6. You can't delegate or let other people shine
7. You are threatened by the success of others
8. Your church is "insider" focused to the exclusion of outsiders
9. You are unwilling to do the right thing because of how it might affect the success of your church plant
10. You are unwilling to listen to the counsel of others

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

014: When it Feels Like Everything is Falling Apart

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0600

When everything is falling apart, there is a good chance that Jehovah Sneaky is at work. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about how Genesis 5:20 and Romans 8:28 were a comfort each time it felt like their church plant was doomed.

It felt like it was over when people leaving the church were leading ministries, and close friends moved away. There were also money blunders and crazy things happening with the church building... Yet, through it all, God has been faithful. In fact, He used those scary experiences to lead them in the direction He wanted! Carrie and Loren acknowledge that their ignorance has been one way that God led them to where He wanted them and used other terrifying situations to accomplish His will.

Nothing is too difficult for Him!

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

013: Protecting the Vision of Your Church Plant

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0600

People will try to hijack the vision of your church! In this episode, Loren and Carrie use the analogy of a cruise ship to identify four types of people you will have at your church, both in the first year and always. It is important to protect the vision of your church plant, and the couple gives some suggestions on how to do it, as well as how people interact differently with Carrie than with Loren.

The four types of people are
-crew members
-passengers
-stowaways
-Pirates

Crew members are those who are on board with the vision and engaged in ministry. Loren and Carrie share about how to help them keep from burning out.

Passengers are those who are aligned with the vision but are not engaged in ministry. Loren and Carrie share why this is not always bad, but how to help them eventually become crew members.

Stowaways are those who have been drug to church by someone.

Pirates are not aligned with the vision and might try to move the vision or your church plant in a different direction. Loren and Carrie share how to navigate this.

Carrie also shares the most important words she has learned in ministry while dealing with pirates in the church.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

For a copy of the vision chart, contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
We're happy to send you one.

012: Post Launch Loneliness

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0600

There are many phases of church planting. Many times, we forget to sit back and celebrate our wins. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about the other side of that... taking the time to mourn.

Once your church reaches a certain size, relationships change and you may come upon a sense of loss and loneliness. You go from inviting everyone to everything to no longer being able to do that. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share what they went through as a people pleaser (Carrie) and a non-people pleaser (Loren) as the church grew. Carrie shares her struggles with navigating close friendships in the church and they both give advice on what to do if you find yourself in this place.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

011: Should You Join a Church Planting Network?

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0600

Wondering whether or not you should join a church planting network? Loren and Carrie think you should! In this episode, Loren and Carrie share their experience with Converge Worldwide, give five benefits to joining a church planting network, and talk about things you should look for in a network as you make a decision.

First, Loren talks about how being part of a network provides doctrinal accountability, legitimacy, important partnerships with other churches, financial accountability, and people who want to see you succeed. Carrie shares that the relationships gained were the most valuable asset they had in the early stages of planting a church.

Next, Loren talks about the things you should look for in a network before deciding. A strong track record of successful church planting is top of the list, followed by coaching, relationships, and financial support.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

010: The Role of Apologetics in Church Planting

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0600

Loren subjected Carrie to hours and hours of apologetics podcasts throughout the years. She wasn't really excited about it at the time. When she began church planting, she finally experienced the practical need for apologetics in church planting.

In this episode, Loren and Carrie share how apologetics has helped strengthen their own faith and make it through difficult times. Whether you are an academic thinker like Loren or an extremely feely, people pleaser like Carrie, apologetics can play an important role in your faith and your marriage. They also share how apologetics can also help you to disciple others in truth.

Resources for Apologetics

Reasonable Faith with William Layne Craig: https://www.reasonablefaith.org/

Children's Books (We loved these for our kids). He has written several more since our kids had them.

Dr. Craig's "What is God Like" series

God is All-Knowing

God is All-Powerful

God is Three Persons

God is All-Loving

God is Everywhere

God is All-Good

The Greatness of God

God is Spirit

God is Self-Sufficient

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

009: The Launch Team

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0600

We can't plant a church alone, so our focus was on building a launch team in the early days. With the launch team came many challenges, blessings, and bitter-sweet changes. In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss the good, bad, and difficult things about leading and working with your launch team.

From working out details of what you will need, to putting together an advisory board instead of elders, Carrie and Loren talk about their journey with their amazing launch team. They also recommend doing some things differently. Loren shares the challenges you may face with people who want to join your team with their own agenda, and Carrie shares the best idea in the history of church planting that allowed her to feel like part of the community again.

Loren and Carrie also share what software they used for worship and children's ministry check-in, as well as different children's ministry curriculum ideas for when you first launch your church.

Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether

contact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com

008: Connecting With The Community and Utilizing Mission Teams

Mon, 31 May 2021 04:00:00 -0600

Growing your launch team can be difficult in those early days if you are a parachute drop church plant. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about different things they did to reach out to the community, serve, and ultimately build up their launch team. They talk about Using mailers, having a booth at the fair with a booklet giving more information than you could ever need to know, and hosting a dessert at a neutral location. All of this was to make inroads into the community and find those willing to join their cause and become part of the church plant.

As the team grew, they could no longer fit in their house. A church's generosity in a neighboring city allowed them to meet on Saturday night and have a permanent sign. This brought them to a place where they could start having launch team meetings to prepare to launch.

In the early phase, the entire church does everything together. Loren and Carrie talk about the importance of strategy to say yes to the right things so that you don't burn out your team. It's important that you approach everything experimentally and only continue if it is effective. Loren shares that this was an area that he did not do well at in the beginning and has since improved to protect the church's vision and mission.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchplantingtogether/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lorenandcarrie

007: Your First Year-ish

Mon, 24 May 2021 04:00:00 -0600

Getting ready to launch as a church officially requires lots of steps and people. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about their 18-month prelaunch phase. They had the goal of 10 family units and set out to build that team. Loren set out to make some inroads in the community by reaching out to the local police department and the Mayor, ultimately serving on the Parks and Rec committee. He also spent some time taking care of all of the necessary paperwork.
In Utah, this consisted of:
501c3
Articles of Incorporation
Business License
State Sales Tax Exemption
Non Profit Mailing Status

The couple also talks about how great it was to have men's and women's bible studies in those early days. It helped them learn the culture and build relationships with people who may not come on Sunday.

Loren and Carrie suggest that you plan a vacation. This is something that they recommend doing every year from year one. They feel like they waited too long for this, and their marriage suffered because of it. Also, they share how writing a monthly newsletter helped them focus on the "wins" and see what God was doing. Finally, they wrap up the episode by talking about the importance of having coaches to keep you accountable and love on you during this difficult phase.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchplantingtogether/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lorenandcarrie

006: It's Getting Real

Mon, 17 May 2021 04:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss what it was like when they finally arrived in Utah with two toddlers and a couple of friends. They shared some of the first steps when they got on the ground in Utah, as well as the struggles they faced both personally and in their relationship. Carrie shares that this was probably the most difficult phase of the church plant and the time where she experienced the most spiritual growth. They shared their objectives for the first few months and talked a bit about their marriage, offering advice on coming up with a plan ahead of time for nurturing the launch team.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchplantingtogether/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lorenandcarrie

005: Leaving Your Home Church to Church Plant

Mon, 10 May 2021 04:00:00 -0600

Right before you leave to plant a church, you might experience the tension of still being at your church and knowing you are leaving. In this episode, Loren and Carrie discuss leaving your home church well and bringing along a team when you go. Some of the topics discussed are having clear expectations from your pastor, Learning to trust God when there are so many unknowns and new things to learn, having difficult conversations before you go, and challenges with having people live with you. Loren also shares something he wishes his wife would have known at the time. There is a tremendous learning curve when you go from being "pastoral" to being a church planter.

004: Fundraising for your Church Plant

Mon, 03 May 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Fundraising for the church plant is the terrifying part that nobody likes. Since you may not have a congregation to support you in the first few years, it might be necessary. In this episode, Loren and Carrie share that fundraising turned out to be faith-building and convicting as God showed up through the generosity of others. Loren recommended that every church planter do some form of fundraising as his fundraising coach told him, "The people who are writing the checks every month are the ones who are continuing to pray for you" Loren shares his low-pressure strategy that fits with his personality and ended up being a huge blessing.

003: Before You Fundraise for your Church Plant

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Before you begin fundraising for your church plant, there are some things you need to think through. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about taking a trip to talk to church planters in the area. They discuss the importance of learning who you are going to serve, what they value, what they struggle with, and what needs are not being met. Loren speaks of the importance of understanding the theology of the area so you can preach the gospel in a way that they will understand.

Carrie shares that she loved this stage because she was involved in all of it and suggested that it got much harder when they were on the ground in Utah. Being able to meet with another church planter's wife in the area was huge in preparing her for the life that was to come.

Resources mentioned

Planting Missional Churches https://www.amazon.com/Planting-Missional-Churches-Ed-Stetzer/dp/0805443703/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

002: One of the Best Things you can do Before you Plant a Church

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0600

Knowing that God is calling you to plant a church is one thing, having others affirm that call is another important step. In this episode, Loren and Carrie talk about their assessment process through the Converge Church Planting Assessment Center, how they benefitted from the wise counsel of others, and how that springboarded them into the next season of their church plant.

Loren and Carrie share many things that they learned in this experience. They learned practical church planting skills, met a fundraising coach, and made friends with other like-minded church planters from all over the world. It prepared them for difficulties they would face in their ministry and in their relationship. It was an important part of their church planting journey that they strongly recommend to anyone planning to plant a church.

Converge Church Planting Assessment https://converge.org/church-planting/assessment

001: When God Calls an Average Couple to Plant a Church

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0600

This is the story of how God used two average (who sometimes feel below average) people to plant a church in a challenging place. Loren and Carrie didn't set out to be church planters, but God changed their hearts, and they had to trust Him completely to work it all out.

For Loren and Carrie, church planting was always a family affair. In this episode, they talk about the call to plant a church and how God did not just call a planter, but he called both of them to embark on this mission. While it was not an audible voice or big supernatural event that helped them recognize God's will for them, God showed them individually that this was his plan. He has clearly called every believer to advance the kingdom, and this was how they felt that they could use their gifts in an area that desperately needed it.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Stand to Reason https://www.str.org/
Maven Truth https://maventruth.com/