Shows
Breaking BarriersE92 - Execution Over Theory: How to Actually Make Disciples in Your ChurchMost churches have solid theology about discipleship but still struggle to make disciples. Why? Because good theology ALONE doesn't lead to good discipleship, relentless execution on good theology does. In this episode, Pastor Bobby breaks down the critical difference between discipleship theory and discipleship practice, using Acts 2 as a framework. Alignment matters more than you think. Learn how to avoid "cashing out" your momentum, and why the "day by day" execution is where most churches fail. If your church has tried multiple discipleship models without seeing results, this conversation will challenge how you think about making disciples.
2025-12-0132 minBreaking BarriersE91 - Debunking Church Growth MythsThe anti-church growth movement is filled with myths that hold churches back from their mission. Can a church grow large and still disciple deeply? Are numeric goals unspiritual? Does multi-site ministry prevent real shepherding? We're debunking these common objections and showing why mission-focused church growth honors both the Great Commission and biblical discipleship. Join us for an honest conversation about what Scripture really teaches about growing and tending the flock.
2025-11-2431 minBreaking BarriersE90 - End of Year Giving Plan: Vision Casting, Storytelling & Discipleship Tips for PastorsWant to crush your end-of-year church giving campaign with proven strategies that grow both your church's mission and your congregation's hearts? In this episode, we walk pastors through a framework for year-end generosity initiatives, covering everything from pre-planning in September to execution through December. Learn why December giving naturally increases and how to strategically leverage this momentum. We discuss the critical "why" behind generosity campaigns—it's about discipleship first, budget second. Get practical insights on packaging your vision, telling compelling stories, setting up remembrance stones of God's faithfulness, and communicating effectively with different groups of people....
2025-11-1743 minBreaking BarriersE89 - Corporate Discipleship VS Individual Pathways (2)****Spotify keeps removing episodes due to the music in the PreRoll Bumper (Even though we have the license to use it), so for now, we're uploading episodes without the Bumper until we can get it resolved.***Should your church focus on individual discipleship plans or corporate pathways? In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Pastor Bobby and Pastor Andrew tackle a listener's question about why Mercy Hill Church chose a church-wide discipleship pathway over individualized plans. Discover the 5 reasons behind their Acts 2 "flywheel" approach (Gather, Group, Give, Go), why simplicity beats complexity in discipleship, and...
2025-11-1040 minBreaking BarriersE89 - Corporate Discipleship VS Individual PathwaysShould your church focus on individual discipleship plans or corporate pathways? In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Pastor Bobby and Pastor Andrew tackle a listener's question about why Mercy Hill Church chose a church-wide discipleship pathway over individualized plans. Discover the 5 reasons behind their Acts 2 "flywheel" approach (Gather, Group, Give, Go), why simplicity beats complexity in discipleship, and how to align your church's front-stage and back-stage conversations. Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and ministry teams wrestling with discipleship strategy, church growth, and creating sustainable pathways for spiritual formation.
2025-11-1040 minBreaking BarriersE88 - Ben Tugwell | The Weight of Pastoral Ministry (Part 2)****Spotify keeps removing episodes due to the music in the PreRoll Bumper (Even though we have the license to use it), so for now, we're uploading episodes without the Bumper until we can get it resolved.***PART 2: What does pastoral ministry really cost? Not just your time—but your emotions, your body, and your soul?Former lead pastor Ben Tugwell planted and grew Integrity Church for over 15 years. He had coaches, healthy boundaries, took time off, and did "all the right things." Yet six months after transitioning out of vocational ministry, he's st...
2025-11-0330 minBreaking BarriersE87 - Ben Tugwell | The Weight of Pastoral Ministry (Part 1)What does pastoral ministry really cost? Not just your time—but your emotions, your body, and your soul?Former lead pastor Ben Tugwell planted and grew Integrity Church for over 15 years. He had coaches, healthy boundaries, took time off, and did "all the right things." Yet six months after transitioning out of vocational ministry, he's still discovering just how much the role affected him.In this honest conversation, Ben breaks down the "relational tightrope" pastors walk every Sunday—navigating people in crisis, unrepentant sin, disgruntled members, and hundreds of heartbreaking situations that pile up over year...
2025-10-2721 minBreaking BarriersE86 - The Edgy Side of Wise | 4 Key TakeawaysAre you playing it too safe in your church leadership? In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we explore the concept of living on the "edgy side of wise"—taking calculated risks that honor God without crossing into foolishness. Discover practical strategies for risk-taking in four critical areas. Learn why preparing the jars before the miracle matters, how to invest in growth when you don't have all the resources, and why stewardship might mean sending rather than just saving.
2025-10-2236 minBreaking BarriersE86 - The Edgy Side of Wise | 4 Key TakeawaysAre you playing it too safe in your church leadership? In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we explore the concept of living on the "edgy side of wise"—taking calculated risks that honor God without crossing into foolishness. Discover practical strategies for risk-taking in four critical areas. Learn why preparing the jars before the miracle matters, how to invest in growth when you don't have all the resources, and why stewardship might mean sending rather than just saving.
2025-10-2036 minBreaking BarriersE85 - The Multisite Playbook - The Why, Where, When, and Who of Multisite ChurchThe Why, Where, When, and Who of Multisite Church
2025-10-1327 minBreaking BarriersE84 - 6 Marks of Non-Growing ChurchesDiscover the 6 most common reasons churches plateau and stop growing. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we explore why many faithful, spiritually deep churches remain stuck... from policy paralysis and lack of clear vision to being personality-driven instead of process-driven. Learn practical strategies to overcome growth barriers. Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conferenceWebsite: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
2025-10-0633 minBreaking BarriersE83 - Lessons From a Pastors Wife | Andrew & Anna HopperWhat does it really look like to be a pastor's wife? Not the Pinterest-perfect version—the real, messy, beautiful reality. Anna pulls back the curtain on 20 years of ministry life, from church planting with toddlers to navigating special needs adoption while her husband leads a growing church. She tackles the hard questions: How do you keep your identity when you're known as "the pastor's wife"? What do you do when you can't say yes to everything? How do you find joy when ministry demands feel overwhelming? Discovering freedom in your calling, serving from your actual gifts, and supporting your pa...
2025-09-2935 minBreaking BarriersE82 - How Multi-Site and Church Plants Serve Different Kingdom Purposes (Part 2)Part 2 of the conversation around church planting vs multisite church: Are multi-site campuses and church plants really the same thing? Pastor Andrew and Pastor Jonathan Yarborough dive deep into the crucial differences between campus planting and church planting strategies. Using the starfish vs spider analogy, they explain the critical differences with a "both, and" mindset, not an "either, or"; and the "magnet effect" that keeps churches from multiplying.Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conferenceWebsite: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.face...
2025-09-2229 minBreaking BarriersE81 - How Multi-Site and Church Plants Serve Different Kingdom Purposes (Part 1)What's the difference between launching a multi-site campus and planting a church? We explore why we believe multi-site campuses serve as growth strategies while church plants function as multiplication strategies [unSeminary], and why treating them as identical could limit your church's long-term kingdom legacy. We look at the "multiply everything" principle and how it prepares churches for both campus expansion and church planting success. Perfect for pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders navigating growth and multiplication strategies.Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conferenceWebsite: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.face...
2025-09-1518 minBreaking BarriersE80 - God's Faithfulness, Our ExcusesWhat do you do when God calls you to something that scares you? Every church leader faces moments when fear, excuses, and negativity create artificial barriers to growth and ministry. Today, Pastor Andrew looks at Moses' burning bush encounter and his three revealing excuses that mirror our own leadership struggles. From church planting to difficult conversations, discover how God's power, presence, and purpose crush fear and instill the courage needed to lead with breakthrough faith. Perfect for pastors ready to move from indecision to action.Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conference
2025-09-0823 minBreaking BarriersE79 - From Growing to Going: Building a Missions Pipeline That Sends (Part 2)Part 2 | In 2024, Mercy Hill Church became the #1 missionary sending church in the Southern Baptist Convention. This doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen without intentionality. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Pastor Andrew talks with our Missions Director, Landon about Mercy Hill's 2-year training process that has sent out 212 people (71 international) to unreached people groups. Learn practical strategies for missions mobilization, church planting systems, and how to transition from church growth to global sending. Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and missions committees wanting to build sustainable missionary training programs.Website: https://breaking...
2025-09-0130 minBreaking BarriersE78 - From Growing to Going: How to Build a Missions Pipeline That Sends (Part 1)In 2024, Mercy Hill Church became the #1 missionary sending church in the Southern Baptist Convention. This doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen without intentionality. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Pastor Andrew talks with our Missions Director, Landon about Mercy Hill's 2-year training process that has sent out 212 people (71 international) to unreached people groups. Learn practical strategies for missions mobilization, church planting systems, and how to transition from church growth to global sending. Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and missions committees wanting to build sustainable missionary training programs.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www...
2025-08-2525 minBreaking BarriersE77 - The Summer Season Myth: 4 Ways to Think About the Summer SeasonEvery church leader hates the "summer slump," but what if summer could actually be your secret weapon for growth? This episode breaks down 4 strategies that flip the script on summer ministry and can turn your slowest season into your most strategic one.If you're a pastor or on a church leadership team and you're tired of writing off summer as a dead season, this episode will change how you think about ministry planning. Your fall growth might just depend on what you do this summer.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Grou...
2025-08-1825 minBreaking BarriersE76 - How Think Like a 1,000+ Person ChurchWhat separates churches that grow from those that stay stuck? In this episode, we dive into the 5 mental shifts that make all the difference. Here's the reality: only 2% of churches ever hit 1,000 members, but the ones that do aren't just lucky—they think differently. Now, 1,000 people isn't always the goal (and it probably shouldn't be for everyone), but these mental shift help to reframe how we think about growth from any level. We'll walk through the key areas that matter most, if you're pastoring a church of 200-500 and feel stuck, this conversation is for you. It's time to st...
2025-08-1136 minBreaking BarriersE75 - Skip Allen | From 300 to 1,200: Multi-Site Strategy MindsetPastor Skip Allen joins Jonathan Yarboro to talk about how Hope Community Church went from a small merger to 1,200 weekly attendees. In this Breaking Barriers episode, discover actionable church growth strategies including multi-campus development, going to multiple services, and much more.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
2025-08-0424 minBreaking BarriersE74 - Without This... Your Vision Will DieVision without follow-through is just a dream. The execution part of vision is always the hardest, and the execution doesn't happen without courage.Vision without follow-through is just a dream. The execution part of vision is always the hardest, and the execution doesn't happen without courage.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
2025-07-2827 minBreaking BarriersE73 - The 10 Commandments of Kids Week (VBS) | Part 2In this episode, we cover Commandments 4-10 of the 10 Commandments of Kids Week. This is one of our "Big Days" [read: Weeks] in our calendar year. Kids Week is all hands on deck: staff, volunteers, security, pastors, everyone! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with families and volunteers during the summer!Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
2025-07-2124 min
Breaking BarriersE72 - The 10 Commandments of Kids Week (VBS) | Part 1In this episode, we cover the ethos and the first 3 Commandments of Kids Week. This is one of our "Big Days" [read: Weeks] in our calendar year. Kids Week is all hands on deck: staff, volunteers, security, pastors, everyone! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with families and volunteers during the summer!Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
2025-07-1426 minBreaking BarriersE71 - Part 2: Growth Flywheel | Building s System that Grows Individuals and ChurchesPart 2, continuing the conversation about a Church Growth Flywheel.What if your church could build the same kind of unstoppable momentum that Amazon used to become a global giant? In this episode, we take a look at the Biblical strategy that has built the church over the last 2,000 years. Based on Acts 2, we share the simple flywheel system that aligns your entire church, from staff structure to budget decisions. This long-term strategy shows how individual discipleship and organizational growth work together seamlessly. While we love our language and flywheel, this is descriptive, not prescriptive. So take this...
2025-07-0731 minBreaking BarriersE70 - Growth Flywheel | Building a System that Grows Individuals and ChurchesWhat if your church could build the same kind of unstoppable momentum that Amazon used to become a global giant? In this episode, we take a look at the Biblical strategy that has built the church over the last 2,000 years. Based on Acts 2, we share the simple flywheel system that aligns your entire church, from staff structure to budget decisions. This long-term strategy shows how individual discipleship and organizational growth work together seamlessly. While we love our language and flywheel, this is descriptive, not prescriptive. So take this concept and apply it to YOUR church and see what God...
2025-06-3031 minBreaking BarriersE69 - The Heart Behind Church Mergers | Live From the Church Merger 1-Day EventIn this in-depth episode of Breaking Barriers, learn the key to church merger success. Pastor Andrew shares the "two hearts, one vision" strategy that produced four successful mergers and explains why the majority of church mergers fail. Both churches require the same gospel-centered heart posture; how to recognize senior church members, and the discipleship opportunities presented by mergers. There are also some true stories, helpful advice, and practical actions for church leaders thinking about merging from a Kingdom mindset. This episode is straight from our Merger 1-Day event where we did a deep-dive on...
2025-06-2345 minBreaking BarriersE68 - Pastor Health: Why Lead Pastors Face Burnout and 5 Strategies to Fight BackAre you a lead pastor struggling with burnout, depression, or physical health issues? You're not alone. In this Breaking Barriers episode, Pastor Andrew Hopper explains why preaching pastors face unique health and physical challenges that most people don't understand. Let's not ignore the hidden physical demands of preaching, and why your sympathetic nervous system is constantly triggered, and 5 strategies to fight for your ministry longevity. Essential listening for preaching pastors, church staff, and elder boards who want to understand what their lead pastor is really carrying.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www...
2025-06-1642 minBreaking BarriersE67 - Directional & Shepherding Elders: A Biblical Framework That ScalesIn this episode, we break down the critical difference between directional and shepherding elders, revealing how this biblical framework allows churches to grow while maintaining organizational health. Learn the six key responsibilities of directional elders and how to create clear role expectations that prevent ministry paralysis. Whether you're planting a church or looking to scale your current leadership structure, this practical guide to elder organization will help your ministry thrive.Church Merger 1-Day - The Church Merger Playbook: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/#EventsWebsite: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breaking...
2025-06-0939 minBreaking BarriersE66 - The Discipline of Focus: How to Build a True Flywheel in Your Church or OrganizationWhat if your church could generate unstoppable momentum? In this episode, we break down the flywheel concept from Jim Collins' "Good to Great" and apply it to church growth. Learn why some churches struggle with isolated wins while others create compound growth through the flywheel model. Discover practical strategies to identify your church's key momentum drivers, maintain disciplined focus, and reinvest energy where it matters most. Perfect for pastors and church leaders who want to move from sporadic growth to sustainable momentum.Church Merger 1-Day - The Church Merger Playbook: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/#Events
2025-06-0232 minBreaking BarriersE65 - Balancing Brutal Facts and Unwavering Faith: The Stockdale Paradox for LeadershipChurch leaders often struggle between being the "hype person" and the bearer of bad news. The Stockdale Paradox offers a better way forward. Join us as we explore how Admiral Stockdale's experience as a POW provides a framework for effective leadership: confronting the brutal facts of reality while maintaining unwavering faith. Learn why this approach builds trust, leads to better decisions, and creates truly inspiring leadership that your team will follow. Perfect for pastors and ministry leaders looking to grow their leadership impact.Church Merger 1-Day - The Church Merger Playbook: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/#Ev...
2025-05-2635 minBreaking BarriersE64 - 5 Big Day Takeaways | Why Big Days Matter for Church Growth (Easter 2025)Many churches doubt the value of investing heavily in "Big Days" (think: Easter Services) when attendance drops the following week. In this episode, we debunk this myth with five data-backed takeaways that prove big days are crucial for long-term church growth. From creating adequate space and mobilizing volunteers to leveraging baptism moments and implementing effective follow-up systems, discover how to transform Easter momentum into sustained church growth. Learn why the 'big day strategy' works and how to measure success beyond week-to-week attendance fluctuations.Church Merger 1-Day - The Church Merger Playbook: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/#Ev...
2025-05-1934 minBreaking BarriersE63 - 3 Key Reasons Your Church Should Do Sabbaticals | 30 Years, Not 3"We're going for 30 years, not 3." In this episode, we unpack a powerful staff retention strategy that will help your leadership team stay for the long haul: the sabbatical. We address the common objections, break down the implementation details, and share three compelling reasons this practice transforms ministry sustainability. If you're tired of constant staff turnover and want to build a team that can go the distance, this conversation provides a practical roadmap for creating a healthier church culture that benefits leaders and their families.Church Merger 1-Day Event - The Church Merger Playbook: https://br...
2025-05-1235 minBreaking BarriersE62 - Sermon Series Planning Secret Weapon: The Big Idea DocumentPastor Andrew breaks down his complete process of sermon series planning using the "Big Idea Document" approach. Learn how he creates compelling series concepts, and develops a 12-week planning rhythm that helps you and your entire team prepare for a sermon series. Includes practical tips for crafting series titles, scripture selection, big ideas, and creative elements that will engage both believers and newcomers to your church. Don't miss this one-this is as practical as it gets!Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www...
2025-05-0534 minBreaking BarriersE61 - What is an Executive Pastor? And When to Hire One (The Right One)Discover when and why your church should consider hiring an executive pastor. In this episode, we break down the crucial relationship between lead pastors and executive pastors, exploring how this partnership creates "rocket fuel" for church growth. Learn the ideal qualities to look for in a second chair leader, when to make this strategic hire, and how to clearly define roles that maximize your church's ministry impact and operational effectiveness.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
2025-04-2839 minBreaking BarriersE60 - Generosity as Discipleship: 5 Axioms for Church Generosity and Spiritual Maturity (Part 2)"Generosity initiatives are discipleship initiatives." Over the past two practical episodes, we explore 5 axioms for effectively leading your church through a giving campaign. Learn why church funding isn't just about raising money but raising maturity, how to strategically allocate resources between ongoing ministry, special projects, and future vision, and why every dollar is a "kingdom dollar" in the mission of the church. Whether you're a church planter or an established pastor, these principles will help you develop both generosity and spiritual growth in your congregation.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www...
2025-04-2123 minBreaking BarriersE59 - Generosity as Discipleship: 5 Axioms for Church Generosity and Spiritual Maturity (Part 1)"Generosity initiatives are discipleship initiatives." In the next two practical episodes, we explore 5 axioms for effectively leading your church through a giving campaign. Learn why church funding isn't just about raising money but raising maturity, how to strategically allocate resources between ongoing ministry, special projects, and future vision, and why every dollar is a "kingdom dollar" in the mission of the church. Whether you're a church planter or an established pastor, these principles will help you develop both generosity and spiritual growth in your congregation.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www...
2025-04-1426 minBreaking BarriersE58 - Leadership Pain and Church Growth: You Can Have Growth or You Can Have Comfort, But You Can't have BothEvery growing church faces critical leadership pain points that determine its future. In this episode, we explore six essential leadership challenges—from reorganization to narrowing focus—that pastors must navigate to scale their ministry effectively. Discover why comfort and growth can never coexist and how embracing necessary pain (and the right pain) is the gateway to church multiplication.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
2025-04-0729 minBreaking BarriersE57 - The Flywheel for Life | Fitness, Family, Flock, and Finances for Pastors (Part 2)In this episode, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby continue their conversation on how church leaders can organize their lives to support both personal health and church growth. They explore the critical areas of fitness, family, flock, and finances, explaining why a pastor's vision for these personal areas should be as detailed and vivid as their vision for their church. Discover practical strategies to create sustainable rhythms in each area while adapting to different life stages, ensuring your church's health doesn't outpace your own.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com...
2025-03-3133 min
Breaking BarriersE56 - The Flywheel for Life | Why Your Church Can't Outgrow Your Personal HealthIn this episode, we explore the "flywheel concept" for pastoral health and church growth. Discover how intentionally investing in your personal well-being creates momentum that carries into your family, ministry, and finances. Learn why passivity is never the pathway to health and how creating a strategic flywheel can prevent burnout while fostering sustainable church growth. If you're a pastor with growth aspirations, you need a vision for your health that matches your vision for your church.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www...
2025-03-2431 minBreaking BarriersE55 - Time Horizons: How Effective Church Leaders Balance Vision and ExecutionWhy do some churches thrive while others plateau? In this episode, we explore how effective church leadership requires working across multiple time horizons simultaneously. Using Mercy Hill's new Ridge campus project as a case study, we break down the four essential time frameworks every ministry leader must navigate: vision (3-10 years), strategy (1-3 years), tactics (90 days to 1 year), and execution (the next week). Learn practical steps to elevate your leadership, identify your natural tendencies, implement systems for longer-term thinking, and properly delegate responsibilities across your team. Discover how to move beyond just managing the next Sunday to intentionally planning...
2025-03-1739 minBreaking BarriersE54 - The Ethos of Breaking Barriers | Growing to Go: Why Church Growth and Sending Go Hand in Hand (Part 2)1 year into Breaking Barriers, we wanted to revisit the reason we started Breaking Barriers to begin with. In this episode, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby continue the conversation around the false dichotomy between church growth and spiritual depth. Learn why many churches simultaneously mourn decline while refusing to celebrate growth, and discover how this mindset may be holding ministries back. They share practical insights on balancing numerical growth with discipleship, debunk common myths about church growth being "unspiritual," and explore how growing churches become sending churches. Whether you're a pastor feeling guilty about wanting your church to grow or...
2025-03-1024 minBreaking BarriersE53 - The Ethos of Breaking Barriers | Growing to Go: Why Church Growth and Sending Go Hand in Hand1 year into Breaking Barriers, we wanted to revisit the reason we started Breaking Barriers to begin with. In this episode, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby re-tackle the false dichotomy between church growth and spiritual depth. Learn why many churches simultaneously mourn decline while refusing to celebrate growth, and discover how this mindset may be holding ministries back. They share practical insights on balancing numerical growth with discipleship, debunk common myths about church growth being "unspiritual," and explore how growing churches become sending churches. Whether you're a pastor feeling guilty about wanting your church to grow or a ministry leader...
2025-03-0328 minBreaking BarriersS1E052 - 6 Axioms For Moving From Partnering to PlantingWe believe that parent-planting churches is the best way to plant churches, but partner-planting is the best pathway to parent-planting. In this episode we discuss 6 axioms, 3 to move into planting and 3 to move into parent-planting.
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2025-02-2436 minBreaking BarriersS1E051 - 3 Guiding Principles for Leading StaffAre you in charge of leading people? It might be an entire staff-team of 75 people, maybe it's 10 people on kids' staff, or it might just be 3 volunteers; if you lead people, this episode looks at 3 guiding principles for leading staff.
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2025-02-1735 minBreaking BarriersS1E050 - Steven Wade | One Question to See the Crowd Become the Family"How does one go from the crowd to the family at my church?" This is one question can be the catalyst for growth at your church. If you don't have this clearly defined for yourself, your leadership, staff, volunteer, etc; how do you expect that it will just happen naturally? Pastor Steven Wade, Lead Pastor at Faith Baptist Church, Youngsville, NC, and Professor of Pastoral Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary dives into this concept from Acts 2. By the Spirit, through the Word and in community.
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2025-02-1025 minBreaking BarriersS1E049 - Easter Planning, Big Days Planning, ProjectionsIn this Episode we talk about Easter/Big Day planning, preparations, projections and much more. If you're looking for ways to prepare the jars for Easter, then this is the episode for you. If you're listening to this as it is released.. then Easter is right around the corner! If you're catching this at a later date, then another Big Day is coming up (listen to Episode 15 and 16 for more on that!)
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2025-02-0339 minBreaking BarriersS1E048 - From 10-Year Vision to 90-Day Rocks (Part 2)If you Haven't listened to Episode 47, go check that out as it sets the groundwork for this episode! We take a look at our recent Executive planning meeting and how to take you 10-year vision and boil it all the way down to 90-day rocks. This is a super practical episode and we think you're really going to get alot out of it!
2025-01-2737 minBreaking BarriersS1E047 - The Importance of a 10-Year Vision (Part 1)When planning the year ahead, looking back at the previous year is essential to see how it went. It's also so important to look at the next 10 years and what the future could look like. Vision casting is both long-term and short-term; the long-term vision informs the short-term vision. This episode focuses on the 10-year vision, and the next episode will be about reverse engineering that 10-year vision.
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2025-01-2027 minBreaking BarriersS1E046 - Church Mergers | The Number 1 Thing to Navigate (Part 2)In the church culture, we use the phrase, "Church Merger" but that is actually not a very accurate phrase. The idea is more like an adoption than a merging of two things, and this can be tough to navigate. Two visions = division. In this episode, we try to help you navigate and understand what that process can actually look like.
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2025-01-1340 minBreaking BarriersS1E045 - Failure | 3 Frameworks for Mistakes and 3 Positive Things We Can Do to GrowFailure is something that we all experience. It is something that you kinda never get used to [Edit: hopefully], but it is a reality—especially if you are chasing big goals and big prayers. In this episode we dive into 3 frameworks for mistakes and 3 positive things we can do to grow from them.
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2025-01-0633 minBreaking BarriersS1E044 - Stepping Out in Faith VS Waiting on God | 2025 & BeyondHave you ever been sitting back and waiting for God to move in a situation so that you can step into it? Maybe God is waiting for you to take a step out in faith so that he can move in that situation. Maybe 2025 is going to be really hard for you, or maybe it will be the greatest year of your life; either way, we see from Joshua 3 that most of the time... God wants us to take a step of faith to see him move.
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2024-12-3038 minBreaking BarriersS1E043 - Bryant Wright | Missional Mindset, Short-term Trips, Prayer Ministry | LIVE From the NC Baptist State ConventionPastor Andrew got the chance to sit down with Pastor Bryant Wright: Pastor, Author, Founder of Right From The Heart Ministries, and President of international relief organization, Send Relief. They dive into his story and a ton of other topics, we know you'll love this conversation!
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2024-12-2330 minBreaking BarriersS1E042 - The Process of Building Worship Teams | Writing Worship Music For Your Church (Part 2)What does the actual process of building worship teams look like at Mercy Hill? We cover everything from auditions, to Essentials (how to go from auditioning to playing on a Sunday), and continued development once someone is on the team; Jon also dives into how writing music for your church can be a huge mover for musicians in your church! Lastly, one of the biggest levers for building a strong worship culture is creating an attractive community of musicians.
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2024-12-1641 minBreaking BarriersS1E041 - Rich Birch | Creating an Invite Culture at Your ChurchRich Birch from Unseminary joins Pastor Bobby to talk about increasing the inviter culture at your church. Rich talks about 5 gears that move the needle on inviter culture from his new book called, "Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture: Strategies for Church Growth That Work Today."
Rich's Book: https://a.co/d/flbwdLJ
Unseminary: https://unseminary.com/
Rich's Links: https://helpchurchleaders.com/instalinks/
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2024-12-0949 minBreaking BarriersS1E040 - Building Worship Teams - The Leadership Pipeline of Multisite Worship Development (Part 1)Pastor Jon Azzarello joins Pastor Andrew Hopper to discuss the Worship Culture at Mercy Hill Church. Jon has developed a pipeline for worship development at Mercy Hill called "Essentials" that every band member and singer goes through. They cover everything from auditions to continued development after someone is on the team. Don't let worship teams be a limited mindset for you and your church!
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2024-12-0141 minBreaking BarriersS1E039 - JD Greear | Church Growth, Multiplication, The Story of Lydia, & Discipleship | LIVE at NC Baptist State ConventionPastor Andrew Hopper interviews Pastor JD Greear from the Summit Church in the Triangle area of North Carolina. Andrew and JD discuss the importance of bringing the conversation of growth and discipleship back together live from the NC Baptist State Convention.
JD Greear Ministries: https://jdgreear.com/
Summit Church: https://summitchurch.com/
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2024-11-2531 minBreaking BarriersS1E038 - The Importance of Staff Culture | Values & BehaviorsCulture eats strategy for lunch. This is a pithy saying.. but it really is true, you can have the best strategy, but if your culture isn't any good, nothing else will be either. We dive into staff culture, and the importance of both values and behaviors.
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2024-11-1845 minBreaking BarriersS1E037 - Church Mergers | Why They're Such a Big Deal And So Many Pastors Screw Them UpOne of the most common questions we get are around the topic of church mergers. Navigating church mergers is a huge undertaking, and they can be such a huge Kingdom opportunity for the future. However, they can also be detrimental if they aren't navigated correctly. That's exactly what we want to discuss in this conversation!
Rich Birch 1-Day Event - Increase Inviter Culture at Your Church: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/#Events
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2024-11-1135 minBreaking BarriersS1E036 - Creating a Sending Culture at Your ChurchWe explore the role of church planting in fulfilling the Great Commission. We believe that church planting is God’s plan for reaching the world and that every believer should be a part of a local church. We dive into how cultivating a “sending culture” within your church can propel gospel impact, and why the mission to plant churches that plant churches is vital for spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Rich Birch 1-Day Event: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/#Events
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2024-11-0436 minBreaking BarriersS1E035 - Every Church Has a Brand—Some Do It WellIn this episode, we dive into the reality that every church—whether intentionally or not—creates an impression on its community. We explore what it means to embrace and shape your church’s brand effectively.
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2024-10-2836 minBreaking BarriersS1E034 - Development VS. Opportunity - Part 2Pastor Jonathan Yarboro and Pastor Andrew Hopper continue a conversation (from Episode 32) about what we call the "leadership vacuum." The tension to be managed: development vs opportunity and why you need both, but one shapes leaders more quickly.
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2024-10-2140 minBreaking BarriersS1E033 - 5 Key Takeaways From All Size Churches That You're Not Hearing About5 Takeaways from the Breaking Barriers Conference from Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby. Many of these things are 'back stage' conversations' that we are trying to bring to the 'front stage' in the conference circuit.
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2024-10-1440 minBreaking BarriersS1E032 - Stressing the Organization | Development VS. OpportunityThere is a delicate balance between development and opportunity. In this episode, Pastor Bobby and Pastor Jonathan examine the concept of stressing the organization. We understand this concept in almost every area of our lives: If you work out hard (i.e., stress), that leads to growth! It is often the opportunity for people to step up that leads to growth.
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2024-10-0731 minBreaking BarriersS1E031 - Q&A 2024 Breaking Barriers ConferenceLive from the 2024 Breaking Barriers Conference, we took questions from conference attendees who had questions about the talks. In this episode, Pastor Andrew, Pastor Bobby, and Pastor Jonathan fielded questions about pragmatism, preaching, starting multiple services, serving engagement, and many more! This episode gives you a taste of what the Breaking Barriers Conference and ministry is all about!
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2024-09-3044 minBreaking BarriersS1E30 - 5 Limiting Beliefs That Halt Growth and MultiplicationPastor Bobby and Pastor Jonathan discuss some limiting beliefs that prevent churches and leaders from growing and ultimately multiplying.
2024-09-2336 minBreaking BarriersS1E029 - The Power, Paradigm, and Practice of VisionThe term vision is thrown around alot both in the church world, and in leadership in general, but how exactly do you use it? We've talked about what vision is and how to craft it, but this episode is all about how you use vision: the power of it, what paradigm we use at Mercy Hill, and in practice - how do you actually implement a vision?
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2024-09-1644 minBreaking BarriersS1E028 - Todd Unzicker | Executive Director-Treasurer of NC BaptistTodd Unzicker, the Executive Director-Treasurer of NC Baptist, joins Pastor Andrew to discuss Breaking Barriers, church growth, and going on mission.
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2024-09-0943 minBreaking BarriersS1E027 - Developing Preachers in Your Church: Sermon Planning Part 2In Episode 26, we talked about the weekly meeting that we have each week at Mercy Hill called "Sermon Planning" where that community helps to make the sermon better. In this episode, we're talking about the flip side of that coin and how Sermon Planning helps to develop pastors in your church!
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*We typically release our podcasts as video podcasts, but due to some technical failures, Episodes 26 and 27 will be audio-only. We lo...
2024-09-0232 minBreaking BarriersS1E026 - Making Your Sermon Better In Community: Sermon PlanningApart from good theology, this one thing will make your sermons better. Pastor Andrew and Pastor Jonathan dive into this critical meeting called "Sermon Planning," which we have each week at Mercy Hill. Consider adding this meeting to your sermon-prep arsenal each week.
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*We typically release our podcasts as video podcasts, but due to some technical failures, Episodes 26 and 27 will be audio-only. We look forward to releasing video episodes again start...
2024-08-2628 minBreaking BarriersS1E025 - Turning First-Time Guests Into DisciplesWe did a Zoom seminar a while back where we discussed first-time guests and how to turn them into second-time guests and, eventually, disciples. People often get confused around the lead and lag measures when it comes to first-time guests because they feel like it is 'icky'. We want to see baptisms, people sent out, people hearing the gospel for the first time, and lives being changed. The problem is that the lead measures that lead to those outcomes hinge on people coming to the church for the first time! In this podcast, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby dive...
2024-08-1950 minBreaking BarriersS1E024 - "Spontaneous" Baptisms - The Playbook (Part 2)If you haven't listened to Part 1 (Are "Spontaneous" Baptisms Biblical?), give that a listen, where Andrew lays out the Biblical lineage of people getting saved in the book of Acts. This episode is all about the practical side. The nuts and bolts on how to pull off same-day baptisms.
Join us at the Breaking Barriers Conference on September 17+18, where we'll be diving into the practical nuts and bolts of ministry, sending, and church growth. Find out more and register today: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conference
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2024-08-1237 minBreaking BarriersS1E023 - Are "Spontaneous" Baptisms Biblical? (Part 1)Should you require a 6 month waiting period for someone to get Baptized? A Baptism class? Is Baptism a proof of commitment or a promise of commitment? Well, what does the Biblical record say? What does the book of Acts look like in terms of people getting baptized? In this episode, Pastor Andrew looks at all of the accounts of baptism in the book of Acts for what the Scriptural record looks like.
Join us at the Breaking Barriers Conference on September 17+18 where we'll be diving in to the practical nuts an bolts of ministry, sending, and church...
2024-08-0527 minBreaking BarriersS1E022 - 5 Steps to Reverse Engineer Your Vision Into GoalsSome churches may be great at execution but not so great at vision, while others are super visionary, but they struggle with the day-to-day execution of that vision. We will all probably lean one way or the other, but we should always be striving to be both!
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2024-07-2941 minBreaking BarriersS1E021 - 5 Reasons People Aren't Getting Connected to Your ChurchPeople might not be getting connected to your church because they might be confused. Making this one shift could help you see more people that come to your church... stick.
Join us for our 2024 Breaking Barriers Conference:
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2024-07-2226 minBreaking BarriersS1E020 - Generosity is Both a Pathway to and a Product of DiscipleshipMost people think that generosity in the life of a Christian is a product of discipleship. This is not necessarily untrue, but we believe that generosity is not just a product of discipleship, but it is also a pathway to discipleship. Just look at the life and ministry of Jesus! Why is it that Jesus talked more about money than any other spiritual discipline in his parables, and in his general discourse? Because money is one of the things that gets our heart stirred up the most. In this episode, we dive into shifting our mindset to discipleship as...
2024-07-1533 minBreaking BarriersS1E019 - 5 Reasons Pastors Struggle to Talk About GenerositySometimes it feels weird to talk about money... we get it. The problem is that Jesus talked about money—a lot. Generosity is such an important topic for the discipleship of the people in our churches. In 1 Timothy, it says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, so for the Christian discipleship journey–how can we just not talk about such an important topic in the Bible? In this episode, Pastor Bobby and Pastor Andrew talk about 5 reasons pastors struggle to talk about money and the pathways to discipleship through generosity.
2024-07-0835 minBreaking BarriersS1E018 - The Real Value of Short-Term Mission TripsWe believe that short-term trips are valuable, but maybe not for the reasons you'd think. Short-term missions is a long-term strategy; not the other way around. In this episode, we dive into the nitty gritty of mission trips and why they are so effective at cultivating a heart for missions.
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2024-07-0142 minBreaking BarriersS1E017 - Are Short-Term Trips Still Effective? | 3 ConsiderationsAre short-term mission trips still effective? Are short-term trips even helpful to the people on the field? Where do you find short-term mission trips in the Bible? There are a lot of opinions swirling around about short-term trips and whether or not they are helpful. In this episode, we want to peel back the layers of short-term trip effectiveness and give some perspective to their value.
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2024-06-2434 minBreaking BarriersS1E016 - Churches Grow on Big Days | The Practical (Part 2)Churches grow on big days. We see this in Scripture, and it still true today. There is *some* contextual differences based on where you are, but not as much as you might think. Think about it - New Year, Easter, back-to-school, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas... All of those things are culturally relevant 'Big Days'. The only one that we include that isn't a cultural thing is KidsWeek (think VBS). However, even that is a typical summertime activity. No matter where you are in the country, most people generally think about and celebrate these things. We're just trying...
2024-06-1737 minBreaking BarriersS1E015 - Churches Grow on Big Days | The Philosophy (Part 1)Churches grow on big days. We see this in Scripture, and it still true today. There is *some* contextual differences based on where you are, but not as much as you might think. Think about it - New Year, Easter, back-to-school, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas... All of those things are culturally relevant 'Big Days'. The only one that we include that isn't a cultural thing is KidsWeek (think VBS). However, even that is a typical summertime activity. No matter where you are in the country, most people generally think about and celebrate these things. We're just trying...
2024-06-1034 minBreaking BarriersS1E014 - Is Balance a Myth? | Balance and BurnoutWe've probably experienced burnt out, or at least have touched that line a time or two. While that's true.. it doesn't necessarily have to be the case. The key to not burning out is the buzzword 'balance' but what does that actually mean? Today's episode with Pastor Bobby and Pastor Jonathan is all about burnout and practical tips to avoid it.
Want to learn more about our Breaking Barriers Conference? You can find all of the details here: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conference/
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2024-06-0342 minBreaking BarriersS1E013 - The Necessary Ingredient to SendingMissions and sending is the goal... but that doesn't happen without the growth—at least not sustainably. That's why we try so hard not to divorce reaching the crowds from sending the missionaries. They go hand in hand, and here's the thing; they are both discipleship! Keep growing to keep going.
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2024-05-2741 minBreaking BarriersS1E012 - Are the Best Church Leaders Pragmatists? Wisdom and TheologyAre the best church leaders pragmatists? Is it okay to even be pragmatic in the church? Is there grey in the Bible? Or is everything black and white in the Bible? Proverbs 17:10 talks about two different types of people, the wise person, and the fool. In this episode, we're talking all about this concept for church leaders—what are the things that are "open-handed" in the Bible, that we have made "closed-handed." How have we seen this play out at Mercy Hill? Obviously, there are things in the Bible that are black and white, but what about the things ar...
2024-05-2043 minBreaking BarriersS1E011 - Inviter Evangelism From the Story of the Paralytic | Mark 2How can you create and instill an inviter culture in your church, and what can we learn from the story of the paralytic from Mark chapter 2? One thing is for sure: his friends were desperate for this man to meet Jesus, and we should have that same desperation.
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2024-05-1322 minBreaking BarriersS1E010 - Big Days, Inviter Culture, and Church MarketingWhat is church marketing? What constitutes a "Big Day" in the church? How to develop an inviter culture in the church? This week, Pastor Bobby is joined by Ashley Smith, Mercy Hill's marketing director, and we talk specifically about marketing in the church and how it can help your church grow and go.
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2024-05-0635 minBreaking BarriersS1E009 - The How of Multiple Services - Part 3In Episode 8, we covered the first half of 'why' behind doing multiple services with Randy Titus, and in Episode 9 with Pastor Randy Titus, we're diving deeper into the practical side: how do you actually pull off doing multiple services? How do you launch a new service? What are some metrics to keep in mind when you think about doing a new service?
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2024-04-2923 minBreaking BarriersS1E008 - The How of Multiple Services - Part 2In Episode 7, we covered the 'why' behind doing multiple services with Jonathan Yarboro, and in Episode 8 with Pastor Randy Titus, we're jumping into the practical side: how do you actually pull off doing multiple services? How do you launch a new service? What are some metrics to keep in mind when you think about doing a new service?
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2024-04-2233 minBreaking BarriersS1E007 - The Why of Multiple Services - Part 1Why do we do multiple services? Why do we try to open up space for new people? Why do we ask people to move services? Pastor Jonathan Yarboro joins Pastor Andrew for this episode, which is all about the why of multiple services.
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2024-04-1539 minBreaking BarriersS1E006 - Donnie Griggs | Gospel AmbitionPastor Andrew was joined by Pastor Donnie Griggs from One Harbor Church in and around Morehead City, NC. Donnie has written multiple books about doing effective Gospel-centered ministry in small towns. We get to hear from his perspective when he was told, "that won't work here." Visit One Harbor's website here: https://oneharborchurch.com/
Donnie's Books: Small Town Jesus & Pastoring Small Towns
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2024-04-0836 minBreaking BarriersS1E005 - Tyranny of the Urgent | What to Do When There’s More to Do Than You Can DoWe all feel this, whether you're in the church or not—the tyranny of the urgent often overtakes the plan that you had for the day. Or even worse, if you didn't have a plan to begin with. Bobby and Andrew discuss what steps you can take to take back control of your schedule, and make sure the main thing stays at the top!
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2024-04-0132 minBreaking BarriersS1E004 - 10 Limiting Beliefs Hindering Your Leadership and GrowthLimiting beliefs can keep us from stepping out and doing big things. Let's be honest... its HARD to start something, or shift the direction on something without knowing what the outcome will be! What you believe about success and growth on the front end is a pretty good determiner of what you're going to see happen. In this episode, Pastor Bobby gives us 10 limiting beliefs that are common for church planters/leaders and then some practical steps to overcome those limiting beliefs.
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2024-03-2533 minBreaking BarriersS1E003 - Preparing the Jars For God to Work | 2 Kings 4We can't control what God does... but we can prepare the jars for God to work in and through us and our church. In this episode, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby dive into 2 Kings, where Elisha tells the woman to prepare the jars for oil–and the miracle of the multiplication of the oil is directly related to the number of jars that the woman prepared! We can't multiply the oil, but we can prepare the jars. Are we preparing the metaphorical jars for what we want to see God do in our church?
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2024-03-1832 minBreaking BarriersS1E002 - The #1 Thing That Has Led to GrowthIn this Episode of Breaking Barriers, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby dive into inputs vs outputs and what the difference is. Check out this conversation about getting your inputs to line up with your outputs is half of the battle!
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2024-03-1834 minBreaking BarriersS1E001 - Church Growth is Not BadJoin us for the first episode of the Breaking Barriers Podcast. Pastor Andrew Hopper and Pastor Bobby Herrington of Mercy Hill Church in Greensboro, NC start the conversation around church growth. Church growth is demonized while sending and missions is praised—but both are necessary!
2024-03-1840 minBreaking BarriersS1E000 - Breaking Barriers TrailerWe're so pumped to be diving into discussions around leadership and growth and we can't wait for you to be a part. Our whole goal with Breaking Barriers is to see churches and pastors grow so that they can go.
2024-03-1100 min