Shows
Church Planting TogetherThe Value of Disappointment in Church PlantingEpisode 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2022-07-2536 minChurch Planting TogetherAlongside: A Ministry to Ministry WivesEpisode 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 c...
2022-07-1130 minChurch Planting TogetherEvaluating Criticism of Your Church PlantEpisode 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 visionIs it clear in scripture?The first two don’t need to beat you up, but the third should caus...
2022-06-2728 minChurch Planting TogetherFinding the Right Partner in Crime for Church PlantingEpisode 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2022-06-1334 minChurch Planting TogetherSetting Your Church Plant up for Success, The Bus QuotientEpisode 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 boundaries2. Raise up leaders to teach3. Be wise about salary4. Have a process for removing or hiring a p...
2022-05-3036 minChurch Planting TogetherHendersons of Utah and Life Lessons in Church PlantingEpisode 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.comFollow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2022-05-1635 minChurch Planting TogetherChurch Planting in a Pandemic: David and Victoria HendersonEpisode 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2022-05-0233 minChurch Planting TogetherStrengthfinders Strengths and Weaknesses in Church PlantingEpisode 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. Follow us on...
2022-04-1835 minChurch Planting TogetherLearning the Culture and Building Relationships in Your CityEpisode 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!
2022-04-0429 minChurch Planting TogetherThe Why and Why Not of Church PlantingEpisode 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. F...
2022-03-2127 minChurch Planting TogetherPutting People into Leadership in Your Church PlantEpisode 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2022-03-0734 minChurch Planting TogetherEvangelism Entropy in Your Church PlantEpisode 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! Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2022-02-2134 minChurch Planting TogetherEmotionally Difficult Things in the Early Days of Your Church PlantEpisode 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...
2022-02-0735 minChurch Planting TogetherGrowth Barriers and Adding Staff for Your Church PlantEpisode 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2022-01-2435 minChurch Planting TogetherD.U.M.B. Goals and S.M.A.R.T Goals in Church PlantingEpisode 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-BreakFollow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2022-01-1033 minChurch Planting Together034: Marketing Your New Church PlantMost 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2021-12-2727 minChurch Planting Together033: Hard Stuff and Keeping Your Focus Where it BelongsWhere 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2021-12-1336 minChurch Planting Together032: Emergency Preparedness for Church PlantersOn 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact...
2021-11-2935 minChurch Planting Together031: Getting Ready for Holidays While Planting a ChurchHolidays 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2021-11-1529 minChurch Planting Together030: Carrie is Switching Things UpCarrie 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2021-11-0131 minChurch Planting Together029: Five Things we Wish Someone Would Have Told usStarting 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 team2. Take the long view3. Rest4. Check your finances5. Role of the spouseFollow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogetherc...
2021-10-2532 minChurch Planting Together028: Establishing Elders in Your Church PlantMost 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 phase2. Advisory Board3. EldersLoren 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 KaiserTransforming Prayer by Daniel Henderson
2021-10-1830 minChurch Planting Together027: Going to Retreats That You Don't LeadWhen 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 RememberLove and RespectHume Lake Christian CampsAny conferences you are invited to through your network (Converge...
2021-10-1128 minChurch Planting Together026: Staying Neighborly as a Church PlanterDon'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...
2021-10-0430 minChurch Planting Together025: Managing Expectations in Church PlantingAttending 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 KrugerFollow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogether
2021-09-2730 minChurch Planting Together024: Small Groups in Your Church PlantSmall 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2021-09-2031 minChurch Planting Together023: Assimilating Newcomers into the Life of the Church PlantAs 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us at churchplantingtogether@gmail.com
2021-09-1326 minChurch Planting Together022: Supporting a Spouse Who Works Tons of Hours While Planting a ChurchHow 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...
2021-09-0633 minChurch Planting Together021: Managing Your Time While Planting a ChurchTime 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 I...
2021-08-3030 minChurch Planting Together020: Seasons of the Church Plant with Their Strengths and WeaknessesChurch 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 teamPrelaunch 2: Preparing to launchPost launchMoving to two servicesAdding paid staff Follow us on Instagram @churchplantingtogethercontact us at ch...
2021-08-2331 minChurch Planting Together019: Keeping Your Personal Budget in Check While Church PlantingMoney 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 @churchplantingtogethercontact us...
2021-08-1631 minChurch Planting Together018: Prepare Your Relationship to Handle Challenges in Church PlantingChurch 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...
2021-08-0932 minChurch Planting Together017: Brooke and Kevin- When God Decides It's Time to Plant a ChurchSometimes 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
2021-08-0230 minChurch Planting Together016: Get This on the Calendar Now! Vacation!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...
2021-07-2630 minChurch Planting Together015: 10 Signs You are Making Your Church Plant About YouAlthough 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 failure2. When someone leaves the church, it a...
2021-07-1931 minChurch Planting Together014: When it Feels Like Everything is Falling ApartWhen 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...
2021-07-1229 minChurch Planting Together013: Protecting the Vision of Your Church PlantPeople 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-PiratesCrew members are those...
2021-07-0530 minChurch Planting Together012: Post Launch LonelinessThere 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 s...
2021-06-2830 minChurch Planting Together011: Should You Join a Church Planting Network?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 t...
2021-06-2119 minChurch Planting Together010: The Role of Apologetics in Church PlantingLoren 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 d...
2021-06-1430 minChurch Planting Together009: The Launch TeamWe 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 w...
2021-06-0730 minChurch Planting Together008: Connecting With The Community and Utilizing Mission TeamsGrowing 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...
2021-05-3130 minChurch Planting Together007: Your First Year-ishGetting 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:501c3Articles of IncorporationBusiness LicenseState...
2021-05-2430 minChurch Planting Together006: It's Getting RealIn 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...
2021-05-1730 minChurch Planting Together005: Leaving Your Home Church to Church PlantRight 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. T...
2021-05-1031 minChurch Planting Together004: Fundraising for your Church PlantFundraising 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 wi...
2021-05-0329 minChurch Planting Together003: Before You Fundraise for your Church PlantBefore 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...
2021-04-1425 minChurch Planting Together002: One of the Best Things you can do Before you Plant a ChurchKnowing 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 p...
2021-04-1328 minChurch Planting Together001: When God Calls an Average Couple to Plant a ChurchThis 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...
2021-04-1328 min