Church leaders often ask, "How do we reach people in places that seem anti-church or post-Christian?" Jesse DeYoung, Executive Lead Pastor of Flatirons Community Church, provides honest and actionable answers to that question in this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast.

Jesse shares his journey from a youth group kid in Kentucky to leading one of the largest churches in Colorado, all while navigating the unique cultural challenges of Boulder County and the Denver Front Range—a region often marked by skepticism, individualism, and a deep love for the outdoors over traditional church.

From rethinking how to engage transient, mountain-loving populations, to challenging his staff to identify someone who might be going to hell and actively pursue them with love and intention, Jesse brings a fresh perspective on evangelism, leadership, and culture.

Doug and Jesse explore:
-Why loving people for who they are—not who they might become—is key to lasting ministry.
-How Flatirons addresses the complexities of legal marijuana use and its impact on church culture.
-The deep roots of misalignment in growing churches and the three key practices for addressing it: the stories you tell, the behaviors you reward, and the incidents you confront.
-The importance of personal evangelism at every level—executive team, staff, and board.
-How Flatirons supports church planting without becoming an over-extended multi-site machine.

This is a must-listen episode for church leaders across the size spectrum—from church planters to executive pastors—who are serious about aligning people to the Great Commission, even in tough cultural climates.

The Intentional Churches Community is a free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community.

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome & Intentional Churches Community
03:15 Meet Jesse DeYoung & His Ministry Journey
07:50 The Culture of Boulder County & Reaching the Unchurched
14:30 Flatirons’ Origin and DNA of Evangelism
19:20 Stories from the Front Lines (Including the "Weed King")
23:10 Parenting & Pastoring in a Weed-Legal Culture
28:05 Personal Evangelism and Jesse’s “One”
32:20 Culture of Evangelism: Staff, Board, and Church
36:50 Misalignment in Growing Churches & How to Fight It
42:05 Church Planting the Flatirons Way
45:30 Jesse’s Final Words to Church Leaders

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
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Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

Albuquerque presents both deep challenges and incredible opportunities for ministry. Pastor Nate Bush of New City Church shares how his team navigates the complexities of serving a city with both high levels of poverty and a large population of PhDs. He discusses the importance of balancing justice work with evangelism and how New City Church has shifted to ensuring every member owns the Great Commission.

Nate outlines how initiatives like the Shine School Partnership and Getting Ahead have helped connect churches with schools and support individuals in escaping poverty. He also introduces "Go There for the One," a church-wide commissioning strategy aimed at mobilizing every member for personal evangelism.

This episode is filled with practical insights for church leaders looking to impact their communities while keeping the gospel at the center of their mission.

The Intentional Churches Community is free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction to the Intentional Churches Podcast
02:10 - Meet Nate Bush: Church Planting in Albuquerque
06:45 - The Reality of a "Low-Hope" City
12:30 - Balancing Justice Work and Evangelism
18:15 - The Role of Prayer in Church Vision
24:00 - The "Go There for the One" Initiative
29:30 - Encouragement for Church Leaders

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!

The future of the church in America is increasingly multicultural—compelling leaders to be intentional about fostering environments where diverse cultures can thrive together. Juan Carlos Heredia, Spanish Ministry Pastor at Houston’s Sugar Creek Baptist Church, joins Doug for this eye-opening episode of The Intentional Churches podcast to discuss the evolution of Hispanic ministry, the importance of personal ownership in evangelism, and how churches can strategically integrate different cultural groups without forcing assimilation.

During their conversation Juan Carlos shares his personal story of growing up between Ecuador, Mexico, and the U.S., how his calling led him into ministry, and the challenges of leading a Spanish-speaking congregation. He also gets into why Houston is a strategic hub for global missions and how its diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for churches.

This timely episode offers practical advice for churches looking to engage Hispanic communities, emphasizing the need for leadership that understands both cultures and the importance of contextualizing ministry without losing the gospel’s core message.

The Intentional Churches Community is free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - The Importance of Tools in Evangelism
00:17 - Welcome & Introduction to Juan Carlos Heredia
01:42 - Juan Carlos’ Background and Calling to Ministry
04:59 - The Diversity of Houston as a Mission Field
07:14 - Integration vs. Segregation in Houston’s Cultural Landscape
09:09 - Challenges of Hispanic Ministry in America
12:35 - Creating a Culture of Invitation and Evangelism
15:19 - How Sugar Creek Integrates Spanish Ministry
19:10 - The Future of Multicultural Church Partnerships
24:54 - Practical Steps for Assimilation Without Assimilation
30:44 - Personal Ownership of the Great Commission
33:35 - Using Events as Evangelistic Tools
37:22 - The Challenge of Retaining Young Generations in Faith
40:08 - Final Thoughts & Leadership Challenge