Talking all things discipleship, spiritual growth AND multisite in Europe!

In this episode of the Rich Martin Podcast, Rich sits down with Paul Benger and Nathan Benger of Ikon Church in Chesterfield, UK. They discuss the journey of planting and growing a church in a non-transient European city, the challenges of merging churches, and the transition of leadership within the Ground Level network. They also delve into the impact of COVID-19 on church culture and the importance of community and discipleship in church building. Join Rich for an insightful conversation on navigating church leadership, fostering community, and learning from past experiences.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:03 Meet the Benger Family and Ikon Church

00:52 Building a Church in Chesterfield

01:04 Recording the Podcast Live

01:55 Paul's Journey to Church Planting

02:57 Joining Ground Level Network

04:13 Ikon Church's Evolution

06:27 Impact of COVID on Church Dynamics

15:42 Merging Churches During COVID

27:56 Investing in Youth at Icon Church

29:50 Launching and Growing the Derby Campus

31:38 Paul's Health Crisis and Recovery

33:54 Challenges and Transitions in Derby Leadership

39:01 Ground Level Network Transition

49:09 Insights on Church Health and Growth

52:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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** The Rich Martin Podcast **

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Managing the mess of a church breakdown, a personal reflection on repentance as leaders and how God restores - their journey of going again! Join Rich Martin in this heartfelt conversation with Claire and Dan Maudhub. They share their profound and challenging journey of building a church, dealing with unexpected setbacks, navigating repentance and healing, and emerging with renewed spirit and purpose. From their early days in a small church to leading a larger community, and the monumental challenges they faced, their story is a powerful testament to faith, humility, and the transformative power of Jesus. Perfect for anyone who has experienced or is currently facing similar trials in their faith journey. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:25 Meet Claire and Dan Maudhub 03:05 Dan's Business Ventures and Claire's Teaching Career 05:02 The Church Journey Begins 09:01 Early Church Growth and Challenges 13:11 Leadership and Personal Struggles 15:14 The Collapse and Aftermath 19:05 Rebuilding and Reflection 22:51 Personal and Spiritual Healing 28:11 Reflecting on a Significant Album 28:36 Spiritual Reflections and Personal Growth 31:44 Rejoining and Rebuilding in the Church 32:19 Navigating Challenges and Finding New Passion 34:21 Lockdown Reflections and New Directions 38:01 Stepping Out in Faith and Trust 48:16 Practical Advice and Encouragement 52:47 Final Thoughts and Prayers 👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ORbZlxNwHlI-xpL7Yi9hg?sub_confirmation=1 ** The Rich Martin Podcast ** Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rich-martin/id1510139697 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NT4ausjFsFmiXwaSnVRUZ Other Players: https://anchor.fm/rich-martin ** Other Links ** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richmartinuk/ Web: http://richmartin.co.uk Articles: https://linktr.ee/richmartin

Building Church in one of Europe's most secular cities - Dom and Sarah John

In this episode, Dom and Sarah John, leaders of a thriving church in Cologne, Germany share their journey from studying theology in the UK to planting a church in Germany, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of building a church in a secular city. They discuss the importance of community, the innovative model of alternating between Sunday services and life groups, and the focus on discipling the younger generation. The podcast offers a detailed look into the couple's strategies for church growth, including their approach to small groups, family involvement, and financial stewardship, while also touching on the broader vision of spreading Christianity across Europe.

00:00 Welcome to the Rich Martin Podcast: A Deep Dive into Church Building
00:39 Introducing Dom and Sarah John: Church Builders in Germany
02:11 From Theology Studies to Church Planting: Dom and Sarah's Journey
06:26 The Growth and Impact of Cone City Church
08:44 Navigating Church Leadership in a Secular City
10:51 Balancing Church Life: From Hospital to Family to Army
18:41 Adapting Global Church Models to Local Contexts
25:32 Redefining Small Group Gatherings
26:09 Exploring Breakfast Cultures and Church Community Dynamics
26:48 Creating a Welcoming Church Culture
27:26 Innovative Approaches to Sermons and Life Groups
28:46 Integrating Children into Church Life
30:07 Managing Church Gatherings and Contributions
31:36 The Dynamics of Sunday Services and Financial Giving
34:08 Expanding Church Reach: Planting in New Locations
38:37 Navigating Family Life in Ministry
44:38 Vision for the Future: Empowering the Young Generation
46:59 Connecting with the Church Leaders

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** The Rich Martin Podcast **

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rich-martin/id1510139697

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** Other Links **

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Building Faith Communities in Secular Europe: A Conversation with Richard Lewis

This podcast episode features an in-depth conversation between Rich Martin and Richard Lewis, focusing on the challenges and strategies of building church communities in secular regions of Europe, specifically Sweden. Richard Lewis shares his personal journey from being inspired to pursue full-time ministry, to pastoring a church in Umeå, Sweden. The discussion delves into topics such as transitioning from larger church roles to leading in smaller, secular communities, the importance of digital presence in modern ministry, and approaches to discipleship and worship that resonate in a European context. Through sharing his experiences and reflections, Lewis offers insights into navigating ministry in environments that are often indifferent or resistant to religious engagement.

00:00 Opening Remarks and Introduction to Rich Lewis

01:12 Rich Lewis's Journey: From Birmingham to Sweden

02:19 The Path to Pastoring in Sweden: A Detailed Account

11:20 Navigating Transitions: Insights and Experiences

18:22 Building a Modern Church in Sweden: Strategies and Challenges

25:37 Exploring Leadership and Community Influence

25:51 Religious Landscape in Sweden: A Comparative Insight

26:17 Adapting Church Methods to Local Culture

26:49 Navigating Spirituality and Social Issues in Sweden

30:21 Challenges and Strategies in Church Building

33:52 Personal Growth and Vision in Ministry

43:26 Reflections and Future Directions for European Churches

43:52 Embracing Digital Presence and Discipleship in Church Growth

This podcast episode features a deep-dive conversation with Peter Wilson, a great friend and also a digital disrupter in the faith, church and well-being space! We cover many topics including The Four Cs of Church Focus: Cathedrals, Content, Crowds, and Control, The Digital World's Challenge to Traditional Church Models, Innovating Church Engagement in the Digital Age and Modern Management vs. Old Style Leadership in Churches. Pete has some gold insights into these topics and I really, really enjoyed the conversation!

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast: A Deep Dive with Pete Wilson

01:20 Unpacking Pete's Journey: From Church Pastor to Digital Innovator

02:33 The Evolution of Pete's Career: Worship Leading to Digital Space Leadership

05:37 Navigating Change and Innovation in Mega Churches

08:17 The Frustration with Tech in the Christian World

11:24 Exploring the Cost and Impact of Tech in Faith-Based Initiatives

16:14 The Intersection of Wellbeing, Faith, and Technology

22:04 Launching Neighborly: A Positive Social Media Venture

26:09 Exploring the Church's Digital Dilemma

26:23 The Four Cs of Church Focus: Cathedrals, Content, Crowds, and Control

27:15 The Digital World's Challenge to Traditional Church Models

28:29 Innovating Church Engagement in the Digital Age

28:39 Modern Management vs. Old Style Leadership in Churches

29:53 Shifting Paradigms: From Control to Service in Church Leadership

30:53 Understanding and Meeting the Felt Needs of the Community

31:16 Redefining Church Success: Beyond Physical Attendance

32:32 Leveraging Digital Platforms for Genuine Engagement

46:18 A Case Study: Transforming Church Engagement in Aberdeen

53:08 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions

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** The Rich Martin Podcast **

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rich-martin/id1510139697

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** Other Links **

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Navigating Finances and Faith: A Deep Dive with Bob and Linda Lotich

In this episode of the Rich Martin Podcast, host Rich Martin interviews Bob and Linda Lotich, founders of Seed Time Ministry (www.seedtime.com), which helps individuals and churches globally manage money with a Christian perspective. They discuss the importance of viewing money through a biblical lens, teaching financial stewardship, and the impact of integrating God into financial decisions. Highlighting practical methods and transformative insights, the conversation touches on tithing, charitable giving, and achieving financial freedom while maintaining a heart for God. The Lotichs share their journey from financial struggles to being able to give a million dollars away, emphasizing the role of faith in personal finance. Furthermore, they explore the nuances of financial teachings in churches, addressing misconceptions around wealth and providing guidance on fostering a healthy, God-centered financial mindset among congregations.

00:00 Welcome to the Rich Martin Podcast: Episode 38
00:31 Introducing Bob and Linda Lotich: Masters of Money and Ministry
04:30 The Journey from Financial Mess to Giving Millions
09:08 Navigating Money, Ministry, and the Middle Ground
20:05 Practical Steps and Heart Transformation for Financial Freedom
24:03 The Role of Money in Churches: A New Perspective
35:54 Empowering Churches and Individuals Towards True Financial Freedom
38:47 Wrapping Up: The Impact of Seed Time Ministry

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ORbZlxNwHlI-xpL7Yi9hg?sub_confirmation=1 ** The Rich Martin Podcast ** Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rich-martin/id1510139697

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NT4ausjFsFmiXwaSnVRUZ Other Players: https://anchor.fm/rich-martin ** Other Links ** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richmartinuk/ Web: http://richmartin.co.uk Articles: https://linktr.ee/richmartin

Reflections on Soul Church's Building Opening...watch Episode 37 Before this one!

This is done Live in the car (with Dan Belshaw and Matt Harrison) driving back from the largest church building opening in Europe! We talk about the impression it had on us and what we loved about it! Enjoy

00:00 Introduction to Episode Two

00:12 Journey Back from Soul Church Norwich

00:22 Live from the Car: Initial Reactions

00:39 Context and Background of Soul Church

01:30 Impressions of the New Building

02:50 Post-Reaction Discussion

03:09 Takeaways from the Experience

04:43 Reflections on the Church's Impact

05:48 The Significance of the Building

06:48 Honoring the People Behind the Church

12:11 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

22:23 Final Words and Farewell

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ORbZlxNwHlI-xpL7Yi9hg?sub_confirmation=1

** The Rich Martin Podcast **

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rich-martin/id1510139697

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NT4ausjFsFmiXwaSnVRUZ

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Are Church Buildings Needed? Thoughts on the largest church building opening in Europe Does Europe need more physical church buildings? In this brilliant episode (my opinion I'm aware!), I delve into the topic of physical church buildings and their pivotal role in communities. Joined by my friends, Matt Harrison and Dan Belshaw, we embark on a road trip to Norwich UK to witness the opening of Soul Church's new facility, helmed by Jon and Chantelle Norman...lots to chat about! EPISODE 2 follows this one! (Where we discuss our thoughts after we had spent all day there!) 00:00 Introduction and Personal Update 00:46 The Unique Setting of the Podcast 01:07 The Journey to Soul Church 03:19 The Story of Dan Bellshaw and Light Church 09:43 The Vision for the Church Building 21:52 The Role of Church Buildings in Communities 26:26 The Church and Its Identity 27:41 The Evolution of the Church 29:17 The Role of Church Buildings 30:51 The Significance of Sacred Spaces 31:49 The Power of Memories and Church Buildings 35:17 The Intersection of Physical and Spiritual 40:42 The Journey of Building a Church 44:26 The Future of Church Buildings 48:13 Reflections and Conclusions 👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ORbZlxNwHlI-xpL7Yi9hg?sub_confirmation=1 ** The Rich Martin Podcast ** Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rich-martin/id1510139697 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NT4ausjFsFmiXwaSnVRUZ Other Players: https://anchor.fm/rich-martin ** Other Links ** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richmartinuk/ Web: http://richmartin.co.uk Articles: https://linktr.ee/richmartin