Today we interview Eric Sarwar, church starter in Fresno, California.
BDGT churches are led by a team of gifted people who share a vision for new people joining the family of God in large quantities. They are cultivating a new kind of growing community that they hope will revolutionize the Church. They don’t need much to get started, just a large enough space to gather the church, plus space to spare for newcomers. They might share a sanctuary with an asset-based church or rent out a school gym to hold worship gatherings. Their rate of growth means they keep outgrowing their gathering spaces. Because of this tension, they often do not last long as a BDGT. Many BDGT churches are on their way to developing stronger assets as ADGT churches, or they slow their growth and become more stable BDCT churches.
To take your Church Shapes assessment, head to Cyclicalinc.com/church-shapes
Today Nick and Brendan reflect on what they learned from various guests of this season.
Today we interview Katie Nakamura Rengers about the church she started called The Abbey.
ADCI churches are highly resourced for missionary endeavors. These churches have an abundance of leaders who are tightly connected and passionate about transforming the way the particular church is expressed. They make significant investments in running lots of experiments, welcoming failure and being able to quickly adapt. Ministry tends to happen in nodes of interdependent smaller groups, each with a unique mission and with autonomous discerning leadership.
Take your Church Shapes assessment at Cyclicalinc.com/church-shapes
Today we interview Matt Yount, pastor at Victory Point Church in Holland, Michigan.
APGT churches are led by a point leader with strong shepherding and teaching gifts who gathers many people into a large centralized worship service and excellent programming for the sake of reaching many people with the good news of Jesus. Some have called APGT churches the “launch large model” because in order to start, these kinds of churches need many people to commit upfront. APGT churches are staff-driven, culture-changing organizations that are seeking to develop and reproduce new ways of doing and being church.
BDCI churches are led by a decentralized team of people who want to practice living on mission together. They have the feel of a missionary team. They understand themselves as sent by God to be a blessing in their community. They usually meet in homes or public spaces, and they usually operate with no formal budget. They provide strong support for one another. They are not concerned with growing their numbers, but with faithfulness in following Jesus. They do not want to be governed by a larger church, but prefer to exist “under the radar” in a specific niche where they can experiment in mission.
Take your Church Shapes assessment at Cyclicalinc.com/church-shapes
Today we interview Yosam Manafa about the church he started in the San Fernando valley.
BDGT churches are led by a team of gifted people who share a vision for new people joining the family of God in large quantities. They are cultivating a new kind of growing community that they hope will revolutionize the Church. They don’t need much to get started, just a large enough space to gather the church, plus space to spare for newcomers. They might share a sanctuary with an asset-based church or rent out a school gym to hold worship gatherings. Their rate of growth means they keep outgrowing their gathering spaces. Because of this tension, they often do not last long as a BDGT. Many BDGT churches are on their way to developing stronger assets as ADGT churches, or they slow their growth and become more stable BDCT churches.
Take your Church Shapes assessment at Cyclicalinc.com/church-shapes
Today we interview Debbie Bronkema, the founding pastor of Connect.Faith.
BDGI churches are highly apostolic in leadership. They are content to start with little to no resources. They decentralize leadership in order to leverage a variety of gifts necessary for their innovation. They have their eyes set on growth, envisioning an organic movement that they can catalyze. They are inspired to start a church that can express itself in ways that presses the boundaries of what we understand church to be. BDGI churches have the feel of an experiment, seeking to transform the Church. Leaders are pioneering, shrewd, and entrepreneurial. Starting this kind of church involves a unique kind of risk; they are called to incarnate the gospel in a niche part of culture where there is not yet a witnessing community.
To take the assessment head to cyclicalinc.com/church-shapes today
Today we interview Sheila Bojorquez about the church she started with her husband in Los Angeles. Campaign Churches (BPGT) are startup churches with a charismatic leader who has a big vision for a large gathering of worshippers. The point leader is a highly motivated individual who catalyzes the energy of the church. The church scrapes together any resources it can get its hands on to invest heavily in a large gathering. The point leader is willing to take big risks early on and it pays off. They are able to gather groups to fill whatever space they are in to demonstrate and proclaim the gospel. They are often focused on a specific subculture and are looking to scale very quickly.
Take the assessment at Cyclicalinc.com/church-shapes
For over a decade now we've been joining leaders of all kinds in starting churches of all kinds. Big churches with staff and banners orchestrating a launch Sunday. Small churches that emerge out of the blue in a coffee shop. Business owners that wonder, “wait… is this business actually a church?” It’s been a joy to see how many people the Holy Spirit calls forward to gather God’s people into this weird collection of humans we call Church. God is gathering churches of all different shapes in every corner and crevice of our 21st century world. If we want to be part of that, we need to be able to imagine a more diverse ecclesiology.
Church Shapes is our attempt at putting a bit of language to the various shapes that we are seeing Church taking. The goal is not to box you into one shape or another, but to broaden our ecclesiological imagination by providing a more detailed language.
In this season we will be exploring the different shapes that church takes by interviewing church starters and pastors. Take the assessment for your church at Cyclicalinc.com/church-shapes.
Today Candice and Nick interview Jonathan Williams to talk about the intersection of faithful innovation and anxiety. Jonathan was the founder and CEO of Forefront, a faith and justice-focused organization in Brooklyn, NY. Jonathan’s role included overseeing community growth, developing strategic giving partnerships, and operating as a project manager for various community development initiatives.
Jonathan’s fundraising work centered upon diversity, equity, inclusion, and community justice advocacy. His sharp vision and construction of strategic narratives led directly national recognition for his organization.
Jonathan is currently a Senior Director at CCS consulting and fundraising in New York City
In today's episode, Nick and Candice have a dialogue with Brandon Wrencher. Brandon Wrencher (MDiv, North Park Theological Seminary) is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, the founding minister of Good Neighbor Movement - an alternative faith community based in Greensboro, North Carolina - and Senior Community Organizer with Carolina Federation, a statewide, multiracial, multiclass, power-building political organization.
He is the author of Liberating Church: A 21st Century Hush Harbor Manifesto (Cascade Books) and Buried Seeds: Learning from the Vibrant Resilience of Marginalized Christian Communities (Baker Academic).
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Make sure to visit our website, cyclicalinc.com.
In today's episode, Nick Warnes & Candice Czubernat have a dialogue with Elle Grover Fricks.
Elle Grover Fricks received her Master’s of Arts in the Bible and its Ancient, Near Eastern Context from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2020. Elle is the Pastor of Refuge Church Pullman, a member of the Teaching Team of the BEMA Podcast, and co-host of the Text in Us Podcast. Previously, she worked for five years as a licensed Applied Behavior Analysis therapist and a Special Education Teacher with neurodivergent and disadvantaged youth. She also holds a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Music from Washington State University. She has been happily married to her wonderful husband George since 2013. Elle and George welcomed their son Lewis in 2020, and spend their free time discussing the Enneagram.
To find out more about Elle Grover Fricks you can visit ellegroverfricks.com.
Please review this episode, subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! Make sure to visit our website, cyclicalinc.com.
In today's episode, Nick and Candice have a dialogue with Al Han about ending a marriage in the midst of faithful innovation.
Al is the founding pastor of Perch.Church, a chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downtown Los Angeles, and a father of two: an 11-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. He served as a pastor full-time for 14 years before he became a church planter four years ago where he dabbled in a couple side jobs before landing in chaplaincy. He first worked as a hospice chaplain then became a hospital chaplain, all the while still leading Perch.Church during Covid, raising his two kids, and recently going through a separation/divorce. He is currently pursuing the completion of his four CPE units in hopes of becoming a Board Certified Chaplain someday and continue serving as a pastor part-time. As one might imagine, the past few years have been very difficult for him. Yet, by God's grace, he is still doing what he loves and is called to do.
To find out more about Al Han you can visit www.perch.church. Please review this episode, subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! Make sure to visit our website, cyclicalinc.com.
In today's episode, Candice and Nick have a dialogue with folk-rocker Jennifer Knapp, a singer-songwriter, author, speaker & LGBTQ+ advocate. She has sold over 1 million albums, won 4 Dove Awards, earned 2 Grammy nominations, and released 10 albums.
Knapp’s storied career began in the Contemporary Christian Music Industry. After a meteoric rise to #1, critical and commercial success, and with a considerable fan base, she walked away in 2003. Seven years later she found a renewed passion for music showcased in her 2010 release Letting Go. Set Me Free followed in 2014 in conjunction with a memoir, Facing the Music: My Story, published by Simon & Schuster. The 2017 release Love Comes Back Around, produced by Viktor Krauss, pairs her fearless songwriting and strong, expressive voice with Americana style rootsy arrangements.
Knapp recently completed a master’s degree in Theological Studies at Vanderbilt and continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ people of faith through her non-profit organization Inside Out Faith.
To find out more about Jennifer Knapp you can visit
WEBSITE: www.jenniferknapp.com
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/JenniferKnappMusic
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/jennifer_knapp
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/jenniferknappmusic
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/JenniferKnappMusic
PATREON: www.patreon.com/jenniferknapp.
Please review this episode, subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!
Make sure to visit our website, cyclicalinc.com.
In the final episode of Season 3, Nick Warnes, Karen Rohrer, and Brendan McClenahan reflect on the season, highlighting key themes and takeaways.
In today's episode, Nick Warnes & Karen Rohrer have a dialogue with Liz Lin. Liz Lin (she/her) is the director and co-founder of Progressive Asian American Christians and a senior fellow at Newbigin House of Studies in San Francisco. She's also a writer and educator on the topics of race and culture. She has a PhD in clinical psychology, as well as master's degrees in theology and psychology, from Fuller Theological Seminary. She lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her spouse and children.
To find out more about Liz Lin you can visit her at mynameiselizabeth.com, @curiousliz on Twitter, and @lizlinsta on Instagram.
In today's episode, Nick Warnes & Karen Rohrer have a dialogue with R. Eric Thomas, a national bestselling author, playwright, and screenwriter. His books include Here for It, or How to Save Your Soul in America, which was featured as a "Read with Jenna" pick on NBC's Today, and Reclaiming Her Time: The Power of Maxine Waters, co-authored with Helena Andrews-Dyer. For four years, he wrote "Eric Reads the News” a wildly popular daily humor column covering pop culture and politics on ELLE.com. Eric has written on the Peabody Award-winning series Dickinson on AppleTV+ and Better Things on FX. Off the page, Eric is also the long-running host of The Moth StorySlams in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and has been heard multiple times on The Moth Radio Hour, NPR's All Things Considered and It's Been A Minute with Sam Sanders.
To find out more about R. Eric Thomas you can visit https://rericthomas.com/.
Here are some quotes from today's interview:
Please review this episode, subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! Make sure to visit our website, cyclicalinc.com.
In today's episode, Nick Warnes & Karen Rohrer has a dialogue with Candice Czubernat. Candice Czubernat has been a therapist for 15 years and is the founder of the LGBTQ affirming counseling and coaching practice, The Christian Closet. She and her team meet with people from all over the world for online telehealth sessions as they navigate the intersections of having an LGBTQ+ identity with a Christian faith. Candice is a graduate of The Moody Bible Institute and The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. She identifies as a lesbian and a Christian. She lives in a small mountain town in southern California with her wife, the love of her life, Crystal, and their 7-year-old boy/girl twins Deacon and Dylan.
To find out more about Candice Czubernat, you can visit www.thechristiancloset.com.
In today's episode, Nick Warnes & Karen Rohrer have a dialogue with Michaela O'Donnell. Michaela O'Donnell, PhD is the Executive Director of the Max De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Seminary. She is the author of Make Work Matter: Your Guide to Meaningful Work in a Changing World. Additionally, Michaela is the owner of Long Winter Media, a creative agency she founded with her husband Dan.
To find out more about Michaela O'Donnell you can visit @michaela.odonnell, michaelaodonnell.com, and degree.org/make-work-matter. Here are some quotes from today's interview:
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In today's episode, Nick Warnes and Karen Rohrer have a dialogue with Erin Angeli. Erin Angeli is part of the pastoral staff at Commonwealth of Oakland, a new, Jesus-centered community of faith in Pittsburgh. She and her wife Sarah keep a steadily growing urban homestead with raised vegetable garden beds, chickens, and a menagerie of pets.
Erin’s work at Commonwealth is wide-ranging, but her favorite focuses are ministry to the Oakland neighborhood and pastoral care to queer folks. Erin’s goal in her queer ministry is twofold: to provide pastoral care to those discerning their relationship with the Church, and to organize local religious leaders to design systems of support for queer Christians.
To find out more about Erin Angeli you can visit www.oaklandcommonwealth.com.
Here are some quotes from today's interview:
In today's episode, Nick Warnes and Karen Rohrer have a dialogue with Derrick Weston. Derrick Weston has spent the last two decades working in churches and community-based nonprofits in Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Oregon, and now Maryland. He manages the Rockrose community farm on the Baltimore's east end. Derrick received his Masters of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary, a certification in health ministry from Wesley Theological seminary and was a part of the Re:Generate Fellowship on food, faith, and ecology through Wake Forest University. Derrick is the co-host of the Food and Faith Podcast and the producer of the short documentary "A Wilderness Like Eden: Stories of Food and Faith" releasing in the summer of 2021. He and his wife Shannon have four children and live outside of Baltimore.
To find out more about Derrick you can follow him at @derricklweston (twitter), @dlweston (instagram), and @foodandfaithpod. Here are some quotes from today's interview: