In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, we shift from challenges to encouragement—and what we’re seeing right now across the Church is incredibly hopeful.

While many narratives suggest decline, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Churches are growing. Young people are showing up. Leaders are leaning in. And something deeper is beginning to take shape.

Doug, Bart, and Erin unpack some of the most encouraging discoveries emerging from churches that are aligning around the Great Commission—and what it means for your church, your leadership, and your future.

You’ll hear real stories from churches across the country, insights from the first-ever Partner Church Summit, and practical ways leaders are rediscovering the life-giving power of personally owning the mission of Jesus.

This conversation will challenge the narratives you’ve been hearing—and replace them with something far more powerful: hope rooted in action.

If you’ve been wondering whether the Church’s best days are behind us… this episode is for you.

Timestamps

00:00 – Is the Church really in decline? Challenging the narrative
01:15 – Introducing Radical Alignment and the Alignment Workshop
03:00 – Why church leaders need encouragement right now
04:00 – The Partner Church Summit: unity across diverse churches
06:00 – A spiritual awakening and what’s happening beneath the surface
08:30 – The danger of fear-based church narratives
10:00 – Why the future of the Church is brighter than you think
11:00 – The opportunity with the next generation of leaders
14:30 – What younger leaders are really looking for in older leaders
16:30 – The untapped power of multigenerational leadership
18:30 – The turning point: It starts with you
19:30 – Why owning the Great Commission is life-giving
21:00 – Real stories of churches seeing transformation and growth
24:30 – Practical ways to integrate mission into everyday life
26:30 – Staff vs. personal ownership: breaking the mindset barrier
27:30 – Simple practices: prayer calendars and relational rhythms
29:00 – Preparing to share your faith naturally and consistently
31:00 – Low-cost, high-impact ways to lead your team into alignment
33:00 – Final encouragement for church leaders

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog

YouTube: @IntentionalChurches

Facebook: Intentional Churches

Instagram: @IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Erin Johnston sits down with Doug Parks and Bart Rendel to talk about their newest book, Radical Alignment.

After more than a decade of working with over a thousand churches, Doug and Bart share the surprising lessons they’ve learned about why alignment in the church is much harder than they expected—and why it matters more than ever.

The conversation explores the hidden challenges many churches face: the pull of Christian consumerism, the difficulty of collaboration between churches, impulsive leadership decisions, and the growing disconnect between evangelism and discipleship.

Doug and Bart also explain why Radical Alignment serves as a “prequel” to their earlier work—laying the biblical and missional foundation for what it truly means to be an intentional church.

If you're a church leader trying to move your church from an inward focus to mission-focused disciple making, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Podcast
01:57 – Why Write This Book Now?
04:30 – The Journey of Learning from 1,000+ Churches
07:05 – Why This Book Is the Best Starting Point for Leaders

08:26 – When Big Vision Meets Real Challenges

11:17 – Why Collaboration Between Churches Is So Difficult

13:10 – The Role of Theology, Mission, and Church Identity

14:11 – Leadership Impulsiveness and “Not Invented Here” Thinking

17:40 – The Dynamic Work of God in Reaching People

22:10 – The Challenge of Christian Consumerism

25:00 – Institutional Thinking vs Personal Mission

27:10 – Why Staff Culture Often Reinforces Consumerism

31:00 – Real Examples of Institutional Thinking in Churches

36:49 – The Dangerous Divide Between Evangelism and Discipleship

39:17 – Rediscovering the Biblical Model of Disciple Making

41:17 – Measuring Spiritual Depth the Right Way

43:11 – The Adventure of Owning the Great Commission Personally

45:00 – How Leaders Can Start Moving Toward Alignment

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog

YouTube: @IntentionalChurches

Facebook: Intentional Churches

Instagram: @IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

On this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug and Bart kick off Season 10 with a candid and energizing conversation about what’s happening beneath the surface at Intentional Churches.

Yes, there’s a little “Storytime with Bart” (including airline boarding chaos and a mysterious food allergy, but the heart of this episode is much deeper.

Doug and Bart unpack why Radical Alignment and personal ownership of the Great Commission is proving to be one of the most transformative discoveries of their entire ministry journeys.

This isn’t about adding another program.
It’s about rediscovering the fundamental mission of the Church.

If you’re a church leader who feels tired, stretched thin, or stuck maintaining complexity, this episode may reawaken something in you.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – A surprising confession: parenting differently because of Radical Alignment
01:10 – Welcome to Season 10 of the Intentional Churches Podcast
01:26 – Why 2026 feels like a turning point for Intentional Churches
02:00 – Storytime with Bart: Southwest airline boarding chaos
06:46 – Entitlement, culture, and what airlines reveal about society
09:13 – Bart’s unexpected (and serious) allergy scare
12:13 – Transition: Why Radical Alignment is reshaping everything
13:16 – Bart reflects on 20 years of ministry models and what’s changed
16:30 – The discovery: There isn’t one model — there are biblical fundamentals
17:12 – How personal ownership of the Great Commission transforms everything
19:06 – Why many discipleship pathways miss heart transformation
23:28 – Macro strategies vs. micro relational mission
26:24 – Evangelism: From transactional to transformational
30:47 – Why this moment feels urgent in a rapidly changing culture
32:35 – Introducing the Radical Alignment Assessment
34:00 – How simple meeting changes are unlocking momentum
37:58 – A powerful story of conviction and mercy in action
40:22 – 18 churches fly in for 24 hours — what that signals
41:30 – “This is beyond us now.” A movement forming
43:27 – Encouragement for tired church leaders
44:40 – Season 10 preview and what’s coming next

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog

YouTube: @IntentionalChurches

Facebook: Intentional Churches

Instagram: @IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

On this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug and Erin sit down with Sean Kelly, Lead Pastor of Mount Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood, Indiana, for a candid conversation about succession, silos, and what it really takes to bring alignment back to a growing church.

Sean shares his journey in Ohio to stepping into a historic, multi-generational church, navigating a leadership transition. Together, they unpack why churches drift into siloed ministry, how misalignment slowly creeps in, and what practical leaders can do to realign their staff, systems, and preaching around the Great Commission.

From staff trust-building tools like the “Four Helpfuls,” to cross-functional VIP teams, to using preaching as a catalyst for radical alignment, this episode is full of actionable insight for senior pastors, executive pastors, and church leadership teams who want to move from good activity to unified mission.

If you’re leading through transition, or sensing your church has energy but lacks clarity, this conversation will help you diagnose misalignment and take your next faithful step forward.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:

intentionalchurches.com

Timestamps

00:00 – “If we were fired tomorrow…”: why change feels harder than it is
00:22 – Welcome to the Intentional Churches Podcast
00:35 – Erin returns after a major generosity initiative
01:29 – Meet Sean Kelly: background, family, and pastoral journey
02:43 – Ministry context: Youngstown, Ohio and multi-campus leadership
04:28 – Why Sean said yes to Mount Pleasant Christian Church
06:18 – Leading through succession: what went right (and why it mattered)
09:47 – Context matters: understanding Greenwood & the Indianapolis area
11:43 – The Restoration Movement and Christian Church distinctives
13:11 – First impressions: culture, DNA, and early warning signs
16:47 – Why silos form—and how leaders unknowingly reinforce them
18:02 – The “Four Helpfuls” tool: right, wrong, missing, confused
21:49 – From good to great: aligning people, roles, and accountability
24:07 – What is a VIP (Very Important Project)?
26:45 – Building alignment through cross-functional teams
29:01 – Low-hanging fruit and momentum-building wins
30:08 – Using preaching to drive Radical Alignment (Erin’s approach)
34:23 – Sean’s preaching framework: mission-anchored sermons
37:21 – Aligning ministry programs with the pulpit
39:02 – Discernment rhythms and organizational focus
42:34 – Final encouragement + Radical Alignment book mention

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog

YouTube: @IntentionalChurches

Facebook: Intentional Churches

Instagram: @IntentionalChurches

X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

On this episode of The Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug talks with Chris Steele about the incredible transformation happening at North Terrace Church in Zanesville, Ohio.

Chris shares the honest story of how their team realized they were making church attenders instead of disciples, and how that single insight pushed them to rebuild unity, clarify their mission, and align everything around the Great Commission.

You’ll hear how that alignment sparked a movement of everyday people leading their friends to Jesus, resulting in 34 baptisms in 2023, 125 in 2024, and already 138 baptisms this year. Chris explains how prayer, simple tools, and personal ownership of “the one” have reshaped their entire culture.

If you’re a church leader looking to rebuild momentum, re-ignite evangelism, or move your people toward mission, this conversation will encourage you and give you practical next steps.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
intentionalchurches.com

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome + Why This Story Matters
01:25 Chris Steele’s Ministry Background
03:02 Early Faith Influences
05:01 Ministry Journey & Leadership Wounds
07:19 Zanesville Culture & Ministry Context
11:17 Opportunities and Challenges in Appalachia
13:35 Rebuilding Generosity and Discipleship
18:15 Early Culture Shifts at North Terrace
23:10 COVID Collapse & Losing Half the Church
24:07 Realizing They Weren’t Making Disciples
26:44 Building a New Discipleship Pathway
28:55 A Turning Point: Staff & Elder Unity
30:42 Discovering IC’s Tools and Language
31:46 The “One More” Mission
34:11 The Baptism Explosion
36:26 Everyday People Leading Their One
37:37 Young Families Searching for Purpose
41:36 Preparing for Future Growth
43:36 How to Join the IC Learning Community

Links

Website: intentionalchurches.com
The Radical Alignment Book
Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog
YouTube: @IntentionalChurches
Facebook: Intentional Churches
Instagram: @IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

On this episode of The Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug and Bart unpack the heart behind Radical Alignment: The Surprising Journey of Becoming an Intentional Church—the brand-new book that takes church leaders inside the “why” behind the IC toolbox.

Together, they share the behind-the-scenes story of how the book came to life—from early church interviews and the conference book challenge to the powerful stories that emerged along the way. You’ll hear about ice-bath baptisms in Florida, a thousand-person Tennessee church mobilizing 597 members to reach their “One,” and the connection between personal Great Commission ownership and lasting church alignment.

Doug and Bart also explore how urgency, clarity, and obedience are reshaping churches across the IC network, why Radical Alignment serves as a prequel to the original Intentional Church book, and how every leader can reframe their calling through the lens of the Great Commission.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make evangelism personal again—or how to help your church rediscover its core mission—this conversation will encourage, challenge, and reorient you to what matters most.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
intentionalchurches.com

00:00 The Gathering Church and a 70-Year-Old’s Ice Bath Baptism
02:04 Doug and Bart Catch Up on Life, Travel, and Nicknames
05:12 Florida Church Plant Stories: Courage and Obedience
09:51 When Baptism Becomes a Movement
13:06 Planting, Watering, and Trusting God for the Growth
15:23 Inside the “One Life” Project and Culture Change in Churches
18:50 Writing Radical Alignment: The Story Behind the Book
20:53 The “Why” Behind the IC Toolbox
23:08 How IC’s Learning Community Shaped the Book
26:07 Why Radical Alignment Is a Team Study, Not a Solo Read
27:30 The 25 Foundational Beliefs and IC’s Secret Sauce
29:27 Church Stories that Prove Great Commission Alignment Works
31:21 The Hope for Church Leaders Who Read Radical Alignment
34:17 Doug’s Challenge: “Relational Evangelism Is the Football”
35:26 From the Road: Nashville’s Airport Gridlock Story
38:33 Travel Chaos, Grace, and Gratitude
39:30 Closing Thoughts and Book Details

Website: intentionalchurches.com
Get The Book: Radical Alignment
Blog: intentionalchurches.com/blog
YouTube: @IntentionalChurches
Facebook: Intentional Churches
LinkedIn: Intentional Churches LinkedIn
Instagram: @IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: @IntentChurches

Join the conversation and tell us how you’re leading your church toward Great Commission alignment.

On this episode of The Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug and Erin sit down with Pastor Riley Halliday, a former U.S. Air Force special operations leader who’s now leading Manna Church in Newport News, Virginia.

Riley shares how his church embraces the constant movement of military life as a disciple-making opportunity. With families rotating every two years, his team trains every believer to live on mission, ready to reach their “One” wherever God sends them next.

We unpack how urgency can fuel alignment, what it takes to build a training and sending culture, and why clarity beats complexity every time.

If your church is in a transient community or you need fresh inspiration to fight for alignment around the Great Commission, this conversation will stir you up.

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

00:00 Training and Sending with Urgency in a Military Church
00:33 Doug and Erin Welcome Riley Halliday to the Podcast
02:04 Meet Riley: From Air Force Special Operations to Church Planting
05:06 The Birth of Manna Church and a Vision for Military Families
07:26 Launching During COVID and Finding God’s Provision Through a Merger
09:51 How a 100-Year-Old Church Became Manna’s New Home
10:39 Leading Near Military Bases: Nellis, Creech, and Beyond
12:54 The Two-Year Window: Training and Sending Before Families Move
14:13 Micro-Sites, Military Moves, and Multiplying Disciples
15:05 How Military Life Fuels Disciple-Making and Multiplication
16:19 Doug on “Radical Alignment” and Reuniting Evangelism and Discipleship
18:33 Fighting for Clarity and Simplicity in a Growing Church
19:59 How Canyon Ridge Fought for Vision and Alignment
22:08 Creating a Culture That Repeats the Mission
23:36 Practical Tools: Circle-Ups, Vision Rhythms, and For the One Bracelets
27:28 Keeping Alignment Simple, Transferable, and Repeatable
29:00 Fighting Misalignment with Elders, Staff, and New Ideas
31:30 Saying “No” to Good Things to Protect the Mission
33:42 When Church Members Want a Bookstore (and Other Distractions)
34:40 How the IC Toolbox and ChurchOS Keep Teams on Track
37:01 Every New Initiative Is an Opportunity for Alignment—or Drift
38:05 Riley’s Lesson: You Reproduce Who You Are, Not What You Say
39:59 Doug’s Closing Thoughts: Returning to the Root of the Great Commission
40:53 The Radical Alignment Book and Upcoming Assessment

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!