Disciple Making Movements and the Established Church (pt. 4): Q&A and Application

This episode of the Real Life Theology podcast is part four of a series exploring disciple making movements within established churches. The focus is on how fresh revival movements have historically arisen every 50 years in the U.S. The discussion highlights the urgency for a new awakening, expected around 2025, and emphasizes the necessity for intentional disciple pathways in churches. It also covers developing hybrid church models, strategies to foster movement thinking, and collective collaboration among churches. The episode concludes with practical advice, book recommendations, and personal anecdotes from the speaker, followed by a Q&A session addressing the implementation of these concepts.
Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/
Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early. 
https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ 
Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/

Disciple Making Movements and the Established Church (pt. 3): Practical Models and Implementation

In this episode of the Real Life Theology podcast, the discussion centers around the implementation of disciple-making movements within and alongside established church structures. The hosts weigh the pros and cons of running parallel disciple-making initiatives either under a single church umbrella or as independent entities. They highlight the importance of aligning church vision with biblical examples and modern pathways, emphasizing swift transition from being found by Christ to becoming a leader. The conversation also covers practical steps for churches to adopt these principles, including training programs and cohorts designed to foster rapid disciple multiplication. The episode underscores the need for a strategic commitment to God's broader vision for community transformation.
Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/
Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early. 
https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ 
Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/

Disciple Making Movements and the Established Church (pt. 2): Four Key Principles

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/
Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early. 
https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ 
Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/
 

Disciple Making Movements and the Established Church (pt. 1)

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/
Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early. 
https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ 
Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/
In this session, Josh Howard discusses principles and practices for initiating disciple-making movements within local church settings. Drawing from both biblical and contemporary examples, Josh emphasizes radical prayer and fasting, abundant seed sowing of the gospel, equipping ordinary believers, and relinquishing control for broader kingdom impact. He introduces a parallel track model, where dedicated discipleship pathways run alongside traditional church structures. The session includes insights from Bryan King and David Kaufman on practical training methods, case studies of successful implementations, and strategies for church leaders to foster a culture of multiplication. The session concludes with a call for unity and renewed vision for bringing revival and awakening to American churches.

Black Christian Movement -- Hosted Gathering (pt. 3)

Get early access to all of the 2025 RENEW Gathering Breakout Tracks: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ 
Visit RENEW.org for great resources on Disciple Making and Theology. 
 

Black Christian Movement -- Hosted Gathering (pt. 2)

Get early access to all of the 2025 RENEW Gathering Breakout Tracks: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ 
Visit RENEW.org for great resources on Disciple Making and Theology. 
 

Internships and Residencies (feat. Sean Cronin & Pat Furgerson)

Get early access to all of the 2025 RENEW Gathering Breakout Tracks: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ 
Visit RENEW.org for great resources on Disciple Making and Theology. 
Today’s episode will help us understand how structured internships and residencies can develop effective leaders for new church plants, ensuring sustainable growth within church communities.
In this episode titled "Internships and Residencies," Sean Cronin, the training lead at Passion for Planting, and Patrick Ferguson from New Life Christian Church, discuss the importance of internships and residencies in fostering leadership development within church communities. Sean opens by welcoming attendees to the workshop, sharing the mission of Passion for Planting, and introducing Patrick, who will cover internships while Sean will address residencies.
Sean highlights the significance of leadership development, emphasizing the critical need to support young leaders through structured programs like internships and residencies to address the ongoing demand for church plants. He cites statistics that illustrate the decline of churches in the United States, juxtaposed with growing population rates, underscoring the urgency to equip new leaders to plant churches.
 
Patrick delves into the nature of internships at New Life Christian Church, emphasizing investment in personal development and ministry skills rather than viewing interns as free labor. He describes the recruitment process, which is largely relational and involves tapping into networks, colleges, and references from former interns. Once recruited, interns are matched with roles within the church that align with their interests and strengths, ensuring a beneficial learning experience. An intern coach provides guidance, spiritual development, and organizes group activities, fostering a supportive community.
Sean returns to outline the residency program created in 2015, designed for future church planters. This program spans nine months and includes weekly Zoom meetings and two onsite intensives to provide comprehensive training, vision clarification, and strategic planning. Various stories of past residents, from diverse backgrounds and experiences, illustrate how the residency prepares participants for successful church planting. Sean emphasizes the collaborative nature of the residency, where participants share insights, support each other, and learn from experienced leaders.
The discussion also tackles the crucial qualities to look for in potential church planters, such as humility, teachability, and leadership skills. Sean advises hosting "I see in you" conversations to identify and encourage potential leaders who may not recognize their own calling to ministry. He stresses the importance of formal assessment and training to ensure church planters are adequately prepared for the challenges ahead.
Questions from the audience are addressed, clarifying the actionable steps for different scenarios, whether for ongoing internships or potential residents. For instance, it is noted that residency programs are typically post-college and last nine to twelve months, whereas internships are generally over the summer. Patrick explains how the program involves personalized support, with each intern or resident being provided a coach and clear pathways for development.
The episode wraps up with Sean inviting interested parties to an upcoming webinar and a lunch meeting to learn more about the renew movement, a network initiative aimed at empowering churches to plant new congregations. The Q&A session provides further insights into practical details, program structure, and how churches can support aspiring leaders through well-structured internships and residencies.
Overall, this episode offers a detailed exploration of how strategic programs can nurture leadership within the church community, ensuring the growth and sustainability of new church plants.