Church Planter Podcast

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones talks with Steve Fitch, co-founder of Arc Restoration, reforestation, and mission.Steve shares how restoring forests can open the door to restoring communities. Through his work in places like Ethiopia and Madagascar, he has seen reforestation provide jobs, restore dignity, fight exploitation, and create opportunities for people to encounter the gospel.Peyton and Stephen also talk about why caring for creation is not a political issue first, but a biblical and kingdom issue. For church planters, this conversation is a reminder that good works can create goodwill, and goodwill can open the door for good newsResources mentioned:Arc Restoration180 by ARC Turn for GoodRed Island RestorationDiscipologyThanks for listening to the Church Planter Podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones talks with Alisha Crafton, prophetic voice, leader, speaker, CEO of Crown Consulting Group, and author of The Refiner’s Fire: Purified for His Purpose.Alisha shares how the book came from her healing journey, her growing awareness of the prophetic, and her desire to help believers hear God’s voice with authenticity and purity. Peyton and Alisha talk about why the prophetic matters for the church, but also why it needs wisdom, humility, biblical guardrails, and a Christ-centered focus.They discuss the two extremes many churches fall into: rejecting the idea that God still speaks, or chasing supernatural experiences in unhealthy ways. Alisha explains how deception can sound spiritual, why believers need to test what they hear, and how pride, self-protection, and obsession with the demonic can distort the gifts of the Spirit.This conversation is a helpful guide for church planters and leaders who want to make room for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit without creating chaos, fear, or personality-driven ministry. Alisha encourages leaders to pursue the Spirit in a way that brings freedom, peace, fruit, and glory to Jesus.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:The Refiner's FireDiscipologyThanks for listening to the Church Planter Podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell catch up after a few weeks away and talk about loss, burnout, the future of the podcast, and why they still care about helping church planters reach people no one else is reaching. Peyton also shares what he has been learning through prayer, rest, and planting The AbbeyResources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:SimplifyChurch.comNewBreedTraining.comDiscipology.comThanks for listening to the Church Planter Podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing, to reach people no one else is reaching.

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones talks with Andrew Ollerton, author of God’s Book: An Honest Look at the Bible’s Seven Toughest Topics and host of Bible Trek.Andrew explains why Christians, church planters, and ministry leaders need to be ready to engage the difficult questions people are asking about the Bible. From creation and modern science to Old Testament violence, suffering, the supernatural, sexuality, and judgment, Andrew argues that the Bible’s toughest topics need to be understood in their larger biblical context, in Christ, and in community.Peyton and Andrew also discuss why the Bible is gaining renewed attention in post-Christian culture, especially among younger generations and spiritually curious people. Andrew shares stories from the UK of people buying Bibles, reading from Genesis onward, and coming to church with serious questions that many churches are not prepared to answer.Listen as this conversation challenges church planters to see biblical depth and ask honest questions as part of evangelism, rather than avoiding the difficult parts of Scripture. Andrew encourages leaders to create spaces where people can wrestle with the Bible and discover the truth of Jesus.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:God’s Book: An Honest Look at the Bible’s Seven Toughest Topicsandrewollerton.comThanks for listening to the Church Planter Podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.

In this episode of the Church Planter Podcast, Peyton Jones talks with Ellie Oswald from Faith to Action about the connection between mission, poverty, orphan care, and the local church.Ellie shares how her calling was shaped by a desire to act on her faith, serve vulnerable people, and understand mission as part of God’s work to restore relationships. Together, Peyton and Ellie discuss why the gospel cannot be reduced to words or deeds alone, but must hold both together as the church joins God’s reconciling work in the world.They also talk about why church planters cannot afford to forget the poor. Ellie explains the work of Faith to Action, including how they help churches, organizations, and individuals learn best practices for caring for orphaned and vulnerable children. She unpacks why many children in orphanages still have living parents, why poverty is often the deeper issue, and why family-based care is usually a better long-term solution than institutional care.Peyton and Ellie also explore how mission transforms the people who participate in it. From World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine to local churches engaging vulnerable children around the world, this conversation challenges church planters to put mission first and help their people move from passive concern to practical action.Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:Faith to Actionfaith2action.orgThanks for listening to the Church Planter Podcast. We’re here to help you go where no one else is going and do what no one else is doing to reach people no one else is reaching.Make sure to review and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast service to help us connect with more church planters.