In this episode of "The Church Planting Podcast," hosted by Greg Nettle, president of Stadia, the discussion features Jon Ferguson, co-founding pastor of Community Christian Church and a pioneer in church multiplication. The conversation covers the benefits and challenges of team leadership in church planting, drawing from Jon's extensive experience and his co-leadership with his brother, Dave Ferguson. Key topics include the advantages of starting with a team, the importance of complementary skills within the team, and the potential pitfalls of team dynamics.

The episode also delves into the concepts of micro churches and bi-vocational church planting, highlighting their growing relevance and effectiveness in the current religious landscape. Jon and Greg discuss several resources and books that have influenced their approaches, including Jon’s book "Exponential" and the new "Bless" practices for community engagement, detailed in their recent publication. For listeners interested in exploring these resources, you can check out "Exponential" on Amazon and learn more about the "Bless" practices on the BLESS app's website.

Episode Outline with Timestamps

• [00:00:19 ] Introduction of Jon Ferguson and his background
• [00:01:08 ] Discussion on team leadership in church planting
• [00:05:22 ] Celebrating 35 years of Community Christian Church
• [00:07:17 ] Advantages of starting church plants in teams
• [00:10:23 ] Identifying essential team roles and dynamics
• [00:14:45 ] Shift to discussing micro churches and co-vocational models
• [00:19:13 ] Discussing the potential downsides and challenges of team planting
• [00:23:32 ] Personal insights from Jon on leadership roles
• [00:26:53 ] Personal anecdotes and the importance of community engagement
• [00:31:35 ] Introduction of the Bless app for community outreach