Intentional Churches Podcast

Hosted by Doug Parks & Erin Johnston

Religion Spirituality ChristianityInterviews guests

RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

About the show

Church Leader, shift your focus from mere institutional insights to individual transformation. Be intentional. Join hosts Doug Parks (CEO and Co-Founder of Intentional Churches) and Erin Johnston (Co-Executive Pastor of Canyon Ridge Christian Church) as they share weekly thought-provoking discussions and actionable takeaways that will resource you to help your people encounter Jesus. Take the step toward authentic discipleship of your congregation so you can mobilize the ninety-nine to reach the one.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 4, 2026Episode 334 min

Pray First, Then Go, with Rodney Elliott

What happens after the One More series ends? Doug sits down with Rodney Elliott of Pathway Church in Wichita, Kansas. Rodney launched Pathway's first campus in 2012, became executive pastor, and steps into the lead pastor role in January. Pathway was one of the first Partner Churches to beta test One More, and now in year two, Rodney shares what the first year taught them. You'll hear about 28 days of communal prayer that brought the conviction and courage no curriculum had produced, the culture of "everyone walks with someone," the "I Was the One" panel, and a member who now leads a Bible study where 15 of the 52 women don't yet know Jesus. Learn more about One More or schedule a conversation with Doug, Bart, or Rodney: https://www.intentionalchurches.com/one-more TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Cold open: when keeping consumers happy short-circuits growth 00:26 Welcome and One More call to action 00:55 Rodney's journey from executive pastor to lead pastor 01:45 What a Partner Church is and why it matters 03:36 What One More is and why the work starts six months early 05:25 Personal ownership vs. the institutional mindset 06:42 Year one's deficiency: teaching isn't enough 08:49 The programmatic and behavioral church models 10:22 28 days of prayer and what God did through it 14:09 John 17, unity, and being one-aware and activated 15:17 Discipleship, evangelism, and "everyone walks with someone" 18:22 The One Aware panel and equipping groups 20:22 What happened with the three panelists 22:05 The "I Was the One" panel 24:34 How owning the mission changes the believer 28:09 Relational evangelism is above giving, serving, and groups 28:46 The Discipleship.org cohort and lessons from the global church 31:11 The upcoming experiment with Alpha USA 31:52 Rodney's encouragement: fall in love with the Great Commission 33:32 Wrap-up #IntentionalChurches #OneMore #GreatCommission #ChurchLeadership #Prayer

October 7, 2026Episode 239 min

Make the Mission Personal, with Cedric Payne

How do you move a congregation from attending church to owning the mission? Doug sits down with Cedric Payne, senior minister of Alondra Boulevard Church of Christ in Compton, California, to talk about exactly that. Cedric started preaching at 14, went on to Pepperdine and UCLA Law, and worked as a public defender for almost 32 years while serving at Alondra. When his senior minister and close friend died suddenly in 2013, Cedric found himself leading the church. Praying in the empty sanctuary, he heard the Holy Spirit point him back to the Great Commission. That moment changed his preaching and his approach to discipleship. In this episode: The story of Alondra, the shifting demographics of Compton, and why commuters from 40 miles away still call it home. A quick history of the Churches of Christ, the Restoration Movement, and the a cappella worship tradition. How African American Churches of Christ planted 30+ congregations across LA. Why evangelism and discipleship should never have been separated Cynthia's story: one member, one apartment building, four baptisms, and a new Bible study. The challenge of moving longtime members past an institutional mindset, and reaching a younger, post-COVID generation who see church as optional. Why relational ownership of the mission beats model chasing Cedric's practical tip: be "one-centric" in everything, and trim the events that don't serve your ones Doug also shares the One More initiative and a 30-day devotional, and an 180-year-old Florida church that is on fire after adopting it. Timeline Time Topic 00:00 Cold open: Cedric on the mission to partner with God in transforming the world 00:13 Doug's welcome and IC updates: the new Executive Pastor podcast, this show's new direction, Activator small groups 01:28 Cedric's story: Los Angeles roots, preaching at 14, Pepperdine, UCLA Law, 32 years as a public defender 03:30 Joining Alondra 33 years ago, then the sudden death of his senior minister in 2013 05:44 Compton's demographic shift and the Monday feeding program 07:02 What is the Church of Christ? Restoration Movement, congregational autonomy, a cappella worship 10:24 How Black Churches of Christ planted 30+ churches across LA 12:14 A commuter congregation and the "church worth driving to" model; Compton as the Hub City 18:05 Doug on his own shift from institutional leading to personal ownership 19:20 Crying out in the sanctuary, the Great Commission, and discovering IC 23:33 Why evangelism and discipleship got separated, and what ownership does to the believer 24:23 Stories: Cynthia's apartment building and other members inviting friends 28:37 The greatest team sport; what Cedric is learning: "it's hard work" 30:31 Breaking the institutional mindset in older members; reaching younger generations 32:24 Doug's answer: relational ownership over model chasing; the One More initiative 35:12 The 180-year-old Florida church that flipped the switch 35:55 Practical tip: be "one-centric" and trim events to focus on your ones 38:17 Wrap-up and thanks 39:04 Outro: executivepastor.io

August 12, 2026Episode 129 min

The State of AI in the Church, with Drew Dickens

Season 11 opens with returning guest Drew Dickens for a state-of-the-union on AI and the church. Four months since the IC Conference ("forty years in AI time"), Drew catches Doug up on the summer of new models, the scramble around AI policy, and why survey numbers on pastor AI usage range from 10% to 78% (hint: we haven't defined what "using AI" even means). From there, the conversation moves to what matters most for church leaders: the shift from generative to agentic AI, the sobering reality that counseling and spiritual formation remain the #1 use of AI worldwide, and what it means that congregants are taking their 3 a.m. existential crises to a chatbot. Drew shares practical steps (survey your people, talk about it from the pulpit, build an AI policy for your church and your families) alongside a real caution about "frictionless faith": when AI removes the friction, it may also remove the very thing that forms us. In this episode: Drew's takeaways from the IC Conference: efficiency excitement from XPs, quiet fear from senior pastors The summer of new models: Claude Fable 5, ChatGPT 5.6, Opus V, Gemini 3.6, DeepSeek 4 Why fewer than 10% of churches have an AI policy (and how to start one) Which conversations belong to AI, and which belong at the kitchen table Counseling, companionship, and spiritual formation: still 70-75% of AI use How pastors should preach when AI is discipling their people Agentic AI explained: your team of 20 admins that never calls in sick "Frictionless faith" and the spiritual risks of taking humanity out of the loop Why Anthropic is hiring philosophers and inviting spiritual leaders to Silicon Valley Timestamps: (00:00) Welcome back: Season 11 kickoff (00:25) IC 3.0 and the Radical Alignment Assessment (01:16) Drew's takeaways from the IC Conference (03:24) The summer of new models (05:45) AI policy, rogue models, and data centers (07:17) Beyond admin: how churches are using AI (09:59) Less than 10% of churches have an AI policy (11:02) Kitchen table vs. AI conversations (11:42) The #1 use of AI: counseling and spiritual formation (13:35) The 3 a.m. crisis: how pastors should respond (15:30) Will AI change the ecclesiology of the church? (16:45) Talk about it: surveys, forums, and sermon series (17:48) What is agentic AI? (19:43) Predictions on agentic adoption (21:50) Frictionless faith and spiritual risk (24:26) Philosophy, AI labs, and what's left for humans (26:54) Leading without fear + closing call to action Resources: Take the Radical Alignment Assessment: https://alignmychurch.com Drew Dickens' AI & Spirituality podcast (weekly, on Substack): https://drewdickens.com

June 23, 2026Episode 833 min

IC Conference Main Session 4, with Robbie O'Brien

What would happen if every ministry, every leader, and every church became radically aligned around the mission of reaching the one? In this closing main session from IC Conference 2026, Robbie O'Brien, Lead Pastor of Salty Church and founder of the Surf Church Collective, challenges church leaders to embrace the radical nature of Jesus and the radical alignment required to fulfill His mission. Drawing from Luke 15, Luke 19, Matthew 28, Acts 1:8, and his own journey from surfer culture to church planting, Robbie reminds leaders that a busy ministry is not always an obedient ministry. Through powerful stories, practical challenges, and compelling illustrations, he calls churches to move beyond managing religious consumers and instead mobilize disciples who are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become witnesses to the ends of the earth. This message is a passionate reminder that radical alignment isn't simply a strategy—it's a commitment to the heart of Jesus and His mission to seek and save the lost. Episode Timeline 00:00 – The Story of “The One” 03:09 – Why Radical Alignment Matters 04:29 – The Meaning of Radical 05:20 – Surf Culture and Following Jesus 07:12 – Jesus Was Radical 08:12 – Luke 15 and the Heart of God 09:05 – The Mission of Jesus 10:45 – The “No Socks” Story 12:25 – Deny Yourself and Follow Jesus 13:45 – Busy Doesn’t Mean Obedient 15:15 – Acts 1:8 and the Power of the Holy Spirit 17:20 – Witnesses, Not Consumers 19:25 – What It Means to Be a Witness 20:00 – The Beach as the Ends of the Earth 21:10 – Planting Salty Church 22:05 – Surf Church Collective 25:10 – Rochelle and Stefan’s Story 28:20 – Recognizing a Prodigal on the Way Home 29:00 – “I’ll Go” 30:00 – Isaiah’s Response 31:00 – Your Ends of the Earth 32:30 – Closing Prayer and Commissioning

June 9, 2026Episode 733 min

IC Conference Main Session 1, with Dr. Carlos L. Kelly

This powerful opening session from IC Conference 2026 features Dr. Carlos L. Kelly, Senior Pastor of Beulahland Bible Church, sharing how God transformed his church through a renewed commitment to the Great Commission. Drawing from Luke 5, Dr. Kelly challenges church leaders to leave the shallow waters of comfortable ministry and launch into deeper waters where disciple-making becomes the priority. Through practical lessons, personal stories, and biblical insight, he unpacks three essential challenges for every church seeking greater Kingdom impact: making ourselves available to Christ, modifying our attitudes to trust Christ, and moving forward in total obedience to Christ. Leaders will be encouraged to examine their systems, release sacred cows, embrace alignment, and trust God to produce fruit as they pursue the mission of making disciples who make disciples. Whether your church is just beginning the journey of alignment or continuing to deepen its disciple-making culture, this message offers encouragement, challenge, and a compelling vision for reaching the one. Episode Timeline 00:00 — Welcome and Personal Introduction 02:26 — How Intentional Churches Changed Their Church 03:24 — Luke 5: Launch Out Into the Deep 05:42 — The Call to Go Deeper 09:42 — Make Yourself Available to Christ 12:03 — Small Acts of Obedience Lead to Big Miracles 13:55 — Building the Discovery Team 14:25 — Why We Make Ourselves Available 15:44 — Modify Your Attitude to Trust Christ 17:00 — The Need for an Attitude Adjustment 19:05 — The Church OS Assessment Wake-Up Call 21:18 — Leaving Egos Outside the Room 22:55 — Sacred Cows and Stubborn Attachments 24:02 — “Nevertheless, At Your Word” 25:16 — Move Forward in Total Obedience 26:36 — What God Did at Beulahland 28:25 — The Five Marks of a Disciple 30:05 — Churches Helping Churches 31:12 — From Attendees to Disciple Makers 31:55 — Closing Prayer

May 27, 2026Episode 650 min

Radical Alignment: Ways to Not Get Stuck, with Doug & Bart

What happens when churches disconnect discipleship from evangelism? In this episode, Doug, Bart, and Vince unpack why so many believers never share their faith, how churches drift away from personal ownership of the Great Commission, and why relational evangelism may be one of the most overlooked drivers of real discipleship growth. Vince shares his unlikely story of becoming a Christian before ever meeting one, powerful stories from church planting in Las Vegas, and practical insight into how churches can equip believers to naturally share life, stories, and Jesus. If you've ever wondered why evangelism feels forced, why believers struggle to engage missionally, or how churches can build lasting Great Commission culture, this conversation is for you. New to Intentional Churches? Start here: intentionalchurches.com Timestamps 00:00 — The evil clown who came to destroy a church… and forgot to do it 01:26 — Welcome + introducing Vince Antonucci + Alignment Workshops 02:39 — Vince's background: Jewish mother, gambler father, America's Most Wanted story, and discovering Jesus without ever meeting a Christian 05:33 — “I held a meeting of all the Christians I knew… it was just me.” 06:30 — Why relational evangelism became Vince’s lifelong passion 07:26 — Why the Great Commission is still the one thing Jesus clearly told us to do 09:06 — How did the church drift away from personal ownership of evangelism? 12:30 — Why close friendships with lost people change everything 13:33 — Church planting in Las Vegas: the rookie pimp story and unexpected transformation 16:48 — The evil clown story: from sabotage plan to salvation story 19:31 — The collaboration behind The One More Initiative 22:22 — Vince’s journey creating an evangelism campaign for churches 25:26 — How The One More Initiative fits into Radical Alignment strategy 27:28 — Discipleship vs evangelism: why churches often separate what Jesus joined together 30:08 — Why living on mission accelerates spiritual growth 33:27 — Why many church leaders have given up hope that believers will share their faith 33:52 — Forced evangelism vs natural evangelism 35:14 — The story of Destiny: from never sharing Jesus to leading friends to faith 37:11 — Evangelism Explosion, control, and what happens when mission becomes overly scripted 41:53 — The One More Book: guidebook, devotional, inspiration, and practical equipping 45:56 — Practical next steps for church leaders 46:42 — Vince’s challenge: Are we equipping people to actually know what to do? 48:30 — Bart’s “Relational Reach Zone” exercise 50:07 — Why the Great Commission was always meant to be a team sport

May 13, 2026Episode 544 min

Radical Alignment: Steps to Jump-Start the Journey, with Doug & Bart

What actually happens when a church fully embraces radical alignment to the Great Commission? In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug Parks, Bart Rendel, and Erin Johnston unpack the disruption, tension, and transformation that come when churches begin aligning every layer of ministry around reaching “The One.” From staff culture shifts and elder board challenges to personal conviction and congregational change, this conversation explores why lasting Great Commission momentum takes patience, honesty, and a willingness to rethink how we lead. Doug and Bart also walk through practical tools from the Radical Alignment framework, including assessments, heart-mind-strength alignment, and how churches can begin building a culture where mission becomes everyone’s responsibility. If your church is wrestling with change, struggling to stay focused on mission, or wondering how to create lasting alignment, this episode will encourage and challenge you. Timestamps 00:00 – Why radical alignment is disruptive 01:08 – The Alignment Workshop and starting the journey 01:44 – The myth of “quick and painless” church alignment 02:16 – Why Great Commission transformation takes time 03:33 – Playing the long game in church leadership 05:05 – How radical alignment disrupts church culture 07:05 – Losing people while staying committed to mission 08:15 – Early churches that embraced radical alignment 09:59 – Why churches resist ongoing focus on “The One” 11:17 – The fulfillment and joy that come from mission 12:39 – Practical first steps toward radical alignment 13:08 – Getting to the “last 10% of truth” 14:15 – Casting vision and creating healthy tension 16:30 – Seeing the church through a Great Commission lens 18:03 – Stories of “The One” and collaborative mission 19:46 – Understanding the Radical Alignment Chart 21:13 – Heart, mind, and strength alignment explained 24:09 – Evaluating calendars, budgets, and attention 25:54 – The Radical Alignment Assessment and coaching insights 27:19 – Alignment across elders, staff, volunteers, and congregation 29:41 – Learning to lead the church differently 30:35 – “Once you see it, you can’t unsee it” 31:39 – Why groups align at different speeds 33:24 – Why staff and elders may struggle most with change 34:10 – Understanding disruption and organizational change 36:33 – The challenge of knowing where people really are 37:51 – Why believers often don’t want to engage missionally 39:22 – Sincere friendships and reaching “The One” 40:07 – Why self-discovery matters more than behavior management 42:13 – Encouragement for church leaders staying the course 42:51 – Resources, tools, and next steps from Intentional Churches Get started with Intentional Churches

April 15, 2026Episode 443 min

Radical Alignment: One Solution, with Doug & Bart

In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug, Bart, and Erin unpack one of the most critical chapters in Radical Alignment —what alignment really means and why so many churches struggle to achieve it. From consensus-driven mediocrity to the hidden forces of individualized preferences and institutional thinking, this conversation gets to the root of why churches drift—and how to lead them back to clarity and momentum. You’ll hear real stories from church leaders, practical insights on identifying misalignment, and a powerful reminder that alignment doesn’t start with strategy—it starts with personal ownership of the Great Commission. If you’ve ever felt like your church is busy but not moving forward, this episode will help you diagnose the real issue and give you a path toward true alignment. New to Intentional Churches? Start here: https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment Timestamps 00:00 – Why consensus decision-making leads to mediocrity 01:00 – What “alignment” actually means in the church 02:30 – Alignment = mutual ownership of the Great Commission 05:20 – The two forces driving misalignment in every church 08:30 – Real example: programs creeping back post-COVID 10:40 – Institutional thinking vs. mission-driven decisions 12:00 – The hidden danger of language drift on your team 14:00 – Why alignment must be constantly tended 16:30 – The myth of “arriving” at alignment 18:00 – Symptoms of misalignment leaders often ignore 19:30 – Unity vs. consensus: what the Bible actually teaches 21:00 – Why healthy tension is a sign of alignment 22:30 – Stop solving problems—start managing tensions 24:00 – Finding your “true north” as a leadership team 26:00 – Thinking vs. outcomes: what alignment really measures 27:00 – Personal alignment before church alignment 29:00 – Why Great Commission ownership must start with leaders 31:00 – Mind, heart, and action: the alignment framework 33:00 – Tools and assessments to measure real alignment 35:00 – Philippians reimagined through a mission lens 38:30 – Final advice: why alignment is worth the cost 40:00 – Daily practices to sustain alignment 42:00 – Invitation to Alignment Workshops

March 18, 2026Episode 333 min

Radical Alignment: Encouraging Discoveries, with Doug & Bart

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

March 4, 2026Episode 246 min

Radical Alignment: Challenging Discoveries, with Doug & Bart

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

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing