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Welcome to the Redeemer Network Podcast, where we talk church planning, church health, and multiplying churches for the sake of the gospel.
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To learn more about the Redeemer Network, visit RedeemerNetwork.org.
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Welcome back to the Redeemer Network Podcast.
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Today we're putting a bow on our third season.
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This season we've spent time talking through what we do as a network as we work to advance the gospel by multiplying healthy churches.
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We've worked through each of our three priorities as a network training, funding, and support.
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And today, this episode is titled What's Next?
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I'm joined with uh by two awesome uh members of our network staff, Sarah Caracon and Brandon Barker.
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Guys, welcome to the podcast.
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Yeah, thanks for having us.
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Really glad to have you with us.
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Brandon serves as the executive director of the network.
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If you don't know Brandon, most of you do.
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And Sarah is our comms strategist all-star.
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What's her real time?
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Communication manager.
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Communication manager.
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And um, and she's such a joy, and so we're so glad to have her on.
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So I was thinking about a fun kickoff question here.
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Uh I took my kids back to school shopping this week, and I've got an incoming freshman, a seventh grader, and a fourth grader.
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And so they all were, you know, they've all been kind of looking through the new clothes they got, and they're trying to figure out what is their first day of school fit gonna be?
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What's their best outfit?
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And so I was just thinking about that, curious for you, if you could go back in time.
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Uh, what was the all-time best first day of school outfit that you ever had?
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Can you remember one?
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I can.
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Sarah, do you want me to go first on this one?
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Yeah, you go.
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So my um uh my best back to school outfit was a beautiful cast I wore on my right hand.
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Uh, because at the peak of Jordan's uh dominance, I wanted a pair of Jordans and my mom wouldn't buy them for me.
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Michael Jordan.
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Michael Jordan.
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Not me.
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You Michael Jordan, yeah, yeah.
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Okay.
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Uh Michael Jordan.
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Uh, and as a bratty 12-year-old, when my mom said no, I punched a hole in the wall and I hit the stud and broke my hand.
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So I went back to school with a nice cast.
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That was my outfit.
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Wow.
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What kind of shoes?
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Jordans.
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Okay.
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Oh, no, no, no.
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That's what I wanted.
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I have no idea what I'm for.
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I have no clue.
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Man, that is that's awesome.
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Wow.
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Sarah, can you top that?
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That boys like punch holes in the wall.
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That's just not something as a girl I would ever think to be like.
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I'm mad.
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Let me let me go.
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And I feel like you guys are stud finders in those moments.
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Mine, you could probably find my outfit right now, currently at Hollister, because it's coming back in um multi-layered tanks, like a white tank underneath a blue tank with the Hollister logo.
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That would that would be for me.
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Like it was like peak, like I've made it.
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I I think I worked all summer and saved up to purchase it.
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That's amazing.
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Wow.
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Yeah.
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Well, I I've got a similar story to yours, except I wasn't a child.
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I was a grown man and I I got frustrated and I kicked something.
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I didn't punch something, I kicked something, and I broke my toe.
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So yeah, we'll we'll learn from those.
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What was your outfit?
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You know, probably had something to do with Michael Jordan as well.
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90s.
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My name is Jordan.
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I always wanted Jordan shoes, and I I had kind of a head-to-toe black and red Michael Jordan fit.
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I had some bull jerseys.
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Probably probably fifth grade.
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Okay.
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Yeah.
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I had some bull jerseys that I loved.
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Um and it's all the Hollister's back and the and the Air Jordan stuff is still around.
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So yeah, I need pictures of y'all in high school.
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I want, I need some like outfit picks.
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This will not happen, Sarah.
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We love you.
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I don't trust you.
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I'm not doing it.
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And you you know what?
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You shouldn't.
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I do have a folder saved on my laptop of embarrassing photos that spouses have sent me of my pastors.
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So stay out of that folder.
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All right.
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Well, as the kids go back to school and start a new year, we're bringing this podcast to an end.
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And so I wanted just to reflect a little bit on the episodes that we've put out this uh this season.
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I've really enjoyed this episode of the podcast.
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It's probably been one of my favorites so far.
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And I know both of you are very close to the work that we're doing in the network, but I'm just curious, did you learn anything new or is there anything in particular that has stood out to you from our previous episodes?
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Yeah, I would say like I kind of already knew broadly like what the network does.
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And but listening back to all the episodes, I think just reminded me that there are real people behind like every one of those stories.
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I think just getting to hear every um single one of a member of our staff like reference specific situations was just really a reminder to me that it's like it's all these individual stories that make up this network that isn't ethereal.
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It's actually like very embodied and very um real, very personal.
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And so I was just super encouraged by those those stories.
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And um, yeah, it gave me a lot of things like I want to hear more, I want to hear more about that.
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Yeah, I I wouldn't I wouldn't say that I learned anything new necessarily about the the work that we're doing.
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It was a good chance to uh sort of step back and see the forest um and not just look at the trees along the way.
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And that yeah, that's been really enjoyable.
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I do love the the reminder that there's people behind all of the work that we do, uh a reminder of how much I I love we do, how much I love the people that we get to do it with.
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Um there were some episodes that really stood out to me as uh ones that I enjoyed.
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Uh one of them was the church planning residency that we train church planners.
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Uh I love the content of that one, but also, man, if we if it's you, Reed Monaghan, Peyton Barons.
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I can listen to you also about Badman.
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Like it's just I just love it.
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Um the one on support I really enjoyed.
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Uh one of the things I enjoyed most about that one is how often you would ask a question to Jeremy or to to Buck.
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Um I'm sorry, Jeremy or Kyle.
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Uh, and their answer was something like, uh, we we just call people, we just show up.
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Um that it wasn't a grand strategy for care, uh, for the coaching, the support we provide.
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It was people caring for people.
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I I loved that reminder.
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And I really enjoyed the the the one on supporting worship leaders, the one that uh as of our recording today that came out today, Sarah, I don't know how you felt about that one, but I um I don't know, I loved it.
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I loved the reminder of the kind of coaching we're trying to provide worship leaders, not just lead planters.
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Uh the the the way that we're trying to write songs is collaborative songwriting, songs written by our churches and for our churches, that we're not we're not trying to start some music label, but but I do hope one day uh that we're able to have a conference where our conference, all of the songs are songs written by Redeemer Churches for Redeemer Churches, sung together at our conference.
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Anyway, those those episodes stood out to me.
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Yeah.
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It was fun for me too.
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A lot of the same things, just uh seeing the breadth of the work that is happening through the network, and then just getting to spend time and talking about the work with the people who are really doing it.
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Uh, all of those people are doing such a great job, and it was fun to actually have them in or have them on on the podcast to hear more of their heart and and uh let them tell a story of what God's doing.
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So really enjoyed it.
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Well, we we've got our conference coming up.
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I think that's kind of the next thing for us if we if we're talking about what's next, is our conference is coming up in October.
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Let's talk about that.
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Brandon, uh, share a little bit of the why behind the conference.
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Yeah.
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So we this will be our fourth annual Redeemer Network uh conference.
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Uh, could not be more excited about it, excited that's in Austin.
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Uh, but the first thing to know about our conference uh is that it is not a conference for our pastors, it's a conference for our churches.
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Uh it is aimed at being a connecting point for churches in Redeemer Network where we bring people together and we can equip them for faithful and fruitful ministry.
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Um we we want it to be a one of the tools in our tool belt for making the Redeemer Network relationship a meaningful relationship beyond just pastors to staff, to elders, to leaders, to community group leaders, to members.
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Uh, we want to build some, if I can say it this way, kind of relational value for Redeemer Network that gets deep into our churches.
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And so that's one of our hopes with the conference.
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And one of the reasons why our our breakouts, which I know Sarah's gonna talk about in a second, are are really aimed at members, not just aimed at pastors.
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Um, but we also want to identify future church planners.
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Uh, we want this conference to be a rallying point where guys who are interested in planting churches can come together, be there, and we can identify them to steal Dusty's language of smoking them out.
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We want a chance to smoke out future church planters.
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We also want to identify potential partner churches.
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Uh, so if there's a church out there that is a good fit for joining Redeemer Network, uh, that door is a door that's cracked open for churches.
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It's not a wide open door for anybody to walk through, but it is a door that's that's unlocked, if I could say it that way.
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Um and we want this to be a chance to meet them, to connect in person, and to start the conversation around maybe, maybe they're a good fit for us and for our network.
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But then also uh for to identify churches that are um maybe in need of greater degrees of health.
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Um, that would be a good fit for our church renewal residency, where we walk alongside existing churches uh who are in need of some coaching and support.
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Uh and so we can identify them there as well.
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Yeah, it's a big part of our ministry every year.
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This conference is, and it's a free event.
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Uh, our friends at the Austin Stone and Round Rock, their North Campus, are going to be hosting us and uh really excited about it.
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I love I love that.
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Yeah, it's not just a pastors conference, although there will be plenty for pastors, and it's one of my favorite things is to get to connect with not only other pastors in our network, but other pastors from the area that that come and join us.
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Um, but it's really is geared toward our teams.
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Rick Bowers, who's on our staff here at Redeemer Round Rock, was uh doing a gospel community leader training this Sunday, and he was giving the conference dates to all of our uh GC leaders and encouraging them to come.
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And uh and he was talking about that, about how the biggest benefit of that conference is that everyday leaders, lay leaders in the church can come and there will be a breakout, there will be something for them, both from the main sessions and from the from the breakouts.
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Yeah, everybody who shows up is gonna be able to leave equipped in some area for life and ministry.
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Yeah, totally.
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Yeah.
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So let's let's talk a little more in detail.
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Sarah, what what's the what's the theme?
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Uh talk talk to us about any special initiatives or yeah, on your end, as you've been working on the conference, um, what what can you share with us?
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Yeah, well, I would just echo that that I think, you know, I've had the gift of being part of the conference from the beginning and from that first gathering here in Lubbock, which I'm now that I think about it, I think I just got looped in because Kristen was here and um and so she was like, Hey, would you help me?
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And I was like, Yes, let's go.
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Um, but I think it just felt like a family reunion.
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And so I think that that, you know, I remember as we were debriefing that first conference, um, you know, I didn't know anyone really in the network.
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I knew that we did, you know, I knew that Redeemer Lubbock was a part of this network.
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Um, but it was so cool to look up and to see all these people, like nobody was showing up and putting on airs.
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Um, it was just people who are genuinely excited to be together.
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And I think that over the years, that really has expanded now, specifically through the conference, to include more than just pastors, but to include our whole teams and church members.
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And I just think that is so cool because even the other day I was on a call with um Doxa in Tucson, and it was so fun to be like, hey, we'll see see you in Austin, you know, that we um we're excited to get to be there together.
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But then also like I was thinking about friends that have like moved um and are no longer on staff at Redeemer Loving Church or Redeemer Network churches and thinking to myself, like, I'm so sad I'm not gonna see them this year because the conference has been this thing that we're getting to get together and encourage one another and just, you know, yeah, be with your friends.
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And it feels kind of like summer camp.
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Um, but this year, our theme, you know, uniquely is mission matters.
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That's really what we're keying in on.
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You know, this year we've really been working on our mission statement and really clarifying, like, like, why does the Redeemer Network exist?
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What does it mean to be a part of it?
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Why should you um be a part of it?
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What are we, what are we contributing to together?
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And so um our mission statement, you know, is to advance the gospel through multiplying healthy churches.
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And you're gonna see that just woven through the entire conference that this isn't a new direction.
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This is what we have always been doing, but we want to clarify it and we want to make it sticky for every single person.
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So for every member, for every um staff team, for every planter, potential planter.
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We want them to understand what it is uniquely that we think God has called us to do, um, what role we believe he's calling us to play.
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And so we're gonna be talking about just what it means to be healthy churches, healthy leaders, healthy followers of Christ, um, and then what that looks like for healthy disciples to multiply healthy disciples and healthy churches to multiply healthy churches.
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And so um my hope really is that people leave not only understanding the mission of the Redeemer Network, but really recognizing their own place in it wherever they are.
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Um, uniquely this year, I think with breakouts, I think you can really expect really practical breakouts.
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That's something I have loved with the breakouts every year, is that um, like I said, this isn't like we have some of the best leaders.
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I do, I believe that.
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Like we have some of the people that I'm just like, I want to sit at your feet and I want to learn how you have loved your local church and how you've, you know, worked this out and how you've grown in it.
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Um, but I think that that I love just the humility of so many of our leaders that are saying we are across the network in so many different contexts, from small towns to college towns to big cities.
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Um, so we're not coming with this like, hey, this is how to do ministry, but really getting to share, hey, here's what I've tried, here's what's worked, here's what's here's what didn't, and hey, I want to help you to think about what this could look like in your context.
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So that'll be everything from women's ministry to worship to communications to groups to um leading an elder team.
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And so I think that that's just gonna be really great and uniquely this year.
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Um, I'm really excited that we actually I think have some members from around rock, like lay members, not in vocational ministry, who are gonna be leading breakouts.
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Um, and I just think that's so exciting because it is just this reminder that like as a staff member, like I can learn from the ministry of like deacons and what they're doing in the church, even if they're never paid.
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It's meaningful ministry and it is like how the mission of God advances.
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Yeah, so good.
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Well, I I would love to hear from you guys.
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I mean, not only is the conference a great time for us to be together and get some practical equipping, but I hope that God ministers to us.
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Like I'm praying that as we get together, the Lord moves in our midst as well.
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We don't just walk away with some connections and some tools, but with a real sense of renewal, spiritual renewal.
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And so I'm curious for you guys as you think, as you pray about the conference, which is coming quickly.
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Um, what do you want to see God do?
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What's the spiritual work that you're that you're hungry for?
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Yeah.
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Sarah, you kick us off on this one.
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Yeah, I would say ultimately, like I want to see more people in more places come to know Jesus.
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And like there's a line from Zach S.
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Wine that I love where he he was just describing like a a church member's living room and he described it as like unknown to the world, but cherished by God, like cherished by him.
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And I think that when I think about the network and even the conference, I just think about the fact that there are people like that in every community represented at our conference who are right now unknown to us.
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They're unknown to the world.
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They're maybe not even significant or important to the world, but like they're fully known and cherished by God.
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And um, I think I just want us to leave with greater faith like for those people and greater affection for like the particular places that God has entrusted to it, to us.
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Um, because I would say like that's my personal wise.
00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:24.159
Like I have friends that I have known and prayed for for there to be like over the last decade churches in their city.
00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:28.720
And like I've prayed for healthy, Christ-centered, you know, gospel-centered Bible teaching churches.
00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:32.639
Um, not because I care about expanding an organization, but because I want Christ for them.
00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:34.000
I want Christ for their kids.
00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:39.440
And, you know, just have watched them struggle to find a church, um, struggle to be in a church.
00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:48.879
And it, I think, you know, who in my community, who in my neighborhood who lives around the corner from me has someone praying for them like that, like who around me is just like loved by God and doesn't know it yet.
00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:58.960
And I think that that's like when I think about the conference, I just want everyone to walk away with just a deep, um, yeah, like in their bones, just God, you care about those people.
00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:00.879
You've cared about me and you cherish them.
00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:04.320
And what a privilege that like you're you're inviting us.
00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:09.360
And because we're in church planting, like and in the work of church, like we get to be a part of your mission.
00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:15.919
Um and just yeah, I want them to just be really encouraged and expectant and just ready to pay attention to what God's already doing.
00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:16.559
Yeah.
00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:17.919
So good.
00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:25.200
Sarah, I want to follow up on just what you're saying there before I get to in uh Acts 18.
00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:36.159
The Lord said to Paul, one night in a vision, do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you.
00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.440
For I have many in this city who are my people.
00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:43.360
And he stayed there a year and six months teaching the word of God among them.
00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:56.000
Um this has been a banner verse for church planting for my own heart, for my life, um, because there are men, women, and children uh in town after town and city after city who belong to God and just don't know it yet.
00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.320
And we plant churches so they can find out.
00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:02.320
So we can take that gospel and that gospel reach more men, women, and children.
00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:07.279
Encountering Jesus, encountering grace, encountering the mercy of God.
00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:13.759
Um one of the things I'm really excited and hungry about at this conference is that we're gonna build in space to pray for it.
00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:18.480
Um so in each one of our sessions, it's not just gonna be teaching and worship, we're gonna build in time to pray.
00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:23.279
Uh, we we want to see the gospel advance, multiplying healthy churches.
00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:26.400
Um, but that's a work that we can't just do.
00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:29.279
We can labor for it, but it's work that God has to do.
00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:44.400
And so we're gonna build time to pray, and uh, and mixed into that prayer is gonna be to be prayer for people who are struggling and hurting uh those who show up feeling like I'm alone in this world and um we want them to know they're not.
00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:46.240
Uh, and we're gonna gather around and pray for them.
00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.599
We're gonna have a prayer wall.
00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.200
Is that is that right, Sarah?
00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.240
Yes.
00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.279
Yeah, there we go.
00:17:51.440 --> 00:18:00.880
We're gonna have a a place for people to write out prayers for our churches, for friends, family members who don't know the Lord yet, that they want to know the Lord.
00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:05.920
Um we're gonna take time to cry out to thank God for it.
00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:10.400
Um for both multiplication and for health, for sustained health.
00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:14.880
Uh I want people to leave there knowing that giving my life away for the mission of God is worth it.
00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:17.920
Um, it's absolutely worth it.
00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:21.680
Um and then there's something else that I really hope happens.
00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:27.440
Uh, and I hope my heart, I hope our heart is not misunderstood on on this part.
00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:32.319
Uh, but we're we're gonna launch a uh a campaign called Multiply the Mission.
00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:40.559
We're gonna ask people to partner with and join in and dive in and support the work of uh Redeemer Network.
00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:48.400
Uh and uh in particular, we're we're really trying to grow our what we call monthly multipliers with people who support Redeemer Network uh on a monthly basis.
00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:50.400
And and here's here's what we're doing.
00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:55.680
We are not trying to raise money to to keep the pay bills and keep lights on.
00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:03.519
Um six, seven, eight, nine months ago or so, uh, I was one neighborhood over where I walk and run.
00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:07.759
Uh because my neighborhood, it's a pop-up new build, and there's no trees and there's no shade.
00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:16.079
So I go to that neighborhood to walk, and uh and I was walking around just praying and in particular praying gratitude for last year and how the year went.
00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:19.759
And I really felt like I heard the Lord, and I'm not trying to be charismatic in that.
00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:24.319
I just felt this impression from the Lord to get ready, to get ready for what's to come.
00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:29.279
Uh what followed that was our largest residency class that we've ever had.
00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:37.440
Nine church planning residents, probably like five churches out of that class uh coming.
00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:42.960
Uh, and then fast forward to today, uh we're recording this in early August.
00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:48.559
Uh normally at this time of the year we have one or two conversations going on about future church planning residents.
00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.279
There's seven active conversations going on for next year.
00:19:51.759 --> 00:20:04.880
Uh, I know we're supposed to talk about that later, but um we need people bought into the mission of God in this particular way so we can continue funding the kinds of church plants at the rates that we want to fund the numbers of church plants that are coming.
00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:07.119
Um, and so we're gonna launch that.
00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:19.359
Uh, we also know, just pastorally speaking, that uh there's this direct line from our money to our heart and our heart to our money, where our what we spend our money on both reflects our our heart and our values, but it also directs them.
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:29.359
And so when we put money into multiplying healthy churches, it it draws our heart more deeply into the value of seeing the gospel go out through the multiplication of healthy churches.
00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:32.079
And so we'll be launching the multiple admission campaign.
00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:34.079
Uh and all people bought into that for that reason.
00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:34.720
Yeah.
00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.759
I'm so excited.
00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.920
I I'm ready for October for many reasons.
00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:40.480
One, that hopefully the Dallas Cowboys will be undefeated.
00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.359
They won't be.
00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:45.039
Um, the weather will cool off and the Redeemer Network Conference.
00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.960
I I'm I'm I can't wait.
00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.880
It's gonna be it's gonna be great.
00:20:48.960 --> 00:21:01.279
I trust that the Lord is going before in all the preparations and um I hope folks will will come and that they will not just our pastors and staffs, but even even uh people from our churches, lay people from our churches will be there.
00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:08.880
It's just such a sweet time to be together, worship together, and and to renew our commitment to our our mission, which is the got the mission of God.
00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.480
And so um it's a good idea.
00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:23.519
Which I actually do think last I talked to Kristen, who's in charge of all of our events, I think that lay members actually right now represent like the greatest majority number of like, you know, lead pastors versus planters versus comms people or worship.
00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:26.319
So members, they'd be showing up in the Austin area.
00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.039
Right, let's go.
00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:27.440
That's right.
00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.640
So a couple of things on that.
00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:30.480
One, you're right, that's still the metric.
00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:33.839
Uh that is still what is leading on the registration.
00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:41.680
Uh, two, our current registration today is about three to four times higher than it normally would be at this point, uh, which is encouraging.
00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.359
But also, we need to pause and back up.
00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:50.400
And we can't talk about our conference without talking about uh Kristen Barron uh and the work that she does serving our network.
00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:58.000
She both blends a role of executive assistant and director of events uh and just knocks it out of the park every single time.
00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.759
And this conference is proving to be.
00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.359
No exception.
00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:04.799
And so we are deeply, deeply thankful for the work that Kristen does.
00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:06.000
Yes, and amen.
00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.559
Amen.
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.480
Okay, well, let's um let's keep moving.
00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:10.720
I'm both you guys have really important roles in our network.
00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:18.400
Brandon, you lead our day-to-day ministry, you lead our network staff, you uh are in frequent communication with our pastors and church planners.
00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.400
Sarah, your job is to share our story.
00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.359
I'm so thankful for you.
00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:33.039
When you first stepped into this role, remember the first thing that you did is you just said, I want to learn everybody's story, not just the network story, but I want to learn as much as I can about the people that lead this thing, the churches that are in it.
00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:39.839
And you just took that posture and you've done such a great job leading our communication strategy and helping us share our story.
00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:42.160
Those are both really important roles for us.
00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:45.680
And I'm just curious for for you guys, kind of where we sit today.
00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:47.279
What's got you excited right now?
00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:53.759
Is is there something that you're currently working on or something that you're seeing in our network that's got you fired up?
00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:00.400
Yeah, I so Sarah, when you talk about the Redeemer Network, I tear up almost every time.
00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:04.720
Um even a few minutes ago when I said, Sarah, you kick us off.
00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:12.400
It was because uh you had just rifted on the network and I um I just I couldn't jump in right away.
00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:27.200
And it's not just the emotion and the way you talk about, but you're also so good at helping us clarify and hone in and zero in on how we articulate and communicate the work that we're doing, uh the work our churches are doing, and so uh deeply grateful for you.
00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:31.920
Um but there's a few things that I would say that I'm uh to this question.
00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:34.559
One is I just I love where we are as a network.
00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:40.160
We are focused, we're not chasing shiny objects, we know who we are, we know who we're not.
00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:47.680
Uh I'm excited about doing more of the work that we're doing, not doing new and different work, but just doing more of the work that we're doing.
00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:59.680
And the things that I'm uniquely grateful for uh right now, one of them is that in the last few months, we've had two churches go through significant, significant crisis.
00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:06.240
Both of those churches are coming through the crisis and they're gonna be healthier tomorrow than they've ever been.
00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:13.920
But also watching our support team step in, give guidance, coaching, care, and to do it up close and personal.
00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:24.640
Um I they just knocked it out of the park, and I could not be more proud of the work that they've done in really difficult, really difficult seasons and stretches serving our churches.
00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:26.160
It's been real care.
00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:26.960
It has been.
00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.759
It's been real care.
00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.640
It has been.
00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.839
Um I love our network staff.
00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:45.279
I am so thankful for the team that we have top to bottom, we have the right people in the right seats to most effectively serve our churches and our residents.
00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:52.960
Um everyone who's ever led a team knows uh how rare it is to look up and say we have the team that we want.
00:24:53.519 --> 00:25:00.720
And when I look at our team, without flattery to anybody, we have the team from my seat that we want.
00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:03.119
Um I I love this team.
00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:10.079
I do not take for granted uh the level of competency and care and passion that our team has.
00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.880
Uh and incredibly thankful uh for each one of them.
00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:14.240
Nobody's on the trading block.
00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.279
Nobody's on the trading cap.
00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:15.839
Okay, good, good.
00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.720
Nobody's on the trading block.
00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.039
Good, good.
00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.359
You're out of the city.
00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.160
Nothing I'm aware of.
00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:21.759
You're out of salary cap any case, so I'm glad you like your team.
00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.880
And then our conference in Austin.
00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:29.519
Uh, this is one I'm really excited about.
00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:32.559
Uh, it's it's actually, I think, a big deal for us.
00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:43.440
Uh, probably a bigger deal on the inside than most people feel or realize, but but it we have historically been known as more West Texas to rural small town.
00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:51.119
And the reason for that is that we started in Lubbock and we naturally planted in in smaller towns around as we kind of made our way over there.
00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:54.319
Uh, and I I love our West Texas roots.
00:25:54.480 --> 00:26:04.079
Um and I truly am proud in the I think in the most Christ-honoring way about our love for rural church planting and rural ministry.
00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.440
Um, but I do not want us to be known for a geography.
00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:12.160
I I don't want us to be known as the urban church planning network or the suburban or the rural.
00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:19.279
I want us to be known as the people uh who are passionate about multiplying healthy churches and where our churches plant, we plant.
00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.039
And when that's city, that's city.
00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:24.720
When that's uh town, it's town, when it's suburb, it's suburb.
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:32.559
Uh and so we have um one of the fruits of that is that we have seven churches actively who have been planted in the greater Austin area.
00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:37.599
And our eighth is going to be planted and launching one month from right now, at the time of this recording.
00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:44.960
Um and then we have a plethora of churches who are suburban, who are in uh rural communities all over.
00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:52.880
And I want us to love all of them and just to value not a particular geography, but healthy church multiplication.
00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:54.079
Good.
00:26:54.319 --> 00:27:03.839
Yeah, I think it's also safe to say that um West Sexons probably like coming to Austin more than uh than us, uh the eight churches that are in the Austin area like going to West Texas.
00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:04.640
Probably so.
00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:06.799
Although I I do kind of want to pitch to y'all maybe.
00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.160
I love Lubbock.
00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:10.720
Well, maybe Lubbock next year for the conference again.
00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.799
Just I haven't I haven't pitched that yet.
00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:15.039
I haven't asked permission yet, but I'm just gonna leak it now.
00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:15.839
That's what I'm hoping.
00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.359
Yeah, I'm good with I'm good with that.
00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.119
I'll stick around for a tech football game.
00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:19.839
Yeah.
00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.440
Sarah, what what about you?
00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:35.039
Yeah, I I mean I would say that really, and it's gonna sound odd, but but kind of to what Brandon was saying, I think what has really fired me up, you know, to use that language, is is actually seeing our churches carry the weight of ministry together.
00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:39.839
Um, you know, I'm on staff at a local church in the Redeemer Network.
00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:45.039
And I love that I never want to be apart from, you know, being embodied in this place.
00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:56.559
Um, but I just think over, you know, some of those hard situations that have happened this last year, it's been so cool to me to see that I think what really started, even in terms of the network story, is it was a co like it was a network of lead pastors.
00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:07.920
But in a lot of those situations, yes, the network was stepping in to care, um, to do so well in terms of supporting those churches, but also laterally, like I'm on the phone with their comms people.
00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:18.960
And I just think about like in the moment when you wear so many hats as a staff member, as a church member, as just a Christian, to get to have that camaraderie and relationship and trust to say, hey, we are on the same mission.
00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:24.319
I know that we have the same values around truth and transparency and gospel-centered community.
00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:38.000
Um, and here's what you need to like look out for when it comes to the unity of your staff team, what you might be experiencing when you walk through, yeah, just like dark days was like such a beautiful picture to me that it wasn't just on just lead pastors.
00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:42.880
It was like whole staff teams getting to care for one another from other churches and offer that support.
00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:50.559
Um, it was just, yeah, it was a really, I think that is such a cool thing that the network really has is that it's not just one person on your staff receiving support.
00:28:50.720 --> 00:29:01.839
It's that we're starting to have more of the network, um, even among among our staffs in um like at all different levels to be able to learn from one another and to also be able to provide the camaraderie.
00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:11.920
Um, but the other thing I would say is like I really, you know, I would say even part of like my own story with the network is like I was at Redeemer Lubbock as a college kid when the network was starting.
00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:17.359
You know, like I think I came to Lubbock the fall right after Jordan and Josh moved.
00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:21.200
And so, you know, I I knew about this church planning thing.
00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.640
I'd heard about it.
00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:25.759
Um, you know, I got to see some of those first church plants.
00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:29.039
I was there when Peyton was one of the first church planning residents.
00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:35.519
Um, but I was just a college student, was a member, had no design on, you know, I was gonna leave Lubbock and never be a part of that again.
00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.960
Love it so much, it's important.
00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:46.319
But um, but now to look up and to see like all these connections, like as our network has grown, um, that, you know, I was a kid's gospel community leader my whole time I was in college.
00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:51.200
And now one of those kids is at college at ACU and is attending the well there.
00:29:51.519 --> 00:30:00.880
And like that is just such a privilege, like getting to recognize that it's like, hey, I was a part of ministering to you at this one season in this locality.
00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:06.720
And now, because of the network, like I'm getting my friends now are getting to minister to you in this different season.
00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:18.880
And similarly, we had some friends from Redeemer Love just moved to Abilene and just being so sad that they're not here in my everyday life anymore, but the joy of getting to be like, I know that there's this Christ-centered church, let me connect you.
00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:27.039
Um I think is just like so cool to see, like, that takes longevity to be able to see that happen and to have those kinds of connections.
00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:36.960
Um, but man, I think also what fires me up is just seeing the work that God is doing in so many of our leaders that then reflects what God's doing in his church.
00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:43.599
Um, you know, like I said, I I get to interact more, like maybe less with lead pastors, but with staff members from other churches.
00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:47.440
And I think the temptation could be to just like, let's just talk calm strategy.
00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:53.279
But I truly, um, part of what I love about what we're doing is that, yeah, we want to multiply healthy churches.
00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:54.720
And that starts with being healthy.
00:30:54.799 --> 00:31:02.480
Like we care about people's souls and we want them to encounter Jesus and it's not just be a job, it'd be a place that they know Christ and make him known.
00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:18.079
And I think that like even some of those challenging situations this year, um, it's just been really cool to get to go to those deeper places, even with other staff members from different churches and to get to be reminded that, like, you know, there's so much brokenness in my church.
00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:24.319
You know, there's like all the things in the day-to-day life that I see that I'm like, I'm frustrated by that, or that's hard or that difficult conversation.
00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:29.200
Um, and when you zoom out and you get to like see, well, that's in every church, that's in every place.
00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:34.880
Um, it's just like a reminder to me and getting to encourage younger churches that I'm like, yes, like there is hope.
00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.079
God is able.
00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:38.880
Um, and it reminds me of the gospel every single time.
00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:46.240
And not just like why we're in this, but um reminds me that like, no, Jesus, you are going to, you you love your local church, like you love the church.
00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:48.000
And that's why we love it.
00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:50.480
Um, not because it's our job, but because it's your bride.
00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:55.519
Um and I, yeah, that just I could talk forever about all of our churches that I get to interact with.
00:31:55.599 --> 00:32:03.680
Um, because yeah, I just think that it's so cool to see their commitment to growth in the places that they are and again, their love for the locality.
00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:09.440
I just that really sticks out to me that um they matter to God, they matter to those people.
00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:18.240
Um, and that we get to then see, we just we have insight into places that we I'm like, I am bound in time and place to Lubbock, Texas.
00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:27.680
But because the network getting to hear about what God's doing in Brennan, what he's doing in Arizona, what he's gonna hopefully be doing in Oklahoma, in Austin, it's like I get to participate in seeing God, Jesus.
00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:31.119
You you really are the king of your church, and I get to see that.
00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.160
It's such a joy.
00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:32.799
Yeah.
00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:35.519
I'll piggyback on on what you shared earlier, Sarah.
00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:37.759
We I've I'm fired up about some of the same things.
00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:49.440
We we've got uh some some uh high school a high school graduate that's that really, I guess when their their family was a part of our core team or early early on, definitely like year one, Redeemer Round Rock.
00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:52.640
And she was probably four, three or four at the time.
00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:59.200
And now she's about to graduate and she's going to tech and she's excited to get to Lubbock and connect with Redeemer Lubbock.
00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.400
And I'm so fired up about that.
00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.039
I can't wait.
00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:06.160
And we have uh talked to somebody else in our church that's moving uh more towards South Austin.
00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:12.240
And I was like, hey, not only is there one, but there's two, three, four Redeemer Network churches that are all around Austin.
00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:13.839
And so you need to go check this out.
00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.440
And they were so excited about that.
00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:17.119
I'm like, wow, I didn't realize that.
00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:23.680
And and uh we have a uh church member here that has just been one of the most servant-hearted.
00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:29.279
Um, she's a single lady in our church, she's been amazing, and she's just moved the Lord has called her to move to San Antonio.
00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:39.920
And I was able to connect her with with uh some of our Redeemer Network churches there, and and she was so thrilled to know that there would be something very similar to what's been so meaningful to her that she's gonna get to step into there.
00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:44.319
And so, yeah, that that is uh that is the fruit of longevity, like you said, Sarah.
00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:50.720
And it is a really exciting thing for me, for us, as we lead this network, but I think it's a really life-giving thing.
00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:53.440
It's a blessing to to the people of our churches as well.
00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:56.799
So I'm in a similar boat to the to the first person you're talking about.
00:33:56.960 --> 00:34:01.440
Not that my kids are going to college yet, but I've got a going to be a junior this year and a sophomore.
00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:08.400
And part of our conversations has been okay, when we start talking colleges, let's prioritize colleges where we know we've got a redeemer church in that town.
00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.519
And a golf team.
00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.639
For one of them.
00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.760
Not my oldest.
00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.880
She doesn't play golf.
00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.320
Yeah, it's good.
00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:17.039
Okay, well, uh, let's start to wrap up a little bit here.
00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:20.639
Uh, anything else as we look ahead as we think about what's next?
00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:22.880
Is there anything else that you guys would want to share?
00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:24.880
Sarah, do you have anything?
00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.960
No, I don't think so.
00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:27.599
Okay.
00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:38.159
I mean, I know I I know I tipped my hand on this earlier, but um, you know, right now we have 13 uh church planning residents between year one and year two.
00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:47.760
We've got four year two, nine year one, uh, and we've got active conversations at a time in the year when we normally have one or two conversations maybe going on.
00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:51.440
Typically, the recruiting really kicks up high after the conference.
00:34:51.760 --> 00:35:00.239
Um we are months away from the conference, and we have significant conversation, you know, uh seven conversations actively happening right now.
00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:00.800
That's awesome.
00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:04.559
We had a call with a guy yesterday who I couldn't be more excited about and hopeful for.
00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:11.599
Uh meeting with another guy on Monday to talk through in person what it'll look like to come to one of our churches, jump in and be a resident right here.
00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:16.639
Uh, and and it's not unrealistic to think a year from now we could look up and have 20 residents.
00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.920
It's not unrealistic.
00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:20.400
It may not happen, but it's not foolish to think that.
00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:22.639
Um and I'm grateful for that.
00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:29.360
Man, we we need to keep doing more of what we're doing on all fronts so we can keep doing that and serve more and plant more uh churches.
00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:36.880
I'm also really excited about this will be year two of our church renewal residency that is kicking off uh in a month or so.
00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:45.679
And one of the things I'm excited about this year is that one of our churches where our guy's been there for eight, nine years, is jumping into the residency.
00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:54.639
Uh, he's faithfully loved and served the church well and is looking up going, I I could use some more coaching, I could use some uh a chance to be equipped a little bit more.
00:35:54.800 --> 00:35:56.400
Uh and so he's jumping in.
00:35:56.559 --> 00:36:01.840
And and why that matters is is because we're not just um we're not just trying to start churches.
00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:09.199
Uh we want to see churches established, we want to see the gospel take root, we want to see our churches have longevity and faithfulness right where they are.
00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:12.480
Uh, and so we have this residency for when you're planting churches.
00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:25.280
Uh, but also if any of our churches get seven or eight years down the road and they go, okay, I need some more equipping, more coaching, uh, what Marco de Leone has built out in our renewal residency uh is a wonderful resource to our churches.
00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:30.320
No, and we love that it it's not just an offering to Redeemer Network, it's an offering to the church at large.
00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:38.719
And so if there's the pastor out there who's going, hey, my my my church could use some some help in growing in particular areas, uh, we would love to offer that to them.
00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:40.960
And the truth is every one of our churches will need it.
00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:57.920
I mean, it that's every life cycle of of any church is you start off in mission mode, and within seven, sometimes ten, sometimes fifteen, sometimes twenty years, you look up and you're you're in maintenance mode and you've kind of lost sight of the mission and you're you're managing and you're maintaining.
00:36:58.000 --> 00:37:02.000
And that the next step after that is plateauing and then declining.
00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:06.559
And that's, I mean, you people who study the life cycle of churches, it's clear as day.
00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.000
All churches go through the same cycle.
00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:15.199
So, yeah, if we want our churches to sustain, continue to bear fruit, to stay healthy, like we're gonna need that renewal residency.
00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:21.599
Everybody's gonna need it uh because it's so normal and easy to get out of mission mode and get into maintenance mode.
00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:22.320
So I love that.
00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:27.760
And I love that we have people already identifying that or saying, hey, I I could use some extra training, I could use some extra equipping.
00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:30.000
Uh we we need to get back into mission mode.
00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:32.719
And so let me go through this renewal training.
00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:33.599
Yeah, good.
00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:35.119
Well, this has been fun.
00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:36.400
It's been a fun uh season.
00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.920
We'll we'll uh we'll end it here.
00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:40.960
We've got we'll have a season four coming up uh soon.
00:37:41.199 --> 00:37:48.079
We're gonna talk uh some more about our culture and some of our uh leadership pillars uh in that next season, and really excited about that.
00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:49.840
But Sarah, thanks for all you're doing.
00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:51.440
Thanks for jumping on and joining today.
00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:53.840
And Brandon, as always, appreciate you, man.
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:07.679
Welcome to the Redeemer Network Podcast, where we talk church planning, church health, and multiplying churches for the sake of the gospel.
00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:12.560
To learn more about the Redeemer Network, visit RedeemerNetwork.org.
00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:18.559
Welcome back to the Redeemer Network Podcast.
00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:20.960
Today we're putting a bow on our third season.
00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:28.399
This season we've spent time talking through what we do as a network as we work to advance the gospel by multiplying healthy churches.
00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:34.159
We've worked through each of our three priorities as a network training, funding, and support.
00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.280
And today, this episode is titled What's Next?
00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:44.079
I'm joined with uh by two awesome uh members of our network staff, Sarah Caracon and Brandon Barker.
00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:45.600
Guys, welcome to the podcast.
00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:46.880
Yeah, thanks for having us.
00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:48.159
Really glad to have you with us.
00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:50.560
Brandon serves as the executive director of the network.
00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:52.399
If you don't know Brandon, most of you do.
00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:56.960
And Sarah is our comms strategist all-star.
00:00:57.039 --> 00:00:57.600
What's her real time?
00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:58.719
Communication manager.
00:00:58.960 --> 00:00:59.840
Communication manager.
00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:02.640
And um, and she's such a joy, and so we're so glad to have her on.
00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:06.000
So I was thinking about a fun kickoff question here.
00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:13.200
Uh I took my kids back to school shopping this week, and I've got an incoming freshman, a seventh grader, and a fourth grader.
00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:21.760
And so they all were, you know, they've all been kind of looking through the new clothes they got, and they're trying to figure out what is their first day of school fit gonna be?
00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:23.519
What's their best outfit?
00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:28.159
And so I was just thinking about that, curious for you, if you could go back in time.
00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:33.840
Uh, what was the all-time best first day of school outfit that you ever had?
00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:34.719
Can you remember one?
00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:35.280
I can.
00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:36.959
Sarah, do you want me to go first on this one?
00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:37.840
Yeah, you go.
00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:45.359
So my um uh my best back to school outfit was a beautiful cast I wore on my right hand.
00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:51.040
Uh, because at the peak of Jordan's uh dominance, I wanted a pair of Jordans and my mom wouldn't buy them for me.
00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:51.760
Michael Jordan.
00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:52.319
Michael Jordan.
00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:52.719
Not me.
00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:54.000
You Michael Jordan, yeah, yeah.
00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:54.239
Okay.
00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:55.359
Uh Michael Jordan.
00:01:55.519 --> 00:02:02.159
Uh, and as a bratty 12-year-old, when my mom said no, I punched a hole in the wall and I hit the stud and broke my hand.
00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:04.719
So I went back to school with a nice cast.
00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:06.799
That was my outfit.
00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:07.200
Wow.
00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:08.400
What kind of shoes?
00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:09.280
Jordans.
00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:09.759
Okay.
00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:10.960
Oh, no, no, no.
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:11.599
That's what I wanted.
00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:13.840
I have no idea what I'm for.
00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:15.680
I have no clue.
00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.000
Man, that is that's awesome.
00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:18.560
Wow.
00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:19.840
Sarah, can you top that?
00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:23.039
That boys like punch holes in the wall.
00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:25.039
That's just not something as a girl I would ever think to be like.
00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:25.680
I'm mad.
00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:26.800
Let me let me go.
00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:29.120
And I feel like you guys are stud finders in those moments.
00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:41.199
Mine, you could probably find my outfit right now, currently at Hollister, because it's coming back in um multi-layered tanks, like a white tank underneath a blue tank with the Hollister logo.
00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:43.120
That would that would be for me.
00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:46.000
Like it was like peak, like I've made it.
00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:49.280
I I think I worked all summer and saved up to purchase it.
00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:51.280
That's amazing.
00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:52.000
Wow.
00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:52.560
Yeah.
00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:55.759
Well, I I've got a similar story to yours, except I wasn't a child.
00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:58.479
I was a grown man and I I got frustrated and I kicked something.
00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:00.800
I didn't punch something, I kicked something, and I broke my toe.
00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:02.719
So yeah, we'll we'll learn from those.
00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:04.159
What was your outfit?
00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:06.719
You know, probably had something to do with Michael Jordan as well.
00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:07.599
90s.
00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:08.479
My name is Jordan.
00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:14.400
I always wanted Jordan shoes, and I I had kind of a head-to-toe black and red Michael Jordan fit.
00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:15.280
I had some bull jerseys.
00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:16.479
Probably probably fifth grade.
00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:16.639
Okay.
00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:16.800
Yeah.
00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:18.560
I had some bull jerseys that I loved.
00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:24.479
Um and it's all the Hollister's back and the and the Air Jordan stuff is still around.
00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:26.879
So yeah, I need pictures of y'all in high school.
00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:29.120
I want, I need some like outfit picks.
00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:30.879
This will not happen, Sarah.
00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:31.680
We love you.
00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:32.639
I don't trust you.
00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:33.520
I'm not doing it.
00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:34.639
And you you know what?
00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:35.360
You shouldn't.
00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:42.319
I do have a folder saved on my laptop of embarrassing photos that spouses have sent me of my pastors.
00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:45.439
So stay out of that folder.
00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:46.240
All right.
00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:51.439
Well, as the kids go back to school and start a new year, we're bringing this podcast to an end.
00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:56.560
And so I wanted just to reflect a little bit on the episodes that we've put out this uh this season.
00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:58.719
I've really enjoyed this episode of the podcast.
00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:00.639
It's probably been one of my favorites so far.
00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:10.960
And I know both of you are very close to the work that we're doing in the network, but I'm just curious, did you learn anything new or is there anything in particular that has stood out to you from our previous episodes?
00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:15.280
Yeah, I would say like I kind of already knew broadly like what the network does.
00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:21.199
And but listening back to all the episodes, I think just reminded me that there are real people behind like every one of those stories.
00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:33.120
I think just getting to hear every um single one of a member of our staff like reference specific situations was just really a reminder to me that it's like it's all these individual stories that make up this network that isn't ethereal.
00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:37.279
It's actually like very embodied and very um real, very personal.
00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:40.560
And so I was just super encouraged by those those stories.
00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:45.040
And um, yeah, it gave me a lot of things like I want to hear more, I want to hear more about that.
00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:51.680
Yeah, I I wouldn't I wouldn't say that I learned anything new necessarily about the the work that we're doing.
00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:59.040
It was a good chance to uh sort of step back and see the forest um and not just look at the trees along the way.
00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:00.879
And that yeah, that's been really enjoyable.
00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:10.879
I do love the the reminder that there's people behind all of the work that we do, uh a reminder of how much I I love we do, how much I love the people that we get to do it with.
00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:15.839
Um there were some episodes that really stood out to me as uh ones that I enjoyed.
00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:19.360
Uh one of them was the church planning residency that we train church planners.
00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:24.720
Uh I love the content of that one, but also, man, if we if it's you, Reed Monaghan, Peyton Barons.
00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:26.319
I can listen to you also about Badman.
00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:28.160
Like it's just I just love it.
00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.959
Um the one on support I really enjoyed.
00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:39.759
Uh one of the things I enjoyed most about that one is how often you would ask a question to Jeremy or to to Buck.
00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:42.720
Um I'm sorry, Jeremy or Kyle.
00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:47.680
Uh, and their answer was something like, uh, we we just call people, we just show up.
00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:53.920
Um that it wasn't a grand strategy for care, uh, for the coaching, the support we provide.
00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:55.920
It was people caring for people.
00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:57.360
I I loved that reminder.
00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:07.600
And I really enjoyed the the the one on supporting worship leaders, the one that uh as of our recording today that came out today, Sarah, I don't know how you felt about that one, but I um I don't know, I loved it.
00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:14.000
I loved the reminder of the kind of coaching we're trying to provide worship leaders, not just lead planters.
00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:34.879
Uh the the the way that we're trying to write songs is collaborative songwriting, songs written by our churches and for our churches, that we're not we're not trying to start some music label, but but I do hope one day uh that we're able to have a conference where our conference, all of the songs are songs written by Redeemer Churches for Redeemer Churches, sung together at our conference.
00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:37.279
Anyway, those those episodes stood out to me.
00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:37.600
Yeah.
00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:38.800
It was fun for me too.
00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:48.399
A lot of the same things, just uh seeing the breadth of the work that is happening through the network, and then just getting to spend time and talking about the work with the people who are really doing it.
00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:59.680
Uh, all of those people are doing such a great job, and it was fun to actually have them in or have them on on the podcast to hear more of their heart and and uh let them tell a story of what God's doing.
00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:00.959
So really enjoyed it.
00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:03.120
Well, we we've got our conference coming up.
00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:08.800
I think that's kind of the next thing for us if we if we're talking about what's next, is our conference is coming up in October.
00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:09.920
Let's talk about that.
00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:13.040
Brandon, uh, share a little bit of the why behind the conference.
00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:13.680
Yeah.
00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:19.199
So we this will be our fourth annual Redeemer Network uh conference.
00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:22.319
Uh, could not be more excited about it, excited that's in Austin.
00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:30.000
Uh, but the first thing to know about our conference uh is that it is not a conference for our pastors, it's a conference for our churches.
00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:40.720
Uh it is aimed at being a connecting point for churches in Redeemer Network where we bring people together and we can equip them for faithful and fruitful ministry.
00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:58.959
Um we we want it to be a one of the tools in our tool belt for making the Redeemer Network relationship a meaningful relationship beyond just pastors to staff, to elders, to leaders, to community group leaders, to members.
00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:06.560
Uh, we want to build some, if I can say it this way, kind of relational value for Redeemer Network that gets deep into our churches.
00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:08.240
And so that's one of our hopes with the conference.
00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:15.519
And one of the reasons why our our breakouts, which I know Sarah's gonna talk about in a second, are are really aimed at members, not just aimed at pastors.
00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:18.480
Um, but we also want to identify future church planners.
00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:29.120
Uh, we want this conference to be a rallying point where guys who are interested in planting churches can come together, be there, and we can identify them to steal Dusty's language of smoking them out.
00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:31.759
We want a chance to smoke out future church planters.
00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:34.720
We also want to identify potential partner churches.
00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:42.320
Uh, so if there's a church out there that is a good fit for joining Redeemer Network, uh, that door is a door that's cracked open for churches.
00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:47.279
It's not a wide open door for anybody to walk through, but it is a door that's that's unlocked, if I could say it that way.
00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:54.879
Um and we want this to be a chance to meet them, to connect in person, and to start the conversation around maybe, maybe they're a good fit for us and for our network.
00:08:54.960 --> 00:09:02.960
But then also uh for to identify churches that are um maybe in need of greater degrees of health.
00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:11.919
Um, that would be a good fit for our church renewal residency, where we walk alongside existing churches uh who are in need of some coaching and support.
00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.759
Uh and so we can identify them there as well.
00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:16.799
Yeah, it's a big part of our ministry every year.
00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:19.279
This conference is, and it's a free event.
00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:25.679
Uh, our friends at the Austin Stone and Round Rock, their North Campus, are going to be hosting us and uh really excited about it.
00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:26.399
I love I love that.
00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:37.840
Yeah, it's not just a pastors conference, although there will be plenty for pastors, and it's one of my favorite things is to get to connect with not only other pastors in our network, but other pastors from the area that that come and join us.
00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:40.159
Um, but it's really is geared toward our teams.
00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:51.919
Rick Bowers, who's on our staff here at Redeemer Round Rock, was uh doing a gospel community leader training this Sunday, and he was giving the conference dates to all of our uh GC leaders and encouraging them to come.
00:09:52.000 --> 00:10:05.679
And uh and he was talking about that, about how the biggest benefit of that conference is that everyday leaders, lay leaders in the church can come and there will be a breakout, there will be something for them, both from the main sessions and from the from the breakouts.
00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:11.200
Yeah, everybody who shows up is gonna be able to leave equipped in some area for life and ministry.
00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:12.159
Yeah, totally.
00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:12.720
Yeah.
00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:14.559
So let's let's talk a little more in detail.
00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:16.480
Sarah, what what's the what's the theme?
00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:24.720
Uh talk talk to us about any special initiatives or yeah, on your end, as you've been working on the conference, um, what what can you share with us?
00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:38.799
Yeah, well, I would just echo that that I think, you know, I've had the gift of being part of the conference from the beginning and from that first gathering here in Lubbock, which I'm now that I think about it, I think I just got looped in because Kristen was here and um and so she was like, Hey, would you help me?
00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:40.159
And I was like, Yes, let's go.
00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:42.159
Um, but I think it just felt like a family reunion.
00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:48.879
And so I think that that, you know, I remember as we were debriefing that first conference, um, you know, I didn't know anyone really in the network.
00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:52.799
I knew that we did, you know, I knew that Redeemer Lubbock was a part of this network.
00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:57.519
Um, but it was so cool to look up and to see all these people, like nobody was showing up and putting on airs.
00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:00.159
Um, it was just people who are genuinely excited to be together.
00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:08.799
And I think that over the years, that really has expanded now, specifically through the conference, to include more than just pastors, but to include our whole teams and church members.
00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:19.919
And I just think that is so cool because even the other day I was on a call with um Doxa in Tucson, and it was so fun to be like, hey, we'll see see you in Austin, you know, that we um we're excited to get to be there together.
00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:36.720
But then also like I was thinking about friends that have like moved um and are no longer on staff at Redeemer Loving Church or Redeemer Network churches and thinking to myself, like, I'm so sad I'm not gonna see them this year because the conference has been this thing that we're getting to get together and encourage one another and just, you know, yeah, be with your friends.
00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:38.720
And it feels kind of like summer camp.
00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:42.000
Um, but this year, our theme, you know, uniquely is mission matters.
00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:44.000
That's really what we're keying in on.
00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:49.759
You know, this year we've really been working on our mission statement and really clarifying, like, like, why does the Redeemer Network exist?
00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:51.039
What does it mean to be a part of it?
00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:52.960
Why should you um be a part of it?
00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:55.039
What are we, what are we contributing to together?
00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:59.519
And so um our mission statement, you know, is to advance the gospel through multiplying healthy churches.
00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:03.919
And you're gonna see that just woven through the entire conference that this isn't a new direction.
00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:10.559
This is what we have always been doing, but we want to clarify it and we want to make it sticky for every single person.
00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:15.600
So for every member, for every um staff team, for every planter, potential planter.
00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:21.440
We want them to understand what it is uniquely that we think God has called us to do, um, what role we believe he's calling us to play.
00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:34.000
And so we're gonna be talking about just what it means to be healthy churches, healthy leaders, healthy followers of Christ, um, and then what that looks like for healthy disciples to multiply healthy disciples and healthy churches to multiply healthy churches.
00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:42.000
And so um my hope really is that people leave not only understanding the mission of the Redeemer Network, but really recognizing their own place in it wherever they are.
00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:46.960
Um, uniquely this year, I think with breakouts, I think you can really expect really practical breakouts.
00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:53.600
That's something I have loved with the breakouts every year, is that um, like I said, this isn't like we have some of the best leaders.
00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:54.720
I do, I believe that.
00:12:54.799 --> 00:13:03.200
Like we have some of the people that I'm just like, I want to sit at your feet and I want to learn how you have loved your local church and how you've, you know, worked this out and how you've grown in it.
00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:13.200
Um, but I think that that I love just the humility of so many of our leaders that are saying we are across the network in so many different contexts, from small towns to college towns to big cities.
00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:25.600
Um, so we're not coming with this like, hey, this is how to do ministry, but really getting to share, hey, here's what I've tried, here's what's worked, here's what's here's what didn't, and hey, I want to help you to think about what this could look like in your context.
00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:33.440
So that'll be everything from women's ministry to worship to communications to groups to um leading an elder team.
00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:36.879
And so I think that that's just gonna be really great and uniquely this year.
00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:43.840
Um, I'm really excited that we actually I think have some members from around rock, like lay members, not in vocational ministry, who are gonna be leading breakouts.
00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:52.799
Um, and I just think that's so exciting because it is just this reminder that like as a staff member, like I can learn from the ministry of like deacons and what they're doing in the church, even if they're never paid.
00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:57.120
It's meaningful ministry and it is like how the mission of God advances.
00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:58.639
Yeah, so good.
00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.799
Well, I I would love to hear from you guys.
00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:07.200
I mean, not only is the conference a great time for us to be together and get some practical equipping, but I hope that God ministers to us.
00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:11.919
Like I'm praying that as we get together, the Lord moves in our midst as well.
00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:18.799
We don't just walk away with some connections and some tools, but with a real sense of renewal, spiritual renewal.
00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:24.799
And so I'm curious for you guys as you think, as you pray about the conference, which is coming quickly.
00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:26.399
Um, what do you want to see God do?
00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:28.960
What's the spiritual work that you're that you're hungry for?
00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:29.360
Yeah.
00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:31.519
Sarah, you kick us off on this one.
00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:37.600
Yeah, I would say ultimately, like I want to see more people in more places come to know Jesus.
00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:39.679
And like there's a line from Zach S.
00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:49.039
Wine that I love where he he was just describing like a a church member's living room and he described it as like unknown to the world, but cherished by God, like cherished by him.
00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:59.440
And I think that when I think about the network and even the conference, I just think about the fact that there are people like that in every community represented at our conference who are right now unknown to us.
00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.399
They're unknown to the world.
00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:05.840
They're maybe not even significant or important to the world, but like they're fully known and cherished by God.
00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:15.360
And um, I think I just want us to leave with greater faith like for those people and greater affection for like the particular places that God has entrusted to it, to us.
00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:18.080
Um, because I would say like that's my personal wise.
00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:24.159
Like I have friends that I have known and prayed for for there to be like over the last decade churches in their city.
00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:28.720
And like I've prayed for healthy, Christ-centered, you know, gospel-centered Bible teaching churches.
00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:32.639
Um, not because I care about expanding an organization, but because I want Christ for them.
00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:34.000
I want Christ for their kids.
00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:39.440
And, you know, just have watched them struggle to find a church, um, struggle to be in a church.
00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:48.879
And it, I think, you know, who in my community, who in my neighborhood who lives around the corner from me has someone praying for them like that, like who around me is just like loved by God and doesn't know it yet.
00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:58.960
And I think that that's like when I think about the conference, I just want everyone to walk away with just a deep, um, yeah, like in their bones, just God, you care about those people.
00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:00.879
You've cared about me and you cherish them.
00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:04.320
And what a privilege that like you're you're inviting us.
00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:09.360
And because we're in church planting, like and in the work of church, like we get to be a part of your mission.
00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:15.919
Um and just yeah, I want them to just be really encouraged and expectant and just ready to pay attention to what God's already doing.
00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:16.559
Yeah.
00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:17.919
So good.
00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:25.200
Sarah, I want to follow up on just what you're saying there before I get to in uh Acts 18.
00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:36.159
The Lord said to Paul, one night in a vision, do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you.
00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.440
For I have many in this city who are my people.
00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:43.360
And he stayed there a year and six months teaching the word of God among them.
00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:56.000
Um this has been a banner verse for church planting for my own heart, for my life, um, because there are men, women, and children uh in town after town and city after city who belong to God and just don't know it yet.
00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.320
And we plant churches so they can find out.
00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:02.320
So we can take that gospel and that gospel reach more men, women, and children.
00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:07.279
Encountering Jesus, encountering grace, encountering the mercy of God.
00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:13.759
Um one of the things I'm really excited and hungry about at this conference is that we're gonna build in space to pray for it.
00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:18.480
Um so in each one of our sessions, it's not just gonna be teaching and worship, we're gonna build in time to pray.
00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:23.279
Uh, we we want to see the gospel advance, multiplying healthy churches.
00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:26.400
Um, but that's a work that we can't just do.
00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:29.279
We can labor for it, but it's work that God has to do.
00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:44.400
And so we're gonna build time to pray, and uh, and mixed into that prayer is gonna be to be prayer for people who are struggling and hurting uh those who show up feeling like I'm alone in this world and um we want them to know they're not.
00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:46.240
Uh, and we're gonna gather around and pray for them.
00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.599
We're gonna have a prayer wall.
00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.200
Is that is that right, Sarah?
00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.240
Yes.
00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.279
Yeah, there we go.
00:17:51.440 --> 00:18:00.880
We're gonna have a a place for people to write out prayers for our churches, for friends, family members who don't know the Lord yet, that they want to know the Lord.
00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:05.920
Um we're gonna take time to cry out to thank God for it.
00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:10.400
Um for both multiplication and for health, for sustained health.
00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:14.880
Uh I want people to leave there knowing that giving my life away for the mission of God is worth it.
00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:17.920
Um, it's absolutely worth it.
00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:21.680
Um and then there's something else that I really hope happens.
00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:27.440
Uh, and I hope my heart, I hope our heart is not misunderstood on on this part.
00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:32.319
Uh, but we're we're gonna launch a uh a campaign called Multiply the Mission.
00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:40.559
We're gonna ask people to partner with and join in and dive in and support the work of uh Redeemer Network.
00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:48.400
Uh and uh in particular, we're we're really trying to grow our what we call monthly multipliers with people who support Redeemer Network uh on a monthly basis.
00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:50.400
And and here's here's what we're doing.
00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:55.680
We are not trying to raise money to to keep the pay bills and keep lights on.
00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:03.519
Um six, seven, eight, nine months ago or so, uh, I was one neighborhood over where I walk and run.
00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:07.759
Uh because my neighborhood, it's a pop-up new build, and there's no trees and there's no shade.
00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:16.079
So I go to that neighborhood to walk, and uh and I was walking around just praying and in particular praying gratitude for last year and how the year went.
00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:19.759
And I really felt like I heard the Lord, and I'm not trying to be charismatic in that.
00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:24.319
I just felt this impression from the Lord to get ready, to get ready for what's to come.
00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:29.279
Uh what followed that was our largest residency class that we've ever had.
00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:37.440
Nine church planning residents, probably like five churches out of that class uh coming.
00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:42.960
Uh, and then fast forward to today, uh we're recording this in early August.
00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:48.559
Uh normally at this time of the year we have one or two conversations going on about future church planning residents.
00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.279
There's seven active conversations going on for next year.
00:19:51.759 --> 00:20:04.880
Uh, I know we're supposed to talk about that later, but um we need people bought into the mission of God in this particular way so we can continue funding the kinds of church plants at the rates that we want to fund the numbers of church plants that are coming.
00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:07.119
Um, and so we're gonna launch that.
00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:19.359
Uh, we also know, just pastorally speaking, that uh there's this direct line from our money to our heart and our heart to our money, where our what we spend our money on both reflects our our heart and our values, but it also directs them.
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:29.359
And so when we put money into multiplying healthy churches, it it draws our heart more deeply into the value of seeing the gospel go out through the multiplication of healthy churches.
00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:32.079
And so we'll be launching the multiple admission campaign.
00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:34.079
Uh and all people bought into that for that reason.
00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:34.720
Yeah.
00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.759
I'm so excited.
00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.920
I I'm ready for October for many reasons.
00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:40.480
One, that hopefully the Dallas Cowboys will be undefeated.
00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.359
They won't be.
00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:45.039
Um, the weather will cool off and the Redeemer Network Conference.
00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.960
I I'm I'm I can't wait.
00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.880
It's gonna be it's gonna be great.
00:20:48.960 --> 00:21:01.279
I trust that the Lord is going before in all the preparations and um I hope folks will will come and that they will not just our pastors and staffs, but even even uh people from our churches, lay people from our churches will be there.
00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:08.880
It's just such a sweet time to be together, worship together, and and to renew our commitment to our our mission, which is the got the mission of God.
00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.480
And so um it's a good idea.
00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:23.519
Which I actually do think last I talked to Kristen, who's in charge of all of our events, I think that lay members actually right now represent like the greatest majority number of like, you know, lead pastors versus planters versus comms people or worship.
00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:26.319
So members, they'd be showing up in the Austin area.
00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.039
Right, let's go.
00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:27.440
That's right.
00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.640
So a couple of things on that.
00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:30.480
One, you're right, that's still the metric.
00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:33.839
Uh that is still what is leading on the registration.
00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:41.680
Uh, two, our current registration today is about three to four times higher than it normally would be at this point, uh, which is encouraging.
00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.359
But also, we need to pause and back up.
00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:50.400
And we can't talk about our conference without talking about uh Kristen Barron uh and the work that she does serving our network.
00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:58.000
She both blends a role of executive assistant and director of events uh and just knocks it out of the park every single time.
00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.759
And this conference is proving to be.
00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.359
No exception.
00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:04.799
And so we are deeply, deeply thankful for the work that Kristen does.
00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:06.000
Yes, and amen.
00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.559
Amen.
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.480
Okay, well, let's um let's keep moving.
00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:10.720
I'm both you guys have really important roles in our network.
00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:18.400
Brandon, you lead our day-to-day ministry, you lead our network staff, you uh are in frequent communication with our pastors and church planners.
00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.400
Sarah, your job is to share our story.
00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.359
I'm so thankful for you.
00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:33.039
When you first stepped into this role, remember the first thing that you did is you just said, I want to learn everybody's story, not just the network story, but I want to learn as much as I can about the people that lead this thing, the churches that are in it.
00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:39.839
And you just took that posture and you've done such a great job leading our communication strategy and helping us share our story.
00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:42.160
Those are both really important roles for us.
00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:45.680
And I'm just curious for for you guys, kind of where we sit today.
00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:47.279
What's got you excited right now?
00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:53.759
Is is there something that you're currently working on or something that you're seeing in our network that's got you fired up?
00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:00.400
Yeah, I so Sarah, when you talk about the Redeemer Network, I tear up almost every time.
00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:04.720
Um even a few minutes ago when I said, Sarah, you kick us off.
00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:12.400
It was because uh you had just rifted on the network and I um I just I couldn't jump in right away.
00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:27.200
And it's not just the emotion and the way you talk about, but you're also so good at helping us clarify and hone in and zero in on how we articulate and communicate the work that we're doing, uh the work our churches are doing, and so uh deeply grateful for you.
00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:31.920
Um but there's a few things that I would say that I'm uh to this question.
00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:34.559
One is I just I love where we are as a network.
00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:40.160
We are focused, we're not chasing shiny objects, we know who we are, we know who we're not.
00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:47.680
Uh I'm excited about doing more of the work that we're doing, not doing new and different work, but just doing more of the work that we're doing.
00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:59.680
And the things that I'm uniquely grateful for uh right now, one of them is that in the last few months, we've had two churches go through significant, significant crisis.
00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:06.240
Both of those churches are coming through the crisis and they're gonna be healthier tomorrow than they've ever been.
00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:13.920
But also watching our support team step in, give guidance, coaching, care, and to do it up close and personal.
00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:24.640
Um I they just knocked it out of the park, and I could not be more proud of the work that they've done in really difficult, really difficult seasons and stretches serving our churches.
00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:26.160
It's been real care.
00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:26.960
It has been.
00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.759
It's been real care.
00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.640
It has been.
00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.839
Um I love our network staff.
00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:45.279
I am so thankful for the team that we have top to bottom, we have the right people in the right seats to most effectively serve our churches and our residents.
00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:52.960
Um everyone who's ever led a team knows uh how rare it is to look up and say we have the team that we want.
00:24:53.519 --> 00:25:00.720
And when I look at our team, without flattery to anybody, we have the team from my seat that we want.
00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:03.119
Um I I love this team.
00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:10.079
I do not take for granted uh the level of competency and care and passion that our team has.
00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.880
Uh and incredibly thankful uh for each one of them.
00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:14.240
Nobody's on the trading block.
00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.279
Nobody's on the trading cap.
00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:15.839
Okay, good, good.
00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.720
Nobody's on the trading block.
00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.039
Good, good.
00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.359
You're out of the city.
00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.160
Nothing I'm aware of.
00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:21.759
You're out of salary cap any case, so I'm glad you like your team.
00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.880
And then our conference in Austin.
00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:29.519
Uh, this is one I'm really excited about.
00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:32.559
Uh, it's it's actually, I think, a big deal for us.
00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:43.440
Uh, probably a bigger deal on the inside than most people feel or realize, but but it we have historically been known as more West Texas to rural small town.
00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:51.119
And the reason for that is that we started in Lubbock and we naturally planted in in smaller towns around as we kind of made our way over there.
00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:54.319
Uh, and I I love our West Texas roots.
00:25:54.480 --> 00:26:04.079
Um and I truly am proud in the I think in the most Christ-honoring way about our love for rural church planting and rural ministry.
00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.440
Um, but I do not want us to be known for a geography.
00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:12.160
I I don't want us to be known as the urban church planning network or the suburban or the rural.
00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:19.279
I want us to be known as the people uh who are passionate about multiplying healthy churches and where our churches plant, we plant.
00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.039
And when that's city, that's city.
00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:24.720
When that's uh town, it's town, when it's suburb, it's suburb.
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:32.559
Uh and so we have um one of the fruits of that is that we have seven churches actively who have been planted in the greater Austin area.
00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:37.599
And our eighth is going to be planted and launching one month from right now, at the time of this recording.
00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:44.960
Um and then we have a plethora of churches who are suburban, who are in uh rural communities all over.
00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:52.880
And I want us to love all of them and just to value not a particular geography, but healthy church multiplication.
00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:54.079
Good.
00:26:54.319 --> 00:27:03.839
Yeah, I think it's also safe to say that um West Sexons probably like coming to Austin more than uh than us, uh the eight churches that are in the Austin area like going to West Texas.
00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:04.640
Probably so.
00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:06.799
Although I I do kind of want to pitch to y'all maybe.
00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.160
I love Lubbock.
00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:10.720
Well, maybe Lubbock next year for the conference again.
00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.799
Just I haven't I haven't pitched that yet.
00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:15.039
I haven't asked permission yet, but I'm just gonna leak it now.
00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:15.839
That's what I'm hoping.
00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.359
Yeah, I'm good with I'm good with that.
00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.119
I'll stick around for a tech football game.
00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:19.839
Yeah.
00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.440
Sarah, what what about you?
00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:35.039
Yeah, I I mean I would say that really, and it's gonna sound odd, but but kind of to what Brandon was saying, I think what has really fired me up, you know, to use that language, is is actually seeing our churches carry the weight of ministry together.
00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:39.839
Um, you know, I'm on staff at a local church in the Redeemer Network.
00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:45.039
And I love that I never want to be apart from, you know, being embodied in this place.
00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:56.559
Um, but I just think over, you know, some of those hard situations that have happened this last year, it's been so cool to me to see that I think what really started, even in terms of the network story, is it was a co like it was a network of lead pastors.
00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:07.920
But in a lot of those situations, yes, the network was stepping in to care, um, to do so well in terms of supporting those churches, but also laterally, like I'm on the phone with their comms people.
00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:18.960
And I just think about like in the moment when you wear so many hats as a staff member, as a church member, as just a Christian, to get to have that camaraderie and relationship and trust to say, hey, we are on the same mission.
00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:24.319
I know that we have the same values around truth and transparency and gospel-centered community.
00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:38.000
Um, and here's what you need to like look out for when it comes to the unity of your staff team, what you might be experiencing when you walk through, yeah, just like dark days was like such a beautiful picture to me that it wasn't just on just lead pastors.
00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:42.880
It was like whole staff teams getting to care for one another from other churches and offer that support.
00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:50.559
Um, it was just, yeah, it was a really, I think that is such a cool thing that the network really has is that it's not just one person on your staff receiving support.
00:28:50.720 --> 00:29:01.839
It's that we're starting to have more of the network, um, even among among our staffs in um like at all different levels to be able to learn from one another and to also be able to provide the camaraderie.
00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:11.920
Um, but the other thing I would say is like I really, you know, I would say even part of like my own story with the network is like I was at Redeemer Lubbock as a college kid when the network was starting.
00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:17.359
You know, like I think I came to Lubbock the fall right after Jordan and Josh moved.
00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:21.200
And so, you know, I I knew about this church planning thing.
00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.640
I'd heard about it.
00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:25.759
Um, you know, I got to see some of those first church plants.
00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:29.039
I was there when Peyton was one of the first church planning residents.
00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:35.519
Um, but I was just a college student, was a member, had no design on, you know, I was gonna leave Lubbock and never be a part of that again.
00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.960
Love it so much, it's important.
00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:46.319
But um, but now to look up and to see like all these connections, like as our network has grown, um, that, you know, I was a kid's gospel community leader my whole time I was in college.
00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:51.200
And now one of those kids is at college at ACU and is attending the well there.
00:29:51.519 --> 00:30:00.880
And like that is just such a privilege, like getting to recognize that it's like, hey, I was a part of ministering to you at this one season in this locality.
00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:06.720
And now, because of the network, like I'm getting my friends now are getting to minister to you in this different season.
00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:18.880
And similarly, we had some friends from Redeemer Love just moved to Abilene and just being so sad that they're not here in my everyday life anymore, but the joy of getting to be like, I know that there's this Christ-centered church, let me connect you.
00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:27.039
Um I think is just like so cool to see, like, that takes longevity to be able to see that happen and to have those kinds of connections.
00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:36.960
Um, but man, I think also what fires me up is just seeing the work that God is doing in so many of our leaders that then reflects what God's doing in his church.
00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:43.599
Um, you know, like I said, I I get to interact more, like maybe less with lead pastors, but with staff members from other churches.
00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:47.440
And I think the temptation could be to just like, let's just talk calm strategy.
00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:53.279
But I truly, um, part of what I love about what we're doing is that, yeah, we want to multiply healthy churches.
00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:54.720
And that starts with being healthy.
00:30:54.799 --> 00:31:02.480
Like we care about people's souls and we want them to encounter Jesus and it's not just be a job, it'd be a place that they know Christ and make him known.
00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:18.079
And I think that like even some of those challenging situations this year, um, it's just been really cool to get to go to those deeper places, even with other staff members from different churches and to get to be reminded that, like, you know, there's so much brokenness in my church.
00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:24.319
You know, there's like all the things in the day-to-day life that I see that I'm like, I'm frustrated by that, or that's hard or that difficult conversation.
00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:29.200
Um, and when you zoom out and you get to like see, well, that's in every church, that's in every place.
00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:34.880
Um, it's just like a reminder to me and getting to encourage younger churches that I'm like, yes, like there is hope.
00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.079
God is able.
00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:38.880
Um, and it reminds me of the gospel every single time.
00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:46.240
And not just like why we're in this, but um reminds me that like, no, Jesus, you are going to, you you love your local church, like you love the church.
00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:48.000
And that's why we love it.
00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:50.480
Um, not because it's our job, but because it's your bride.
00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:55.519
Um and I, yeah, that just I could talk forever about all of our churches that I get to interact with.
00:31:55.599 --> 00:32:03.680
Um, because yeah, I just think that it's so cool to see their commitment to growth in the places that they are and again, their love for the locality.
00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:09.440
I just that really sticks out to me that um they matter to God, they matter to those people.
00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:18.240
Um, and that we get to then see, we just we have insight into places that we I'm like, I am bound in time and place to Lubbock, Texas.
00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:27.680
But because the network getting to hear about what God's doing in Brennan, what he's doing in Arizona, what he's gonna hopefully be doing in Oklahoma, in Austin, it's like I get to participate in seeing God, Jesus.
00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:31.119
You you really are the king of your church, and I get to see that.
00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.160
It's such a joy.
00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:32.799
Yeah.
00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:35.519
I'll piggyback on on what you shared earlier, Sarah.
00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:37.759
We I've I'm fired up about some of the same things.
00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:49.440
We we've got uh some some uh high school a high school graduate that's that really, I guess when their their family was a part of our core team or early early on, definitely like year one, Redeemer Round Rock.
00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:52.640
And she was probably four, three or four at the time.
00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:59.200
And now she's about to graduate and she's going to tech and she's excited to get to Lubbock and connect with Redeemer Lubbock.
00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.400
And I'm so fired up about that.
00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.039
I can't wait.
00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:06.160
And we have uh talked to somebody else in our church that's moving uh more towards South Austin.
00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:12.240
And I was like, hey, not only is there one, but there's two, three, four Redeemer Network churches that are all around Austin.
00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:13.839
And so you need to go check this out.
00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.440
And they were so excited about that.
00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:17.119
I'm like, wow, I didn't realize that.
00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:23.680
And and uh we have a uh church member here that has just been one of the most servant-hearted.
00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:29.279
Um, she's a single lady in our church, she's been amazing, and she's just moved the Lord has called her to move to San Antonio.
00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:39.920
And I was able to connect her with with uh some of our Redeemer Network churches there, and and she was so thrilled to know that there would be something very similar to what's been so meaningful to her that she's gonna get to step into there.
00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:44.319
And so, yeah, that that is uh that is the fruit of longevity, like you said, Sarah.
00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:50.720
And it is a really exciting thing for me, for us, as we lead this network, but I think it's a really life-giving thing.
00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:53.440
It's a blessing to to the people of our churches as well.
00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:56.799
So I'm in a similar boat to the to the first person you're talking about.
00:33:56.960 --> 00:34:01.440
Not that my kids are going to college yet, but I've got a going to be a junior this year and a sophomore.
00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:08.400
And part of our conversations has been okay, when we start talking colleges, let's prioritize colleges where we know we've got a redeemer church in that town.
00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.519
And a golf team.
00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.639
For one of them.
00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.760
Not my oldest.
00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.880
She doesn't play golf.
00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.320
Yeah, it's good.
00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:17.039
Okay, well, uh, let's start to wrap up a little bit here.
00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:20.639
Uh, anything else as we look ahead as we think about what's next?
00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:22.880
Is there anything else that you guys would want to share?
00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:24.880
Sarah, do you have anything?
00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.960
No, I don't think so.
00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:27.599
Okay.
00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:38.159
I mean, I know I I know I tipped my hand on this earlier, but um, you know, right now we have 13 uh church planning residents between year one and year two.
00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:47.760
We've got four year two, nine year one, uh, and we've got active conversations at a time in the year when we normally have one or two conversations maybe going on.
00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:51.440
Typically, the recruiting really kicks up high after the conference.
00:34:51.760 --> 00:35:00.239
Um we are months away from the conference, and we have significant conversation, you know, uh seven conversations actively happening right now.
00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:00.800
That's awesome.
00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:04.559
We had a call with a guy yesterday who I couldn't be more excited about and hopeful for.
00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:11.599
Uh meeting with another guy on Monday to talk through in person what it'll look like to come to one of our churches, jump in and be a resident right here.
00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:16.639
Uh, and and it's not unrealistic to think a year from now we could look up and have 20 residents.
00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.920
It's not unrealistic.
00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:20.400
It may not happen, but it's not foolish to think that.
00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:22.639
Um and I'm grateful for that.
00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:29.360
Man, we we need to keep doing more of what we're doing on all fronts so we can keep doing that and serve more and plant more uh churches.
00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:36.880
I'm also really excited about this will be year two of our church renewal residency that is kicking off uh in a month or so.
00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:45.679
And one of the things I'm excited about this year is that one of our churches where our guy's been there for eight, nine years, is jumping into the residency.
00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:54.639
Uh, he's faithfully loved and served the church well and is looking up going, I I could use some more coaching, I could use some uh a chance to be equipped a little bit more.
00:35:54.800 --> 00:35:56.400
Uh and so he's jumping in.
00:35:56.559 --> 00:36:01.840
And and why that matters is is because we're not just um we're not just trying to start churches.
00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:09.199
Uh we want to see churches established, we want to see the gospel take root, we want to see our churches have longevity and faithfulness right where they are.
00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:12.480
Uh, and so we have this residency for when you're planting churches.
00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:25.280
Uh, but also if any of our churches get seven or eight years down the road and they go, okay, I need some more equipping, more coaching, uh, what Marco de Leone has built out in our renewal residency uh is a wonderful resource to our churches.
00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:30.320
No, and we love that it it's not just an offering to Redeemer Network, it's an offering to the church at large.
00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:38.719
And so if there's the pastor out there who's going, hey, my my my church could use some some help in growing in particular areas, uh, we would love to offer that to them.
00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:40.960
And the truth is every one of our churches will need it.
00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:57.920
I mean, it that's every life cycle of of any church is you start off in mission mode, and within seven, sometimes ten, sometimes fifteen, sometimes twenty years, you look up and you're you're in maintenance mode and you've kind of lost sight of the mission and you're you're managing and you're maintaining.
00:36:58.000 --> 00:37:02.000
And that the next step after that is plateauing and then declining.
00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:06.559
And that's, I mean, you people who study the life cycle of churches, it's clear as day.
00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.000
All churches go through the same cycle.
00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:15.199
So, yeah, if we want our churches to sustain, continue to bear fruit, to stay healthy, like we're gonna need that renewal residency.
00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:21.599
Everybody's gonna need it uh because it's so normal and easy to get out of mission mode and get into maintenance mode.
00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:22.320
So I love that.
00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:27.760
And I love that we have people already identifying that or saying, hey, I I could use some extra training, I could use some extra equipping.
00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:30.000
Uh we we need to get back into mission mode.
00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:32.719
And so let me go through this renewal training.
00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:33.599
Yeah, good.
00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:35.119
Well, this has been fun.
00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:36.400
It's been a fun uh season.
00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.920
We'll we'll uh we'll end it here.
00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:40.960
We've got we'll have a season four coming up uh soon.
00:37:41.199 --> 00:37:48.079
We're gonna talk uh some more about our culture and some of our uh leadership pillars uh in that next season, and really excited about that.
00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:49.840
But Sarah, thanks for all you're doing.
00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:51.440
Thanks for jumping on and joining today.
00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:53.840
And Brandon, as always, appreciate you, man.
