Conversations between J.D. Pearring, Director of Excel Leadership Network, and church planting leaders, innovators, and coaches from around the country.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 26:39
Northern Colorado is booming, but growth doesn’t automatically mean spiritual connection. We talk with Jeremy Cleveland, lead pastor of Zeal City Church, about what it looks like…
Sep 21, 2026 · 26:15
As a church planter or leader, this thought has probably crossed your mind; my work would be much easier if my church were located on a beautiful island paradise in the Pacific.…
Sep 14, 2026 · 31:08
A church planting assessment tells a couple they have no business planting, and the punchline is they’re already doing it. That’s where JD sits down with Joemel Delossantos, a…
Sep 7, 2026 · 29:10
Chris Hall is the Lead Pastor at Catalyst Church Ventura. His passion for church planting and church planting pastors is only matched by his skills as a professional inline…
Aug 31, 2026 · 35:58
A church plant rarely starts with certainty, and that’s what makes Chad and Magan Swearing’s story so useful. We sit down with the Bold City Church leaders from Burleson, Texas…
Aug 24, 2026 · 29:02
Some people have been in ministry for a long time and have been a part of some great movements, and then there is Jack Hamilton. He has done both and more. In today's…
Aug 17, 2026 · 37:57
You can’t “growth hack” a church into existence, and you definitely can’t fake a calling to a place you don’t love. We talk with Bay Area church planter Max Critchfield about…
Aug 10, 2026 · 44:55
Brett and Karla Burner, from Spring Valley, California near San Diego, are from two different backgrounds and countries. They met at a summer camp and have been together ever…
Aug 3, 2026 · 37:43
A church plant can look like a launch date and a Sunday service, but the real story usually starts years earlier in the hidden places. We talk with Chris and Susie Parks of…
Jul 27, 2026 · 48:00
In this conversation, J.D. spends some time with Chan Kwak. If you know anything about the city of Compton, CA, you would never imagine a Korean child who was brought to the…
Jul 13, 2026 · 34:45
A lot of leaders can name their gifts, but still feel stuck when it comes to where those gifts belong. JD sits down with Sammy Moss to trace a ministry story that does not depend…
Jul 6, 2026 · 32:12
How do legacies shape the leaders we become? Join us as we sit down with the inspiring Jim Jessup from Jessup University, who shares intimate stories of his family's remarkable…
Jun 29, 2026 · 36:14
A lot of leaders wait for a dramatic calling moment, then miss the quiet invitations God puts right in front of them. JD sits down with Chuck Perez, a longtime Christian musician…
Jun 22, 2026 · 27:51
Joining the conversation today is no stranger to the Excel Network. Dave Bennet has raised more money for churches than most of us will earn in a lifetime. In today's podcast,…
Jun 15, 2026 · 36:25
A single dollar on a honeymoon turned into a fight neither of them forgot and it revealed something most couples learn the hard way: marriage problems are rarely about the…
Jun 8, 2026 · 26:56
Stu Streeter is a church planter, a pastor, and oversees church planting for the North American Baptist denomination. He shares with us his journey to know Christ and how that…
Jun 1, 2026 · 33:33
A lot of leaders talk about “finishing well” like it is a slogan. Rob Acker has lived it, from a youth group of eight kids to decades of pastoral leadership, church planting, and…
May 25, 2026 · 17:10
If you have ever been to an Excel Discovery Center, then you have probably met today's guest. From its beginnings, Geoff Wells and his wife Sharon have been a part of Excel…
May 11, 2026 · 34:58
In this episode, JD has a conversation with Dr. John Jackson. He is currently serving as the President of William Jessup University. In his ministry life, he has been a church…
May 4, 2026 · 42:37
If your church can draw a crowd but struggles to develop leaders, you’re not alone and you’re not stuck. We sit down with church planter and author Peyton Jones to get painfully…
Apr 27, 2026 · 26:34
Paul is almost as passionate about Georgia Bulldogs football as he is about reaching people with the saving message of the gospel. A church planter at heart, Paul planted Rivers…
Apr 20, 2026 · 37:45
A search for belonging can make you fearless in all the wrong ways, and Jon Wong knows that story from the inside. Jon joins us from Vancouver, Canada, and walks us through…
Apr 13, 2026 · 36:57
J.D.'s guet on this episode is Tom Mercer. Odds are, if you have worked in ministry, you have probably read at least one of Tom's many books. He gew up in a Christain homa and…
Apr 6, 2026 · 38:15
A conference leader who still loves being a Sunday greeter sounds simple until you hear what he’s carried. Harry Kelm joins us from Edmonton, Alberta to tell the story behind 37…
Mar 30, 2026 · 25:43
In this episode, you will hear from Luke Allen. Not only a church planter that has planted other churches out of his own, but the COO of Excel Leadership Network. You will be…
Mar 23, 2026 · 41:05
A teenager running drugs in Cleveland. A loaded gun in his pocket at church. A home invasion charge that could have meant decades behind bars. Patrick Davis’s story doesn’t…
Mar 9, 2026 · 37:01
Larry Osborne is a pastor, author, mentor, and leadership consultant. He pioneered several concepts that shape our modern church today, teaching teams, multisite churches, and…
Mar 2, 2026 · 48:53
Faith gets real when the plan stops working. We sit down with Chris and Shelly from Dayton to trace a path that starts in youth ministry, runs through bold church-plant dreams,…
Feb 23, 2026 · 32:41
Ralph Moore has been tied to more church plants than anyone in North America. He planted churches in Southern California and Hawaii and has a family tree that includes over 2300…
Feb 2, 2026 · 37:52
A teenage promise forged in a camp chapel changed the course of Jeff Crandall’s life. From growing up with MLB legend Del Crandall as dad to drumming in one of the first…
Jan 19, 2026 · 29:47
A minute-long phone call from an unknown Phoenix number set off a chain of events that brought Garrett Nates back to Colorado to lead a 70-year-old church—and to champion a bold,…
Jan 5, 2026 · 32:18
A camp quiet time, a seven‑minute first sermon, and a calling that survived Seattle headwinds, LA creativity, and an Austin reset—Eric Bryant joins us to trace a lived map of…
Dec 22, 2025 · 26:15
Hurt and hope can live in the same room, and sometimes that room is a borrowed auditorium in the heart of Seattle’s tech campus. We sit down with pastor and church planter Tyler…
Dec 8, 2025 · 37:24
A clear plan, a humble posture, and one simple patio moment—that’s how a baton gets passed and a church keeps moving. We sit down with James Grogan, lead pastor of EastLake…
Nov 17, 2025 · 40:39
The story starts with two very different paths to faith—one raised in church but resistant to ministry, the other the first Christian in her family who woke up changed at…
Nov 3, 2025 · 40:52
Sean Morgan's path from disillusioned churchgoer to ministry leader unfolds as a powerful testimony of God's patient pursuit. Growing up in a Christian environment but becoming…
Oct 20, 2025 · 32:20
Dominique Beaumont's life reads like a modern-day parable of divine orchestration. Born to a severely schizophrenic mother who worked as a prostitute, Dominique bounced between…
Oct 6, 2025 · 31:00
Andrew McDonald never imagined he'd become a pastor, let alone a church planter. Growing up in eastern Canada, church was something you endured weekly while wearing uncomfortable…
Sep 16, 2025 · 41:30
The power of the local church to transform lives sits at the heart of Spencer and Sarah Green's remarkable story. When a youth pastor Spencer only knew as "the more than enough…
Sep 2, 2025 · 39:15
What does a world champion roller skater, a transformative mission trip to India, and a text message church merger have in common? They're all part of Sean Arisco's extraordinary…
Aug 18, 2025 · 33:13
What happens when rigid religious rules collide with authentic faith? Jon Groves takes us on a remarkable journey from his beginnings as a fourth-generation preacher's kid to…
Aug 4, 2025 · 45:36
Rick McKinley's remarkable journey from partying at Chico State to establishing one of Portland's most influential churches reveals the transformative power of authentic faith…
Jul 22, 2025 · 48:17
What if your small church isn't broken? What if it's exactly the size it's meant to be? In this illuminating conversation, third-generation pastor Karl Vaters shares his 32-year…
Jul 1, 2025 · 32:01
What if the key to transforming a city isn't building bigger churches, but bringing existing ones together? Don Proctor has spent nearly two decades proving this principle as the…
Jun 16, 2025 · 34:10
Craig Whitney's journey from burned-out church planter to multiplication catalyst reveals powerful insights about sustainable ministry and leadership development. Whitney's story…
Jun 2, 2025 · 34:04
What happens when church becomes the last place people want to go? James Gleason never planned to become a senior pastor, but when a teen in his youth group pointed out how…
May 19, 2025 · 36:17
Josephine "Jojo" Namudu's life story reads like a modern-day psalm of redemption and divine provision. From the red dirt of Uganda to the green landscape of Oregon, her journey…
May 5, 2025 · 39:27
What happens when a punk drummer with a pompadour hairstyle starts questioning if Christianity might be a cult? Dan Kimball's spiritual journey unfolds as a testament to the…
Apr 15, 2025 · 49:56
What does it take to stay in pastoral ministry for over three decades? For Rene Schlaepfer of Twin Lakes Church in Santa Cruz, California, the answer might surprise you - a…
Apr 1, 2025 · 30:16
What does revival look like in America's rural communities? John Craft offers a front-row perspective from Wyoming's Bighorn Basin, where churches in towns of just 4,000 people…
Mar 4, 2025 · 31:19
Join us as Mike reflects on his formative years, shaped by a legacy of faith passed down by his family and community. He highlights how pivotal moments at youth camps not only…
Feb 17, 2025 · 34:25
Brad Little shares his inspiring journey from a childhood marked by insecurity in Calgary to becoming a lead pastor and regional executive director in Minnesota. Highlighting the…
Feb 3, 2025 · 31:57
How do legacies shape the leaders we become? Join us as we sit down with the inspiring Jim Jessup from Jessup University, who shares intimate stories of his family's remarkable…
Jan 20, 2025 · 35:02
In our conversation, Roy illuminates the extraordinary ways his community engages with the local Mormon population through initiatives like "Love Gives" and "God's Garage,"…
Jan 6, 2025 · 34:39
Steve Ingram's journey is nothing short of inspiring, reflecting both profound faith and unyielding resilience. Imagine facing the heartbreak of losing a spouse shortly after…
Dec 16, 2024 · 31:48
What if a single injury could change your life's trajectory? Join us as we explore the incredible journey of Billy Claudio from Scottsdale, Arizona, whose life took a dramatic…
Dec 2, 2024 · 25:17
Alan Adler's journey is a tale of faith, family, and transformation. In it, He shares how his father's quest, sparked by the Book of Revelation, led their family to embrace…
Nov 1, 2024 · 43:56
Brendan Prout joins us with a remarkable tale of transformation and faith. Growing up in a Navy family, Brendan's early religious experiences were varied and mostly social in…
Oct 15, 2024 · 27:02
Discover how a young man's journey from anger and rebellion to a life of faith and ministry takes center stage in our latest episode featuring Josh Huseby, a devoted church…
Oct 1, 2024 · 36:54
What happens when life takes unexpected turns, leading you away from and then back to faith? Join us as we bring you the incredible stories of Dom and Allie Simmons from Fort…
Sep 16, 2024 · 38:06
Has your faith ever been shaken to its core? Join us as Jay Kim from Westgate Church in Silicon Valley recounts his profound spiritual journey, marked by his mother's radical…
Sep 2, 2024 · 29:18
Have you ever wondered how a quest for identity can lead to a profound spiritual transformation? Join us as we sit down with Marlon Minx, the National Director of Church Planting…
Aug 30, 2024 · 35:12
What happens when a passion for baseball intertwines with a deep-rooted faith? In this episode of the Leading Conversations podcast, we sit down with Mike Alford from Macon,…
Aug 5, 2024 · 47:13
What if the foundation of your faith journey began at six years old? Join us as we sit down with David Whitaker, president of Venture Church Network, who shares his compelling…
Jul 15, 2024 · 47:44
In this conversation, J.D. spends some time with Chan Kwak. If you know anything about the city of Compton, CA, you would never imagine a Korean child who was brought to the…
Jul 1, 2024 · 33:07
In this conversation, J.D. speaks with Haig Kherlopian, a leader, a pastor, and even a stand-up comedian. He shares a brief history of the first Christian nation, Armenia, and…
Jun 17, 2024 · 34:31
Today's conversation is with Jason Squires, a worship leader, songwriter, and speaker who travels around the country leading worship and teaching at conferences. His passion is…
Jun 1, 2024 · 25:28
J.D. has a conversation with Andrew Alesso. His full-time job is helping non-profit companies to develop and grow their fundraising. He also happens to be the lead pastor of…
May 15, 2024 · 36:47
J.D. has a conversation with serial church planter Jay Nickless. Listen to his story and be encouraged. Ministry Partner: https://mycccu.com/excel Send us Fan Mail We want to…
May 1, 2024 · 38:13
Alex Sweng is the pastor of Missio Dei Oakland, an Urban House Church Network in Oakland, CA. If you have been watching the news lately, Oakland is having quite a season. If you…
Apr 15, 2024 · 27:40
Jeff Snodgrass is the Lead Pastor at Unite Church located in Pasadena, CA. He grew up in Southern California, where, at 16, he made a life change and began to follow Jesus. After…
Apr 1, 2024 · 37:03
Josh was born and raised in Sacramento, California. He worked as a youth pastor in Atwater and Santa Rosa. In 2005, he moved back to Sacramento to pastor Northside Church, a…
Mar 15, 2024 · 29:37
Today's conversation is with Al Soto from Shingle Springs, California. You can't say much more about his journey to become a Christian and his call to ministry; it could be a…
Mar 1, 2024 · 36:35
It’s just easier to call him Pastor Vlad. Today’s JD has a conversation with Vladimir Kotyakov. He came to the United States at the age of 11. Vladimir has a rich Christian…
Feb 15, 2024 · 44:40
Brett and Karla Burner, from Spring Valley, California near San Diego, are from two different backgrounds and countries. They met at a summer camp and have been together ever…
Feb 1, 2024 · 26:30
Jim began his walk with Jesus as a seventh grader in Cookeville, Tennessee, when he walked the aisle during a revival meeting and received Christ as his Savior and Lord. He later…
Jan 15, 2024 · 42:02
A coach at heart, Steve Clifford lived the “Friday Night Lights” life as a high school football coach in Texas. But it was an invitation to a summer camp that changed his life in…
Jan 1, 2024 · 34:04
If the state of Arizona were a dartboard, the city of Payson would be in the bullseye. It is located near the geographic center of the state. Dr. Aaron Walp, who goes by “Walp”…
Dec 15, 2023 · 28:54
If you were thinking about planting a church, the last place you might consider is Flint, Michigan. It just so happens that Steven and Katrina Bentley followed God’s lead and did…
Dec 1, 2023 · 36:01
If you ever wanted to know someone who was from Peoria twice, J.D.’s guest, Jim Powell, is your man. He is currently serving as the Senior Pastor of Palm West Community Church.…
Nov 16, 2023 · 21:36
You may have never wondered where Panhandle, Texas, is located. If you wanted to find it on a map, think out the square top of Texas, and it’s right in the middle of that. J.D.’s…
Nov 1, 2023 · 36:41
J.D.'s guet on this episode is Tom Mercer. Odds are, if you have worked in ministry, you have probably read at least one of Tom's many books. He gew up in a Christain homa and…
Oct 16, 2023 · 35:32
Sometimes, what makes you different makes you who you are. While that may seem obvious, that cannot be truer for Eric Gamero, the pastor of The Local Church in South Florida.…
Oct 2, 2023 · 27:11
Our guest today comes all the way from Holland. Not the land of Tulips, Holland, Michigan. Travis Rae is the Discipleship Pastor at Central Wesleyan Church and the Director of…
Sep 15, 2023 · 32:18
Jamal Jones knows he was fortunate to be raised in a Christian home with both of his parents. The youngest of five children, he learned early that he wanted to dedicate his life…
Sep 1, 2023 · 39:35
J.D.'s guest today is Pastor Jeremy McGarity. Growing up in a non-Christian home, Jeremy loved sports, but mostly baseball. He was drafted out of high school into the Minor…
Jul 17, 2023 · 29:30
Yes, it's true, J.D.'s guest today was in fact named after the Old Testament prophet Micah. It's in the Bible if you don't remember. It's that one, just past Jonah. As you hear…
Jul 3, 2023 · 34:42
In this episode, JD has a conversation with Dr. John Jackson. He is currently serving as the President of William Jessup University. In his ministry life, he has been a church…
Jun 15, 2023 · 28:46
Some people have been in ministry for a long time and have been a part of some great movements, and then there is Jack Hamilton. He has done both and more. In today's…
Jun 1, 2023 · 27:36
Joining the conversation today is no stranger to the Excel Network. Dave Bennet has raised more money for churches than most of us will earn in a lifetime. In today's podcast,…
May 15, 2023 · 29:12
You will want to hear Elisha's story. It is so easy to think about church planting in the context of the United States. Most planters are thinking about how they will start,…
May 1, 2023 · 25:33
You might be surprised about the content of today's interview. Jonathan Singh is the pastor of Tribe City Church just outside Phoenix, AZ. With parents that immigrated to the…
Apr 3, 2023 · 35:39
Today's conversation is with TJ and Jess McCall from Buckeye, AZ. Thier journey has led them through multiple leves of ministry from youth work, associate pastorship, and finally…
Mar 15, 2023 · 30:10
Today's conversation is with Casey and Aimee Graves. Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, they felt led to settle in Temecula, CA. In 2019 they planted The Refinery Church.…
Mar 1, 2023 · 33:56
Today's converastion is with Jim Smith, President of the Pacific Church Network. He has been the President since March, 2006. Jim and his wife, Vicki, have 4 married children,…
Feb 15, 2023 · 32:04
The man, the myth, the legend, Daniel Nunez is the the guest on the podcast today. His journey has been one of faith in an audacious goal of planting 50 churches in the Mexico.…
Feb 1, 2023 · 36:30
Today's guest on the podcast is Jay Stovall. From the "jewel of the inland empire," Redlands, California. Does life sometimes feel like you are in a perfect storm of challenges?…
Jan 16, 2023 · 30:45
It's an epic episode. Brad and Anne Brucker from Epic Church in Sherwood, Oregon, are interviewed by J.D. It all started with a dance on a rooftop. In addition to EPIC church,…
Jan 2, 2023 · 28:55
In today's episode, J.D. interviews Julian and Daisy Delmore. As you listen to their story, you will be encouraged to know that God works beyond what can typically be a…
Dec 15, 2022 · 26:31
Today's conversation is with Chris Pinion. A pastor in Kansas City or "K.C.K.," a chaplain, and a volunteer fire chief. Chis makes being a part of his community a big part of his…
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