Planting in Manhattan: Divine Timing, NYC Myths, & Pastoring at a Sustainable Pace | Ryan Schlachter

What happens when God calls you to plant a church in the heart of New York City—and lands you in the exact same ballroom where your grandmother ran a street ministry four decades earlier?

In this episode of the Build the Church Podcast, host Josh Roberie sits down with native New Yorker and lead pastor of Legacy Chu...

Most growth problems aren't outreach problems—they're connection problems. Host Josh Roberie sits down with Pastor Dustin Dozier (author of The Connected Church) to discuss practical strategies for closing the gap between Sunday attendance and deep community belonging.

In This Episode:

• Why connection systems are fundamentally an act of discipleship.
• How to master the crucial "first 7 minutes" of a guest's church experience.
• T...

Don't drop the ball at the finish line.

Too many leaders do everything right in the buildup to a big Sunday, then coast when they should be sprinting. In this solo episode, Josh walks through the final marketing push: the last few weeks before launch day, Easter, back-to-school, Christmas, or any target Sunday you're building toward.

You'll get a practical checklist, plus real examples from real churches, covering everything from you...

Your church doesn't have an invitation problem. It has a connection problem.

In this episode, Josh sits down with Michael Murphy, founder of Leaderscape, author of XLR8, and former executive pastor at Hillsong Church. Michael has helped churches around the world connect guests and build disciple-making systems, and he shares the strategy at the heart of it all: the VIP team.

You'll learn why every guest should be treated as God's gue...

What are your first-time guests talking about on the drive home? Pastor Victor Ehiemere says his entire goal is to "hijack the conversation on the way home," and it's one of the biggest reasons The Well Church has grown so fast.

In this episode of the Build the Church Podcast, host Josh Roberie sits down with Pastor Victor Ehiemere, a trained medical doctor turned church planter who leads The Well Church in Maryland. Since launching...

People can doubt your faith and disagree with your theology, but they can't deny it when you're serving them. In this episode, Josh Roberie sits down with Dave Thomas, pastor of Courageous Church in Charleston, SC, to share 101 simple outreach ideas your church can start using today—many of them completely free.

You'll hear how one school breakfast transformed an entire church-community relationship, why a single bottle of wat...

"Grandma is on TikTok." And according to Pastor Chris Moore, she might just be the cheapest person your church can reach online.

Most churches are completely ignoring TikTok, and according to Pastor Chris Moore, that's exactly why it's one of the cheapest and most fruitful places to reach new people right now.

In this episode of the Build the Church Podcast, host Josh Roberie sits down with Chris Moore, ARC church planter, lead pasto...

In this episode of the Build the Church podcast, host Josh Roberie speaks with Brian Ayers from Gloo about the transformative role of artificial intelligence in ministry. They explore the intersection of AI and human flourishing, discussing research on AI's impact on spiritual growth and the development of tools like Church.tech and Glue AI Chat, designed to empower pastors and enhance their outreach efforts. The conversation empha...

In this episode of the Build the Church podcast, host Josh Roberie speaks with Pastor Donnell Mann, who shares his incredible journey from a life of addiction and incarceration to becoming the lead pastor of Your Story Church in Houston. Donnell emphasizes the importance of personal stories, the transformative power of faith, and the role of community in recovery. He discusses the challenges he faced, including serious legal charge...

In this episode of The Build the Church Podcast, host Josh Roberie unpacks how pastors can use AI to stretch their sermons, strengthen their messages, and create engaging ministry content all week long.

Building on the first two episodes—Is AI Hijacking Modern Ministry? and Mastering AI Prompts for Ministry—Josh shares practical ways to harness AI as a thought partner, not a replacement. Learn how to use AI to write soci...

On this episode of the Build the Church Podcast, Josh Roberie unpacks one of the biggest questions facing pastors today: Should churches embrace generative AI—or avoid it altogether?

From the Roman roads and Gutenberg’s printing press to the rise of the internet, Josh shows how technology has always shaped the way the gospel spreads. He explains what generative AI actually is, how pastors can use it for sermon prep, crea...

Jax and Annette Britz share their incredible journey from South Africa to Alaska, driven by faith and a calling to plant Echo Church. They discuss the challenges and confirmations they faced along the way, including the unique culture of Alaska, the importance of community, and the divine signs that guided their decision. Their story emphasizes the power of trusting God's plan, even when it seems impossible, and the significance of...

In this episode, Josh and Amy sit down with Jimmy and Irene Rollins to discuss balancing love, laughter, and longevity in marriage. They also discuss the Rollins' book "Two Equals One," which provides practical tools for couples to navigate their differences and strengthen their relationships.

Join the many pastors who trust Parable to handle their finances with care and expertise.  Right now, Parable is offering 25% of...

In this episode of the Believe Again podcast powered by Parable Church Accounting and Bookkeeping, host Josh Roberie welcomes Greg Daley and Dan Pourbaix from Parable to discuss the importance of budgeting, finding hidden money in church budgets, maximizing end-of-year giving, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

Join the many pastors who trust Parable to handle their finances with care and expertise.  Righ...

In this conversation, Pastor Greg Surratt shares insights on pastoring through an election season, emphasizing the importance of unity, humility, and creating a safe space for diverse political opinions within the church. He discusses the challenges pastors face in navigating the political climate, the significance of understanding one's calling, and the need for love and respect among differing viewpoints. Greg also provides pract...

Summary

In this episode of the Believe Again podcast, hosts Josh and Amy Roberie discuss the complexities of trauma-informed ministry and its significance in pastoral care and discipleship. with Dr. Andy Yarbrough. The conversation highlights the need for pastors to educate themselves about trauma, foster curiosity about individuals' experiences, and engage in their own healing processes to support their congregations effectively.

Jo...

In this episode of the Believe Again Podcast powered by Prabable Church Accounting and Bookkeeping, Pastor Wayne Francis discusses the concept of deconstruction in faith, sharing his personal journey and insights on navigating questions and doubts within the church. He emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for individuals to explore their faith, the need for integrity and humility in leadership, and the distinction betw...

In this episode of the Believe Again podcast, host Josh Roberie discusses the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina, with pastors Dave Jackson and John Mark Redwine. They share the devastating impact of the storm, which brought record rainfall and flooding, leaving many without power and running water. The conversation highlights the resilience of the local community and the church's response to the crisis, emp...