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cover art for Sergio Maul: Church in a Chick-fil-A (breaking boundaries, not wineskins)

Friday, March 17, 2023

Sergio Maul: Church in a Chick-fil-A (breaking boundaries, not wineskins)

Season 5, Ep. 50509

Sergio Maul and I met in a recent Exponential Learning Community in New York City.

His fascinating story about planting a church in Chick-fil-A captured everyone’s attention. Digging deeper, it carries serious implications for those desiring to take the church to where people live.

Just 25 years old, Sergio brings hope to old folks hoping the gospel doesn’t dry up in our generation.

Coming to a full relationship with Jesus around age 20, Sergio soon found himself serving in a youth ministry in a large Methodist church in Lubbock, Texas.

It was even more exciting to learn that the experience at Chick-fil-A ministry probably got him promoted to Pastor of Evangelism and Young Adults in a congregation many would write off as too steeped in tradition to try new things. This story also speaks of the church leadership as it does of God working through Sergio.

The vision and ministry are surprisingly simple.

Sergio and two friends began frequenting a local restaurant on the same evening each week. They sat near the restrooms to be near the most foot traffic. The table boasted a small sign, “Open Dinner Discussions: Join us, and we’ll buy your first meal.” They also showed an open Bible so people wouldn’t feel duped into joining the tiny group.

Discussions were simple and didn’t press the Bible or theology. They often use a conversation-sparking card game to get the talk rolling. They trust that the most important things in anyone’s life eventually come around to a need for the security and guidance only God offers.

Numerous people have come to faith. Not all have shown up in the parent church, but that’s not the goal. Bringing the church to the people is.

You’ll find hope and fresh ideas in this podcast.

If you want to follow up with Sergio, contact him at maulsr@hotmail.com or search Sergio R. Maul on social media.

If you enjoy the podcast, you'll want to catch the other tools and insights at ralphmoore.net.

More Episodes

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Friday, June 2, 2023

Ryan Delameter - Beach House and microchurch multiplication

Season 5, Ep. 50517

Dr. Ryan Delameter leads a burgeoning microchurch multiplication movement called OCNWTR.com. The group is unique in that aside from making disciples and (rapidly) multiplying churches they provide clean water in communities around the world.Four years after Ryan left staff at Saddleback to plant OCNWTR what began as a disciplemaking group in a jiujitsu studio now numbers nearly 40 microchurches in five countries. And, some are no longer micro with one in Pakistan numbering in the hundreds. These people are planting churches in expensive Southern California places like Malibu, Costa Mesa and even Catalina Island. And they do it at nearly no cost. These are locations where $500,000 probably won't get you started due to the high cost of living, especially real estate. The good news is that everything they've learned could work where you live. Beach House isn't really a beach house but a gathering of likeminded people sharing ideas, fun and good coffee. So, if the podcast catches your interest you'll be happy to know that you're invited to Beach House in San Clemente during the second weekend of September. It costs nothing other than travel expenses. You'll meet new friends, gather new tools and Ryan and his crew can even help you find someone who can offer you a place to sleep. You can connect with Ryan for more information at https://ocnwtr.com.

Friday, May 26, 2023

Michael Coulson - Big ideas in a small place (Part 3 of 3)

Season 5, Ep. 50516

Mike is a scrappy guy.He left a job as a financial advisor to pastor a very old congregation in Leighton, Pennsylvania.Having helped breathe new life into the congregation, he’s exploring creative avenues that are sure to interest you.While the 100-plus-year-old congregation snowballs with growth, they’ve planted an online church and another physical church hundreds of miles away in Georgia.The online church is not to be confused with its streaming video from the home base.The Echo Online Campus exists to create a fully digital congregation whereby people from across the country and the world join others via emerging technology.The digital campus mixes virtual reality, Discord, Zoom and a mixed salad of other apps and gadgets to reach people. That congregation is now nearly half the size of the Pennsylvania location and stretches across several states and two different countries.The digital church is planting the physical gathering in Georgia.All the campuses utilize an “apprentice maker” discipling model developed locally and soon to appear in a book by Michael.On another front, Michael presses to generate passive income enabling him to return most of his salary to the church. The latest project is an internet app about to go live.To be sure, these people are building the plane as they fly it. If you’re inventive and working in the digital space, you’ll be challenged and encouraged by pure inventiveness in this podcast.For more information, contact mike at PeoplesEC@gmail.com. The website is https://www.peoplesecchurch.com/.BTW, don't forget to check the free online courses at ralphmoore.net.

Friday, May 19, 2023

Michael Coulson - Scrappy pastor in an older church multiplying with minimal costs

Season 5, Ep. 50515

Mike is a scrappy guy.He left a job as a financial advisor to pastor a very old congregation in Leighton, Pennsylvania.Having helped breathe new life into the congregation, he’s exploring creative avenues that are sure to interest you.While the 100-plus-year-old congregation snowballs with growth, they’ve planted an online church and another physical church hundreds of miles away in Georgia.The online church is not to be confused with its streaming video from the home base.The Echo Online Campus exists to create a fully digital congregation whereby people from across the country and the world join others via emerging technology.The digital campus mixes virtual reality, Discord, Zoom and a mixed salad of other apps and gadgets to reach people. That congregation is now nearly half the size of the Pennsylvania location and stretches across several states and two different countries.The digital church is planting the physical gathering in Georgia.All the campuses utilize an “apprentice maker” discipling model developed locally and soon to appear in a book by Michael.On another front, Michael presses to generate passive income enabling him to return most of his salary to the church. The latest project is an internet app about to go live.To be sure, these people are building the plane as they fly it. If you’re inventive and working in the digital space, you’ll be challenged and encouraged by pure inventiveness in this podcast.For more information, contact mike at PeoplesEC@gmail.com. The website is https://www.peoplesecchurch.com/.BTW, don't forget to check the free online courses at ralphmoore.net.

Friday, April 21, 2023

Michael Coulson - Scrappy pastor in an older church multiplying with minimal costs

Season 5, Ep. 50514

Mike is a scrappy guy. He left a job as a financial advisor to pastor a very old congregation in Leighton, Pennsylvania. Having helped breathe new life into the congregation, he’s exploring creative avenues that are sure to interest you.While the 100-plus-year-old congregation snowballs with growth, they’ve planted an online church and another physical church hundreds of miles away in Georgia.The online church is not to be confused with its streaming video from the home base.The Echo Online Campus exists to create a fully digital congregation whereby people from across the country and the world join others via emerging technology. The digital campus mixes virtual reality, Discord, Zoom and a mixed salad of other apps and gadgets to reach people. That congregation is now nearly half the size of the Pennsylvania location and stretches across several states and two different countries.The digital church is planting the physical gathering in Georgia. All the campuses utilize an “apprentice maker” discipling model developed locally and soon to appear in a book by Michael.On another front, Michael presses to generate passive income enabling him to return most of his salary to the church. The latest project is an internet app about to go live. To be sure, these people are building the plane as they fly it. If you’re inventive and working in the digital space, you’ll be challenged and encouraged by pure inventiveness in this podcast. For more information, contact mike at PeoplesEC@gmail.com. The website is https://www.peoplesecchurch.com/.BTW, don't forget to check the free online courses at ralphmoore.net.

Friday, April 14, 2023

Victor Glover - Fathers on the Move (3 of 3)

Season 5, Ep. 50513

This is an astounding interview.Victor Glover surrendered his life to Jesus during his third stint in prison. Within an hour he led another person to Jesus.The next step was leading Bible studies then a church while incarcerated. That led to early parole--he says that Satan got him kicked out to disrupt the ministry.But he wasn’t done. He’s developed a process for planting churches in state and federal prisons and in an overlooked mission field—local jails.But the kicker is what happens to men both inside and outside of the prisons.Victor and his team have developed a discipling relationship which begins in prison—they befriend people and listen to their problems before introducing Jesus. This turns into a brotherhood which continues after a man is released.The highly effective continued discipling effort cuts recidivism and re-integrates men into their communities and families.Victor reminds us that “It’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.” Because of this unique church multiplication process thousands are doing much better.What amazed me during the interview was that I discovered that you and I already possess most of the tools necessary to do something similar, not only in prisons but in other unreached pockets of people.For me, the power in this interview is the way Victor filled in the gaps in my understanding of how to replicate his efforts in my own circumstances.One key to the success you’ll hear about throughout the podcast is found on the Fathers on the Move Website—it’s the “ongoingness” of mentoring and disciplemaking. What starts with a friend becomes a brotherhood where mentors never let go of an individual.You can connect with Victor via the website for Fathers on the Move or by phone (he gave us his number towards the end of the interview.

Friday, April 7, 2023

Victor Glover - Fathers on the Move (part 2)

Season 5, Ep. 50512

This is an astounding interview.Victor Glover surrendered his life to Jesus during his third stint in prison. Within an hour he led another person to Jesus.The next step was leading Bible studies then a church while incarcerated. That led to early parole--he says that Satan got him kicked out to disrupt the ministry.But he wasn’t done. He’s developed a process for planting churches in state and federal prisons and in an overlooked mission field—local jails.But the kicker is what happens to men both inside and outside of the prisons.Victor and his team have developed a discipling relationship which begins in prison—they befriend people and listen to their problems before introducing Jesus. This turns into a brotherhood which continues after a man is released.The highly effective continued discipling effort cuts recidivism and re-integrates men into their communities and families.Victor reminds us that “It’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.” Because of this unique church multiplication process thousands are doing much better.What amazed me during the interview was that I discovered that you and I already possess most of the tools necessary to do something similar, not only in prisons but in other unreached pockets of people.For me, the power in this interview is the way Victor filled in the gaps in my understanding of how to replicate his efforts in my own circumstances.One key to the success you’ll hear about throughout the podcast is found on the Fathers on the Move Website—it’s the “ongoingness” of mentoring and disciplemaking. What starts with a friend becomes a brotherhood where mentors never let go of an individual.You can connect with Victor via the website for Fathers on the Move or by phone (he gave us his number towards the end of the interview.

Friday, March 31, 2023

Victor Glover - Fathers on the Move

Season 5, Ep. 50511

This is an astounding interview.Victor Glover surrendered his life to Jesus during his third stint in prison. Within an hour he led another person to Jesus.The next step was leading Bible studies then a church while incarcerated. That led to early parole--he says that Satan got him kicked out to disrupt the ministry.But he wasn’t done. He’s developed a process for planting churches in state and federal prisons and in an overlooked mission field—local jails.But the kicker is what happens to men both inside and outside of the prisons.Victor and his team have developed a discipling relationship which begins in prison—they befriend people and listen to their problems before introducing Jesus. This turns into a brotherhood which continues after a man is released.The highly effective continued discipling effort cuts recidivism and re-integrates men into their communities and families.Victor reminds us that “It’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.” Because of this unique church multiplication process thousands are doing much better.What amazed me during the interview was that I discovered that you and I already possess most of the tools necessary to do something similar, not only in prisons but in other unreached pockets of people.For me, the power in this interview is the way Victor filled in the gaps in my understanding of how to replicate his efforts in my own circumstances.One key to the success you’ll hear about throughout the podcast is found on the Fathers on the Move Website—it’s the “ongoingness” of mentoring and disciplemaking. What starts with a friend becomes a brotherhood where mentors never let go of an individual.You can connect with Victor via the website for Fathers on the Move or by phone (he gave us his number towards the end of the interview.

Friday, March 24, 2023

Ralph Moore - Remembering Life In the Jesus Revolution

Season 5, Ep. 50510

Some of us are old enough to have lived through the Jesus Revolution. In this podcast I tell of how I resisted it in the beginning (because I was too churchy and uptight). We'll get into the things that softened my heart and those of many others. I rejoice in the lessons I learned from Chuck Smith and my awe of 16-year-old Greg Laurie when he wrote and illustrated a simple booklet opening the hearts of thousands to listen to the message. You'll hear of the influence of Duane Pederson, an unemployed kid's TV actor, who "invented" the Hollywood Free Paper which eventually went to a publication of more than two million every other Thursday. That "Jesus rag" heavily shaped the movement. The attendant free concerts probably gave impetus to what morphed into seeker-driven churches. Finally, you'll learn why and how you could use the movie, The Jesus Revolution, to generate hope for evangelizing Gen Z. Note: You can catch this in video at https://youtu.be/84lfqgQOyj0