****Spotify keeps removing episodes due to the music in the PreRoll Bumper (Even though we have the license to use it), so for now, we're uploading episodes without the Bumper until we can get it resolved.***
PART 2: What does pastoral ministry really cost? Not just your time—but your emotions, your body, and your soul?
Former lead pastor Ben Tugwell planted and grew Integrity Church for over 15 years. He had coaches, healthy boundaries, took time off, and did "all the right things." Yet six months after transitioning out of vocational ministry, he's still discovering just how much the role affected him.
In this honest conversation, Ben breaks down the "relational tightrope" pastors walk every Sunday—navigating people in crisis, unrepentant sin, disgruntled members, and hundreds of heartbreaking situations that pile up over years. He shares why even healthy pastors carry an unavoidable weight, and how emotional intelligence and self-awareness are critical for long-term ministry effectiveness.
Ben's Coaching Program: Citizenscoaching.com
What does pastoral ministry really cost? Not just your time—but your emotions, your body, and your soul?
Former lead pastor Ben Tugwell planted and grew Integrity Church for over 15 years. He had coaches, healthy boundaries, took time off, and did "all the right things." Yet six months after transitioning out of vocational ministry, he's still discovering just how much the role affected him.
In this honest conversation, Ben breaks down the "relational tightrope" pastors walk every Sunday—navigating people in crisis, unrepentant sin, disgruntled members, and hundreds of heartbreaking situations that pile up over years. He shares why even healthy pastors carry an unavoidable weight, and how emotional intelligence and self-awareness are critical for long-term ministry effectiveness.
Ben's Coaching Program: Citizenscoaching.com
The Why, Where, When, and Who of Multisite Church
Discover the 6 most common reasons churches plateau and stop growing. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we explore why many faithful, spiritually deep churches remain stuck... from policy paralysis and lack of clear vision to being personality-driven instead of process-driven. Learn practical strategies to overcome growth barriers.
Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conference
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
What does it really look like to be a pastor's wife? Not the Pinterest-perfect version—the real, messy, beautiful reality. Anna pulls back the curtain on 20 years of ministry life, from church planting with toddlers to navigating special needs adoption while her husband leads a growing church. She tackles the hard questions: How do you keep your identity when you're known as "the pastor's wife"? What do you do when you can't say yes to everything? How do you find joy when ministry demands feel overwhelming? Discovering freedom in your calling, serving from your actual gifts, and supporting your pastor husband without losing yourself. If you're a pastor's wife feeling stuck, a pastor wanting to set your wife up for success, or a church leader wondering how this all works, this conversation is for you.Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conferenceWebsite: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Part 2 of the conversation around church planting vs multisite church: Are multi-site campuses and church plants really the same thing? Pastor Andrew and Pastor Jonathan Yarborough dive deep into the crucial differences between campus planting and church planting strategies. Using the starfish vs spider analogy, they explain the critical differences with a "both, and" mindset, not an "either, or"; and the "magnet effect" that keeps churches from multiplying.
Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conference
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
What's the difference between launching a multi-site campus and planting a church? We explore why we believe multi-site campuses serve as growth strategies while church plants function as multiplication strategies [unSeminary], and why treating them as identical could limit your church's long-term kingdom legacy. We look at the "multiply everything" principle and how it prepares churches for both campus expansion and church planting success. Perfect for pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders navigating growth and multiplication strategies.
What do you do when God calls you to something that scares you? Every church leader faces moments when fear, excuses, and negativity create artificial barriers to growth and ministry. Today, Pastor Andrew looks at Moses' burning bush encounter and his three revealing excuses that mirror our own leadership struggles. From church planting to difficult conversations, discover how God's power, presence, and purpose crush fear and instill the courage needed to lead with breakthrough faith. Perfect for pastors ready to move from indecision to action.
Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conference
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Part 2 | In 2024, Mercy Hill Church became the #1 missionary sending church in the Southern Baptist Convention. This doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen without intentionality. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Pastor Andrew talks with our Missions Director, Landon about Mercy Hill's 2-year training process that has sent out 212 people (71 international) to unreached people groups. Learn practical strategies for missions mobilization, church planting systems, and how to transition from church growth to global sending. Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and missions committees wanting to build sustainable missionary training programs.
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
In 2024, Mercy Hill Church became the #1 missionary sending church in the Southern Baptist Convention. This doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen without intentionality. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Pastor Andrew talks with our Missions Director, Landon about Mercy Hill's 2-year training process that has sent out 212 people (71 international) to unreached people groups. Learn practical strategies for missions mobilization, church planting systems, and how to transition from church growth to global sending. Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and missions committees wanting to build sustainable missionary training programs.
Every church leader hates the "summer slump," but what if summer could actually be your secret weapon for growth? This episode breaks down 4 strategies that flip the script on summer ministry and can turn your slowest season into your most strategic one.
If you're a pastor or on a church leadership team and you're tired of writing off summer as a dead season, this episode will change how you think about ministry planning. Your fall growth might just depend on what you do this summer.
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
What separates churches that grow from those that stay stuck? In this episode, we dive into the 5 mental shifts that make all the difference. Here's the reality: only 2% of churches ever hit 1,000 members, but the ones that do aren't just lucky—they think differently. Now, 1,000 people isn't always the goal (and it probably shouldn't be for everyone), but these mental shift help to reframe how we think about growth from any level. We'll walk through the key areas that matter most, if you're pastoring a church of 200-500 and feel stuck, this conversation is for you. It's time to stop thinking "if/then" and start thinking "because/now."
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Pastor Skip Allen joins Jonathan Yarboro to talk about how Hope Community Church went from a small merger to 1,200 weekly attendees. In this Breaking Barriers episode, discover actionable church growth strategies including multi-campus development, going to multiple services, and much more.
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Vision without follow-through is just a dream. The execution part of vision is always the hardest, and the execution doesn't happen without courage.
Vision without follow-through is just a dream. The execution part of vision is always the hardest, and the execution doesn't happen without courage.
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
In this episode, we cover Commandments 4-10 of the 10 Commandments of Kids Week. This is one of our "Big Days" [read: Weeks] in our calendar year. Kids Week is all hands on deck: staff, volunteers, security, pastors, everyone! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with families and volunteers during the summer!
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
In this episode, we cover the ethos and the first 3 Commandments of Kids Week. This is one of our "Big Days" [read: Weeks] in our calendar year. Kids Week is all hands on deck: staff, volunteers, security, pastors, everyone! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with families and volunteers during the summer!
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Part 2, continuing the conversation about a Church Growth Flywheel.
What if your church could build the same kind of unstoppable momentum that Amazon used to become a global giant? In this episode, we take a look at the Biblical strategy that has built the church over the last 2,000 years. Based on Acts 2, we share the simple flywheel system that aligns your entire church, from staff structure to budget decisions. This long-term strategy shows how individual discipleship and organizational growth work together seamlessly. While we love our language and flywheel, this is descriptive, not prescriptive. So take this concept and apply it to YOUR church and see what God does over time.
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
What if your church could build the same kind of unstoppable momentum that Amazon used to become a global giant? In this episode, we take a look at the Biblical strategy that has built the church over the last 2,000 years. Based on Acts 2, we share the simple flywheel system that aligns your entire church, from staff structure to budget decisions. This long-term strategy shows how individual discipleship and organizational growth work together seamlessly. While we love our language and flywheel, this is descriptive, not prescriptive. So take this concept and apply it to YOUR church and see what God does over time.
Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
In this in-depth episode of Breaking Barriers, learn the key to church merger success. Pastor Andrew shares the "two hearts, one vision" strategy that produced four successful mergers and explains why the majority of church mergers fail. Both churches require the same gospel-centered heart posture; how to recognize senior church members, and the discipleship opportunities presented by mergers. There are also some true stories, helpful advice, and practical actions for church leaders thinking about merging from a Kingdom mindset.
This episode is straight from our Merger 1-Day event where we did a deep-dive on the entire process. Keep an eye out for new 1Day events happening every quarter!
Are you a lead pastor struggling with burnout, depression, or physical health issues? You're not alone. In this Breaking Barriers episode, Pastor Andrew Hopper explains why preaching pastors face unique health and physical challenges that most people don't understand. Let's not ignore the hidden physical demands of preaching, and why your sympathetic nervous system is constantly triggered, and 5 strategies to fight for your ministry longevity. Essential listening for preaching pastors, church staff, and elder boards who want to understand what their lead pastor is really carrying.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
