Rural Church Planting with Mark Brown

Rural Church Planting with Mark Brown

For many people in rural America, finding an Apostolic church can mean driving hours to find truth. In this special Next Town Podcast episode, Mark Brown shares his burden to reduce the distance it takes for people to encounter the gospel. Called to South Dakota as a Bible college graduate, Mark recounts the challenges of isolation, bi-vocational ministry, slow growth, and seven years of labor before seeing his first breakthrough. Through perseverance, prayer, and unwavering faith, that first church plant has grown into a thriving network of churches. Along the way, God opened doors for miraculous, debt-free church buildings and continued church planting across the region. New leaders are being developed, equipped, and launched into ministry. This conversation is a powerful reminder that God often does His greatest work in overlooked places through leaders who are willing to simply say "yes."

Church Planting and Technology

In this episode, host Joumeel McLaurine sits down with experienced church planters Nathaniel Burmeister, Travis Worthington, and Devin Akers for an honest conversation about church planting and technology. From AI and social media to systems, communication, and digital outreach, this discussion explores how modern tools can support the mission of reaching people and planting healthy Apostolic churches. The conversation is practical, thoughtful, and grounded in real ministry experience. The goal is to steward technology wisely while staying focused on people, purpose, and Pentecostal identity. Whether you are planting a church, leading a ministry team, or simply trying to navigate the rapidly changing digital world, this episode offers insight, perspective, and a few laughs along the way.

Key Systems and Culture to Scale Your Church

What actually helps a church grow; and what quietly slows it down? In this episode, Anthony Harper and Jay Jones get real about the systems, structure, and culture behind healthy growth. Not hype. Not guesswork. The kind of things that actually help a church move forward without burning people out or losing its mission. They talk through: * The difference between fast growth and healthy growth * The hidden things that quietly stall momentum * How the right systems make ministry smoother, not heavier * Why culture matters more than most leaders think If you’ve ever felt like things are growing but also getting harder, this conversation will hit home.

Intentional Impact as a Church Planter

Rev. Art Wilson is the founding pastor of The International Church of Metro Detroit and a leader with a truly global ministry. In this episode, Pastor Wilson shares his journey of church planting, building a multicultural congregation, and how God opened unexpected doors, leading to ministry at the United Nations. This conversation explores the burden to reach people from every nation and culture, the power of vision, and what becomes possible when the church steps beyond its walls.  This episode, hosted by Scott Armstrong, Joumeel Mclaurine, and Devin Akers, will challenge you to think bigger and reach farther.

Partnering to Plant (Teams)

Drawing from the Book of Acts and real-life stories from Detroit to Washington, D.C., this episode reframes church planting as the work of the whole church, not just individuals. The panel explores biblical precedent, partnership models, and the dangers of isolation, while addressing common fears around control, recruitment, and trust. Hosts Darron Sistrunk and Joumeel McLaurine sit down with Jerry West (Pastor of Freedom Church and Metro Missionary to Washington, D.C.), Tim Richmond (Metro Detroit District Superintendent and Metro Missionary), and Scott Sistrunk (Director of North American Missions) to discuss church planting partnerships.