Intentional Churches Podcast Radical Alignment: Encouraging Discoveries, with Doug & Bart
In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, we shift from challenges to encouragement—and what we’re seeing right now across the Church is incredibly hopeful.
While many narratives suggest decline, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Churches are growing. Young people are showing up. Leaders are leaning in. And something deeper is beginning to take shape.
Doug, Bart, and Erin unpack some of the most encouraging discoveries emerging from churches that are aligning around the Great Commission—and what it means for your church, your leadership, and your future.
You’ll hear real stories from churches across the country, insights from the first-ever Partner Church Summit, and practical ways leaders are rediscovering the life-giving power of personally owning the mission of Jesus.
This conversation will challenge the narratives you’ve been hearing—and replace them with something far more powerful: hope rooted in action.
If you’ve been wondering whether the Church’s best days are behind us… this episode is for you.
Timestamps
00:00 – Is the Church really in decline? Challenging the narrative
01:15 – Introducing Radical Alignment and the Alignment Workshop
03:00 – Why church leaders need encouragement right now
04:00 – The Partner Church Summit: unity across diverse churches
06:00 – A spiritual awakening and what’s happening beneath the surface
08:30 – The danger of fear-based church narratives
10:00 – Why the future of the Church is brighter than you think
11:00 – The opportunity with the next generation of leaders
14:30 – What younger leaders are really looking for in older leaders
16:30 – The untapped power of multigenerational leadership
18:30 – The turning point: It starts with you
19:30 – Why owning the Great Commission is life-giving
21:00 – Real stories of churches seeing transformation and growth
24:30 – Practical ways to integrate mission into everyday life
26:30 – Staff vs. personal ownership: breaking the mindset barrier
27:30 – Simple practices: prayer calendars and relational rhythms
29:00 – Preparing to share your faith naturally and consistently
31:00 – Low-cost, high-impact ways to lead your team into alignment
33:00 – Final encouragement for church leaders
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