Ep. 121 - The Resident-First Strategy That’s Creating a Movement (with Brian Hofmeister)
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
Release Date: 09/10/2025
Ep. 121 - The Resident-First Strategy That’s Creating a Movement (with Brian Hofmeister)
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle sits down with Brian Hofmeister, founding pastor of in Muskego, Wisconsin. Brian shares the powerful story of how his church moved from a single church plant to becoming a multiplying, sending church. Key themes include: How a church of any size can invest in multiplication from the beginning Why Lakepoint committed 10% of its budget to future church plants—even in its early years Lessons learned from developing residents and sending planters during the COVID-19 pandemic A compelling vision for shared church family...
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Ep. 120 - Why the Future Church Needs Multiple Income Streams (with Mark DeYmaz)
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, host Greg Nettle welcomes Mark DeYmaz, founding pastor of in Little Rock and a leading voice in the multiethnic church movement. Mark pulls back the curtain on how his church is thriving through missional vitality and church economics—generating revenue, leveraging real estate, serving the poor, and reaching their community with tangible expressions of the Gospel. Topics include: The three-legged church model (spiritual, social, financial). How Mosaic transformed a Kmart into a 100,000 sq. ft. center of ministry and enterprise. Why your...
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Ep. 119 - Steps to Real Change: John Ortberg on Addiction, Discipleship, and Church Growth
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
In this powerful conversation, Greg Nettle sits down with author and pastor John Ortberg to discuss his newest book, . Drawing inspiration from the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, Ortberg reveals why this recovery-based model may actually be the most effective path to real spiritual transformation—for everyone, not just those with addiction. The conversation covers: How AA emerged from discipleship roots in the Oxford Group Why most churches struggle with a “wimpy Step One” How to foster communities of grace-filled vulnerability The critical role of desperation, community, and...
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Ep. 118 - The Quiet Revival: Why Gen Z Is Coming Back to Church (with Dave Ferguson)
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
In this powerful episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle is joined by long-time friend and influential church leader . Dave is the founding pastor of , president of , and co-founder of the global church planting network NewThing—now integrated into Exponential. The conversation covers: Dave’s personal and organizational transitions, including appointing a new lead pastor at Community A deep dive into his 5-step leadership apprenticeship model (from his book ) His global perspective on a potential revival among Gen Z, especially in the UK The explosive growth of...
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Ep. 117 - Micro and Multiethnic Churches and the Future of Church Planting (w/ Dr. Liz Rios and Rev. Len Tang)
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
Greg sits down with Dr. Liz Rios (Founder of ) and Rev. Len Tang (Director of the ) to explore the expanding world of multiethnic, micro, and digital church planting. They unpack the rapid growth of microchurches, the increasing leadership of women of color in church planting, and the redefinition of success beyond outdated metrics. The conversation also dives into the barriers multiethnic leaders face—especially in funding and power-sharing—and the urgent need for new pipelines that elevate diverse leaders. Get practical ideas and inspiration for: Starting and supporting digital faith...
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Ep. 116 - From Church Planter to Tech CEO: Dean Sweetman & the Future of Church Tech
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
In this episode, Greg Nettle talks with Dean Sweetman, co-founder and co-CEO of , a digital giving platform now used by over 50,000 churches worldwide. Dean shares his remarkable journey from being a high school dropout and aspiring surfer in Australia to planting over 60 churches globally and building a church tech company processing billions in donations annually. Key highlights: Dean’s unconventional path into church planting across Asia, Africa, and North America. Why demographic research + Holy Spirit leading matters when choosing a church plant location. How a Starbucks app...
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Ep. 115 - Choosing the Opposite: Radical Leadership Lessons with Tammy Melchien
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle sits down with longtime friend and teaching pastor Tammy Melchien. Tammy has served at in Chicagoland for over two decades and is releasing her first book, Choosing the Opposite, in October 2025. Tammy reflects on her journey as a church planter in urban Chicago, the unique challenges of being a single woman in ministry, and the joy of seeing lives transformed in a transient, young professional community. She shares the origin story and key insights from her book—rooted in the Sermon on the Mount—and how following Jesus often...
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Ep. 114 - 5 Things Every Church Planter Needs to Know About Kids Ministry
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, host is joined by from Stadia’s post-launch team and two dynamic kids ministry leaders from Georgia— of City Church Griffin and of Foundation Christian Church. Together, they outline five essential principles for church leaders who want to reach and disciple the next generation: Safety isn’t optional – Every church needs a clear child protection policy. Not sure where to start? Ask neighboring churches to share their handbooks. Leadership matters – Recruit leaders who can lead teams, not just love kids. Burnout is real without...
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Ep. 113 - Jet Fuel & Church Planting: Ricky Brown’s 5 Leadership Hazards to Avoid
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
Welcome jet pilot, pastor, and author Ricky Brown to unpack the five “hazardous attitudes” every church leader must watch out for—straight from FAA training and powerfully applied to ministry. Ricky draws on his dual experience as a commercial pilot and church planter to share practical, soul-tending wisdom for avoiding burnout and moral failure. Ricky’s new book, , breaks these down through powerful fables and life lessons. Greg and Ricky dive deep into the signs of anti-authority, invulnerability, macho attitudes, impulsivity, and resignation, and how each can destroy ministry,...
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Ep. 112 - Planting Bold Churches: Brian Tome on Clarity, Resilience, and Staying Healthy
The Church Planting Podcast with Greg Nettle
In this episode of the , Greg Nettle welcomes his longtime friend Brian Tome, founder and senior pastor of in Cincinnati. Brian unpacks the unfiltered reality of church planting—from answering a magazine ad with 11 strangers to building a church that reaches tens of thousands weekly. He shares how grit, vision clarity, and authenticity have shaped his journey, recounts his “two-for-one” approach to core team building, and challenges leaders to relentlessly pursue new people, not just transfer Christians. Brian and Greg discuss lessons learned the hard way, the importance of work ethic,...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle sits down with Brian Hofmeister, founding pastor of Lakepoint Church in Muskego, Wisconsin. Brian shares the powerful story of how his church moved from a single church plant to becoming a multiplying, sending church.
Key themes include:
-
How a church of any size can invest in multiplication from the beginning
-
Why Lakepoint committed 10% of its budget to future church plants—even in its early years
-
Lessons learned from developing residents and sending planters during the COVID-19 pandemic
-
A compelling vision for shared church family identity, including joint baptism services
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How to embed multiplication into your church’s DNA and avoid burnout as a sending pastor
Whether you're a new church planter, a pastor of an established congregation, or someone investing in church planting, Brian’s practical wisdom will challenge and inspire you to think beyond your walls.
🎧 Listen to more episodes and explore church planting resources at Stadia.org.
Connect with Brian and Lakepoint Church at https://www.lakepointmuskego.org.
01:15 - Why Milwaukee? Brian’s background and calling
02:00 - Multiplication from day one: giving, sending, mindset
03:00 - Funding church plants as a small church
05:00 - Early attempts at developing church planters
06:00 - Lessons from failure and God’s timing
08:00 - Year 8: Becoming a true sending church
09:30 - Residency structure and expectations
11:00 - Coaching residents toward launching
12:00 - Sending people: what the congregation commits
13:30 - Impact on Lakepoint’s culture
14:30 - When the culture clicked: “Who’s next?”
15:30 - Parenting metaphor: moving toward shared multiplication
16:30 - Partnering churches and co-parenting new plants
17:30 - The messy, slow process of residency and vision
18:30 - Training the next generation of multiplying churches
19:30 - Family reunion baptisms and shared wins
20:30 - Advice to new planters: start with generosity
21:30 - Exact budget %s Lakepoint committed early on
22:00 - Message to established churches: mentorship matters
23:30 - What the church was always meant to be
24:00 - Closing thoughts & future vision