{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Intentional Churches Podcast","title":"From Programming to Pastoring in Rural America, with Ben Ellefritz ","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2398,"description":"Pastor Ben Ellefritz joins Doug for today’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, exploring what church growth, rural revitalization, and alignment around disciple making look like in real life. As Executive Pastor at The Crossing Church, Ben leads in a context where no town has more than 80,000 people—and some have as few as 125. Despite this, The Crossing is thriving across 12 campuses, reaching thousands each weekend.\nDuring their conversation, you'll hear how their church realigned its multi-site strategy after discovering their previous launch model lacked commitment and sustainability. Their 12th campus launch—built entirely on pre-launch engagement, giving, and disciple-making—became their first financially self-sustaining plant from day one.\nBen also unpacks the intentional language around “Difference Makers” (not volunteers), their high expectations for both staff and lay leaders, and how they use visible scoreboards and discipleship pathways to drive alignment around the Great Commission. This conversation is a must-listen for church leaders in rural, suburban, or multi-site contexts who want to strengthen alignment, empower their people, and move from programming to pastoring.\nNew to Intentional Churches? Start here: \nhttps://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment\nCHAPTERS:\n00:00 Redefining Church Strategy in a Shifting Culture\n01:45 Meet Ben Ellefritz and The Crossing Church\n04:07 From Principal to Pastor: Leadership Lessons\n07:35 Revitalizing Rural Churches through Campus Acquisition\n09:59 Why They Changed Their Church Planting Strategy\n12:53 Defining “Difference Makers” Instead of Volunteers\n14:52 Staff Gaps and the Future of Lay Leadership\n16:11 Rebuilding Disciple Making from Baptism to Maturity\n19:51 Using Scoreboards and Systems to Align Staff\n22:03 Training Staff to Pastor, Not Just Program\n23:54 What Hasn’t Worked: Lessons from Failure\nWebsite: https://intentionalchurches.com\nThe Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C\nThe Blog:...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/smAwUgxq6qqLJDPHm-fVts5bjtUHttHCDUNOwZdqKHc/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80ZTJm/ZGE1ZjNhMTBhMDkz/M2EwOTQ4Y2Y2YzRl/NjVkOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}