Brian Kelly sits down with Pilgrim Benham to talk through what makes church plants healthy and sustainable. They cover the move of Calvary Chapel Bible College to the West Church campus in Bradenton, how online and legacy training are expanding, and what planters should consider when choosing urban or suburban contexts. The conversation lands on a “garden planting” model, practical training pipelines for preachers and pastors, and why long-term partnerships beat parachute launches.

Episode highlights

• CCBC’s new season in Bradenton and the growing online footprint

• Urban church realities vs. suburban stability• “Garden planting” as a reproducible approach for nearby towns• Building a preaching pipeline and pastoral residency before sending

• Funding, partnerships, and why two years of prep often pays off

• A vision to equip, send, and support planters

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Support Church Plating – https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving In the dropdown select “Church Planting”

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The cultivate church planting podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows, ways to support the ministry.

The Cultivate Church Planting Website: https://cultivatechurchplanting.com

The CGN Media Website: https://cgnmedia.org

Pledge to Plant: https://tally.so/r/3xj2BG

Welcome to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast with Brian Kelly. In this episode, Brian is joined by Daniel Williams to introduce a special guest, David Downs, who has been serving in Turin, Italy, for nearly two decades. David shares his journey of moving overseas, navigating cultural and bureaucratic challenges, and seeing God provide in unexpected ways.

You’ll hear about the realities of planting a church in a city of over two million people, the importance of pursuing unity among evangelical churches, and the vision for raising up leaders and establishing a lasting gospel presence in northern Italy.

If you’ve ever wondered what long-term missions and church planting look like in Europe, this conversation offers an honest and encouraging perspective on both the trials and the triumphs of ministry in Italy.

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Support Church Plating – https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving In the dropdown select “Church Planting”

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The cultivate church planting podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows, ways to support the ministry.

The Cultivate Church Planting Website: https://cultivatechurchplanting.com

The CGN Media Website: https://cgnmedia.org

Pledge to Plant: https://tally.so/r/3xj2BG

On today’s episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, Brian Kelly and co-host Nick Cady sit down with their friend Kike Torres from Mexico. Over the last 14 years, Kike has been part of planting 13 churches—some from scratch, others through replanting struggling congregations.

Kike talks about the central role prayer has played in these works, including a simple but powerful practice of praying for nine months before launching a church. He also shares how his team builds preaching calendars together, raises up pastors through residency, and stays connected through monthly prayer and training calls.

The conversation ranges from fresh stories of church plants inMexico and Panama, to lessons on leadership, pastoral health, and the signs of revival beginning to stir in Mexico.

What you’ll hear about:

· Why prayer is the starting point for every new church

· The nine-month prayer model for discerning church plants

· Building and training preaching teams across multiple congregations

· Why healthy pastors are the key to healthy churches

· How churches in Mexico are preparing for both revival and opposition

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Support Church Plating – https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving In the dropdown select “Church Planting”

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The cultivate church planting podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows, ways to support the ministry.

The Cultivate Church Planting Website: https://cultivatechurchplanting.com

The CGN Media Website: https://cgnmedia.org

Pledge to Plant: https://tally.so/r/3xj2BG

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, host Brian Kelly and co-host Daniel Williams sit down with Ricardo “Kaka” Monteiro, a church planter and pastor from Brazil. Kaka shares his compelling journey from São Paulo to pastoring a growing church in Curitiba, including how a word from the Lord during the pandemic launched him into leadership.

Kaka talks candidly about the decision to plant a second church in downtown Curitiba, the importance of raising up trusted leaders, and why he’s taking a sabbatical before launching again. The conversation touches on missionary life, parenting across cultures, and the strategic value of staying connected through conferences and online cohorts.

With laughter, honest insights, and a vision for multiplication, this episode highlights how God is at work in Brazil—and how rest, relationships, and a strong leadership team make long-term ministry sustainable.

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Support Church Plating – https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving In the dropdown select “Church Planting”

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The cultivate church planting podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows, ways to support the ministry.

The Cultivate Church Planting Website: https://cultivatechurchplanting.com

The CGN Media Website: https://cgnmedia.org

Pledge to Plant: https://tally.so/r/3xj2BG

Welcome back to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast! Inthis episode, Brian Kelly is joined by Pastor Brian Brodersen and Pastor Nick Cady for a lively and insightful conversation about church planting around the globe—from Europe to Latin America to New England. They talk about the need to reignite passion for planting in places where momentum has slowed, and highlight fresh opportunities in places like Peru, Brazil, Hungary, and Portugal. You’ll hear stories about swimming with dolphins, encounters with gators, and the challenges of learning a new language—but at the heart of it all is a shared vision to raise up new leaders, support national pastors, and see the gospel spread through healthy, thriving churches. Don’t miss this fun and faith-filled conversation on where the Spirit is moving and how you can be a part of it.

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Support Church Plating – https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving In the dropdown select “Church Planting”

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The cultivate church planting podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows, ways to support the ministry.

The Cultivate Church Planting Website: https://cultivatechurchplanting.com

The CGN Media Website: https://cgnmedia.org

Pledge to Plant: https://tally.so/r/3xj2BG

The cultivate church planting podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows, ways to support the ministry.

In this episode of the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast, host Brian Kelly is joined by Bruce Zachary and special guest Ryan Marr, lead pastor of a thriving church in St. Petersburg, Florida. Together they dive deep into the lessons learned from leading through transition, pastoring in a transient community, and shepherding a church with a complex history and a massive former-Walmart facility.

Ryan shares candid insights about taking the reins after a difficult transition, honoring the past while building for the future, and how five years of patience helped rebuild trust and culture. They discuss everything from ESL outreach to managing multi-million-dollar maintenance, navigating staff changes with compassion, and understanding nonprofit financials—all while staying rooted in the calling to care for people.

Whether you're a church planter, a pastor stepping into transition, or someone dreaming about what’s possible, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and heartfelt encouragement. And don’t miss Ryan’s final word to planters: “Don’t do it alone—find a realfriend.”

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The CGN International Ministry Conference June 22-25 https://conference.calvarychapel.com/ministry-2025

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Support Church Plating – https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving In thedropdown select “Church Planting”

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The cultivate church planting podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows, ways to support the ministry.

The Cultivate Church PlantingWebsite: https://cultivatechurchplanting.com

The CGN Media Website: https://cgnmedia.org

Pledge to Plant: https://tally.so/r/3xj2BG

Hey everyone, Pastor Brian here, and welcome back to the Cultivate Church Planting Podcast. In today’s episode, I sit down with my good friend Aaron Smith, a church planter with one of the most unique sending stories I’ve ever heard. Aaron was originally sent as a missionary to Mexico—but it was actually a church in Mexico that ended up sending him back to the U.S. to plant a church in Florida. We talk about how the Lord led him and his wife step by step—from the Pacific Northwest to Mexico, and then supernaturally to Port Charlotte, Florida. You’ll hear how God used a pastor’s face, a shoulder injury, a random bookstore conversation, and even a Facebook comment to confirm his calling. This one’s packed with encouragement and practical wisdom for anyone thinking about planting a church or raising up leaders. Let’s dive in.

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The CGN International Ministry Conference June 22-25 https://conference.calvarychapel.com/ministry-2025

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Support Church Plating – https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving In the dropdown select “Church Planting”

*****

The cultivate church planting podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows, ways to support the ministry.

The Cultivate Church PlantingWebsite: https://cultivatechurchplanting.com

The CGN Media Website: https://cgnmedia.org

Pledge to Plant: https://tally.so/r/3xj2BG

The cultivate church planting podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows, ways to support the ministry.

The Cultivate Church PlantingWebsite: https://cultivatechurchplanting.com

The CGN Media Website: https://cgnmedia.org

Pledge to Plant: https://tally.so/r/3xj2BG