September 11, 2025 · 68 min
Plant Where It Grows: The Data, the Gospel, and a New Vision for Church Planting
What actually makes a church plant take root—strategy, location… or discipleship? Scott sits down with David Snapper (church planter/researcher) to unpack 40+ years of lessons: why many “parachute drops” stall, how clusters (the 20-mile/2,000 rule) change outcomes, and how to build a synthetic cluster (friendship networks, schools, training leaders in place) when you’re far from the denominational center. We also talk Acts (Jerusalem → Antioch → Athens), moving from numbers to disciples, and how conflict resolution frees a denomination to pursue Great Commission unity.
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What actually makes a church plant take root—strategy, location… or discipleship? Scott sits down with David Snapper (church planter/researcher) to unpack 40+ years of lessons: why many “parachute drops” stall, how clusters (the 20-mile/2,000 rule) change outcomes, and how to build a synthetic cluster (friendship networks, schools, training leaders in place) when you’re far from the denominational center. We also talk Acts (Jerusalem → Antioch → Athens), moving from numbers to disciples, and how conflict resolution frees a denomination to pursue Great Commission unity. You’ll hear: - The “200 barrier” myth—and what the data actually shows - Why proximity and community (schools, sister churches) fuel resilience - Training leaders locally to avoid “redemptive lift” - Discipleship-first pipelines that outlast trends - A hopeful path beyond divisive debates toward mission If this helps, share it with a pastor/planter and subscribe for more practical conversations. - Conference Tickets - https://conference.multiply222.com/ https://disciplestandard.com/ Support the Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/c/DiscipleStandardPodcast Visit our church - https://sunlightchurch.com/ Connect with us - https://multiply222.com
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