A Network of Churches (Rather than Campuses) with Paul and Drew Johnson
In this episode of the Innovative Church Leaders podcast, Dr. Eric Bryant interviews Paul Johnson and his son Drew Johnson.
Paul served for years as lead pastor of Woodridge Church near Minneapolis. Now he serves as Generosity Pastor and his son Drew leads Mercy Hill Church nearby and Aspen Grove, their network of churches.
They share about the successful succession and their unique way of networking rather than campusing or church planting.
🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:
1. Building a church network requires generosity in leadership which fosters trust and collaboration.
2. Humility is essential for effective leadership, collaboration, and leadership transitions.
3. Shared values and goals strengthen church networks.
4. Effective leadership involves mentoring and supporting others.
5. A clear plan for leadership transition can benefit the entire community.
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Key Moments with Timestamps:
00:00 - Multiplying Churches: A New Approach
01:38 - Interconnectedness in Church Leadership
04:07 - Navigating Independence and Connection
07:55 - Seamless Leadership Transition
09:42 - The Role of Generosity in Leadership
12:39 - Funding and Resource Management for Community Projects
13:16 - The Heart Behind Aspen Grove Network
18:36 - Supporting Young Leaders and Succession Planning
21:36 - Embracing a Grandfather Role in Leadership
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#InnovativeChurchLeaders #innovation #KingdomofGod #EricBryant #ChurchLeadership #outreach #Discipleship #Evangelism #ChurchHealth #Pastors #creativity #jesus #christianity #faith #faithinaction #renewal #spiritualawakening #awakening #ministry #postChristian #churchgrowth #leadership #communitybuilding #generosity #transition #changemanagement #succession #network #trust #humility #churchplanting #collaboration #collaborativeleadership #churchnetwork #churchcampusing #churchcampus
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In this free resource from Dr. Eric Michael Bryant, you’ll discover why innovation isn’t optional - it’s biblical. Learn how God’s own nature reveals a bias for creativity, renewal, and transformation - and how you can lead your church to thrive in our post-Christian world.
Inside, you’ll find:
Practical lessons on how innovation sustains healthy ministry
Insights from churches on the frontlines
A biblical foundation for change rooted in God’s character
Encouragement for weary leaders navigating uncertainty
Join a growing movement of pastors embracing Spirit-led innovation to reach new people (not yet being reached) and making disciples who are making disciples.
Download your free copy today and lead with confidence, courage, and creativity in a time that needs it most.
Past Episodes
Featured Offer
In this free resource from Dr. Eric Michael Bryant, you’ll discover why innovation isn’t optional - it’s biblical. Learn how God’s own nature reveals a bias for creativity, renewal, and transformation - and how you can lead your church to thrive in our post-Christian world.
Inside, you’ll find:
Practical lessons on how innovation sustains healthy ministry
Insights from churches on the frontlines
A biblical foundation for change rooted in God’s character
Encouragement for weary leaders navigating uncertainty
Join a growing movement of pastors embracing Spirit-led innovation to reach new people (not yet being reached) and making disciples who are making disciples.
Download your free copy today and lead with confidence, courage, and creativity in a time that needs it most.
About Innovative Church Leaders Podcast
We exist to help church leaders experience and bring renewal. We help you bring Spirit-led innovation, reach new people, and make disciples who make disciples.
About Dr. Eric Bryant
Eric has been with Gateway Church in Austin since 2011. Currently he serves as the Campus Pastor for Gateway South Austin with Senior Pastor Carlos Ortiz, Jr.. Gateway’s founding pastor is John Burke and is known for their mottos: “no perfect people allowed” and “come as you are.”
From 1998-2010, Eric served as part of the leadership team with Erwin McManus at Mosaic in Los Angeles, a church known for its creativity and diversity. The four years prior to that he helped plant a church in Seattle, WA.
Eric is the author of Not Like Me: Loving, Serving, and Influencing Our Divided World and Fruitful: Becoming Who God Created You To Be. He was a contributing author with Rick Yamamoto for Uprising Experience: A Personal Guide for a Revolution of the Soul by Erwin McManus.
Eric has taught courses at Bethel Seminary and coaches pastors. He is also the founder of Innovative Church Leaders which helps pastors experience and bring renewal.
Eric lives with his wife, Deborah, in South Austin, TX near their young adult children – son Caleb, daughter Trevi, and son-in-law Adrien.
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