Becoming a Mission Force with Dr. Julio Guarneri
In this episode of the Innovative Church Leaders podcast, Dr. Eric Bryant interviews Dr. Julio Guarneri, the executive director of Texas Baptists.Dr. Guarneri emphasizes the importance of holistic ministry that addresses both physical and spiritual needs in order to reach a diverse mission field. He also reflects on the global church's role in fulfilling the Great Commission.Join us and Dr. Guarneri at the Beyond Us Conference in October 2025 in Waco, TX.🔥 Top 5 Takeaways:1. There is a growing passion among students for following Jesus.2. Many churches are struggling, with 80% plateaued or declining and need renewal.3. Texas is one of the fastest-growing and most diverse states in the nation and remains a mission field and can become a mission force.4. Holistic ministry is essential for meeting community needs.5. Long-term faithfulness is crucial for advancing God's kingdom and fulfilling the Great Commission.Follow Us:Stay connected and never miss an episode!• YouTube: @InnovativeChurchLeaders• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357•Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn• Facebook: / InnovativeChurchLeaders• TikTok: / InnovativeChurchLeaders• Instagram: / InnovativeChurchLeaders Subscribe Share:If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with fellow leaders and friends to help pastors experience and bring renewal.Key Moments with Timestamps:00:00 - The State of the Church in Texas02:56 - The Beyond Us Conference and Its Impact05:22 - Holistic Ministry: Meeting Physical and Spiritual Needs07:54 - Encouragement for Long-Term Faithfulness10:27 - The Global Church and the Great CommissionHead over to innovativechurchleaders.org for additional resources and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes.#InnovativeChurchLeaders #innovation #KingdomofGod #EricBryant #ChurchLeadership #outreach #Discipleship #Evangelism #ChurchHealth #Pastors #creativity #jesus #christianity #faith #faithinaction #renewal #spiritualawakening #awakening #TexasBaptists #churchgrowth #globalmission #communityservice #BeyondUsConference #holisticministry #GreatCommission, #diversity #churchdiversity #churchleadership #JulioGuarneri
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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.
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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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