New Churches Podcast | Season 3 | Episode 3

Calling: Discerning and Strengthening Your Call to Plant

Tony Merida, Jared C. Wilson, Mark Lee & Shane Pruitt

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ADjqRutcs2Y

Please note that the 9 Essentials mentioned in this episode have been revised. You can find the most recent updates at sendnetwork.com/9.

Host Tony Merida welcomes Jared C. Wilson, Mark Lee, and Shane Pruitt to discuss the planter’s calling. In their discussion, they define calling, share personal experiences, identify external markers, and caution against misconceptions. As part of the nine essentials for church planters, understanding calling is critical for being faithful and effective.

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Published on February 11, 2025

Calling Pre-Launch Growing Multiplying
About the Podcast

New Churches Podcast

The New Churches podcast delivers biblical and practical insights to help you be a faithful and effective church planter. Learn from trusted pastors, theologians, missiologists, and faithful leaders who can help you pursue the mission God has given you. 

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Meet the Authors

Tony Merida

Vice President, Planter Development Send Network

Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, N.C, and is the Vice President of Planter Development for Send Network. He also serves as a Board member for The Gospel Coalition. Tony has written several books including, The Christ-Centered Expositor, Love Your Church, and multiple volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series. He’s happily married to Kimberly, and they have five children.

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Jared C. Wilson

Jared C. Wilson is pastor for preaching and director of the pastoral training center at Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri, and an assistant professor of pastoral ministry and author in residence at Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of over 25 books and the co-host of the For The Church Podcast and The Heart of Pastoring Podcast. Jared and his wife, Becky, have been married for 29 years.

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Mark Lee

West Regional Director of Church Planting Send Network

Mark Lee planted VantagePoint Church in Eastvale, California in 2008. Since then, the church has helped plant 10 other churches around the country. Mark also serves on the Lead Team of Church Planters for Send Network.

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Shane Pruitt

Shane serves as the National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). He and his wife, Kasi, reside in Rockwall, TX with their children. He has been in ministry for over 20 years as a denominational leader, church planter, lead pastor, and student pastor. Shane is also a traveling communicator, evangelist, and Bible teacher. Every year he speaks to over a hundred thousand people about the good news of Jesus Christ. He has written two books, 9 Common Lies Christians Believe: And Why God’s Truth Is Infinitely Better and Calling Out the Called: Discipling Those Called to Ministry Leadership. He is also one of the host of The GenSend Podcast. Check out additional resources at gensend.org.

More Resources from Shane
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