New Churches Podcast | Season 6 | Episode 9

How Do I Lead?

Noah Oldham, Vergil Brown & Daniel Santander

Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/edhfD8cvBps

In this episode of the New Churches podcast, host Noah Oldham is joined by Vergil Brown and Daniel Santander to explore one of the most pressing challenges every church planter faces: how to lead well. As part of a season focused on the “how” questions of church planting, the conversation unpacks a biblical vision of leadership—what it is, how planters should think about their role, and why leadership is more than just a title. The discussion also dives into the practical side of leadership, highlighting the attitudes, actions, and attributes necessary to faithfully lead teams, staff, and volunteers with wisdom and integrity. The episode concludes with a much-needed conversation on leading effective meetings, offering practical guidance for planning, facilitating, and following up in ways that foster clarity and momentum. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of biblical leadership, along with actionable insights to help them lead with purpose, humility, and effectiveness in the context of church planting.

(00:24:01) What is leadership?

(08:10:03) How should leaders act? What attributes are needed?

(22:11:22) How do you lead meetings?

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Published on March 31, 2026

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

Noah Oldham

Executive Director Send Network

Noah Oldham is the Executive Director of Send Network. He served as the founding and lead pastor of August Gate Church for 15 years and the Send City Missionary to St. Louis for almost 10. In both these roles, he led his church and dozens of others to plant churches throughout the St. Louis region and beyond. He holds master’s degrees in Biblical Studies and Christian Leadership and is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach. He writes, speaks, and trains in the areas of two of his greatest passions: the local church and physical fitness. Noah and Heather have been married since 2005 and have 5 children.

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Vergil Brown

Vergil Brown has served in pastoral ministry since 2007. He and his wife, Kelsey, have been married since 2005. Together they have four children. Vergil currently pastors Redemption Church in Portland, Oregon, which launched in September 2020.

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Daniel Santander

Daniel Santander serves as the Lead Pastor of La Iglesia en Johnson Ferry in Marietta, Georgia. Originally from Argentina, Daniel carries a deep passion for seeing God’s Kingdom advance among the nations and across generations. He senses a clear calling not only to pastor the local church, but also to walk alongside and care for pastors and ministry leaders. In addition to his pastoral role, Daniel serves as a Care Specialist with Send Network through the North American Mission Board and as the Hispanic Representative for the Georgia Baptist Convention. Through these roles, he provides encouragement, support, and strategic care to church planters and pastors across diverse contexts.

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