Chestly Lunday grew up in ministry. His dad pioneered churches before anyone called it church planting. At 18, Chestly started a youth church in a skating rink—90 kids in six weeks. Then the Negative Nancy's showed up. They told him it wasn't biblical. Couldn't work. Shouldn't be done. He listened. Big mistake. This conversation traces Chestly's journey from military service to dying church turnarounds to discovering something unexpected: digital spaces aren't competing with physical church. They're extending it. You'll hear about section eight housing ministry, young professionals who wouldn't step foot in a building, and Gen Z kids who DM while sitting in the same room. The church is changing. The question isn't whether you like it. The question is whether you'll pay attention.

The hard truth: what's holding back your church is probably between your two ears.

This conversation gets uncomfortable. We talk about why growth stalls, why some pastors waste time with the wrong people, and how to prioritize ruthlessly. Jared's had prophetic words about a large church, but right now he's stuck. The answer isn't working harder—it's working smarter.

We cover the ABC priority system that can restructure your whole week. Why you should never start a house church in your own home. How to use YouTube as a tool to strengthen community, not just advertise. The power of prayer walking when you're actually trying to meet people, not just blessing houses. And why making a big deal out of Easter and Christmas isn't sell-out attractional—it's strategic.

If you're thinking about quitting, listen to this first. Growth happens when you stop doing churchy things that don't matter and start doing the few things that do.

We end with homework: make an action plan. What did the Spirit say to you? What are you going to do about it? How can someone help?

Here's what's broken: Jared can work 60 hours a week, but he's not playing basketball with anyone. And basketball matters in South LA.

This conversation gets practical fast. We dig into why community is the thing that actually makes churches grow—not better preaching, not cooler programs, but people doing life together. Why serving coffee after church was once considered radical. How asking three simple questions in a small group changes everything. And why the horizontal relationships in your church matter more than you think.

We talk about the difference between being busy and being efficient. Between filling your calendar with church stuff and spending time with people who might become the next generation of leaders. Jared's wrestling with how to build real friendships at scale when his church has pockets of community but not enough.

There's a reason people leave through the back door. Usually it's not the sermon. It's that they never connected with anyone.