Church planting has always been in my heart.

I still remember walking into that church service in a Melbourne University lecture hall back in 2003. I was a young man—hungover, lost, and searching for purpose, hope, and something greater than myself. That night, in a room full of strangers, I gave my life to Christ. Everything changed from that moment on.

These days, church planting consumes a lot of my thinking. But I’ve realised it’s not just planting churches I’m passionate about—it’s pioneering something new so that lost people can find Jesus, be discipled, and released into their God-given purpose.

In 2018, my wife and I sensed that our season at the church we were serving had come to a close. We knew our next chapter would be about planting churches. That call led us to East Gippsland, where we took on an existing church that was ready to expand its reach.

At our induction, our national leader prophesied that we would pastor the region. That moment became a spiritual stake in the ground—and from then on, we’ve carried a God-sized dream to see all of Gippsland won for Jesus.

There have been many confirmations along the way. But perhaps the clearest was the burden itself. I’ve carried a conviction for church planting since the day I came to Christ.

I remember about a year into our senior leadership, we considered taking on another existing church. It made sense on paper—but it didn’t stir my spirit. Then during COVID, we began a midweek connect group in Sale with people who had been tuning into our online services. On the very first night, someone said, “We should plant a church here.” It was like a Holy Spirit fire exploded in me. On the 45-minute drive home, I couldn’t stop praying. I just knew—we were meant to do this.

Since then, we’ve launched several new expressions:

• A thriving church in Sale, with its own facility, regular salvations, and people taking steps in their faith.

• A new service in Lakes Entrance—still early days, but already showing God’s favour.

• A satellite model in Omeo, designed for small, isolated towns where there’s hunger for Jesus but no church presence. Another location is already in the pipeline.

Every community is different, but the heartbeat is the same.

Like any pioneering work, the early days came with challenges. Growth didn’t happen as fast as I’d hoped. We hit logistical hurdles—especially with facilities—and we’re navigating similar ones in Lakes Entrance now. But we’ve learned that ground-taking always comes with resistance.

There haven’t been moments I’ve wanted to give up, but we’ve definitely held things lightly. We step out believing we’ve heard from God—but we’re also human. If something doesn’t work, we adjust. Our identity isn’t tied to outcomes. We stay obedient, give it a go, and trust God with the results.

What keeps us going? Celebrating the wins.

Every time someone serves for the first time, gets baptised, or preaches their first sermon—it matters. These moments remind us: if this is God’s idea, He’ll make a way.

One major breakthrough came when we rented a permanent facility in Sale and invested in fitting it out. Later, when it came up for sale, we were ready—and able to buy it—thanks to the strength of our sending church in Bairnsdale. That space is now a vibrant hub: youth services, midweek gatherings, and a visible sign to the community that we’re here to stay.

The greatest impact isn’t just buildings—it’s people. Seeing lives transformed, families reached, and new believers stepping boldly into faith. We’ve become a place where newcomers feel like they belong right from the start.

Personally, this journey has deepened my passion for raising and sending leaders. We believe in being a sending church—not just counting how many people are in church, but how many churches are in people. As the saying goes, we don’t just count the seeds in the apple—we count the apples in the seed.

None of this would be possible without our releasing mother church—committed to loving boldly, influencing many, and celebrating Jesus—and without our team of pastors and leaders willing to be stretched.

It is a stretch to send people, resources, and leaders. But our key team has embraced the challenge of moving from leading one location to overseeing multiple. Why? Because they see the fruit: changed lives, restored families, and Jesus lifted high in every town.

Church planting looks different in every place. But the heart is always the same. And I can confidently say—it’s the greatest adventure there is.

So, to anyone considering church planting:

If you love building from scratch, gathering people, forming teams, and reaching the lost—this is for you. You don’t need to go overseas. You can start right where you are.

Don’t think of it as committing your whole life to one place.

Think of it as saying yes to an assignment. Take the step. Give it a go.

You might just change a town—and a generation—for Jesus.