The Unfair Advantage

Ray Hudson will tell you the biggest shock of going from executive pastor to lead planter isn’t the work. It’s the weight. Ray is lead pastor of City Center Church in Berkeley, California, a city where he says nine in ten people want nothing to do with Jesus. In this conversation with David Hibiske, he opens up about what he didn’t see coming, from carrying the finances to learning how little he knew about the operational side of the church. He also shares why he planted with a multiplication mi

Nobody warns you about the weight of the lead seat. Daniel Goulding learned that the hard way, about six months into planting Echoes Church in Mesa, Arizona. In this conversation, Daniel walks through what the first 20 months of planting actually taught him: how to decide whose criticism deserves your attention, why you'll never stop being the chief fundraiser, and what he wishes he'd made clearer about vision from day one. He also gets practical about preaching every week from the lead seat, in

On this episode of The Unfair Advantage, host David Hibiske sits down with Jon Dupin for an open, reflective conversation on nearly 28 years of ministry, leadership transitions, and what it truly takes to build a lasting church. Jon shares the story of Waymaker Church’s humble beginnings, starting as an accidental revitalization with just six people, and traces the journey through periods of rapid growth, model shifts, and painful defining moments. Together, David and Jon discuss the reality of

Mark Lee planted Vantage Point Church in Eastvale, California in the middle of the 2008 recession with no money, no building (their only option was a junior high cafetorium), and a lot of doubt. Nearly two decades later, he joins David Hibiske to talk candidly about what it actually takes to survive the long haul of church planting. Mark unpacks the generosity that helped launch his church, the identity crisis he hit around year five, the "Dream, Do, Doldrums" framework that got him through burn

What do you do when the system that got you here is the very thing preventing you from getting there? In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, host David Hibiske sits down with veteran church planter, author, and college president Pastor Wayne Cordeiro for an incredibly candid look at the lifecycle of a growing church. Wayne pulls from decades of experience planting New Hope Oahu and leading global ministries to unpack the hidden traps of early-stage ministry. Together, they explore the critical

In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, David Hibiske sits down with Generis consultant Julie Bullock to discuss how church planters can build a healthy culture of generosity from day one. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience serving churches, Julie shares practical wisdom on helping people view giving as a priority, a privilege, and a purpose-driven act of worship. Together, they unpack common misconceptions about money in the church, offer guidance on teaching biblical stewardship, d