- 57 minutes 45 secondsEP374: The Listening Tour Begins: Platforms Are PlacesEpisode 374 launches the Listening Tour. For the rest of 2026 Jeff Reed wants to stop broadcasting at digital ministry and start hearing from the people doing it, from Africa, Pakistan, India and Southern Asia to churches here in the U.S. theChurch.digital is rebuilding, money is tight, and he takes a line from a Kansas City microchurch leader as the rule for the season: don't create anything until you really need it. The big idea is platforms as places. Using digital to get people into a building is no longer radical in 2026. What still is: treating Twitch like Argentina and Discord like Paraguay, and equipping and sending missionaries into platforms the way an agency sends them into countries, because platforms have culture. Jeff also lays out a healthy church digital strategy, evangelism, discipleship, generosity and empowerment, and the long road of solving a church's problems before it trusts you with the ones you care about. Then it gets personal. The digital missionaries struggling most are the ones living inside a platform, facing persecution from Christians who say the church doesn't belong in virtual reality, and doing it alone. Jeff is candid that he was one of them: a year of depression and isolation, a season of pushing God away, and the moment he told a missionary who was praying for him that he didn't need more prayer. What brought him back was a question from his leadership, is this yours or is it God's, and the conviction that if God gets the successes, God gets the failures too. He closes with a word for anyone in the field who feels alone, and a preview of the Listening Tour guests: authors on digital missiology and theology, success stories, and people who are struggling and willing to say so. Full episode page — transcript, chapters, and the live chat alongside it: https://thechurch.digital/shows/becoming-thechurch-digital/ep374-platforms-are-places/ Going deeper: What is a digital missionary? https://thechurch.digital/guides/what-is-a-digital-missionary/ Caring for online pastors: https://thechurch.digital/guides/online-pastor-care/ Hybrid church: https://thechurch.digital/guides/hybrid-church/ The EDGE framework: https://thechurch.digital/guides/edge-framework/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Old lo-fi and a tired week 06:05 Launching the Listening Tour 08:15 Don't create it until it's needed 10:37 Wings with a global mission leader 13:37 Click-and-mortar churches 16:28 Platforms as places 20:29 You're not wrong, you're early 23:35 A healthy church digital strategy 28:02 Persecution from inside the church 32:53 Depression and doing what God asked 38:05 Apostles, shepherds and teachers 41:29 Nobody should do this alone 43:24 A year of isolation 46:25 Carrying the missionaries 49:52 God gets the failures too 51:15 Is this yours or God's? 53:51 What my family has carried 57:54 Still early: be encouraged 1:00:49 Next on the Listening Tour ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ JOIN THE FAM 💬 Discord — https://discord.thechurch.digital/ 📱 WhatsApp — https://whatsapp.thechurch.digital/ MORE FROM THECHURCH.DIGITAL 🌐 Website — https://thechurch.digital 📺 Subscribe — https://www.youtube.com/@bethechurchdigital FOLLOW Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/bethechurchdigital/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/bethechurchdigital ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ theChurch.digital exists to empower the rest of us to make disciples. Beyond the building. The great commission, but digital. #DigitalMinistry #DigitalMissionary #ChurchOnline #BecomingTheChurchDigital #DisciplesMaking #ChurchTech Full notes, chat and shorts: https://thechurch.digital/37416 September 2026, 7:00 pm
- 54 minutes 11 secondsEP373: GTA 6, Dating AI, and the Loneliest Job in MinistryEpisode 373 opens with bad timing and good humor. Jeff booked a 2pm Wednesday stream and Apple scheduled its foldable iPhone announcement on top of it, on the same week a sprinkler repair cut the fiber to his house and left him offline for three days. It is a solo, unscripted hour from a ten-by-ten guest bedroom in Miami. The first real turn is GTA 6. Miami is renaming itself Vice City for the launch, and the new game lets players date a character powered by AI: texting, holding hands, planning dates. Jeff's line is that digital relationships can be just as damaging as physical ones, and that the church is quick to believe that and slow to believe digital can be restorative. Then the provocation: there needs to be mission work done in the GTAs of the world, the same way people are called to inner-city Miami. If someone wants to plant a church in GTA, he will sign on the dotted line. The title comes from a conversation with Dr. Sam Hayes about a fall conference Jeff has decided not to hold. What he senses instead is a moment for pastoral care: digital missionaries in a season of strife, frustration and persecution from inside and outside the church. He calls it probably the loneliest job in church ministry, and names how easy isolation has become, especially with AI doing more of the work. His answer is to give God the failures as well as the glory. The last third is a case study. A Miami church plant launching its mobile app the night of the stream, whose pastor trusted Jeff only after months of solving the problems he actually had, first production and then the unglamorous digital work. Now people arrive at the guest center because ChatGPT, Instagram or a blog sent them. His conviction for 2026: the number one thing you can do for a physical church is help it get people into the building using digital, with AI making work possible that no church that size could otherwise afford. Full episode page — transcript, chapters, and the live chat alongside it: https://thechurch.digital/shows/becoming-thechurch-digital/ep373-the-loneliest-job-in-ministry/ Going deeper: What is a digital missionary? https://thechurch.digital/guides/what-is-a-digital-missionary/ Caring for online pastors: https://thechurch.digital/guides/online-pastor-care/ Hybrid church: https://thechurch.digital/guides/hybrid-church/ AI for churches: https://thechurch.digital/guides/ai-for-churches/ CHAPTERS 00:00 A foldable iPhone and three days offline 09:55 Released, and what comes next 15:58 Miami becomes Vice City 17:06 Dating an AI in GTA 6 22:53 Mission work in the GTAs of the world 25:06 The loneliest job in ministry 29:51 Giving God the failures too 37:51 A year of earning one church's trust 48:55 Digital gets people in the building 51:46 Why AI makes it possible ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ JOIN THE FAM 💬 Discord — https://discord.thechurch.digital/ 📱 WhatsApp — https://whatsapp.thechurch.digital/ MORE FROM THECHURCH.DIGITAL 🌐 Website — https://thechurch.digital 📺 Subscribe — https://www.youtube.com/@bethechurchdigital FOLLOW Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/bethechurchdigital/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/bethechurchdigital ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ theChurch.digital exists to empower the rest of us to make disciples. Beyond the building. The great commission, but digital. #DigitalMinistry #DigitalMissionary #ChurchOnline #BecomingTheChurchDigital #DisciplesMaking #ChurchTech Full notes, chat and shorts: https://thechurch.digital/3739 September 2026, 7:00 pm
- 1 hour 1 minuteEP372: Jeff is Not Dead Yet!After a year away, Jeff Reed is back behind the desk. Episode 372 is the first Becoming theChurch.digital in ten months — and Ecamm told him exactly how long it had been when he opened it: the last time he went live was December 2nd, for the Giving Tuesday stream. This one is less a teaching session than a homecoming, and it is unscripted in the way only a first stream back can be. He does not skip the hard part. Jeff talks openly about being released from a church role the week before, what that cost, and the conversation with a youth pastor in a Starbucks that happened to fall on the same afternoon. He calls it the unfiltered version, and it is — but it is not the point of the hour so much as the ground the rest of it stands on. The line the episode turns on is this: "You're not wrong. You're not weird. You're still early." Jeff's argument is that the people doing ministry in digital spaces are pioneers rather than oddities, paving a road where there isn't one — and that after years of being dismissed, a wave of early-adopting physical churches is finally willing to lean in. The room agreed in real time; you can read the chat alongside the transcript below. He gets concrete about what digital actually did. People who found a church through search, read a blog, walked in the front door, connected, served and gave — all inside twelve months. And what AI is doing now: seventeen SEO-oriented pages off every English sermon, a 250-person church carrying a thousand-page website, roughly 2.5 million words this year, with Jeff reading, proofing and editing behind all of it. Then the part he refuses to hand off. Jeff has sat in rooms with digital missionaries the wider church has never pastored — people who told him plainly that nobody else cares about what they are doing as much as he does. His conclusion is that where no one else is providing pastoral care and support, theChurch.digital has to. Bivocational, not slowing down, and openly looking for people to jump in. Full episode page — transcript, chapters, and the live chat alongside it: https://thechurch.digital/shows/becoming-thechurch-digital/ep372-jeff-is-not-dead-yet/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Back on the air 12:17 I'm not dead yet 19:37 What happened last week 24:02 You're not wrong, you're early 29:55 Sunday faith into a Monday-through-Saturday life 33:00 What the AI actually does for a 250-person church 45:00 EDGE, and why it takes time 45:51 Pastoral care for the pioneering crew 55:01 One family of sites, theChurch.digital first 1:04:22 Bivocational, and not slowing down ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ JOIN THE FAM 💬 Discord — https://discord.thechurch.digital/ 📱 WhatsApp — https://whatsapp.thechurch.digital/ MORE FROM THECHURCH.DIGITAL 🌐 Website — https://thechurch.digital 📺 Subscribe — https://www.youtube.com/@bethechurchdigital FOLLOW Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/bethechurchdigital/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/bethechurchdigital ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ theChurch.digital exists to empower the rest of us to make disciples. Beyond the building. The great commission, but digital. #DigitalMinistry #DigitalMissionary #ChurchOnline #BecomingTheChurchDigital #DisciplesMaking #ChurchTech Full notes, chat and shorts: https://thechurch.digital/3722 September 2026, 7:00 pm
- 1 hour 18 minutesEP371: Jeff & Flatcap Talk TCD Streaming Network, Surgery, and SabbathJeff Reed is heading into surgery, and in true theChurch.digital fashion, he's not slowing down—he’s going live. In this unfiltered conversation, Jeff and Leighton talk about what’s really happening behind the scenes: the weight, the vision, and the spiritual war zone that comes with pioneering digital ministry. This isn't just about health. It’s about what’s next. Jeff drops the curtain on the upcoming TCD Streaming Network, a platform built to elevate digital missionaries and stream the future of church—no buildings required. If you've ever felt like you're building something no one understands, this conversation is for you. They’re calling out the status quo, amplifying the call to digital missions, and showing what it means to walk through pain with purpose. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to go all-in on digital discipleship—consider this it. Full notes, chat and shorts: https://thechurch.digital/37114 January 2026, 8:00 pm
- 37 minutes 57 secondsEP370: Becoming theChurch.digital - The 2026 PreviewWhat if church wasn’t about a building at all? What if digital spaces—Discord, YouTube, the metaverse—were more than outreach tools? Becoming theChurch.digital isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a rally cry. A fresh wave in the movement that’s been disrupting the norms since before most churches ever hit “go live.” This podcast is for the pioneers: the digital missionaries, the misunderstood leaders, the ones done waiting for permission. Every episode uncovers the stories, tensions, breakthroughs and blueprints of those becoming church where church “isn’t supposed to be.” We’re spotlighting movement leaders who refuse to play it safe, and we’re giving voice to the misfits called to more. If you’ve ever asked, can this be church?, welcome home. This is the place where your crazy ideas make sense, your digital callings are validated, and the isolation ends. It’s not a studio show. It’s a digital pulpit for a new kind of church. Let’s build what’s next. Full notes, chat and shorts: https://thechurch.digital/3707 January 2026, 8:00 pm
- 50 minutes 28 secondsEP369: Jeff Talks What's Next - Streaming Network & Giving TuesdayThe Church Digital wraps 2025 with a candid look at what is next. Jeff shares why the podcast is shifting to seasons, how decentralization will elevate new voices, and why “fail fast, fail forward” matters for ministry. He also talks about the heart behind platforming leaders in diverse contexts, from urban ministry to gaming, and dreams of multilingual shows that point people to Jesus.You will hear updates on partnerships and operations that fuel the mission, including a move to Go High Level for better community tools and a creative partnership for content. Jeff highlights the Digital Missionary Conferences returning on May 12–13, new training like Sharing Jesus Online, digital church planting, and fundraising courses, plus the launch of a TCD streaming network with leaders like DeMarcus Battle and Leighton.Watch to learn how decentralization can multiply discipleship, how to experiment with purpose, and how digital missionaries can serve the global Church wisely. Discover practical takeaways for community building, platform stewardship, and sustainable systems that help you make more impact with fewer resources.If you care about digital evangelization, this episode is for you. Join the conversation, meet the community on Discord or WhatsApp via thechurch.digital/fam, and see how a 2x budget can lead to 10x Kingdom impact. Watch now and catch the vision for 2026.Visit our website: https://www.thechurch.digital/Connect with us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethechurchdigitalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethechurchdigital/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bethechurchdigitalLearn more from us at https://www.thechurch.digital/the-movement#FailForward #GivingTuesday #DigitalChurch26 November 2025, 5:28 am
- 1 hour 5 minutesEP368 Live Recording: What's Next? Decentralizing TCDWhat happens when a ministry built on innovation decides to let go of control and trust God with the future? In this stream, Jeff from The Church Digital opens up about moving from a centralized model of leadership to a decentralized, Spirit-led movement. He shares how God has been shifting his heart from running everything himself to empowering others across the world to lead, create, and multiply.Jeff talks about the new season ahead for The Church Digital, including collaborations with missionaries in Nigeria, India, and Europe, and the launch of tools like Lex, a digital ministry AI assistant. He reflects on lessons learned from years of digital ministry, the tension between innovation and tradition, and how the Church can embrace new methods while holding firm to the unchanging message of Jesus.Through this stream, you will discover why decentralization can be a powerful way God expands His Kingdom online. You will learn how collaboration, humility, and empowerment can create more impact than one large platform. It is a reminder that the Church grows strongest when every part of the body works together, digitally and globally, for the sake of the Gospel.Watch this video if you care about digital ministry, leadership, and the future of the Church. Jeff’s transparency, wisdom, and vision will inspire you to rethink what success in ministry looks like and challenge you to ask, “Am I building my platform, or am I building God’s Kingdom?”Visit our website: https://www.thechurch.digital/Connect with us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethechurchdigitalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethechurchdigital/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bethechurchdigitalLearn more from us at https://www.thechurch.digital/the-movement#FaithAndTechnology #DecentralizedMinistry #DigitalChurch26 November 2025, 5:25 am
- 1 hour 23 minutesEP367: Jeff, Flatcap and Chinomage Celebrates Gaming ConferenceWhat if your gameplay isn’t just escape—it’s assignment? Today, I streamed live with Chinomage and Flatcap to celebrate what went down yesterday at the Digital Missionary Gaming Summit (DMCon). This wasn’t a recap. It was a moment to reflect, celebrate, and invite others into what’s stirring in the movement. Gaming isn’t a side hustle for the church—it’s a mission field. And we’re finally treating it like one. (Get context at http://missionary.digital/gamingWe kicked things off by unpacking the top highlights from DMCon: from breakout moments in chat to major paradigm shifts for longtime leaders. Chinomage shared the behind-the-scenes moments that lit him up. Flatcap brought insight from conversations that happened off mic but hit just as deep. I shared the moments that moved me from “this could work” to “this is working.”The summit wasn’t the end—it was the beginning of something new. We teased what’s coming: new cohorts, community pathways for gamers stepping into mission, and training tracks that equip people not just to stream, but to disciple. What happens when we treat platforms as places and streamers as shepherds? That’s the future we’re building.To close the stream, we played Flatcap’s keynote in full: “Before we get started discovering your one, who are you?” It’s disruptive, reflective and rooted in the kind of calling that digital missionaries in gaming need to own. If you’re lost in the noise or waiting for permission, this might be the moment that calls you out and sends you in.So if you missed the summit—or if you just need to hear again that your digital impulse might be divine—this replay is your runway. Watch it. Let it stir you. The mission is live.26 November 2025, 5:21 am
- 47 minutes 59 secondsEP366: Final Preview - Jeff Teases the Digital Missionary Gaming SummitIn this stream, Jeff gives a lively behind-the-scenes look at the Digital Missionary Gaming Summit. He recaps a global run of four summits with nearly a thousand registrations and representation from over 80 countries, then spotlights why this final event focuses on gamers. The heart of it is simple and strong. Every game is a gathering, every chat is a chance, and God can use our screens for the Gospel.Jeff walks through the core ideas of the summit. Be intentional, not random. Identify your one person to reach. Turn gameplay, chat, and streams into spaces where discipleship happens. Learn how community forms in-game, on stream, and asynchronously in Discord. Hear from speakers who will help you set the table for real relationships and steady spiritual growth.You will leave with more than inspiration. Expect practical exercises, step-by-step mapping, and clear next moves for your context. See how sponsors and partners can equip you with tools and resources so you can act on what you learn this week, not someday.If you care about reaching people where they actually are, this is for you. Watch the video, invite your team, and get ready to put ideas into action for Jesus in the gaming world. Visit our website: https://www.thechurch.digital/Connect with us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethechurchdigitalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethechurchdigital/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bethechurchdigitalLearn more from us at https://www.thechurch.digital/the-movement#DigitalNeighborhoodSummit #GamingMinistry #DigitalDiscipleship26 November 2025, 5:16 am
- 1 hour 19 minutesEP365: Jeff & Simon Diercks Celebrate the 2025 European Digital Missionary Summit
The Church Digital Podcast marks its 365th episode with an inside look at the European Digital Missionary Conference. Jeff Reed and Simon Dirks share how Europe is being reframed from post-Christian to pre-revival. From church planting networks to diaspora communities and growing digital ministries, God is writing a new story of faith, unity, and mission.Jeff and Simon highlight voices like Jim Memory of Lausanne Europe who invites us to see hope where many expect decline. Other leaders explore AI for missions, Gen Z discipleship, and practical digital evangelism. We hear about hip-hop ministries in Finland, gaming communities in Germany, and creative outreach across languages and cultures.You will be encouraged to see how digital innovation can serve spiritual formation. Prayer fuels creativity, and the Holy Spirit is leading digital missionaries in fresh and unexpected ways. This episode offers tools, frameworks, and real examples you can adapt in your own context.Watch the full episode to discover what God is doing across Europe and how you can join this digital awakening. Whether you are a church leader, a creator, or an everyday believer, this conversation will expand your vision for mission in a connected world and help you take your next faithful step.Visit our website: https://www.thechurch.digital/Connect with us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethechurchdigitalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethechurchdigital/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bethechurchdigitalLearn more from us at https://www.thechurch.digital/the-movement#DigitalNeighborhoodSummit #EuropeanRevival #EuropeanDigitalMissionarySummit
26 November 2025, 5:10 am - 42 minutes 26 secondsEP364 Final Preview: Jeff Teases the European Digital Missionary Summit
In this episode, Jeff gives us a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming up, why Europe’s post-Christian culture makes digital ministry so important, and what you can expect from this global gathering. Cathedrals might be museums today, but the Gospel is alive online. And digital missionaries are stepping in where traditional methods no longer reach.Jeff also shares some real talk about the recently concluded Control+Alt+Recover Summit. This is a Christ-centered recovery event packed with powerful testimonies, hard conversations, and yes, some major tech glitches that kept people locked out. But instead of hiding it, we’re leaning in. The plan? Rebroadcast the whole thing so everyone can see what God was doing. Honest, vulnerable stories like these matter, especially for leaders and churches learning how to embrace transparency and build a true culture of recovery.So what’s in it for you? You’ll get a sneak peek at the European Summit topics: AI in missions, Gen Z creators, gaming ministry, and hip-hop communities. You’ll also hear how this conference is different: it’s interactive, with open tables, Q&A with speakers, and even live translation in 10 languages. The takeaway is simple: don’t just watch… ENGAGE! This is about finding your tribe, learning what works, and taking real steps in digital evangelism and discipleship.If you’ve been wondering how to reach people in a post-Christian world, or how to lead well as a digital missionary, this video is for you. Watch now, invite a friend, and discover how God is using digital strategies to spread the Gospel across Europe and beyond.Visit our website: https://www.thechurch.digital/Connect with us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethechurchdigitalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethechurchdigital/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bethechurchdigitalLearn more from us at https://www.thechurch.digital/the-movement#DigitalNeighborhoodSummit #GlobalMissionsOnline #EuropeanDigitalMissionarySummit
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