BeTempered Episode 70 - How God Moves in Small Communities with Pastor Justin Wiegand

What happens when a young pastor with no money but unwavering faith decides to plant a church in a town of just 1,800 people? On this episode of BeTempered, hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Pastor Justin Wiegand to uncover an extraordinary story of courage, obedience, and small-town ministry. Justin’s journey takes him from making pizza dough in Kentucky to leading five thriving church campuses across rural Ohio, proving the life-changing power of listening to God’s call—especially when it leads to places that many overlook. Justin’s story began with a simple but powerful revelation while cutting pizza dough: plant a church in Preble County. With just $3,000 from his grandmother and six committed people, Community of Faith was born in Lewisburg in 2007. But the road forward was anything but easy. When the church boiler failed, he took out a $10,000 loan. To make ends meet, he spent countless hours roofing houses while pastoring on nights and weekends. At the same time, Justin immersed himself in the life of the community—coaching youth basketball, announcing school games, and showing up at chamber meetings where only four people attended. Over time, his consistent presence made him not just a pastor, but a trusted part of small-town life. What sets Justin apart is his intentional focus on rural communities—places that often get bypassed by larger ministries chasing numbers and growth. He describes driving through small towns looking for signs of a church or ministry presence, because to him, every one of those towns matters deeply. “Those little towns matter so much to me, and I know they matter to God,” Justin says. That passion has guided Community of Faith to expand to five campuses, each shaped by local leadership and rooted in its community’s specific needs. Justin doesn’t just talk about ministry growth—he talks about life. He challenges us to resist a culture that glorifies busyness and instead create rhythms of rest, reflection, and presence. He asks the hard questions: “How many marriages fall apart after the kids are gone because it was the only thing holding them together?” His insights are both sobering and freeing, offering a reminder that true success isn’t measured in speed or size, but in faithfulness and sustainability. Whether you’re a pastor, a community leader, or simply someone searching for balance in the chaos of life, Justin’s story will inspire you to embrace faithfulness right where you are. Because as he reminds us: “There is no small or big. There’s just obedience.” 👉 Learn more and watch every episode at BeTempered.com 👉 Support the mission and gain access to exclusive content at Patreon.com/BeTempered Send us Fan Mail Support the show