How this church grew by 70% in 1 year!

Want to grow your church with Facebook and Instagram ads? Schedule a discovery call with the ChurchCandy team here:go.churchcandy.com/new-guestsWhat happens when God calls you to sell the building and start fresh? In this powerful episode of the ChurchCandy Podcast, Pastor Andy Bernard of Thrive Church (Vacaville, CA) shares how he and his wife launched a church in their 40s, joined a church planting network, and partnered with ChurchCandy to grow 70% in just one year. If you’re a church planter or pastor trying to reach your city, this is a must-watch.Andy also tells the story of a young single mom who kept seeing their church’s ads and eventually found community, healing, and hope. This episode is full of heart, practical tips, and real results.👇 CHAPTERS: 00:00 – A guest’s life-changing moment from a Facebook ad 00:40 – Welcoming Andy to the podcast 01:00 – The unexpected start of Thrive Church 02:00 – A bold decision: selling their church building 03:20 – Renting to another church… then handing over the keys 04:20 – Discovering the Thrive Network 05:20 – From 30 people to 270 at launch 06:30 – Defining Thrive: Simple, Fun, Real 07:20 – Church planting in unchurched California 09:00 – Why they chose ChurchCandy 10:20 – Breaking down the ChurchCandy strategy 11:30 – What it’s like working with the team 12:20 – The numbers don’t lie: 70% growth 13:30 – Awareness is everything 14:30 – How the ads are changing lives 16:00 – A powerful testimony from “M” 17:20 – What didn’t work: direct mail & DIY social media 18:30 – Turning visitors into returning guests 20:00 – Follow-up systems that work 22:30 – Groups that build real community 24:10 – Planting in your 40s: what it’s really like 27:00 – Do you only attract people like you? 29:10 – Advice Andy wishes he had 10 years ago 31:00 – Shift your mindset: pray for impact, not just growth 32:30 – The danger of moving too fast 34:20 – Thrive’s approach to culture and outreach 35:00 – How Thrive is serving their local schools 37:00 – Is ChurchCandy worth it? 38:30 – Real numbers: 160 to 300+ in one year 40:00 – Why the church needs to be on social media📍 Learn More About ChurchCandy:Website: https://churchcandy.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchcandymarketing?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Get Brady’s book for church planters, Launch Big:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XB7F7/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_XWCVF6K6TNSFRF8HB82D?linkCode=ml1&tag=bradysticker-20🔗 Connect with Brady:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradysticker/🔗 Connect with Pastor Andy Bernard:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy.bernard.79/Website: https://thrivechurchca.com👍 Like this video if it helped you📲 Share with a pastor or church planter🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with pastors crushing it in ministry#ChurchCandy #ChurchGrowth #ChurchPlanting #ThriveChurch #Vacaville #DigitalMinistry #PlanYourVisit #ChurchMarketing #FacebookAds #ChurchPodcast #PastorInterview