The Secret to Church Growth After You Plant with Tina Waldrom

What keeps a church growing after the excitement of planting it begins to fade? More programs? Better events? A bigger team? Or could the secret be something much simpler? The direction of a church is shaped by what consistently gets its attention. And when evangelism stays visible, believers are far more likely to notice the people around them who don’t yet know Jesus. In this episode of The Win Win Evangelism Podcast, Tina Waldrom shares her workshop from Exponential on the secret to growth after planting a church. Her challenge to leaders is simple: if you want people to notice those who don't yet know Jesus, you have to intentionally help them look. But creating a culture of evangelism isn't about putting more pressure on already busy Christians or launching another program. Tina explores practical principles that can help make sharing Jesus feel like normal Christianity again: from giving people simple, achievable actions and telling more stories of everyday faith conversations, to changing what churches measure and celebrating every small step someone takes towards Jesus. Whether you're leading a new church, an established congregation or simply want to become more intentional about sharing your own faith, this episode will challenge you to consider what you're focusing on and where that focus is taking you. IN THIS EPISODE The importance of focus after church planting How attention drives behavior and church growth Using the reticular activating system to notice opportunities Setting specific, measurable goals for evangelism The Hawthorne effect and keeping evangelism visible Celebrating small wins and progress in faith journey The role of stories and sermons in shaping culture The importance of measuring evangelism efforts Encouraging a culture of outreach and discipleship   EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction 02:03 – The Focus That Led to Church Planting Success 03:53 – Why Most Churches Have a Focus Problem 11:59 – Measuring Progress and Celebrating Small Wins 14:12 – The Importance of Storytelling and Sermons 15:54 – The Hawthorne Effect and Keeping Evangelism Visible 23:53 – The Progress Principle and the Journey of Faith 26:07 – Practical Steps for Church Leaders 27:57 – Takeaways   WATCH THE EPISODE Full Video on YouTube: Watch Now   Watch this short video: “How Do I Get My People More Engaged in Evangelism?”   MEET TINA WALDROM Tina Waldrom is the founder of Evangelism in Australia and host of The Win Win Evangelism Podcast. Tina has developed a deep conviction that evangelism is not only essential but learnable. Drawing on years of practical experience, ministry and training, she equips believers and church leaders with the clarity, confidence and practical tools they need to engage in meaningful faith conversations, recognise where God is already at work and make evangelism a natural part of everyday Christian life. Connect with Tina: Website - Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn   GO DEEPER Discussion Questions 1. What is occupying most of your attention as a Christian? If someone watched your life for the past six months, what would they conclude matters most to you? Where does evangelism fit into that picture? Read: Colossians 3:1-2; Matthew 6:33 2. Who has God already placed in your life? Who are the people already in your everyday world who don't follow Jesus? Read: Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 4:5-6 3. Are you actually looking for opportunities to share your faith? When was the last time you recognised an opportunity for a spiritual conversation? What might change if you deliberately started looking for what God is already doing around you? Read: John 4:35; Ephesians 5:15-16 4. Is your goal for evangelism simple enough to actually do? What does ‘doing evangelism’ currently mean to you? Is your definition so big that it actually prevents you from starting? Read: James 1:22; Matthew 5:16 5. Are you defining success in evangelism too narrowly? Have you ever felt unsuccessful because someone didn't immediately respond to the gospel? What other signs could indicate that God is working in someone's life? Read: 1 Corinthians 3:6-7; Mark 4:26-29 6. What stories about evangelism are you telling? When Christians around you talk about their week, how often do you hear stories about spiritual conversations, praying for non-Christian friends or sharing Jesus? Read: Psalm 66:16; Hebrews 10:24-25 7. What would happen if evangelism became part of normal Christianity again? Do you currently see evangelism as something ordinary Christians naturally do, or something mainly for gifted evangelists? What would need to change for sharing Jesus to become a normal part of your Christian life? Read: Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15; Matthew 28:18-20     OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY ENJOY How Evangelism and Social Justice Work Together with Tina Waldrom Sharing the Gospel in a Secular Australia (with Tina Waldrom) The Stats for Effective Evangelism with Mark McCrindle Why are So Many Australians Turning Away From Christianity and What Can We Do About It?     GO FURTHER WITH EVANGELISM FREE Trial Share Jesus Membership: https://www.sharejesus.com.au/ Free Sample On Mission with God @Home: https://evangelisminaustralia.com/freesample/ On Mission with God @Home Full Course Details: https://courses.evangelisminaustralia.com/courses/on-mission-with-god-4modules-flagship-course   Support the Win Win Evangelism Podcast: Buy Me a Coffee Get the latest from Evangelism in Australia: Subscribe | Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook