What happens when churches disconnect discipleship from evangelism?

In this episode, Doug, Bart, and Vince unpack why so many believers never share their faith, how churches drift away from personal ownership of the Great Commission, and why relational evangelism may be one of the most overlooked drivers of real discipleship growth.

Vince shares his unlikely story of becoming a Christian before ever meeting one, powerful stories from church planting in Las Vegas, and practical insight into how churches can equip believers to naturally share life, stories, and Jesus.

If you've ever wondered why evangelism feels forced, why believers struggle to engage missionally, or how churches can build lasting Great Commission culture, this conversation is for you.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
intentionalchurches.com

Timestamps

00:00 — The evil clown who came to destroy a church… and forgot to do it
01:26 — Welcome + introducing Vince Antonucci + Alignment Workshops
02:39 — Vince's background: Jewish mother, gambler father, America's Most Wanted story, and discovering Jesus without ever meeting a Christian
05:33 — “I held a meeting of all the Christians I knew… it was just me.”
06:30 — Why relational evangelism became Vince’s lifelong passion
07:26 — Why the Great Commission is still the one thing Jesus clearly told us to do
09:06 — How did the church drift away from personal ownership of evangelism?
12:30 — Why close friendships with lost people change everything
13:33 — Church planting in Las Vegas: the rookie pimp story and unexpected transformation
16:48 — The evil clown story: from sabotage plan to salvation story
19:31 — The collaboration behind The One More Initiative
22:22 — Vince’s journey creating an evangelism campaign for churches
25:26 — How The One More Initiative fits into Radical Alignment strategy
27:28 — Discipleship vs evangelism: why churches often separate what Jesus joined together
30:08 — Why living on mission accelerates spiritual growth
33:27 — Why many church leaders have given up hope that believers will share their faith
33:52 — Forced evangelism vs natural evangelism
35:14 — The story of Destiny: from never sharing Jesus to leading friends to faith
37:11 — Evangelism Explosion, control, and what happens when mission becomes overly scripted
41:53 — The One More Book: guidebook, devotional, inspiration, and practical equipping
45:56 — Practical next steps for church leaders
46:42 — Vince’s challenge: Are we equipping people to actually know what to do?
48:30 — Bart’s “Relational Reach Zone” exercise
50:07 — Why the Great Commission was always meant to be a team sport

What actually happens when a church fully embraces radical alignment to the Great Commission? In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug Parks, Bart Rendel, and Erin Johnston unpack the disruption, tension, and transformation that come when churches begin aligning every layer of ministry around reaching “The One.”

From staff culture shifts and elder board challenges to personal conviction and congregational change, this conversation explores why lasting Great Commission momentum takes patience, honesty, and a willingness to rethink how we lead. Doug and Bart also walk through practical tools from the Radical Alignment framework, including assessments, heart-mind-strength alignment, and how churches can begin building a culture where mission becomes everyone’s responsibility.

If your church is wrestling with change, struggling to stay focused on mission, or wondering how to create lasting alignment, this episode will encourage and challenge you.

Timestamps

00:00 – Why radical alignment is disruptive
01:08 – The Alignment Workshop and starting the journey
01:44 – The myth of “quick and painless” church alignment
02:16 – Why Great Commission transformation takes time
03:33 – Playing the long game in church leadership
05:05 – How radical alignment disrupts church culture
07:05 – Losing people while staying committed to mission
08:15 – Early churches that embraced radical alignment
09:59 – Why churches resist ongoing focus on “The One”
11:17 – The fulfillment and joy that come from mission
12:39 – Practical first steps toward radical alignment
13:08 – Getting to the “last 10% of truth”
14:15 – Casting vision and creating healthy tension
16:30 – Seeing the church through a Great Commission lens
18:03 – Stories of “The One” and collaborative mission
19:46 – Understanding the Radical Alignment Chart
21:13 – Heart, mind, and strength alignment explained
24:09 – Evaluating calendars, budgets, and attention
25:54 – The Radical Alignment Assessment and coaching insights
27:19 – Alignment across elders, staff, volunteers, and congregation
29:41 – Learning to lead the church differently
30:35 – “Once you see it, you can’t unsee it”
31:39 – Why groups align at different speeds
33:24 – Why staff and elders may struggle most with change
34:10 – Understanding disruption and organizational change
36:33 – The challenge of knowing where people really are
37:51 – Why believers often don’t want to engage missionally
39:22 – Sincere friendships and reaching “The One”
40:07 – Why self-discovery matters more than behavior management
42:13 – Encouragement for church leaders staying the course
42:51 – Resources, tools, and next steps from Intentional Churches

Get started with Intentional Churches

In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug, Bart, and Erin unpack one of the most critical chapters in Radical Alignment—what alignment really means and why so many churches struggle to achieve it.

From consensus-driven mediocrity to the hidden forces of individualized preferences and institutional thinking, this conversation gets to the root of why churches drift—and how to lead them back to clarity and momentum.

You’ll hear real stories from church leaders, practical insights on identifying misalignment, and a powerful reminder that alignment doesn’t start with strategy—it starts with personal ownership of the Great Commission.

If you’ve ever felt like your church is busy but not moving forward, this episode will help you diagnose the real issue and give you a path toward true alignment.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

Timestamps

00:00 – Why consensus decision-making leads to mediocrity
01:00 – What “alignment” actually means in the church
02:30 – Alignment = mutual ownership of the Great Commission
05:20 – The two forces driving misalignment in every church
08:30 – Real example: programs creeping back post-COVID
10:40 – Institutional thinking vs. mission-driven decisions
12:00 – The hidden danger of language drift on your team
14:00 – Why alignment must be constantly tended
16:30 – The myth of “arriving” at alignment
18:00 – Symptoms of misalignment leaders often ignore
19:30 – Unity vs. consensus: what the Bible actually teaches
21:00 – Why healthy tension is a sign of alignment
22:30 – Stop solving problems—start managing tensions
24:00 – Finding your “true north” as a leadership team
26:00 – Thinking vs. outcomes: what alignment really measures
27:00 – Personal alignment before church alignment
29:00 – Why Great Commission ownership must start with leaders
31:00 – Mind, heart, and action: the alignment framework
33:00 – Tools and assessments to measure real alignment
35:00 – Philippians reimagined through a mission lens
38:30 – Final advice: why alignment is worth the cost
40:00 – Daily practices to sustain alignment
42:00 – Invitation to Alignment Workshops