Breaking Barriers

We’re here to help pastors and churches grow so that they can go. Churches can grow without going, but they can’t go without growing. Do you ever feel like church growth and sending is an uphill battle? You’re not alone, many leaders face common barriers that hinder mission success. At Breaking Barriers, we understand these challenges because we’ve been there. Now, we are on a mission to guide churches and leaders like you with Biblical strategies to help your church grow to go. Join Pastors Andrew Hopper and Bobby Herrington from Mercy Hill Church in Greensboro, NC.

Breaking Barriers is a religion podcast hosted by Andrew Hopper and Bobby Herrington, with 132 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Andrew Hopper and Bobby Herrington hosts Breaking Barriers, a religion show with 132 episodes published.

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  Episode #23

  E129 - Preparation and Prayer: Why Working Hard Doesn't Mean You Trust God Less

  Aug 17, 202635 minS3

  Excellence in ministry and dependence on God aren't opposites, they belong together. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Andrew and Brant answer a question pastors ask them again and again: does striving for excellence lead to the kind of pride and burnout seen in stories like Mars Hill? Drawing on Scripture (Proverbs 21:31, Colossians 1:29, the parable of the talents, Nehemiah, and 2 Kings), they break down five biblical principles for church leaders: why preparation and dependence work together, why stewardship requires leveraging what God has given you, why prayer and action go hand in hand, why preparation is actually evidence of faith, and why the real danger for pastors is self-reliance — not hard work. A must-listen for pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders wrestling with how to work hard for God's glory without losing their dependence on Him.

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  Episode #22

  E128 - The 80/20 Rule of Church Contextualization (What Actually Changes in When You Contextualize)

  Aug 10, 202634 minS3

  How much should really change when you plant a church in a new context? In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Pastor Andrew sits down with Pastor Jeremy Dagger — who helped plant Mercy Hill Church before launching Port City Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia — to talk contextualization in church planting. They break down an 80/20 framework: what has to adapt based on culture and location, and what never changes no matter where you plant. Topics include reaching unreached and unchurched cities, discipleship pacing, preaching as the engine of the church, leadership development, and building a church with excellence. A must-listen for church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders thinking through church growth strategy in any context.

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  Episode #21

  E126 - Stop Measuring the Wrong Things: Building an Effective Ministry Scorecard

  Jul 27, 202630 minS3

  A scorecard is one of the most practical leadership tools for churches, but most pastors have never seen one built. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we break down what a ministry scorecard is, why lead measures matter more than lag measures, and the exact step-by-step process our team uses to create one — including real examples from church planting, missions, and student ministry. If you've ever wondered how to measure ministry effectiveness without waiting until year-end to find out if you're winning, this episode gives you a simple, repeatable framework you can use with your own team this week. Conference: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com/conference Website: ⁠https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com⁠ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers

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  Episode #20

  E125 - Why Volunteer Culture Is Sending Culture (Most Churches Miss This)

  Jul 20, 202629 minS3

  Most churches try to flip a switch and expect a sending culture overnight. It doesn't work that way. In this episode, we break down the real pipeline that turns first-time volunteers into missionaries and church planters — the small, inconvenient "yeses" that build up over years until someone's ready for the big one. Plus: the actual numbers behind how our church sent out 266 people, and why your Easter and Christmas services might be doing more discipleship work than you think. Website: ⁠https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com⁠ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers

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  Episode #19

  E124 - Small Town, Big Vision: Growth Beyond Big Cities | Skip Allen

  Jul 13, 202634 minS3

  Most churches overlook the college campus right in their backyard. Skip Allen of Hope Church in Shelby, NC shares how his small-town church built a thriving college ministry at Gardner-Webb University using a simple Gather-Group-Give-Go flywheel. They are now sending out residents, missionaries, and church planters. If you have a campus near your church, this episode is for you! Hope Church in Shelby: https://www.hopeshelby.org Website: ⁠https://breakinggrowthbarriers.com⁠ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers

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