In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey speaks with Lee Hutchings and Ben Kappers about the work of planting ordinary means of grace churches and learning to trust Christ to build his church. Drawing from their ministry experience in North Canton, Ohio, and St. George, Utah, they reflect on the challenges of church planting, the slow and often hidden nature of growth, and the need to rest not in novelty, personality, or technique, but in the ordinary means God has appointed.

Lee Hutchings serves as senior pastor of Trinity PCA in North Canton, Ohio, a congregation he planted after years of ministry in Mississippi. Ben Kappers serves All Saints Reformed Church in St. George, Utah, as an evangelist under the oversight of Northern California Presbytery, bringing experience from both the Reformed Church in America and the Presbyterian Church in America.

Together they offer pastoral wisdom on planting confessionally Reformed churches through the clear proclamation of Christ, the faithful teaching of Scripture, prayer, and the ordinary ministry of the church. This conversation encourages pastors, elders, and church members alike to labor patiently and confidently, knowing that the Lord is pleased to gather and strengthen his people through his appointed means.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
03:15 Twin Lakes Fellowship, encouragement, and ministry refreshment
08:20 Lee Hutchings's Jackson years and his memorable film-extra story
13:10 Ben Kappers's path from the RCA to the PCA
19:25 How the St. George and North Canton church plants began
29:40 Trusting Scripture and Christ rather than strategy or novelty
34:05 What ordinary means church planting looks like in practice
39:20 Slow growth, discouragement, and resisting church-growth pressure
46:35 Confessional identity, Mormon context, and knowing the people you serve
56:10 Planting for future generations and final encouragement