“Why would you waste your life right now, in the prime of your ministry, to go teach a couple hundred people at a movie theater in California?” Meet Mike Hickerson, Lead Pastor & Planter of Mission Church in Ventura, CA. In this episode, Mike shares he and his wife Jodi’s personal story as church planters and unpacks some great advice for planters that he wishes he had ten years ago. He encourages planters to “fight to the edges to be around lost people” and challenges all church leaders, “Don’t arrive. Always think like a church planter… because we’re all still on the hook for the great commission.” Welcome to Episode 005 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with Andy Wood. EPISODE LINKSMoney Matters in Church (https://www.amazon.com/Money-Matters-Church-Practical-Leaders/dp/0801066271) by Steve Stroope Five Dysfunctions of a Team (https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756) by Patrick Lencioni Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Checkout the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ (https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/) WHO IS MIKE HICKERSON?Mike Hickerson is the Lead Pastor of Mission Church (https://www.missionventura.com/?sapurl=LyszeDYzL2FwcD9lbWJlZD10cnVlJnJlY2VudFJvdXRlPWFwcC53ZWItYXBwLnJlZGlyZWN0b3ImcmVjZW50Um91dGVTbHVnPWFw) in Ventura, CA. Mike describes himself as a church planter, lucky husband, outnumbered dad of three daughters, Oklahoma Sooner fan, coffee addict, and a struggling surfer.SPONSORSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches (https://www.fh.org/churches/).