by David Docusen | May 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
Spirit-Led Innovation in Church Planting
A Vision for the Future of the Church in America and Around the World
By Dr. David Docusen
President | International Ministry Network
The global Church is standing at a crossroads—a moment where past wisdom meets future opportunity. As we reflect on models of church planting that have thrived in previous generations, we are filled with gratitude. Yet we are also stirred by a holy discontent that urges us to ask: What’s next?
We will never abandon some of the old-school methods of ministry that formed and shaped me as a kid growing up in Detroit, MI. I still believe in small group gatherings—just like the ones we had at Tim & Lisa’s house. Potluck dinners are still both delicious and completely random. Where else can I enjoy a hot dog, lasagna, and beef nachos all in one meal?
I love extended times of worship and prayer. The art of preaching and teaching the Word of God is still a mystery to me—that God can use the imperfect words of men and women to reveal his perfect plan for salvation and healing in our world. These are sacred rhythms that have stood the test of time. However, I also believe the Spirit is inviting us to lean into innovation that matches the moment of our culture.
Spirit-led innovation in church planting is more than a strategy; it is a posture. It’s about listening deeply to the Holy Spirit, discerning what God is doing in this generation, and responding with creativity, boldness, and humility. In a rapidly changing world—characterized by cultural shifts, digital transformation, and growing diversity—we must remain grounded in Scripture and rooted in prayer, while embracing experimentation and entrepreneurial thinking.
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When I look into the eyes of my kids, I see the future of the Church. Max is about to enter his senior year of college, studying ministerial leadership at Southeastern University. He’s grown up in a church planter’s home—a home where we’ve launched seven nonprofits in the last 15 years. As a result, he naturally thinks outside the box. He’s wired to explore how faith intersects with culture and community in innovative ways.
My daughter Mary is nearly a junior at the same college, and she’s a naturally gifted entrepreneur. She works at Black and Brew Coffee in Lakeland, FL—not just because she loves making lattes and tasty treats for her customers, but because she genuinely loves her neighbors. She wants to share the message of Jesus that has changed her life and set her free. Her mission is lived out over countertops and coffee conversations, not just in pulpits or pews.
Max and Mary may not think about church planting traditionally, but they are building community in their own unique contexts. And it’s up to those of us who have been down the road a bit longer to help create new pathways—pathways of teaching, training, funding strategies, and most of all, permission. Permission to dream. Permission to build something new. Permission to reimagine what church can be in America and across the world.
This also means releasing and equipping business leaders who are sensing a call to create environments where faith can be explored beyond the walls of traditional church buildings. Coffeeshops, cafes, music venues, athletic facilities—these are not just ways for entrepreneurs to make a living. Through the lens of prophetic imagination, we can begin to see these spaces as natural extensions of who God has called us to be in our communities. When approached with intention and prayer, they become fertile ground for relationships to grow, conversations about Jesus to unfold, and for the Gospel to take root in everyday life.
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Now is the time to act.
To the Church: let us make room for new voices, new methods, and new expressions of ministry that reflect the diversity and creativity of the God we serve. Let us mentor, resource, and champion a new generation of church planters who may never step into a pulpit but are boldly stepping into their communities.
To the business community: your calling matters. You are not second-tier missionaries. You are front-line leaders who can shape cities and disciple nations through the spaces you steward. Let’s dream together about cafés that serve communion in conversation, studios that birth worship, and gyms that disciple the soul as well as the body.
Let’s build systems that fund vision, where we don’t just ask the next generation to innovate, we resource them to lead. Let’s create ecosystems where Spirit-led ideas aren’t just celebrated, they’re sustained.
We believe that Spirit-led innovation will mark the Church of the future, not as a departure from the past, but as a continuation of God’s unfolding plan to reach every person, in every place, in every way.
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Dr. David Docusen is the president of the International Ministry Network (www.imnchurches.org) and founder of The Neighborliness Center (www.neighborliness.com). He has spent twenty five years investing into the kingdom of God as a church planter, pastor, author, speaker, professor, and advocate. He is the author of Tomorrow & the Days to Come: A Guide for Your First Steps of Faith and Neighborliness: Love Like Jesus. Cross Dividing Lines. Transform Your Community.
by David Docusen | May 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
Friends & family,
I’m writing today with a full heart and a deep anticipation for the future.
It’s an honor to share that I’ve accepted the invitation to serve as the new President of the International Ministry Network (IMN)—a global network of friends in ministry committed to serving our ministers through:
- Spirit-led innovation
- Credentialing ministers
- Fostering meaningful relationships
- Providing practical resources.
Over the past two decades, Dara and I have planted three churches, helped launch four nonprofit organizations, and poured our lives into building bridges between faith and community. Our journey has taken us from local church leadership to the founding of The Neighborliness Center, where we’ve worked alongside pastors, nonprofit leaders, and community partners to impact their community.
I remain actively involved with The Neighborliness Center. Our mission to create holistic community transformation aligns closely with our new role in serving pastors and ministers worldwide, not as a governing body but as a support system for those on the front lines of faith and service.
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I express my deepest gratitude to Pastor Dan and Pat Miller, who have faithfully led this network since its foundation. Their humility, wisdom, and commitment to Christ have created the foundation on which we now build. Dara and I step into this new season with love and gratitude for what has been, and faith for what’s to come.
We are finalizing partnerships to provide pastoral care, professional counseling, innovative community resources, and financial services, helping ministers lead from a healthy foundation.
To learn more about what’s ahead, visit our new website: www.imnchurches.org. If you’d like to connect directly, a link to schedule a meeting with me is available on the site. I’d love to hear your story and dream together about how we can best serve you and your community.
Whether you’ve connected to us through my preaching, teaching, writing, or working with The Neighborliness Center, I am grateful we crossed paths. We are in it together, and I am excited for the days ahead.
Dr. David Docusen
President | International Ministry Network
JOIN THE NETWORK
by David Docusen | August 23, 2022 | Uncategorized
The Neighborliness Video Group Study is designed for your church small group, leadership team, or group of friends. All you need is a facilitator and a place to meet. Simply hit play and I will lead your group in a one hour discussion from my living room in North Carolina to wherever you’re meeting across the world. We will discuss relevant cultural topics and lead you into deeper relationships across dividing lines.
Neighborliness points straight to Jesus and his love and leads us into relationships with others. Each group includes:
- Conversation starter to get the group warmed up.
- Five-minute teaching on a passage of scripture + twelve minutes of group conversation.
- Two separate five-minute teachings/thoughts from me about specific content from the book + ten minutes for group conversation on each topic.
- Closing thought from me that sets up the next week’s gathering.
Register FREE at www.neighborliness.com.
by David Docusen | May 19, 2022 | Uncategorized
“I don’t want to make you nervous,” Courtney (producer at GMA3) said to me, “but four million people will be watching this interview.” We both laughed. “Honestly,” I replied, “I’m not super nervous, I’m just ready to share this message that burns so deep in my heart to see our culture unified across dividing lines.” I might be nervous tomorrow. Today, I’m grateful and ready.
It’s still so surreal that this is happening. We adapted the content of the interview on this call because of the mass shooting & tragic loss of life in Buffalo. Courtney asked me if it would be ok if they start the interview asking how we can heal as a nation in light of so much division and violence. I told her that my answer would include pointing directly to Jesus. She said that’s just fine.
I’m grateful for so many who have been praying alongside us. God has opened this door and I’m excited to walk through it. Thanks for praying alongside us. All glory to God for what he’s done and will do with this opportunity.
You can watch the the interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EnXklJNu9E.
by David Docusen | March 18, 2022 | Uncategorized
Friends & fam –
Quick update from an amazing week … Neighborliness hit number one in three different categories on Amazon this week for new releases and climbed all the way into the top six of all books in two different categories … praise God!
Quick request for your help …
- Post about the book on your social media. Commenting and sharing things about the book helps keep it in people’s feed, as well.
- Write a review on Amazon or GoodReads.com (or wherever you bought your copy).
- Tag me and use all the hashtags you can dream up (this actually helps)
The more traction we get from online interaction, the more my publisher will keep investing into the marketing of the book … so it really helps to have online stuff happening. This is pure hustle mode to see this message go far and wide … and we really appreciate your help.
Lots of love and gratitude!! Here’s a handful of pics to choose from (or you can use your own).
Thanks!!
David & Dara
by David Docusen | March 4, 2022 | Uncategorized
It’s easy to give God the glory when you know you’re in the middle of a miracle.
“I have great news for you. We have just booked you on Good Morning America in April.” I rubbed my eyes to see if I was reading the email from my public relations manager at Harper Collins right.
“Dara, look at this.” I said handing her my phone, “Chasity just booked me on Good Morning America.” I think I was expecting my wife to read something different back to me. “Good Morning America, there’s no way,” I said to myself.
ABC’s morning show averages 3.3 million viewers each day and they want to spend five minutes on live television talking to me about Neighborliness. I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around the way God continues to open doors far beyond my wildest imagination.
My head was already spinning from the week before. We had just found out Target decided to pick up Neighborliness. A few weeks prior to that, several major retailers agreed to carry the book, as well: Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Amazon, Books-A-Million, and many more.
My desire was to create practical resources for people to explore the greatest commandment: loving God and neighbors. I had no clue that message would resonate so deeply with people all across the world.
You can visit www.neighborliness.com (or any of the links above) to order the book and join us on this journey.
It’s easy to give God the glory because this is way past anything Dara and I could have dreamed. I hope you’ll get the book and share it with others. God has a special something on this message and I’m so grateful to be able to share it far and wide.
Praise God for all He has done and all that is to come.
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PRACTICAL RESOURCES
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Visit www.neighborliness.com/resources to see practical resources for your church, business, or organization to explore the spirit of neighborliness. Resources include a 30-page booklet, Neighborliness in Your Church (click to download), a corporate prayer guide, videos, a template to the Neighborliness Seminar, and more.
**If you would like a physical copy of the Neighborliness in Your Church booklet, I’ll send a free copy to you. Simply reply to this email with your mailing address and I’ll send it out (limited supply).
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
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I would love to come to your city to share the message of neighborliness. Also, if you’re in one of these cities listed below and want to set up a book event, speaking engagement, or time with your team, let me know.
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UPCOMING ARTICLES
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RELEVANT MAGAZINE
JESUS CALLING
FAITH GATEWAY
CROSSWALK .COM
PREACHING TODAY
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UPCOMING PODCASTS
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UNSTUCK GROUP PODCAST W/ TONY MORGAN
THE RELUCTANT LEADER WITH PAUL JENKINS
SCRIPTURES AND STORIES W/ RASHAWN COPELAND
THE BETTER QUESTIONS PODCAST W/ CLAIRE GIOVINO
KINDOM DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR W/ SHAE BYNES
KINGDOM ROI PODCAST W/ ELLIS HAMMOND
COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP
GOD’S STORY
BEYOND COLOR BLIND W/ DR. WILL LEWIS
WHITE MEN CONFRONTING RACISM
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ENDORSEMENTS
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