Why this series?
“The Dilemma of Church Spaces” series explores one of the most underexamined—and most formative—realities of church planting: space. Beginning with the early church’s patterns of gathering and the historic instincts that shaped Baptist meeting spaces, the series traces how theology, mission, and context have always informed where and how God’s people meet. Through conversations with pastors planting in vastly different settings, these episodes examine how meeting places shape discipleship, stewardship, leadership, and public witness. From homes and rented rooms to inherited buildings, to outgrowing cherished spaces, to navigating expensive global cities where traditional church buildings are increasingly inaccessible, the series surfaces both the benefits and burdens of buildings without offering simplistic answers. At its heart, this Postscript series asks a pastoral and theological question: how can churches steward space as servants of the mission—without allowing it to become the mission itself?
Blade Sbisa is a new church planter with a very small team—but an abundance of space. While many planters struggle to find room to grow, Blade has been entrusted with a meeting space far larger than his current needs. In this episode, he reflects on the unique challenges of stewarding excess space, resisting pressure to manufacture growth, and learning faithfulness before fullness.
Ep. 1 Small Church, Big Building & The Dilemma of Church Spaces
Brian Clark is a veteran church planter in London, England who is currently planting a second church. Despite his experience and a deep knowledge of the city, he’s facing fresh uncertainties: how to build fellowship, how to move from street evangelism to intimate community, and how to think creatively about meeting spaces when traditional options are out of reach.
Ep. 2 Finding a fit in a Global city & The Dilemma of Church Spaces
Dr. David Bains is a professor at Howard College of Arts and Sciences at Samford University. Dr. Bains teaches courses that examine the interaction between theology, architecture and religious life. Dr. Bains joins us to better understand the correlation between the historic Baptist mission and the buildings in which they met.
Ep. 3 The History of Baptist Architecture & the Dilemma of Church Spaces
Dan Reneau is a church planting pastor in Lee’s Summit, MO—whose church has matured to the point that it is now sending out church planters. In this episode we investigate what the New Testament shares with us about church spaces. How should this inform our understanding of the “ekklesia”? Where did the early church meet and why? What can this tell us about the objectives of contemporary meeting spaces?
Ep. 4 The Early Church & the Dilemma of Church Spaces
Over a decade ago, Lee Ridings planted a church in a rural-suburban community. He didn’t chase growth—he committed to discipleship. The result? A church that has grown beyond its walls. Listen as Lee reflects on the blessings and challenges of growth, and how he is thinking through space, stewardship, and strategy in a constrained real-estate market.
Ep. 5 No Room to Grow & the Dilemma of Church Spaces
Mike Reneau is a church-planting pastor who’s been serving in Boston since 2020. He didn’t begin with scale—he began with a small, committed core. Early on, the team secured a beautiful, affordable downtown meeting space with room to grow—until they were asked to leave and had to start over. Since then, the work has adapted, relocated, and matured. In this episode, Mike reflects on what it means to build momentum when meeting space is never guaranteed and ministry must remain flexible.
Ep. 6 Momentum, Shifting Emphasis & the Dilemma of Church Spaces
The Postscript is a podcast and YouTube series that invites listeners into in-depth theological and ministry conversations with pastors, Bible scholars, missionaries, and professors.
Host of the Postscript is Brandon Briscoe, provost of the Living Faith Bible Institute and associate pastor at Midtown Baptist Temple
Ep. 2 Finding a Fit in a Global City & The Dilemma of Church Spaces
Brian Clark is a veteran church planter in London, England who is currently planting a second church. Despite his experience and a deep knowledge of the city, he’s facing fresh uncertainties: how to build fellowship, how to move from street evangelism to intimate community, and how to think creatively about meeting spaces when traditional options are out of reach.

