About The Episode
In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, Brandon Bowers, Lead Pastor and planter of Awaken Church in Charleston, South Carolina, joins David Hibiske to share his 12-year journey of church planting—from parachuting in with a team of nine to launching two campuses and navigating growing pains. Brandon unpacks the highs, lows, and leadership lessons he’s learned along the way, including the importance of missional clarity, team alignment, and staying rooted in conviction. Whether you’re just starting out or years into your plant, Brandon’s insights will both challenge and encourage you to lead with purpose and perseverance.
Welcome to Episode 037 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.
Insights From Brandon
- Passion needs preparation.
Brandon’s story began with a strong burden to plant Awaken Church—but he’s the first to say that if he could go back, he’d slow the process down. “Charleston had been around for hundreds of years. It could’ve waited six more months,” he reflects. For planters eager to launch, his message is clear: passion is powerful, but don’t skip the preparation. - Don’t underestimate the need for missional clarity.
As Awaken grew, Brandon realized how easy it was for teams and leaders to drift toward “good things” that weren’t the church’s “main thing.” He emphasizes the necessity of crystal-clear mission and alignment. Without it, people—even good, gifted people—will go in different directions. - Culture doesn’t happen by accident.
One of the turning points for Awaken was developing a defined set of cultural values—what Brandon calls their “culture code.” These weren’t aspirational ideas; they were convictions shaped by experience and affirmed by the team. They became the filter for everything, from staff evaluations to weekly huddles. - You can’t lead what you haven’t defined.
Brandon didn’t fully clarify the church’s mission and culture until year five. His advice to planters? Start using “journey language” early. Accept that values and leadership will evolve with time—but begin the work of reflection and definition sooner rather than later. - Alignment takes intentional inspection.
Incorporating cultural values into staff reviews helped Awaken uncover hidden tensions and reinforce unity. Metrics are important, but if the team isn’t healthy, something’s off. Brandon learned to prioritize both performance and culture. - Hold convictions with grace.
When people didn’t share Awaken’s vision—especially around relational discipleship—Brandon learned to release them kindly. “We’re building the kingdom of God, not just our church,” he says. That posture of open-handed leadership creates space for others to thrive—even if it’s not under your roof. - 7. Stay a student. Always.
Even 12 years in, Brandon is learning, listening, and leaning on other pastors. He urges planters to join cohorts, pursue mentorship, and keep growing. As he puts it: “Development conversations aren’t trauma. They’re part of the calling.”
Episode Links
Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/
Who Is Brandon Bowers?
Brandon Bowers is the founding and Lead Pastor of Awaken Church in Charleston, SC and is passionate about seeing people far from God awakened to life in Christ. Awaken was planted in 2013 with a team of nine people and is now a multisite church of 2000 people that has celebrated 800+ baptisms. With a heavy focus on small group relational discipleship, almost 50% of weekend attendees are engaged in small groups meeting throughout the region. Brandon received a MA in Missiology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, serves as a Leadership Catalyst with SC Baptist Convention, and is the author of Rise Above the Lies, which details his planting journey with Awaken and leadership insights discovered along the way. He has been married to his college sweetheart Ashley since 2003 and they have four kids and live in the suburbs of Charleston.
Sponsors
Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.
A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you’re ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!
Our goal with the Ascent Leader and our church planting cohorts is to help church planters win early and finish strong. We want to resource you so that you can avoid common pitfalls and simple mistakes. Being involved in a community of leaders like our church planting cohorts is one of the best ways to wrestle through these questions. We’re here to help you, if we can be of assistance to you please feel free to reach out.
Contact our team: ops@theascentleader.org
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