About The Episode
In this episode of The Unfair Advantage, John Mark Redwine shares an honest, decade-long look at the realities of church planting—marked by calling, perseverance, heartbreak, and healing. From planting in the spiritually resistant city of Asheville to navigating postpartum depression, family illness, leadership conflict, COVID, and even a devastating hurricane, John Mark reflects on what it takes to stay faithful when quitting feels easier. Through personal stories, spiritual practices, and hard-earned wisdom, he offers hope-filled encouragement for leaders who feel weary, reminding them that calling, healing, and sustainable rhythms are essential for longevity in ministry.
Welcome to Episode 048 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.
Insights From John Mark
- Calling Must Be Clear—and Revisited Often
John Mark emphasizes the importance of writing down your calling in moments of clarity, before the hard seasons come. When leaders lose sight of why they started, discouragement and burnout creep in. Returning to those original words can re-anchor faith on the hardest days.
- Quitting Can’t Be an Option in Your Vocabulary
One of the most powerful insights from the episode is the intentional removal of “quit” from leadership language. When quitting becomes an option, it eventually becomes a temptation. Faithfulness, John Mark explains, is often about staying when it would be easier to leave.
- You Can’t Avoid Hurt—But You Can Learn to Heal
Leadership guarantees pain. Betrayal, loss, misunderstanding, and disappointment are unavoidable. The difference between leaders who last and those who burn out is not whether they get hurt—but whether they learn how to heal well through counseling, community, and intentional care.
- Growth and Suffering Often Coexist
Even during seasons of personal crisis—family illness, church conflict, global shutdowns—John Mark’s church experienced growth. This tension reminds leaders that fruitfulness doesn’t always mean ease, and hardship doesn’t mean failure.
- Rhythms of Rest Sustain Long-Term Faithfulness
From solo movie nights to annual retreats with trusted pastor friends, John Mark highlights the necessity of rest and renewal. These rhythms create space where leaders can remember: “Nobody needs anything from me right now.”
- Faithfulness Is About Getting Back Up
The recurring theme of the episode is perseverance. “If you’re gonna be dumb, you better be tough,” John Mark jokes—but underneath the humor is a deep truth: leaders last by continually getting back up, trusting that God brings a harvest in due season.
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 John Mark Redwine?
John Mark joined the Coast Guard at 19 and served 8.5 years. During that time he got a Bachelor’s in Religion and a Master’s of Divinity from Liberty Theological Seminary. Before moving to Asheville he served as Student Director at Echo Church in San Jose, California. In 2013 he and his wife felt God calling them to plant a church. They spent the next two years building a team, planning, dreaming, and researching. In 2015 he and his family moved to Asheville to start the Gathering Church which launched in February 2016. He married Rahel in 2010 and they have three children, Eleanor, Dagny and Elvira.
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!
Thanks to our sponsor: MOHI.
Partnering with MOHI helps churches establish a culture of outward-focused discipleship early on. By connecting your congregation to Kingdom work in Africa, you foster generosity, compassion, and a vision for serving beyond your local community—values that help shape your church’s identity for years to come.
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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