When it comes to church planting, there are three things every planter must have in order to survive: a God-given calling, a clear vision, and an abundance of prayer for the journey.
While there isn’t enough space here to unpack each one, my hope is that my story encourages you in your story – especially if you’re contemplating doing something bold for God.
As a father of six amazing kids, a spouse of nearly 30 years, and with four church plants already behind me, I can honestly say that church plant number five is the one that scares me the most.
Why? Because this one is the most “out-of-the-box” attempt at reaching people for Christ that we’ve ever taken on. And the two words we are putting together for this church plant may cause some people to question whether it’s even a church.
What are the two words?
POOL CHURCH. (Water not included – just billiard balls.)
The Seed God Planted Years Ago
To give a bit of context, years ago at an Exponential Conference I heard a piercing challenge:
“Investigate your heart. See what God has placed in it. Now go and run after that. Why? Because what God has placed in your heart is already blessed.”
That call hit deep. The game of pool has been part of my life since childhood. It’s one of the things I’ve always treasured doing with my dad. Could God really use billiards to start a church? This was a question I dismissed for years, because I simply couldn’t envision it.
Use pool – or any hobby – to reach people for Jesus? Easy, yes.
But start a church with it?
I just couldn’t see how.
Yet through time and many pocketed billiard balls, God began working in ways I did not expect.
When Ministry Success Becomes a Bubble
When I took my first full-time ministry position, I was all in. But over time, I realized I had slipped into the church bubble culture: church friends, church activities, church planning, church leadership, church books, church potlucks – church everything. On the outside, it looked good. Inside, I realized I wasn’t reaching many unreached or lost people. I was serving the already-faithful.
That’s when I embraced a shift that I believe reflects what Exponential is calling leaders toward: Focus less on seating capacity and more on sending capacity. The goal is not simply to fill pews, but to multiply disciples and reproduce Christ-centered communities. As Exponential puts it: moving from “church as building or program” to church as movement – expressed in many ways, for many people.
As I continued to grow as a leader, I realized I needed to follow Jesus where He was going – not stay where I was comfortable. When I looked into my heart, God said two words: “Pool Church.” If I was going to echo Jesus’ own mission in Luke 19:10 – “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost” – then I needed to put myself in places where lost people actually were.
Truth Bombs God Taught Me
- If your vision doesn’t scare you, it’s probably not from God.
- When you say, “I can’t,” God says, “I can. Be obedient – then watch what He does.”
To my knowledge, the words Pool and Church have never been put together before. And how does it actually work? Well… we’re still figuring some of it out.
Just by putting the words “Pool” and “Church” together – by giving it a chance – God has already baptized a pool-playing dad and his daughter. We haven’t even officially launched, and yet we are already seeing signs of multiplication: real people, real faith, real change.
Pool Church: Structure + Mission + Multiplication
Instead of a traditional building, Pool Church is being built on two foundational stones:
- Our Acts 1:8 Production Studio
We’ve mounted cameras over tables, planning to leverage technology to broadcast Pool Church into homes, pool halls, bars, recovery centers, community centers – anywhere people gather. All we need is someone with a heart for Jesus, a room, a few snacks… and a TV. That’s it.
With this system, we will be able to plant micro-expressions of Pool Church around the world. All the content will be provided.
- A Pool-Church Liturgy (Order of Service)
Yes: we have an order of service. But instead of traditional liturgy, we use what we call Gospel Trick Shots – unique billiard shots, often pocketing several balls at once, paired with a Gospel truth, a Bible verse, prayer, and practical life application. Each shot becomes a vivid metaphor, a conversation starter, a bridge to discipleship. It’s worship, story, community – just with cues, balls, and chalk. And yes, we will throw in the doughnuts and coffee for free. Every Gospel Trick Shot is a picture of the Gospel – balls moving, walls breaking, collisions that lead to freedom. Click on this link and watch one of our Pool Church disciple makers share Christ through a Gospel Trick Shot.
A Glimpse of Who Is Showing Up
Last Friday night, a man named Jason walked in off the street and said:
“I love pool and I’ve been sober for nine months. I can’t go back to the bar. I’ve been in prison. Could Pool Church be a place for me?”
That’s the kind of person Jesus came for.
And that’s exactly who Pool Church exists for. Jason’s question alone reminds me why Pool Church matters: because there are people who feel like they don’t fit “church.” People afraid the church will judge them. But Jesus…He meets people where they are. After speaking with Jason, and hearing his story, I showed him the “Rise Up” shot. After shooting the shot, Jason exclaimed “That’s me. I’m rising up!” More than just an articulated response, I said to Jason, “Now it’s your turn to shoot the shot and share your story with it. Jason not only made the shot, but he left ready, equipped, and discipled to tell his friends!
With our Duya Chinese Heyball table, a Blackball table (Europe & Africa), a portable table, and two American Diamond pool tables, Pool Church is already attracting players – not just pool players, but potential disciples. People who want to improve their game, sure. But even more, people who are open to encountering Jesus in a context that feels familiar, safe, real.
Toward a Multiplying Future: A Church for an Unreached People Group
Though we haven’t officially launched Pool Church, God is already at work. We’re raising support, building momentum, assembling a launch team – all toward planting a church that multiplies.
Pool Church isn’t designed solely for us. It’s designed to be multiplied. With a simple, portable, replicable model – a table, some balls, a screen – we believe this expression of church could be reproduced in homes, bars, community centers, pool halls, small towns, and big cities – anywhere people gather.
Pool Church may look unconventional – but so did the early church meeting in homes, around tables, breaking bread. Pool Church is not the alternative to the traditional church – it is one more expression in the growing ecosystem of churches reaching people who would never step into a sanctuary.
If you’re interested in learning more, need ideas for your church, or would like to partner with us, feel free to contact me: [email protected]
In the meantime, enjoy the trick shots, share them with a friend, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe.
