Lessons from Failing to Plant a Church (with Jim Collins)

In this raw and encouraging conversation, Phil sits down with Jim Collins to talk about something we don't hear enough in ministry circles: failure. Jim shares his personal story of planting a church in Tennessee that didn’t go as planned—from launch dreams to a painful unraveling. But more than that, Jim reflects on the deeper lessons God taught him about leadership, calling, submission, and identity through that hard season.

Whether you’re a young leader eager to launch or a seasoned pastor navigating burnout or regret, this episode is a grace-filled reminder that failure isn’t fatal—and God is never done shaping us.

Key Topics Covered:

• The danger of launching without spiritual counsel
• How pride and ambition can masquerade as calling
• The difference between modeling and copying a ministry
• Why slowing down is not the same as disobedience
• What it looks like to find your identity after ministry “failure”
• Leadership lessons from real-world pain
• The importance of submitting to authority before leading others

Key Quotes:

“If you can’t submit, you can’t lead.”
“I was self-called. God allowed it, but I don't think He authored it.”
“Failure doesn’t mean you’re finished. It might mean God’s preparing you.”