What Isaac Tolpin Taught Our Residents About Their First Year of Church Planting

By Derek Murphy

One of the things I love most about our ICPA Residency is the chance for rising church planters to learn directly from leaders and planters who are active in the field disciple-making and building churches in our region. We get to see how these conversations shape the next wave of church planters.

Last week, the residents learned from Isaac Tolpin, Lead Pastor of Rooted Bible Church in Horseshoe Bend, ID. Rooted just celebrated their one-year anniversary and is already seeing remarkable momentum. They recently hit 220 people on a non-holiday Sunday, and this week they’re expanding their tent by 30 feet to prepare for the Christmas season and future growth.

When a planter experiencing that kind of fruit speaks about a church’s first year, you lean in.

Here are some of the big lessons Isaac shared.

1. Know Where You Stand Biblically

Isaac began with clarity: a church planter must know where he stands on biblical truth.

A pastor with firm theological footing naturally attracts grounded believers and strong leaders. People respect clarity, even when they disagree. Ambiguity doesn’t build anything; conviction and humility do.

He challenged residents to master Scripture, root themselves in sound doctrine, and shepherd from a place of stability.

2. Treat Preaching as Holy Work

Isaac shared practical and spiritual insight on preparing and delivering God’s Word:

• “Every word you share can impact the church.” But don’t get bound up trying to read off the page. 

• Study the passage “inside and out.”

• Logos can help you dig deeper.

• Scripture is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).

• Spend time with the sermon morning of so it’s fresh when preaching.

• Memorize the intro and outro.

• Lock eyes with sections of the room.

• Don’t worship the clock; feed the flock.

• Keep the tempo up and engaging preach as if kids are in the room (which is true in his church)

One of his best reminders:

“Confidence grows when your focus moves off yourself and onto the people you’re serving.”

3. Build Culture On Purpose

Drawing from his days leading teams at CutCo, Isaac shared how culture shapes everything.

Church culture is “what people do when no one is watching.”

Without intention, unhealthy patterns form.

With intention, transformation takes root.

The culture killers he works against:

silos, loneliness, complaining, gossip, elitism, nominal Christianity.

The culture he cultivates at Rooted:

• Come as you are, but leave changed.

• Radical hospitality.

• Producers, not consumers.

• Encouragement as a normal rhythm.

• Every person seen, valued, and known.

His warning was one every planter needs to hear:

“You will never consistently vision cast what you do not embody.”

4. Stay Ahead of Human Behavior

Most pastors react to problems.

Healthy pastors anticipate them.

Isaac takes an hour each week simply to think, pray, and listen:

“Lord, reveal what I need to see before it becomes a fire.”

This is how you build sustainability through proactive care, clarity, and ongoing gratitude-building practices like volunteer appreciation and listening to feedback before conflict forms.

Why This Matters

The insights Isaac shared aren’t theories, they’re forged in real ministry among real people. This is what makes our residency special: leaders learning from active practitioners, not just textbooks.

And these are the kinds of conversations shaping the upcoming 2026 ICPA Residency Cohort.

If you or someone you know feels a tug toward church planting, leadership development, or exploring a future call, we would love to talk. The residency isn’t simply a course; it’s a formation journey with real mentors and a network committed to multiplication.

For more information, reach out or visit:

intermountainchurchplanters.com/residency

God is raising up workers for the harvest in the Intermountain West.

We’d love to help you discern and prepare for that calling.

Conversation SLC: A Church That Talks Back

A Vision for Something Different

In the heart of Utah, a new church is making waves—not just in numbers, but in the way it gathers people to experience God. Conversation SLC, a fresh church plant launched in September, is breaking traditional molds by creating a truly interactive worship experience.

Led by Mike Routledge, one of the founding pastors of K2 The Church and a seasoned worship leader, Conversation SLC was born out of a vision for something different: services that are conversational. Here, the audience isn’t just listening; they’re engaging, responding, and connecting as the service unfolds. It’s church designed for dialogue, not just delivery.

“ The audience isn’t just listening; they’re engaging, responding, and connecting as the service unfolds.”

— Derek Murphy

A New Home in Midvale

The church first launched at Gardner Village, creating a warm and accessible space for early attendees. Since then, God has opened new doors: Cornerstone Community Church in Midvale has come alongside them, gifting Conversation SLC a building to renovate for future gatherings.

While construction plans move forward, the church will continue meeting at Gardner Village, keeping their momentum and community life strong

Lives Being Changed

Already, the fruit is clear. Since launch, Conversation SLC has baptized more than 20 people, including seven in the past month alone. Each story points back to the relational, disciple-making approach the church has embraced.
Partnering with the Intermountain Church Planters Association (ICPA), they are receiving encouragement and guidance as they step into this bold new model of church in Utah.

In One of the Most Unreached Regions

In one of the most spiritually unreached regions of the U.S., Conversation SLC is showing that innovation, authenticity, and community can draw people into life-changing encounters with Christ.

Whether you’re curious about alternative church models or simply looking for a place where your voice is heard, Conversation SLC is rewriting the script of what church can look like.

A Milestone to Celebrate !

They’ll celebrate their first anniversary on September 21st—a moment to thank God for what He has done and to dream about what’s ahead.

Church Planting for Every Place and Every Person

In a time when many church planting organizations are narrowing their focus, limiting their vision to superstar leaders and urban cores, the Intermountain Church Planters Association (ICPA) is choosing a different path.

We believe church planting is not just for the elite few or the booming city.

It’s for every follower of Jesus. It’s for every community, no matter how remote or overlooked.

Planting Isn't Just for the Top 5%

Ola Community Church, Ola, ID (Derek started preached here 2005-2007). Photo taken May 2025.

Some organizations focus exclusively on the "top 5% of leaders" to launch their churches.

While we deeply value strong leadership, we believe every Christian carries the DNA of a disciple-making, which means many have the potential to be church planters, like an acorn with the potential to become an oak tree.

The real task is discernment and development. Not every leader is called to plant a church of 500 in a major metro. But what if they’re called to gather a community of 50 in a rural town where no gospel-preaching church exists? Or to start a house church, 20 or a microchurch that multiplies?

At ICPA, we’re committed to helping emerging leaders:

• Discern what type of church fits their gifts,

• Develop a customized leadership pathway, and

• Deploy with support that matches their context.

We don't believe in one-size-fits-all leadership pipelines. We believe in growing oaks, slowly, sustainably, and contextually.

Church Planting Beyond the City Limits

We love cities. We believe in planting thriving churches in Spokane, Boise, Salt Lake City and Missoula, the primary metro areas in our region. But we also believe the Great Commission doesn’t stop at the city limits.

Too often, rural towns are forgotten, treated as too small to matter or too difficult to reach. We reject that mindset.

ICPA exists to plant churches in both metro hubs and rural outposts. From the booming suburbs to towns like Horseshoe Bend, ID, and Oakley, UT, we’re raising leaders to go wherever the gospel is needed and that means everywhere.

Developing Leaders for the Harvest

Relational Discipleship Training - Enterprise, OR (March 1, 2025). These men lead 30+ leaders in Enterprise, OR on how to make disciples in their communities. (Left to Right, Scott Williams, Randy McLachlan, Bryan Brutsman, Jeff Sadler, Derek Murphy)

This spring, we launched our first cohort of ICPA Residents, eight individuals preparing to plant churches across Idaho and Utah.

Some will plant in growing cities. Others will step into forgotten places. All are learning the skills of disciple-making, team-building, and biblical leadership.

And this May, we hosted a School of Ministry planning retreat to design the next layer of leadership training for our region. We’re praying God would raise up more “ordinary” leaders with extraordinary faith, men and women willing to go where others won’t.

We are planning to launch the school of ministry in the fall of 2026 with 12-20 in our first cohort. We do not have an application up yet, but reach out or keep your eyes open for more information coming soon.

Left to Right, Top to Bottom. Brian and Cloe Crase (Spanish Fork, UT), Jorge and Karine Desouza (South Jordan, UT), Ryan and Emily Gillat (Boise, ID), Chris and Crystal Combs (Meridian, ID), Randy and Jacki McLachlan (Lewiston, ID), Joshua and Lilli King (Moscow, ID), Greg and Mary Woodward (Oakley, UT), Dustin and Allie Weiss (Middleton, ID).

Join Us in Prayer

Leader Prayer Breakfast Salt Lake City, UT February 2025. Robert Marshall (praying) has 40+ years of service in the harvest fields of Utah.

We believe God wants to saturate the Intermountain West with the gospel through every kind of leader, in every kind of place.

We invite you to pray with us:

• Pray for our current residents.

• Pray for our church planter assessment the first week of June

• Pray for our upcoming School of Ministry (2026).

• Pray that more workers would be sent into the harvest—not just the “top 5%,” but the everyday saints ready to say yes.

People Are the Prize!

Let’s keep our eyes on the harvest field because every person, every community matters, and together, we can advance the gospel to places others have overlooked.

Derek Murphy
May 2025

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Rooted Bible Church: A Community-Focused Launch in Horseshoe Bend

A Tent, a Vision, and a Growing Church

On October 20, 2024, Rooted Bible Church officially launched in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, with an incredible turnout of 164 people. Led by Isaac Tolpin and his team including his wife Angie by his side and several of his children leading worship, this new church plant began with a vision to meet the spiritual needs of a small but tight-knit community. The launch Sunday was nothing short of remarkable—not just for its numbers but for the overwhelming community involvement and support.

Rolling Up the Sides—and Rolling Out a New Vision

The launch day exceeded all expectations. The tent they had set up for the service couldn’t contain the crowd. The church literally had to roll up the sides to make room for everyone. It quickly became clear that their original 30x40 tent wouldn’t suffice, so they returned it and purchased a 40x60 tent for the second week to ensure enough space for both their growing congregation and the weekly potlucks that are already becoming a hallmark of Rooted community life.

Since that first Sunday, Rooted has continued to thrive. This past Sunday, the church welcomed 160 attendees—nearly matching their launch Sunday numbers, a milestone that very few new church plants achieve so quickly. It’s a testament to the strength of the community’s engagement and the Tolpins’ commitment to creating a welcoming, Christ-centered environment.

A Community-Driven Ministry

Rooted Bible Church has been embraced by the Horseshoe Bend community in inspiring ways. Local residents have rallied behind the church, offering their support and involvement, making signs, laying gravel, and even supplying chairs. Even the local school has shown interest in partnering with the church by allowing access to restrooms on their property—a crucial detail for a church gathering in a tent.

This spirit of collaboration underscores the unique dynamic in Horseshoe Bend, where the church and community can work hand in hand to serve the needs of the people. Rooted Bible Church’s story is a testament to what happens when a church truly plants itself in the life of its town.

The Next Chapter: Building and Growing Together

As a part-time pastor, Isaac has poured countless hours into creating a church that reflects the heart of Horseshoe Bend. Rooted is now seeking partners to help expand the ministry further. The dream includes eventually bringing someone on to focus on pastoral care and discipleship, ensuring that as the church grows, its members are nurtured and equipped for their faith journey.

The Role of the ICPA

The Intermountain Church Planters Association (ICPA) has supported the Rooted launch with some startup funds. Isaac and Angie participated in an assessment and the Art of the Start training, which provided practical tools and strategies for planting a church. Additionally, Isaac has received ongoing guidance and coaching from one of our board members, Dan Shields, to help navigate the unique challenges of part-time ministry while building a vibrant church community.

A Testament to God’s Provision

Rooted Bible Church’s story is one of faith, resilience, and the power of community. From rolling up the sides of a tent to rolling out the welcome mat for a growing congregation, this church plant is already making waves in Horseshoe Bend.

If you’re interested in partnering with Rooted Bible Church—whether through prayer, financial support, or simply sharing their story—please reach out and be a part of what God is doing in Horseshoe Bend.

Building Community in West Boise – Hill City West

On September 8, 2024, Hill City Church celebrated the launch of its West Campus in Garden City, Idaho. This new church plant, led by Nick Duffel with the help of his wife Beth and many others, represents more than a growing congregation—it’s a bold step forward in Hill City’s mission to be a church that plants churches.

A Community-Driven Start

The first service welcomed an incredible 226 people, including families, neighbors, and those seeking a fresh expression of faith. From the warm smiles of volunteers to the uplifting worship, every detail reflected the heart of a church built for the community.

Nick’s message on launch Sunday emphasized that this was only the beginning, calling the congregation to embrace the journey ahead. This campus isn’t just about filling seats on Sunday—it’s about becoming an integral part of the Treasure Valley and beyond, reaching the unchurched and equipping believers to live on mission.

The ICPA’s Role in the Journey

The Intermountain Church Planters Association (ICPA) supported Hill City West by providing tools, training, and guidance tailored to the challenges of church planting. Through the church planter assessment process, Nick and Beth received valuable feedback and preparation. They participated in Art of the Start training, which provided practical steps and strategies for launching a church successfully. Additionally, Kelly Armstrong, an experienced church planting coach, has been walking alongside them, offering insight and encouragement as they build this new church community.

This partnership underscores the value of collaboration, equipping Hill City West to launch with a foundation for future growth and ministry.

Beyond the First Sunday

Since its launch, Hill City West has steadily grown into its role as a hub for discipleship and outreach. The campus is uniquely positioned in a part of Boise that is rapidly growing, yet underserved by Bible-teaching churches. In their second month, the campus has seen consistent attendance and an outpouring of engagement from the community.

Through Hill City West, God is raising up leaders, forging connections, and planting seeds for a future that extends far beyond its immediate neighborhood.

A Legacy of Church Planting

The West Campus launch is a continuation of Hill City’s broader vision to multiply disciples and churches across the region. Hill City is stepping out in faith, trusting God’s provision, and working with others to see His Kingdom expand.

This launch is a reminder that the work of planting churches isn’t just about new buildings or campuses; it’s about building relationships, fostering discipleship, and creating lasting impact in the name of Jesus.

Preach to Reach by Josh Branham

Preach to Reach

Earlier this Spring, I had the opportunity to lead a workshop at the Exponential regional roundtable in Boise on “Preaching as Evangelism.” Honestly, I couldn’t have been more excited about this topic. If we can help even one person put their faith in Jesus, it is time well spent.

I have been preaching and teaching the Bible weekly for over a decade. Over the years, I've learned a few key principles that help me reach the lost through sermons. Since implementing some of these practices, our church has seen five times more baptisms. 

Here are my top seven tips for preaching to reach the lost:

1. Preach the gospel as often as possible.

Many people recite this quote attributed to Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” I understand that people can experience God’s love through actions, not just words. However, this idea can be misleading about what it means to preach the gospel. 

The gospel is the good news that Jesus is the savior of the world. News, by definition, is communication. Every week, despite the passage or topic I’m preaching, I ask, “Where is Jesus?” 

BibleProject points out, “The Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus.” A seasoned preacher should be able to find a legitimate way to tie any passage back to the metanarrative of redemption through Jesus Christ.

Don’t ever be afraid that the gospel will become white noise. The more someone hears an invitation, the more likely they will respond. Preaching about salvation every week will also challenge you to keep it fresh. Tim Keller highlights the importance of a well-rounded approach to preaching Jesus from various texts.

“No one form of the gospel gives all the various aspects of the full gospel the same emphasis…If you are preaching expositionally, different passages will convey different forms of the one gospel. Preach different texts and your people will hear all the points. Won’t this confuse people? No, it stretches them.” - Tim Keller

2. Practice what you preach.

Your life is the best sermon you will ever preach. One of the most destructive statements for a leader is, “Do as I say, not as I do.” I hear this kind of thing from preachers all the time. People will not become like what you say; they will become who you are.

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. - Luke 6:40

If a Scripture challenges me, I find ways to follow Jesus in that area leading up to the sermon. I’m not saying that a preacher should pretend to be perfect or the hero of every example. Instead, sharing your struggle towards sanctification will show people you are on the journey with them.

3. Don’t shy away from hard topics.

Relevance is about speaking to the issues that people are actually dealing with. Contextualization shows how the gospel answers every important question of the human experience.

People are asking questions about life, meaning, sexuality, identity, ethics, and justice anyway. If you don’t address the pressing issues of our times, people will ask Google, ChatGPT, their professor, or their friend group. 

One challenging topic often neglected in evangelical circles is the doctrine of hell. While I’m not a hellfire and brimstone preacher, I also try not to soften or skip over passages on the sobering thought of eternal punishment.

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. - Matthew 5:29

Jesus included many warnings about judgment in his preaching ministry. If you believe that every human being will spend eternity somewhere, this will keep you honest and will add urgency to your preaching. If Jesus wasn’t afraid to speak about difficult topics,  we shouldn’t be either.

4. Declare it, don’t debate it.

The power is in the gospel itself. Too often, we feel a need to convince people or lay out a compelling case for Christ. While there is value in thinking through the logical flow of a gospel presentation, we have to stop pretending that we can control the outcome of someone’s response.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. - Romans 1:16

Remember, when you share the gospel, you are not preaching with your own authority. You stand on the authority of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is with you. Christ commissions you.

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” - Luke 10:16

5. Give a consistent, clear call to action.

If you don’t tell people how to respond, they won’t know with certainty that they have received Christ. The goal isn’t to give people something to think about; it’s to get sinners to repent. 

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” - Matthew 4:17

During COVID, our teachings were exclusively online. I realized people had to stumble upon the right message to know how to respond in faith. I started inviting people to sign up for baptism each week. From that point, we created an online Baptism 101 video class. Within weeks, we already had someone sign up to get baptized who had never actually set foot in our church building!

6. Address the unbeliever in the room.

You don’t have to be a “seeker-sensitive” church to be sensitive to the fact that unbelievers are in the gathering. 

Even if everyone appears to be a believer, you’d be surprised where people are spiritually. Years ago, a long-time volunteer leader stood up when I gave a call to faith during the sermon. I never would have guessed that he needed to receive Christ.

“For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7

Hypothetically, even if there aren’t any unbelievers in the room, you are training your church to expect non-Christians at church. They will be much more likely to invite friends to church if they know they will hear about the gospel.

7. Pray for power.

I bathe every step in the sermon writing process in prayer. Pastor Jon Tyson says, “A prayerless sermon is a powerless sermon.” If you want a more powerful sermon, you need to pray for it.

One of the prayers I consistently pray is for God to anoint me with the power to preach. At first glance, this seems like a selfish prayer. However, I think it’s honorable to pray for greater gifting and power as long as it is for the sake of others. Remember Elisha, who asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9).

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. - James 4:2-3

I’m praying for a generation of preachers who will powerfully declare God’s salvation to the lost.

©2023 by Josh Branham. Proudly created with Wix.com

Valley Real Life Church Update

Announcements

Article by Jenny Arellano, Current ICPA Executive Admin

On September 17th , 2023 with the help of Valley Real Life and the ICPA Kelly Armstrong who is supported by his wife, Brandi Armstrong and an amazing team planted Valley Real Life, Riverside in heart of Northwest Spokane, Washington. This is a campus of VRL that will be released as a plant.

Valley Real Life Campus Pastor , Kelly Armstrong and his wife Brandi Armstrong.

Valley Real Life (03) started as a small church of 125, since then it has become a multigenerational church of about 2,500 people.

Their Vision

Reaching the world for Jesus Christ, one person at a time

Their Mission
To be and make disciples of Jesus.

Their emphasis on imperfection really sets them apart. Their staff values relationship, intentionality and BEING REAL.

Their values are engrained in all the work that is done in their ministries.

Valley Real Life Staff

Valley Real Life Staff

Valley Real Life is on month 6 at the Riverside Campus.

They just completed their second Lift Group launch.

The building block of VLR model is their Life Groups. They harbor a total 55 Life groups that are available for any season on life .Their focus on life groups ensure their members are involved in their community- in their church

Derek Murphy, the ICPA Executive director, said it best . “Church is just code word for people and specifically people who are following Jesus. If you can come here leave and not know any body you are not going to church “

As of right now they have around 250 members attending church on Sunday.

They are reaching more into the community every month, meeting and exceeding expectations. As of now they are preparing for their Easter service together rallying the church to reach more friends and neighbors. Please pray for Dan Shields, lead pastor at VRL and Kelly Armstrong this season as they lead their church into Resurrection Sunday.