Start Simple: Practical Outreach Wisdom from a Growing Reformed Church (Guest: Rev. Carl Miller)
What does it look like when God grows a church through faithful preaching, a praying congregation, and members who actually tell their neighbors about Jesus? Rev. Carl Miller of Heritage OPC, New Braunfels, Texas joins Daniel Vos to trace the Lord’s hand across nearly a decade of church planting, growth, and intentional outreach. This is a story worth hearing — and a conversation full of wisdom you can apply this week.
Episode Summary
New Braunfels, Texas has been one of the fastest-growing cities in America for years. It’s a city full of young families, rich German heritage, and a steady stream of new residents looking to put down roots. It’s also the home of Heritage Orthodox Presbyterian Church — a congregation that particularized in 2022 and has grown to around 130 members, largely through something deceptively simple: people telling other people about Jesus.
How One Church Built a Culture of Evangelism That Actually Lasts
In this episode of The Great Commission Today, host Daniel Vos sits down with Rev. Carl Miller, Heritage’s founding pastor, to explore how that culture of joyful, word-of-mouth evangelism was cultivated — and sustained — through nearly a decade of faithful ministry. The answer involves careful doctrinal formation, consistent prayer, a commitment to the ordinary means of grace, and a pastor who isn’t afraid to name the elephant in the room.
Everyone Has a Role in the Great Commission
That elephant is the discomfort most Christians feel around evangelism. Rev. Miller talks openly about it in his congregation — naming the fear, validating the diversity of gifts, and then helping every single member find a role in the Great Commission that fits who they are. Not everyone is a bold street preacher. But everyone can fold tracts. Everyone can pray. Everyone can share their excitement about what God is doing.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories of Gospel Faithfulness
The episode is full of vivid, memorable stories: a long-haired, lumberjack-built member who told strangers about Jesus at gas stations and while floating down the river; a depressed young man at a party who showed up to church because someone simply said ‘you need to come’; families discovered at farmer’s markets and Psalm sings. These aren’t polished ministry success stories. They’re the ordinary, surprising ways God moves when his people are faithful.
Rev. Miller also gives a detailed picture of Heritage’s intentional community presence: quarterly Psalm sings in the local park, quarterly addresses to the New Braunfels city council (livestreamed to the whole city), a free book and prayer table at the farmer’s market, street preaching, door-to-door tract distribution, and an apologetics class that ended with students writing and handing out their own gospel tracts. There’s always something happening. And it’s built on a conviction that every moment — every gas station, every river float, every city council meeting — is an opportunity for the gospel.
The episode closes with two words of practical counsel that every pastor and church member can act on today: start simple, and seek mentorship. Don’t wait until you have the perfect plan. Begin with one thing, pray over it, and trust the Lord to build his church.
What You’ll Learn
- How Heritage OPC grew from a small church plant to 130 members primarily through word-of-mouth personal invitation — and the intentional culture that made it possible.
- How Rev. Miller addresses the ‘elephant in the room’ about evangelism anxiety and helps every member — introverts included — find their place in the Great Commission.
- What Heritage’s officer training program looks like, including a year-long curriculum covering the confession, recommended books, counseling skills, and church history.
- How Heritage’s quarterly Psalm sings, city council addresses, farmer’s market book table, and street preaching calendar keep the congregation engaged with their community.
- Why Heritage’s online presence — sermons, standards podcasts, devotion videos, and high-ranking blog posts — functions as a front door for new visitors and a ministry resource for those who can’t attend in person.
- Two practical first steps for any pastor or church member who wants to see more fruit in evangelism: start simple, and seek mentorship.