4 days ago
177| Belief, Vision, & Guts - What it takes to Build for Growth | ft. Matt Pinto, Founder of Ascension Press
Matt Pinto, founder of Ascension Press, joins Tom Corcoran and Melissa Wilkinson to share what he has learned from more than three decades of building Catholic ministries that reach people. From his own conversion story to the growth of Ascension, Matt explains why belief, vision, beauty, authenticity, and intentionality all matter when trying to lead people closer to Christ.
For pastors and parish leaders, this episode offers practical lessons for moving beyond maintenance and building for growth. Matt shares why leaders need humility, patience, courage, and a willingness to invest in what is working. He also explains why lasting parish renewal takes time, strong infrastructure, and the discipline to keep moving forward even when change feels slow.
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Ready to Go Forward?
Registration for the Rebuilt Conference 2027 is coming together, and we would love to welcome you and your parish team to Church of the Nativity for two days of practical ideas, encouragement, prayer, and conversations designed to help your parish move forward.
Learn more and register at rebuiltparish.com/conference
Explore Jesus, the Rich Young Man, and the Meaning of Life
Looking for a practical resource to help people in your parish grow deeper in discipleship? Get the first chapter free from Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran’s newest book, Jesus, the Rich Young Man, and the Meaning of Life.
You’ll also find free parish resources designed to help you use the book with small groups, message series, and parish-wide formation. Visit rebuiltparish.com/richyoungman
IN THIS EPISODE
- Matt Pinto’s conversion and path into Catholic ministry
- What Catholic leaders can learn from an entrepreneurial mindset
- Why belief must come before vision and execution
- The importance of humility when pastors face challenges they were never trained to solve
- Why beauty, authenticity, and excellent presentation matter in evangelization
- How Ascension recognized the opportunity in small groups
- Knowing when to stop doing something and double down on what is working
- Why infrastructure and sustainable resources matter for ministry
- Thinking long-term while celebrating smaller victories along the way
- Matt’s advice for pastors who feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to change
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Meet Matt Pinto
01:05 Matt’s Faith Story
03:56 Rediscovering the Catholic Faith
06:46 Bringing an Entrepreneurial Mindset to the Church
11:43 What Pastors Can Learn from Entrepreneurs
12:03 Belief, Vision, and Execution
16:15 Building Ascension
16:54 Reaching People Differently
21:47 Why Beauty Matters
25:35 Investing in What Makes the Greatest Impact
27:00 Why Ascension Pivoted to Small Groups
29:16 Ministry, Money, and Free Resources
31:00 Building the Infrastructure for Growth
32:58 Think Big, Move Prudently
34:35 Long-Term Growth and Short-Term Victories
35:55 Standing on the Shoulders of Others
39:04 “Slowly, Then Suddenly”
39:42 Where Should an Overwhelmed Pastor Begin?
42:07 Working On the Parish, Not Just In It
44:44 Final Thoughts
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Catholic parish leadership, Matt Pinto, Ascension Press, Ascension Presents, Catholic leadership, parish renewal, Catholic evangelization, parish growth, Church leadership, pastors, Catholic ministry, parish strategy, making disciples, small groups, Church of the Nativity, Rebuilt Parish, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, Bible in a Year, Catholic entrepreneurship
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