Pastor Richard Pope on Planting Churches, Serving the Vulnerable, Forgiveness and Living with Cancer

Branden Hudson hosts Pastor Richard Pope of Canvas Church, his jujitsu student and Hudson’s new pastor, discussing Pope’s vision to measure church success by “sending capacity” through church planting rather than attendance. Pope explains launching Canvas during COVID, restoring marriages, helping people find purpose, and starting five autonomous churches in five years with a sixth planned in Princess Anne. He shares how his traumatic childhood, including family drug abuse, abuse, and sexual assault, shaped his commitment to serving the homeless, addicts, and marginalized with dignity, and why he speaks openly to help others disclose similar experiences. Hudson asks about setting boundaries with panhandling, and Pope suggests learning names and giving practical items. They also discuss rage toward child predators, justice versus vigilante vengeance, masculinity in church culture, and trusting God amid evil. Pope describes beating cancer twice and living with shrinking “terminal” cancer while fearing primarily for his wife, not his mission.

00:00 Welcome and Support

01:02 Meet Pastor Pope

03:00 Church Growth Vision

04:11 Planting During COVID

08:39 Serving the Marginalized

14:22 Helping Without Enabling

19:45 Pastor Pope Origin Story

20:34 Finding Strength to Share

24:13 Anger and Forgiveness

27:23 Rage and Hatred

28:17 Godly Desire to Protect

29:00 Suffering and Faith

30:52 Image of God and Sin

32:12 Vengeance and Vigilantes

36:27 Defense vs Revenge

38:45 Love Without Affirmation

41:30 Men and Heroic Courage

43:29 Romans 8 28 Hope

45:17 Cancer and Mortality

49:21 Gratitude and Farewell