Are you going through a hard season in ministry right now? What challenges are you facing as you shepherd broken people? Suffering is often God’s tool to refine His undershepherds and make them more Christlike. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Brenson Jennings, pastor of Crooked Creek Baptist Church in Athens, GA. Speaking of some of the lessons he has learned, Pastor Jennings says, "Ministry is not measured by buildings, bucks, and bodies but by Christlikeness."

Expectations are high; time is short; criticism is real. How do you prevent these pressures of ministry from straining your marriage? Marshall Fant discusses this topic with his wife, Gretchen, in this episode of RE:CHURCH. Their conclusion? Humble communication is the key. The Fants have been married since 1981 and currently serve in their local church and at GFA.

“I thought my job was to keep all the women happy.” That was Gretchen Fant’s view for about three weeks after her husband became a pastor. People’s expectations for a pastor’s wife vary, but what Scripture passages outline God’s expectations? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with his wife, Gretchen, who served as a pastor’s wife for 21 years. The Fants have been married since 1981 and currently serve in their local church and at GFA.

Criticism is a normal part of shepherding, not an indication of failure. But why does it hurt so deeply? How can a pastor avoid becoming defensive, discouraged, or bitter? How can criticism actually deepen a pastor’s humility, grow his dependence on Christ, and make him more effective as an undershepherd? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses handling criticism with Dale Cunningham, a senior pastor for 40 years. He and his wife, Denise, now serve ministry couples through D&D Ministries.

When a ministry has experienced a long series of declines but still has a future, what realities guide its revitalization? How do you assess the ministry and make changes? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses church revitalization with Jeremy Sweatt, senior pastor of Farmington Avenue Baptist Church in West Hartford, CT, since 2015. Pastor Sweatt has been in full-time ministry since 1994, serving as an associate pastor in two ministries and also planting a church north of Atlanta. He shares this encouragement with anyone involved in a church revitalization: “If God has called you to it, He will lead you through it.”

What should your priorities be during your initial days as a senior pastor? How can you avoid early mistakes? What is a healthy perspective on leading change in the first 100 days? This is the topic Marshall Fant discusses with Andrew Snavely, who has served as senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Highland Falls, NY, for 18 months. Prior to taking the senior pastorate, Pastor Andrew served for 10 years as an assistant pastor. Here are some nuggets of his advice: “Listen first. Lead wisely.” “Relationships are everything.”  “Earn trust by small, predictable faithfulness.” You can check out the show notes for the resources he found helpful as he transitioned to his new role. New Pastor’s Handbook: Help and Encouragement for the First Years of Ministry by Jason Helopoulos (great bullet point chapters) Church Matters: Seasons in a Pastor’s Life produced by 9Marks (short, succinct biblical stabilities) Who Moved My Pulpit?: Leading Change in the Church by Thom Rainer What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done by Matt Perman (personal direction and productivity) Next: Pastoral Succession That Works by William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird (more for the outgoing pastor and the church than for the incoming pastor, but still very helpful) Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry by Paul David Tripp Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church by Paul David Tripp RE:CHURCH interviews with Caleb Phelps: Preparing to Preach in Year 1 and What Pastoral Candidates Wish Pulpit Committees Knew The E3 Pastor Conference hosted by Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary Conversations with senior pastors he knows well to gauge input on full-time schedule, load management, family care, etc.

How can we direct the hearts of teens toward the Lord in light of the challenges they face in an increasingly dark world? Desiring to love young people and help the church, the Wilds is partnering with Shepherd Press to publish a Lifeline Mini-book series for teens. In this episode, Marshall Fant talks with Kelly Collier and Jim Holmes about this new resource. As an ACBC certified counselor, Kelly Collier serves with her husband, Matt, at the Wilds in North Carolina. Jim Holmes has been involved in Christian publishing for over 25 years and currently serves as executive director of ministry and business development at Shepherd Press. Both Kelly and Jim are passionate about helping the next generation by publishing these unintimidating, relatable books.

Electronic distractions. Shorter attention spans. Competing sources of authority. How does a preacher grapple with these things? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Ben Smith, pastor of Vacaville Bible Church in Vacaville, CA, where he has served as senior pastor since 2015. While thinking clearly about the progression of a sermon through a text helps listeners, getting to know your congregation is essential to addressing competing voices of authority. Speaking of the overall goal, Pastor Smith says, “We want to see people grow in their love for the Word of God so that they actually become counter-cultural.”

Emotional fatigue, physical exhaustion, spiritual discouragement. Pastors face both internal and external pressures that wear them down. What are some practical and spiritual ways to address weariness? What are some warning lights that a pastor is headed towards dangerous burnout? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Jerry Jacquot, pastor of Kingsway Baptist Church in Lake Wylie, SC. While planting a church, Pastor Jacquot was a bi-vocational pastor caring for the needs of a young family. Speaking about the pressure of church growth, Pastor Jacquot says, “Remember God’s standard for us is faithfulness. We need to be faithful and then leave the results to God.”

How does a normative-sized church handle technology challenges based on limited budget, knowledge, training, and workers? What are some key considerations regarding sound, presentation video, lighting, and streaming? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Tim Owens, director of operations at SES Integration. With a degree in electronics engineering and 25 years of experience in this field, Tim Owens advises churches to apply basic principles well rather than invest in the most expensive equipment. He says, “Find a good AV partner who can help you.”

“There is a sense in which every sermon ought to be an exposition of Scripture.” That was Dr. Mark Minnick’s comment to Marshall Fant in their discussion of expository preaching for episode 117 of RE:CHURCH, “Preparing to Preach with Mark Minnick.” This 16-minute segment reviews why a pastor should prepare expository sermons using the rhetorical processes of explanation, illustration, application, argumentation, and exhortation. Pastor Minnick has served as the senior pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC, since 1989 and has been in pastoral ministry for over 40 years. He is known as a pastor who diligently preaches the Word.