Strength for Today's Pastor

This subject is coming up more and more every day. We at Poimen Ministries are finding ourselves in conversations every week with pastors who are looking to the future, and wondering what they should do now with regard to their own pastoral transition.

The bottom line is this: unless Jesus returns before you've come to the end of your ministry at your present church, someone else will pastor your church.

Therefore, at the very least, every pastor should prepare for someone else to be in the saddle.

Pastor Jimmy Morales asked show host Bill Holdridge if he could interview him with his own list of questions on this topic. The resultant interview is from that discussion.

Jimmy Morales pastors Fervent Church (formerly called Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain) in North Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a strong leader, with a kingdom vision for the ministry the Lord has given him.

This is a very interesting and inspirational testimony ... Tadd and Charity Scheffer tell their story.

Tadd is the founding and senior/lead pastor of Calvary Ellensburg, Washington. Charity, in addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, has an amazing side hustle (i.e. job). You'll have to listen in to find out about it.

In 2009 the Scheffers followed the Lord’s calling in their life to go to Ellensburg with their four children. They have a huge heart for missions and a special heart for Haiti, as they have adopted 2 children from there.

Their desire is to serve the Lord in what ever aspect He leads them.

Even senior/lead pastors need models ... examples ... visuals ... concerning what pastoral ministry is all about. Episode 139 provides encouraging narrative to help with that...

It's an amazing thing to watch how the Lord sovereignly brings two people together and then uses that union for His greater glory.

Such is the case in the lives of Tadd and Charity Scheffer.

Tadd is the senior/lead pastor of Calvary Ellensburg, in Ellensburg, WA. When he and Charity met, she was a Mormon and he was a carnal believer. Yet, the Lord used their relationship to draw both of them to Himself, and the rest is history that is still being written.

Tadd was highlighted in episode 136, which focused on his journey out of Calvinism and into a new freedom in ministry with Calvary Chapel. Part of his and Charity's story was told there.

Pastor Paul Berry's passion is to “equip the body of Christ with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the accompanying Spiritual gifts given for the work of the ministry and the flourishing of the church.”

This is also the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, Jesus had much to say to His disciples prior to going to the cross, to prepare them for days ahead, and also for life after He ascended into heaven. His preparation included a strong emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in (and through) their lives … particularly in John 14-16.

In a recent email thread with other pastors, a question was asked about the ministry of the Spirit in the local church, specifically about believer’s meetings, aka afterglows.

The question was then asked: "why is it that so many churches do not have body life, afterglow kinds of meetings, where gifts like prophecy, words of knowledge and wisdom, healings, tongues with interpretation, will occur?"

Two words became obvious answers to that question: Unbelief. Fear. These twins of discouragement and failure seem to be behind much of the current hesitancy re: the things of the Holy Spirit.

Sit with Pastor Paul as he shares his thoughts on unbelief and/or fear as hindrances to the work of the Holy Spirit being manifest in and through our lives.

Obviously, it’s far easier to focus on what’s wrong than it is to provide hope and direction to do things right.

So, what’s to be done to address the faith issue with regard to the activities of the Holy Spirit in and through the church?

Next, what’s to be done to address the fear issue with regard to the activities of the Holy Spirit in and through the church?

You may have heard this phrase, or even used it in a message: “I’d rather burn out than rust out!”

Let’s be honest, many of us have worn that phrase as a badge of honor, as though it’s an honorable thing to burn out for God.

Today, that phrase is a painful one … far too many of our brothers-in-arms have opted out of ministry (“I’m done, this isn’t what I signed up for!”), or have given up on ministry (due to discouragement or stress), or have been chased out of ministry due to their choices (ethical or moral failure.

A recent Barna Group study found that 38% of pastors are seriously considering leaving full-time ministry.

We see this trend as tragic, and as being part of much greater problems in today’s church. There are the expectations that people put on their pastors — and that pastors put on themselves … these can be debilitating. “Everywhere pastors go they are expected to be ‘on’ — ready to give stellar leadership, unending compassion, an inspiring message, anointed prayer, and words of encouragement.”

Are there only two options? Is burnout in the ministry and in the life of a minister inevitable? And, if I don’t experience burnout, does that mean that I’m rusting out?

The answer is “no.” There are not only two options. There is a third option, which is to learn a life lived under grace, with the right pace, and for the correct race.

In this episode, we’re going to talking about the life-giving counsel of a book we’ve all read … written out of the true story of the author, Wayne Cordeiro. The book is entitled Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion.

Two wonderful pastor-friends-teammates of mine will be helping me in this conversation … Trip Kimball and Terry McNabb. Trip is a long-time pastor-teacher, author, equipper, and discipler; Terry is also a long-time pastor-teacher, musician, and leadership coach. Terry and Trip have both been on our team of Poimen Ministries pastors, for years. You can learn more about them on our ministry website.

to Trip and Terry: "Welcome to the program. I just finished reading Cordeiro’s book. I’ve had it on my bookshelf for a couple of years. I’m so blessed by what Wayne Cordeiro has written. I wish I’d have had (and looked for) a resource like this when I started my ministry back in 1976. It taught me things, reminded me of other things, and motivated my in areas of my own life as well. So, we’re gonna get into it, each of us. And this will explain why we’re recommending reading it."

What can be said about The Unconference? 

When the concept was first introduced, many senior pastors on the West Coast were intrigued, and the 1st annual had good participation.

But probably no one ever imagined what might happen in a mere 24 hours together with other hungry and desperate-for-God pastors.

In. Credible.

Tune in to hear from three senior pastors who have been there throughout. 

Many have prayed for revival, others have prayed for an awakening. Many have prayed for both. One thing is for certain: revival doesn't happen in a vacuum, or in culture of isolation. Revival, if and when it comes, always involves people. Groups of them.

The Unconference. 

There are many examples in the scriptures that highlight the callings of men and women of God. 

In this podcast episode, show host Bill Holdridge dives into the calling of the prophet Jeremiah, and makes applications for pastors in our day.

It has never been more important for pastor-teachers to make their ministry calling a certain thing in their hearts and minds. 

From that certainty, many very good things result. 

Tune in to hear more.

Pastoral transition is real, and unless Jesus Christ returns for His church before a specific pastor dies, someone else will be the pastor of his church! 

In this podcast, Poimen Ministries Director Bill Holdridge provides fodder for thought for the senior/lead pastor who is considering whether or not to  move on to something else. 

Is the senior pastor certain that it's his time to leave? 

Does he feel called to be an essential part of the selection of his successor? 

Will the next pastor come from within the church, or from without? 

What are the vital parts of any successful transition? 

These subjects are all discussed in this podcast.  

Poimen Ministries invites any senior/lead pastor with questions on pastoral transition to reach out to them at strongerpastors@gmail.com.

The Bible is replete with examples of men and women who were clearly called by the Lord unto something He would work through them to do. Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Paul, Timothy, etc. are a few of many such examples. 

Calling is one thing.

Living out one's calling is another thing altogether. Samson failed because rather than live out his calling, he repeatedly decided to live life on his own fleshly terms. 

If we are to hit the bullseye in life, we must not only know our calling, but use it as the baseline and chief decider concerning how we're going to fulfill it.

Calling provides direction, courage, authority, and leadership direction. 

This is why the pastor-teacher must meditate upon his calling into the office of pastor-teacher, and then follow it. The pastor-teacher probably ought to think on these things every day. And then, calculate what he says "yes" to, and what he says "no" to, accordingly.

Podcast 125 is part one of two episodes on this all important subject. We hope it's encouraging to you who shepherd God's people.

In this podcast episode we will hear from Pastor John Miller, Senior/Lead pastor of Revival Christian Fellowship in Menifee, CA.  

John will be sharing with us on the subject of Expositional Bible Teaching and Preaching, and specifically, he’ll be presenting the case for Expositional Bible Teaching/Preaching. 

What is Expositional Teaching and Preaching? 

Why does it matter whether or not a pastor preaches/teaches expositionally? 

What is the place and purpose of exegesis in preparing an expositional teaching? How does it contrast with eisegesis? 

What is the difference between the text governing the sermon and the preacher's own thoughts? What are the reasons that pastors today MUST preach and teach expositionally? 

Be ready to be challenged and encouraged, pastor. This is for every pastor.

Nate Holdridge is the Lead Pastor of Calvary Monterey (California), a church started 43 years ago by his father, Poimen Ministries Director Bill Holdridge.

In this podcast, Nate interviews his dad on his own podcast, called "Jesus Famous with Nate Holdridge."

In a conversational, father-son style of back and forth, dad and son talk about the history of the church, comparisons between the Jesus Movement of the 60s and today's world, Bill's own calling into ministry, and so on. Lots of subjects, encouraging for the pastoral soul.

Podcast producer Jeff Jones, at the end of the show, predicts that this will be a podcast listened to over and over again.

Lots of lessons from Bill's 27 years with the church, including ventures of faith.

Jimmy Morales pastors a wonderful church body in Las Vegas, Nevada. The name of the fellowship is Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain. 

I (show host Bill Holdridge) had the privilege of being with this congregation early in February of 2022. One of the plans we had for my time there was to record a podcast interview with Jimmy ... only in this podcast he would be the one interviewing me. He wanted to hear about pastoral transitions, so he prepared a list of commonly asked (or unasked) questions on that topic. So, that's what we talked about. 

Jimmy is not in the process of transition himself, nor is he planning a transition. He's still young, the church is exploding, and he's got a lot of gas left in his ministry tank.

But Jimmy does have a heart for other pastors, and thus, the questions.

When is a good time for a pastor to retire from his church pastorate?

How does a transition process move forward? 

What should pastors do now, even those pastors who have years ahead of them in their present church?

Is it better to choose a successor from within the fellowship, or from without?

How involved should church leaders be in helping the pastor transition?

And so on. 

Listen in. Pass it on. 

As we've said many times before, unless Jesus Christ returns before a pastor dies, someone else will pastor that church. Why not (at the very least) start pastoring as a pastor who is in transition? Why not have an emergency plan in case something happens to you? Why not invite outside counsel to come in and help with your thinking process?

Bob Larson of Calvary Chapel Caldwell, Idaho, doesn't do things the way others expect him to do. He has a clearly defined set of priorities, and he lives them out in family life and in church life.

He also applies (literally) the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8 ... and in doing so, his thought life has been profoundly affected. 

Prepare to hear a different slant on the rhythms of pastoral life and ministry. Is in unbiblical or unspiritual for a pastor to have fun?

This podcast contains tools/concepts that every pastor can use, and tailor make for himself.

Enjoy. 

__________________________

Pastor Bob Larson was born in Boise, Idaho. He grew up in a military family and moved around during his childhood, living in Germany and California as a teenager. He eventually moved back to Idaho and gave his life to the Lord. In 1998, with seven other people, Pastor Bob founded Calvary Chapel in Caldwell, Idaho.

He has a passion to teach the truths of scripture in a very real and practical way and therefore provides the congregation with lessons that apply scripture to every day life.

Bob’s vision for Calvary Chapel Caldwell is to preach the gospel and make disciples.

Pastor Bob resides in Caldwell with his wife, Suzie, and their three children, Steve, Dave and Dan.

Brian Hill is on the younger side of pastoral ministry, but is much older in wisdom.

Much has been said about the ways the Lord prepares His vessels, men in whom He pours Himself and then flows through them to equip and bless others.

That's the journey of Brian Hill.

This is a cool story, an encouraging bio of a man used by God.

Testimonies are helpful to everyone. Pastoral testimonies are particularly helpful to pastors and leaders. Be encouraged!

In episode 116 we’re joined by Roger Ulman, senior/lead pastor of Calvary Chapel Kalamazoo Valley, Michigan. Roger planted the church in 2000, after an interesting and God-ordained training process. This testimony is included in this interview.

Roger is married to Lisa, his wife of 37 years. They have three children … two boys and a girl. #10 grandchild on the way.

Roger Ulman is a pastor who is genuinely joyful, and very optimistic about ministry and life in general. 

Pastors always can use optimism and encouragement … these are very challenging times for pastors everywhere. 

So, where does such a positive outlook comes from? This could me a major key re: how we pastors serve the Lord Jesus and His people.

Tune in to hear the not-so-secret secret of Divine Optimism in Pastoral Ministry.

THIS PODCAST is being re-broadcast due to its relevance for today's senior/lead pastors.

Danny Lehmann is a leader in Youth With A Mission (YWAM), an international missions and church planting thrust that has had a tremendous world-wide Kingdom impact. In this podcast, Danny will be talking with us on the subject of vision. Specifically, we’ll be talking about a Biblical pattern for seeing and receiving God’s vision for our lives and ministries. 

Danny is keen on the subject of church life as well, having served for many years with Pastor Bill Stonebraker at Calvary Chapel Honolulu. 

YWAM has been, from its inception, big on hearing God's voice, obeying His voice, and persevering through the word commanded by that voice. YWAM founder Loren Cunningham has modeled that approach, and YWAMers have sought to emulate his pattern.

Danny Lehmann has written four books on evangelism: Go! The Excitement of Personal Evangelism, For the Gospel’s Sake, Bringin’ Em Back Alive, and Beautiful Feet. He has also written on the subject of spiritual discipline: Before You Hit the Wall, as well as STOKED! Firing Up Your Passion for God. His latest book is entitled The Next Big Thing: How Little Choices Can Make a Big Impact.

Danny lives in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with his wife Linda and now serves as part of the leadership team for YWAM Kona.

NOTES from Danny's 5 Points about asking for, receiving, and implementing the vision the Lord gives us:

1) The PRAYER FOR THE VISION. 

2) THE POSTURE FOR RECEIVING THE VISION. (we must do the possible)

3) THE PROPHETIC WORD THE DETAILS OF THE VISION. 

4) FOR THE PROLIFERATION OF THE VISION. 

5) PERSEVERANCE TO OBEY THE VISION. 

This program was originally aired in May of 2019. Since that time, it has become clear to me that there is a generation of pastors who "do not know Joseph," so to speak. 

In this case, our Joseph is Dan Finfock of Intensive Care Ministries (icmbible.com). Dan is a world traveling (53 countries and counting) fanatic concerning the IBS method of Observation, Interpretation, and Application. For 45 years Dan has trained pastors and Christian leaders, as well as members of many church congregations in the U.S. and abroad. 

IBS is the most Biblical way of studying the Bible ... and should be the Biblical foundation of all Bible teaching and preaching. 

This episode will encourage those who are using the inductive method of Bible study already, will inspire those who aren't to learn Dan's simple methodology, and will try to convince today's pastor to reach for the commentaries only after having worked with the  text directly thoroughly.

Connections to Intensive Care Ministries for training and materials are in the podcast.

Divided leadership leads to a compromised and ineffective church. All pastors know this to be true.

So how can we surround ourselves with men who aren't "yes men," who can weigh in solidly in the decision making processes of church leadership, and at the same time have men that are loyal and unified with one another.

Pastor Paul LeBoutillier believes that we don't need 100% agreement on everything, but that it's essential to be in 100% unity with each other.

Paul is the longtime senior pastor of Calvary Chapel in Ontario, Oregon. He brings almost 30 years of experience into this great discussion.

Tim Brown has been in pastoral ministry since 1973, and a senior pastor since 1985. He is widely regarded as a very wise man, full of sage advice and interesting insights on matters of theology and church life.

In episode 019, Tim shares his thoughts on the subject of the pastoral ministry's greatest challenge. His conclusions may surprise you. But they most definitely will challenge and encourage any senior pastor, or anyone in ministry for that matter.

Tim argues that the greatest challenge in ministry is not the need to be pure, but rather the need to remain ____________.

Tune in and see if you agree.

When we (Poimen Ministries) enter into a coaching relationship with a senior/lead pastor, the purpose is to help the pastor discover many of the things he already knows. And then to help him discover how to move forward in his calling and vision.

In this podcast, host Bill Holdridge interviews Pastor Terry McNabb. Terry underwent a coaching process during the course of his own pastoral ministry, and it was not only life and ministry changing, but has also become the foundation of his coaching approach to pastors in this current stage of his ministry.

Five areas of focus are worked through in a coaching relationship: Calling, Vision, Mission, Organization, and Communication.

These five areas of focus will be explained by Pastor Terry in this very helpful episode of Strength for Today's Pastor.

Pastoral coaching has been a relatively new development in the past several years. Pastors, hungry to to their best and eager to find their ministry sweet spot, are more open than ever to have a seasoned 'coach' who can help them rediscover their passion, clarify their vision, and regain some of their strength.

It's even better when the coach is a seasoned pastor himself.

In this podcast, program host Bill Holdridge interviews Pastor Terry McNabb. Terry introduces us to the process of pastoral coaching ... what it is, why it's a healthy thing to do, and what to expect. 

Terry is a longtime and seasoned senior pastor who experienced a coaching relationship while in his former church. It was tremendously helpful to him, and set him on a course that greatly enhanced himself and his ministry.

This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.

In this episode of SFTP, show host Bill Holdridge speaks with Poimen Ministries servants Phil and Susie Evans, as they tell their story of faith, victories, successes and changes.  

This is great encouragement for any pastor, young or old, as Phil and Susie recollect upon 45 years of pastoral ministry. From the early beginnings of church planting to their "golden years", where God  is blessing in beautiful and powerful ways. Their story will captivate, comfort and hopefully embolden you to expect great things from God in your own ministry. 

The Christian life, when lived by the Holy Spirit, is not boring. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance. Neither is the ministry of the pastor—and of his wife—boring, dull, or predictable. 

In this episode of SFTP, John and Laura Cowan sit down with show host Bill Holdridge and tell their story. It's an exciting one, to be sure, and it's continuing to be exciting as this godly, much loved couple continue serving, loving, trusting, and walking by faith.

The power of testimony is awesome. The power of example is also amazing.

Enjoy.

In Podcast 102 we interviewed Pastor Lance Ralston on the subject of Christians in the U.S., living in an increasingly totalitarian state.

In Podcast 108, Lance shared with us about the place of suffering in the life of faith.

Lance is talking about these things because he desires to equip the fellowship he pastors (CC Oxnard, CA) in preparation for the increasing likelihoodthat there could be some very tough times ahead for Christians in the U.S.

Of course, there are many topics related to an increase in totalitarianism in a given nation … will the shape of the church change? Will believers who decide to disobey the evil directives of the state be ready for the inevitable consequences of that decision?

As we talked, Lance mentioned some of the ways he is helping his church get discipled into being ready to suffer for being a Christian in today’s world. To get the full context of that discussion, you’ll be able to find it in podcast 102.

So, Lance embarked on a study of the theology of suffering, and is currently preaching through a series on the subject.

This podcast deals with the subject, when suffering comes to others.

We need this wise counsel, and even more so as evil days increase, and as evil men continue to deceive and be deceived.

So we’re going to dive right into it right now … so here we go with Pastor Lance Ralston on the subject of When Suffering Comes to Others.

Every church needs to do some healthy, Holy Spirit directed personal inventory. Pastors and leaders need to ask themselves the questions, “Why are we here in this community?” And, “What should we be, and what should we do to make us essential in our community (and beyond)?”

On that subject, today we have with us Pastor Jeff Birmingham of River Rocks Church in Cummins, Georgia.

There’s a statement on River Rocks Church’s website which reads, “We believe that our community doesn’t need another church service…”

Jeff will tell us what is meant by this statement on the church’s website, and about what the Lord has been doing recently in his life and ministry to make much of that happen.

But encouragement and renewed energy in the ministry did not come easy ... there were very painful moments, moments which led Jeff to reach out. The counsel of the Holy Spirit brought freedom and renewed vision in Jeff's life, and it has changed everything. Everything!

Discover some of what Jeff learned (the truth sets us free), and the journey that he's on. It will be a blessing and exciting for any pastor or church leader.

Podcast number 109 of Strength for Today’s Pastor is a conversation with Chris and Heather Reif of Calvary Frontlines in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

Chris has been the pastor of Calvary Frontlines since October of 2017. Today, we’re going to hear a bit of their story—an unusual story about how they both served in the U.S. Army ... Chris as a Green Beret ... how they met and married, and how they became strong in the Lord, and called into ministry as a couple, with Chris as a senior pastor.

In this episode:

     ~ how their military background helped prepare them to serve the Lord

     ~ the importance of discipleship and training—within the church—in becoming prepared for pastoral ministry

     ~ comparisons between Special Forces commitment and the pastorate

     ~ the reality of Post Traumatic Stress and how the gospel, the Word, and the Holy Spirit provide healing

     ~ the testimony of what God has been doing in Ft. Smith, Arkansas!

Blessings to all who listen!

For anyone paying attention, it is obvious that something is going on that is unprecedented in the United States (and also worldwide). "Wokeness," "Cancel Culture," "Critical Race Theory," and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic have been part of massive government overreach and intrusion into all of our lives.

In Podcast 102 we interviewed Pastor Lance Ralston on the subject of Christians in the U.S., living in an increasingly totalitarian state. Lance was talking about the book Live Not By Lies by Rod Dreher, and the subject of suffering as a result of totalitarianism.

As we talked, Lance mentioned some of the ways he is helping his church get discipled into being ready to suffer for being a Christian in today’s world. To get the full context of that discussion, you’ll be able to find it in podcast 102.

In order to prepare for his message series, Lance embarked on a study of the theology of suffering, and his four-part series is the result. 

This podcast is Part One of that series.

It’s always fun (and edifying) to talk with Bryan Newberry. Challenge and inspiration are common each time. 

For those who do not know Bryan, he is the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel San Diego, CA (1985) … and stepped aside from that role in 2018, handing the senior pastorate over to Phil Metzger. 32 years as their senior pastor.

Bryan is part of the team of Poimen Ministries’ pastors, and also has his own non-profit organization called “Words of Encouragement.’

In addition to serving with Poimen Ministries and Words of Encouragement, Bryan is now the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Los Alamitos, CA.

Bullet Points for Discussion:

1. How has the transition of CC San Diego gone? The new pastor (Phil Metzger) and you are friends, but very different re: ministry styles. What can pastors learn from the situation there?

2. What has been your approach in taking over for John Greenroyd of CC Los Alamitos in July of 2020? How is it going?

3. Before you stepped aside in San Diego, you experienced a major trial that was written about in the Calvary Chapel Magazine.

Subtitle: “Two Christian Leaders Share Their Harrowing Experiences with Prescription Addiction.” Bryan, you were one of those leaders. What did you go through, and what did you learn?

4. How would you describe your passion in life/ministry?

5.  I know you love to be available to mentor younger men. Who have been your mentors (major influences) in life/ministry? In what ways did they influence you?

Welcome to podcast number 105. Once again, today we have Bible teacher, author, and speaker Gayle Erwin with us, and our topic is Not Many Mighty, a discussion about the ways of God and the choices God makes in calling and using human beings.

Gayle Erwin has beautifully addressed what this looks like in his book Not Many Mighty.

God's Word says, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Corinthians 1:26). Obviously, God thinks about things differently, and thinks about people differently than we do, in the natural.

It is clear from Scripture that God doesn’t use perfect people. If that was His criterion, no one would ever be used of God.

But God uses imperfect people to contain and then release His marvelous life and light to others. It's His plan, and it fulfills His purpose for connection and relationship with human beings.

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:6,7)

Topics discussed: strength out of weakness; Paul's thorn in the flesh; outstanding Biblical examples of weak men mightily used of God; what does it look like for us be be 'anointed,' or to minister 'under the anointing'?; a liberating thought with regard to ministry and our response to God's grace.

Gayle Erwin is the author of the bestselling book The Jesus Style, which explores the nature of Jesus. Not Many Mighty was written in that same vein.

Pastor David Rosales has been serving Christ's bride for many years, with almost 50 years of ministry behind him. Yet, because he has remained faithful to the foundations of ministry, and to the Word of God, his ministry is as fresh as ever.

Listen in as show host Bill Holdridge asks David about some of those key elements of a Biblical pastoral ministry. 

Included as part of the discussion:

  ~ What comparisons/contrasts do you draw between the era of the 60s and our current times? 

   ~ Many have been praying for another revival to come. Can there be another revival in today’s world, as there was 50 years ago? If so, what   conditions must be met for that to happen?

  ~ What troubles you about what young people are going through today, and how can they be reached?

  ~ What major threats or challenges are there to the church and against believers today?

  ~ If you had a group of 100 senior pastors in front of you right now, what would be the top three areas of encouragement you’d like to share with them?

  ~ In these unprecedented days in which we’re living, what are your thoughts on the essential, non-negotiables of ministry that must exist for a healthy, Biblically sound church?

Enjoy!

Mark Gomez has pastored three churches in his years of pastoral ministry, totaling more than 35 years as a senior/lead pastor or church planter.

Mark came to Christ as a result of an intellectual conflict with one of his high school teachers... it's an interesting story. 

He has lived in Utah for 25+ years, which is where he served in his last pastorate. His pastorate was a very fruitful one, one that was effective in reaching members of the LDS church. 

Now Mark is moving into a huge and much needed arena of ministry, as he continues within his calling as a pastor-teacher.

Be blessed and strengthened as you listen...

Again, Bill Holdridge picks the brain of Pastor Phil Evans on the subject of church assessments. 

Phil came out of a business background and into the pastorate about 40 years ago, and uses the organizational mind that God has given him, a great sense of humor, and a calm spirit to help many pastors. He's become sort of an assessment guru with Poimen Ministries. 

Give a listen to this podcast if you're interested in having a fresh set of eyes, a non-threatening and encouraging set of eyes, a confidential set of eyes—upon you and/or your ministry. 

This show highlights some of what was talked about in Part one of this series, and then goes into a bit more detail on what it looks like to have an assessment done at your church.

Thanks for listening.

A fresh set of eyes.

Face it, we get used to our surroundings—and as pastors, we can become unaware of things we would have noticed X number of years ago.  We can sometimes use a fresh set of eyes.

In this podcast, Poimen Ministries Director Bill Holdridge talks with Pastor Phil Evans. Phil is excellent at doing church assessments, and has helped many senior pastors with a better and more clear look at their ministries.

In part one, we will discuss what a church assessment is, and what it is not. 

Spoiler alert: it's a very encouraging and strengthening process. It's a process to welcome, and not one to fear.

Proverbs 1:5 provides a scriptural reason for having an assessment done.

    A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel...

We promise you: it will be well worth it.

This is the third of three podcast interviews with Pastor Al James on the subject of excellence in ministry. If you want to do ministry right, listen to this series.

Al is a long time member of the Poimen Ministries team and the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel in Prescott, Arizona (30 years).How can the senior or lead pastor connect with the people in his church? How should he conduct himself, and what are some great ways to reach the people that are attending the church? Of course, this is vital if the Great Commission will be fulfilled.

Bill Holdridge, host of Strength for Today's Pastor, interviews Pastor Al James in this very important session on the role of the senior/lead pastor.

This is the second of three podcast interviews with Pastor Al James on the subject of excellence in ministry.

Al is a long time member of the Poimen Ministries team and the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel in Prescott, Arizona (30 years).A fresh set of eyes. That's what we often need as we try to evaluate what we pastors do, week in and week out.  

What does the visitor to your church see when he or she attends? What areas are typical of areas that can be tweaked to make it even better? How can the church service itself better serve the people to help them become equipped for ministry and better disciples?

Host Bill Holdridge once again interviews Pastor Al James, founding pastor of Calvary Chapel Prescott, AZ. 

Tune in to begin seeing your church through a fresh set of eyes.

This is the first of three podcast interviews with Pastor Al James, a long time member of the Poimen Ministries team and the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel in Prescott, Arizona (30 years). 

Foundational to all true pastoral ministry is the pastor's communion and union with God. Jesus pastored this way as the Good Shepherd (Pastor), and so should the senior or lead pastor of the church.  Discover new inspiration for your ministry in this episode. Very practical and timely.

Episode number 100- a real milestone in the ministry of this podcast, but also of over 12 years of ministry as a team of pastors.

In this program, the roles are reversed as post production editor Jeff Jones interviews Poimen Ministries director Bill Holdridge. 

Listen in as Jeff asks Bill about:

It's an interesting, and hopefully edifying discussion. Hope you can join us!

Not lord it over others … Leadership by example … Humble … As a child … As the younger … Least … Last … No force … No selfish ambition … No reputation … Human … Obedient … Death on the Cross … Resurrection.

These are characteristics of Jesus Christ that all true believers can mimic and live out, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

They are also characteristics of the minister of Jesus Christ, if ministry is to be done Jesus-style.

Author, preacher, Bible teacher, and long-time pastor Gayle Erwin helps us with some of the nuts and bolts of following in the steps of our Great Pastor (The Jesus Style, The Father Style, The Spirit Style, Not Many Mighty, The Body Style, Handbook for Servants). 

It's a mini school of ministry to have a convo with Gayle Erwin. Hope you can join us for episode 99 of Strength for Today's Pastor.

For those of you who don’t know Gayle Erwin, Gayle is a long-time pastor, author, conference speaker, and as far as ministry is concerned, he is all about playing the one string he has on his guitar, which is the nature of Jesus. He’s all-in with regard to helping others understand who Jesus is and what that means as His servants.

Today we’re going to be focusing on aspects of Gayle’s book The Body Style.

How does the nature of Jesus connect with the developing of our churches, and the shape of the church?

Questions and discussion include:

Gayle Erwin has a lot to say, through a grid that will resonate with lovers of Jesus, with lovers of the grace of God, and with lovers of the truth. 

What is the purpose of the gift of tongues? What is its most common use? How is it exercised in a corporate setting "decently and in order'? 

What is the baptism with the Holy Spirit? What is the main evidence of being filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit?

These questions have clear Biblical and practical answers, and Gayle Erwin will help us find out what those answers are.

Gayle Erwin is a longtime pastor, Bible teacher, conference speaker, and author. His books included The Jesus Style, The Father Style, The Spirit Style, and The Body Style. 

It's always a blessing to hear from Gayle ... his unique story telling ability, his years of experience, his sense of humor, and his love for Jesus and His grace all combine to make each encounter with him a rich experience. 

Gayle Erwin is an international treasure, a man who has allowed the Lord to use his life for many years as an author, pastor, lecturer, professor, and conference speaker.

Gayle has (as he puts it) "one string on his guitar," and that string is Jesus and His nature.

This podcast is on that subject. How does the nature of Jesus effect the way we live as pastors, and how we shepherd the flocks the Lord has committed to our charge?

In Gayle's classic book The Jesus Style, Gayle goes into great detail to show that the nature of Jesus is understood from these descriptions embedded in the teachings of Scripture:

 1. Jesus came as a Servant (not to be served)

2. Jesus did not Lord It over others... 

3. Jesus came as an Example 

4. Jesus was Humble 

5. Jesus came as a Child 

6. Jesus came as the Younger 

7. Jesus was Last 

8. Jesus was Least 

9. Jesus used No Force 

10. Jesus possessed No Blind or Selfish Ambition 

11. Jesus made Himself of No Reputation 

12. Jesus was fully Human 

13. Jesus was wholly Obedient 

14. Jesus was obedient unto Death

Hopefully, this podcast will inspire pastors and leaders to undergo a new and fresh study of Jesus, that we might all make the Main One the main thing. 

In Gayle's own words, in the preface to the book, he writes: "This is the Jesus I want to talk about, the Jesus who called himself a servant. For reasons I cannot understand, I have not, in my research, found the qualities of servanthood, which seem so self-evident and basic to who Jesus is, treated in any but a surface and brief way. I only know that the realization of them and even minimal incorporation of them into life has power that I cannot describe; I can only invite you."

“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42–45)

Pastors of churches of less than 200 people? Did you know that the church you pastor is a 'normal' sized church? Did you know that the normal sized  church is called that because it's the normative sized church, world-wide? Are you discouraged because your church hasn't become a medium, large, or mega sized church? 

Karl Vaters is a current voice, speaking wisely to pastors of small (aka "normal") churches. Since a very, very large percentage of churches fall into this category, it stands to reason that the pastors of such churches are normal pastors. It's not at all unusual to be a normal pastor of a normal sized church.

The challenge is to be the best kind of church that Jesus can make the church to be. And the best kind of pastor.

Karl Vaters has helped the cause of the kingdom of God greatly with his three books:  The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches, Small Churches and the Small Thinking that Divides Us, Small Church Essentials: Field-Tested Principles for Leading a Healthy Congregation of Under 250, and 100 Days to a Healthier Church: A Step-By-Step Guide for Pastors and Leadership Teams.

Show host Bill Holdridge interviews Karl, with a helpful focus for pastors re: how to navigate the current Covid-19 crisis and beyond.

In an Eastern Utah community which is 70% LDS, the Lord has visited Ashley Valley Calvary Chapel with a harvest of souls ... with the effect that a large percentage of their church body is made up of those converted to Christ out of Mormonism. 

It's a compelling story, and its lessons are transferable to any church and any pastor anywhere in the world.

When show host Bill Holdridge met Phil Daggett in May of 2020, he asked him a question: “What is the common denominator in the conversions of LDS people, if there is one?” He answered immediately with a one sentence response. 

Phil's one sentence response is the heart of this podcast interview.

Tune in to get edified and strengthened in your serve!

John Gundacker  is the senior/lead pastor of Calvary Chapel in Pahrump, NV, and has been for 20 years.

Pahrump is a little more than an hour from Las Vegas, obviously a huge city. The church John was trained in was in Las Vegas. So when his family moved to tiny Pahrump to start a church, expectations had to change. In the process, John has learned contentment, which is a huge key in any ministry. 

As we'll see in this podcast episode, contentment produces its own kind of fruit ... makes it easier to wait for the Lord, it provides peace and focus upon the right things. 

Listen in as John tells part of his and his church's story.  

Steve Sager is a seasoned and balanced pastor with a long history and varied history with Calvary Chapels — in many places and for different seasons. During much of his pastoral ministry, Steve has been bi-vocational.

He was with the first Calvary Chapel ministry in Napa, CA which produced a shocking number of pastors who went out from there to plant other churches (Joseph Prudhomme, Frank Ippolito, Jay McCarl, Lee Shaw, Damian Kyle, Larry Anderson to mention a few). 

Steve has served as an assistant pastor, an elder, a worship leader, and as a senior/lead pastor. His passion is the ministry of the Word of God.

With all his experiences and history, Steve offers a unique and encouraging perspective on pastoral ministry. Be refreshed. 

Gayle Erwin is well known in many Christian circles, around the world (he's in the 3,000,000 category of frequent flier miles).  

As he likes to say, he has only one string on his guitar ... and that string is the nature of Jesus Christ. 

Author of The Jesus Style, The Father Style, The Spirit Style, The Body Style, Handbook for Servants, That Reminds Me of a Story, That Reminds Me of Another Story, and Not Many Mighty, Gayle's teachings have inspired many to learn about what God is like, and about what it means to be His servant.

In this podcast, Gayle speaks with show host Bill Holdridge on the subject of the senior pastor's ministry, and how it relates to the way Jesus leads and serves His church ... over which He is the Chief Pastor.

This is food for much thought for any pastor, anywhere.  

Matt Valencia has a huge heart for God’s Kingdom, and a sincere love for the greater Body of Christ. 

Recently, Matt was asked to lead a discussion on the topic of this podcast. This interview dives into the meat of that discussion, and why it matters.

Matt Valencia is the Lead Pastor of the Regeneration Church of Scotts Valley, CA and is also the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel in Gilroy, CA.

Daryl Zachman is one of a number of pastoral friends that I gained while living in Idaho. This podcast was recorded in Boise, because Daryl invited Poimen Ministries to come and do a church assessment, as well as share at a ministry conference hosted at their church.

Daryl and his wife Cindy were directed by the Holy Spirit to launch out to Boise in 1994. So they started as pioneers, as is true of so many of the pastors in our fellowship of churches.

The Holy Spirit has used Daryl and Cindy ... and their leadership ... to develop a culture of openness, hospitality, warmth, and love in their fellowship. Podcast number 90 explores some of those dynamics with Pastor Daryl.

Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra once said, "You can observe a lot just by watching." When speaking with Pastor Bryan Newberry, one can learn a lot just by listening.

Bryan is a great resource for pastors and church leaders. His thing is discipleship, and that's what he does. He mentors and disciples believers, and in his role with Poimen Ministries, he mentors and disciples pastors. 

Join us in this episode in which Bryan discusses his new pastoral assignment, pastoral leadership, the importance of delegation as a leader, and more.

Pastor Tim Brown of Calvary Chapel in Fremont, CA has written extensively to his congregation and to the greater body of Christ ... particularly during this COVID-19 season. 

In one of his recent blogs, Tim made a strong, logical, and Biblical case for civil disobedience, as it has been exercised since apostolic days in the church. In his writing, he makes a very clear distinction between civil disobedience and outright rebellion against governing authorities. 

This episode will prove to be of great help to any pastor who is seeking help in knowing how to guide his particular fellowship. 

In episode 84 of Strength for Today's Pastor we’re going to hear from Pastor Sandy Adams of Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain, Georgia.

A couple of weeks ago, show host Bill Holdridge had the privilege of attending the Calvary Chapel Deep South Pastor’s Conference at the church Sandy has pastored for almost 40 years. 

Sandy preached a message on Monday night on the subject of “Race in America.” As anyone who is familiar with Sandy’s ministry would expect, the message was factual, historical, Biblical, soundly theological, and profoundly applicational.

Therefore, we decided to devote this podcast to playing the message in its entirety.

So let’s get into it … and hear from God’s Word and from the Holy Spirit in a message entitled “Race in America” from Micah 6:6-8.

Here is a conversation with Cliff Stabler, a mentor and friend of show host Bill Holdridge for 40 years. Cliff introduced Bill to an amazing men's discipleship experience called "Barnabas," and to book Authentic Christianity by Ray Stedman. But most importantly, Cliff further introduced Bill to the life of the New Covenant. 

Cliff is a longtime pastor, a former missionary, and a discipler of men. Cliff was with us for episode 24 ... talking about reaching men, one of his passions in ministry. Part of Cliff's legacy is a list of many men who have gone on to live out their Christian lives in kingdom related ways all over the world.

To be discussed in this podcast:

   What is the New Covenant, as you describe it?

   What did Ray Stedman teach you about the New Covenant?  What led up to your discovery of the New Covenant life?

   What does the New Covenant life look like in marriage? In ministry? In relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Paul Berry assumed the senior pastor role at Calvary Chapel Santa Maria, CA in 1992. When he started, there were 50-60 people in attendance, but there was a e mere skeleton of a leadership team.

Therefore in the very first months of his pastorate, Paul dug in and began raising up men who would serve the Lord, His church, and their families in the way Christ called them to.

In this podcast, Paul will share with us what they did, how they did it, and why they did it. 

Also, resources are available for Paul’s SOM curriculum. 

He argues that men need to be given responsibility and authority, and the opportunity to truly lead and minister within the church and community. 

This is a must listen for those wanting encouragement and help in the area of developing Biblical leadership in the church.

Today we’ll be talking with Ed Taylor of Calvary Aurora, Colorado on the subject of leadership … Biblical leadership in the role of senior/lead pastor.

I’m sure most, if not all of our listeners know of Ed Taylor … he’s the senior/lead pastor of Calvary Church in Aurora, CO. He was saved at Calvary Chapel Downey, grew in the Word and in ministry there for 8 years, and then in 1999 moved to the Denver area with a desire to plant a church. In December of 1999 Calvary Church held its first service, and has been growing deep and wide ever since. Ed is the author of the book Ordinary Servant, the host of the Lead2Serve Podcast, and the Bible Teacher of the national radio broadcast “Abounding Grace.”

In this podcast, Ed will be sharing about: 

Join us for this excellent discussion!

Do you want to discover or maybe even reignite the small groups ministry of your church?

Troy Drake is the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel Meridian, Idaho, having served as its pastor since 2009, and has led their church into this important area of discipleship ministry.

Here's a quote from the church website:  

"Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, so continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46-47)

"The early disciples understood that togetherness is essential for the growth of each person and the church itself by being in close community with other believers. The Christian life is way better in community! And yet, this is the one area that is often lacking in the lives of Christians.

"We must intentionally 'do life' together.  Rather than just hoping that it will happen, we have chosen to set up a purposeful way for the people in our fellowship to engage with each other. We call them House2House Groups.

"What can you expect at an H2H Group? Each group has a meal together, they discuss & apply Sunday’s sermon, and support each other in prayer and practical ways as they seek to join in God’s mission."

So tune in, and get some fresh ideas that may trigger fresh vision that will help your fellowship do the one anothers of the New Testament.

This conversation between host Bill Holdridge and Ron Arbaugh is all about the venture of faith he’s been on for the last 25+ years of ministry in the Lone Star State.

Pastor Ron is the founding pastor of CC San Antonio, the 2nd largest city in Texas. The Lord has used Ron and his fellowship in many marvelous ways. Dramatic testimony. Overcoming an impairment. Trusting the Lord for the huge things He wanted to do. Living scared, but trusting in the provision and guidance of God. Consistent, faithful development of pastoral level leaders. The list goes on.

It's the grace of God, and Ron is the first to tell you that. Super encouraging stuff!

Today we’ll be talking with Dan Davis of Calvary Chapel Mountain Home, Idaho, on the subject of ministering in a community with a shifting population.

Many pastors have felt this tension … they build on a foundation of the gospel, the vision of the Great Commission, and the ministry of the Word of God, and PEOPLE. The wise pastor invests in people, people that we assume will be with us for a while, and then, bam, they’re gone.

Dan Davis pastors in Mountain Home, Idaho, a community with a shifting population. Mountain Home is about 45 miles east of Boise. During his years of ministry in Mountain Home, the Lord has enabled Dan and his wife Kim to lead such a congregation, and lead it well. 

This podcast has much to do with pastoral leadership, and is very encouraging. Be blessed!

Pastor John Pillivant started Calvary Chapel Bartlett, TN back in 1995. Bartlett is a city that is just minutes away from Memphis, the same place where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

As a pastor, John had to quickly discover how to minister in his part of the country, and has learned much by being humble, asking questions, and being committed to the kingdom of God first.

You are invited to join this podcast discussion. We pray that it may be of great help to you in your ministry.

John Miller is the Senior/Lead pastor of Revival Christian Fellowship in Menifee, CA. 

In this podcast episode, John will be sharing with us on the subject of the method of expositional Bible teaching and preaching, building upon last  week’s episode when he made the case for expositional Bible teaching/preaching (Podcast #74).

John is not only a fine Bible expositor, he is also passionate about helping current pastors who share his passion for the Word of God.

These are tools. Senior pastors who take seriously the charge to feed the flock and preach the Word will love this two part series.

Reference will be made to the Nuts and Bolts Conferences in recent years, conferences aimed at strengthening us pastors in our calling and ministry of the Word of God. 

Pastor Jerel Hagerman is very wise with regard to training and releasing future pastors and leaders. 

A primary ministry goal of Jerel's has always been to raise future leaders up ... only in the Word of God, but also in practical application to actively prepare them for their own ministries. To this end, he started a Bible College on the church campus, which has developed into a very fruitful one-year program as part of the network of the Calvary Bible Institute.

For the older pastor who needs a Timothy, CBI could be your resource. For the younger minister who wants proper preparation for ministry, CBI could also be your resource.

Listen to Jerel talk about his vision, and the multiple campuses of CBI ... and what the Lord is doing. 

Encouraging for any pastor who wants to follow the scriptural pattern of 2 Timothy 2:2.

Longtime missionary church planter Ed Compean (currently senior pastor of Shoreline Calvary Chapel in Morro Bay, CA) has a perspective on water baptism, its meaning and importance that we in the West need to hear. 

Listen in as Ed shares with us what water baptism means ... not only Biblically, but in other world cultures. 

Per Ed's suggestion, program host Bill Holdridge interviews Ed to provide a contrasting point of view. May the Lord use it to strengthen the cause of Christ and the mission of discipleship in our churches!

God is the lifeline of the individual believer, through believing prayer. That is also true of any congregation of believers ... God works through believing prayer.

As someone once said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” 

Join pastors Matt Valencia (The Regeneration Church, Scotts Valley CA) and Rich Chapman (Calvary Chapel Greenmeadow, RI) as they share ideas about what the prayer life of the apostolic church looked like, and why this is such an important distinctive in today’s church.

Who could not stand to pray more? And what church could not use more prayer?

Join pastors Tim Brown (Calvary Chapel Fremont, CA) and Jeremy Foster (Calvary Chapel in the Ozarks, AR) as they share ideas about what the breaking of bread looked like in the early church, and why it’s important today in any church.

Was breaking of bread a reference to communion only, or something else? Or was it a reference to the love-feast, a common meal? Or both?

This well thought out discussion will be sure to stimulate thinking, and perhaps even breathe new life into the practice of communion, and/or begin the practice of common meals within any given fellowship of believers. 

Acts 2:42 states that the early believers were steadfastly committed to four major things. These commitments included their sharing life together, in Biblical fellowship.

Fellowship is the life conduit of any church. Learn from pastors Dan Leitz (Calvary Chapel Oceanside, CA) and Nate Holdridge (Calvary Monterey, CA) about how Biblical fellowship has been experienced in their churches. 

Spoiler alert: many wise words are contained herein. 

The early church ... the best church ... specifically the apostolic church ... was characterized by their passion. They were intentionally committed to the six focuses of Acts chapter 2. Senior/lead pastors and churches will do well to focus on the same things today.

One great priority for the N.T. church was its devotion and adherence to the apostles' doctrine. 

What was the apostles' doctrine? Where can we find it? How can we be similarly devoted today?

Long-time pastors John Miller (Revival Christian Fellowship, Menifee, CA) and Sandy Adams (Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain, GA), both excellent expositors in their own pastoral ministries, will share from the Word and from their experience the powerful truth that a consistent ministry of the Bible is a necessary component of a spiritually healthy church.  

Pastors: be ready to improve your serve in this area of your ministry.

Outreach, that's what we often call it. But outreach by itself, apart from the gospel, is not Great Commission ministry.  Pastors Paul Berry (Calvary Chapel Santa Maria, CA) and Alan Stoddard (Calvary Chapel Ruidoso, NM) join us in today's important discussion on this subject.

This is the 2nd of 6 episodes dealing with the distinctives of ministry found in Acts chapter 2. They are: 1. Emphasis and reliance upon the Person and work of the Holy Spirit; 2. Evangelism; 3. Continual commitment to the apostle's teaching; 4. Continual commitment to Biblical fellowship; 5. Continual commitment to the breaking of bread; and 6. Continual commitment to prayers.

In this podcast, some of the form of evangelism is talked about ... but even more importantly, the heart of evangelism is discussed.

May the Lord bless each of our churches with a heart to sow, and with the blessing of reaping as well.

So we got together for one of our not-as-regular-as-we-should pastor chats, and we decided to record our collective thoughts on COVID-19 and its effect (amazing) on the kingdom of God.

Listen to testimonies and anecdotal evidence of God being on the move!

Be encouraged! Let the Holy Spirit broaden your vision, and enlarge your borders! 

And, feel free to pass it on...

Smack dab in the middle of this crisis, as the team of Poimen Ministries pastors gathered in a Zoom meeting to fellowship and update with one another, the subject of Covid-19 came up and so we went with it. 

About 250 combined years of senior pastoral experience combined to tell the story of what they see the Lord doing through this pandemic.

This will be encouraging for pastors. Most certainly, the Lord has not lost His position as King of the universe and Lord of heaven and earth. And of the church.

Join show host Bill Holdridge for this interesting discussion. 

Pastor Craig Hall may live in a smallish sized town. He may have a normal sized congregation. But he is doing a great work, and is a fine pastor who loves his flock and community dearly.

In this episode, Craig tells a bit of his story in ministry, as well as some exciting arenas of outreach in the community of Fortuna. If you've ever lived or pastored in a community that's on the small side, then listen in. Lots of encouragement contained in this program.

Jim Thomas has the gift of leadership, and is a leader. When a major opportunity presented itself to him, the Lord used him to make the most of it. When he assumed the leadership of Telios Church, it was in a very difficult time for the church and community. 

Hear some of that testimony, and how the Lord has been able to work in and through Pastor Jim in his present role. The Lord is being glorified!

Prayer is essential. Prayer is God's idea. Prayer is the primary means by which God involves His children in what He wants to do in His world. 

Prayer was a primary focus of the best church ever—the apostolic church, as in Acts 2:42. 

Yet our prayer meetings are often boring, poorly attended, and unexciting ... when they ought to be one of the most exciting times of our lives.

Guest show host Tim Brown interviews Bill Holdridge of Poimen Ministries on this intriguing and hopefully helpful subject. 

"Lord, teach us to pray!"

Pastor Bill Walden is a seasoned pastor ... founding pastor of Cornerstone Ministries of Napa, CA (27 years), former lead singer for Undercover and The Mirrors, former College and Career Pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and current Missions Pastor at Calvary Chapel Napa. He is a major figure for many in Baja, Mexico, and is currently ministering in Bible Colleges and 

Bill tells his story and adds his insights in an interview all the way from the Andes Mountains in Peru. The corona virus caused a border shutdown in Peru and Bill has been unable to return to the States. 

Join this conversation as the two Bills verbalize some of their thinking on what this current situation might mean for the church and its leaders.

Bill uses the word "recalibrate" to describe what will be needed in the coming days, weeks, months, or even years.

Pastor Tim Brown joins show host Bill Holdridge in this huge issue for pastors ... made even more do due to this particular election year.

Pastor Tim has a gift of turning complexities into simplicity, which can be very helpful for pastors who want tips on how to navigate these choppy waters and stormy seas. 

Tim is the pastor of Calvary Chapel in Fremont, California.

Mike Hughes of Calvary Chapel in Emmett, Idaho uses a simple, but profoundly effective tool to memorize chunks of the Bible, one bite (section) at a time. 

Learn how this easy to learn, four step method can aid you in Bible memorization, even if you think you could never do that. As Mike says, if his high school students can do it, so can you. 

Mike discusses with show host Bill Holdridge the effect on the church, and upon the pastor's preaching and teaching style.  

Pastoral Transitions have an awful lot to teach us about pastoring the churches we currently pastor. There are lessons on developing leaders, about communication, about godly vision, and many other subjects.

In this podcast, Pastor Ed Compean of Shoreline Calvary Chapel in Morro Bay, CA, and Pastor Jack Arnold of Calvary Mt. Si in North Bend, WA share their stories, stories which are intertwined, but also are very different. 

With them, show host Bill Holdridge explores subjects like reentry from the mission field, cultural adjustments, leadership equity and how to gain it, and vision for church and community. 

Three of Poimen Ministries' experienced team of pastors explore some of the myths of the process of finding a new pastor, and transitioning from what was to what shall be.

Common myths include: (1) Transitions are smooth and easy, it's no big deal; (2) Who would ever want to come and pastor this church?; (3) Most pastors recognize when it's time to transition their church; (4) The current pastor needs to disappear as quickly as possible post-transition.

There is much to say on this subject, so say tuned!

Gino Geraci has transitioned the church he planted over 27 years ago, and is now moving ahead with a full menu of ministry options in the next season of his life as a pastor-teacher.

Be encouraged at show host Bill Holdridge interviews Gino, and unpacks some of the particulars of his fresh vision — and what it looks like. 

In the earliest stages of his first senior pastorate, Nate Holdridge comes out of the book of Joshua to explain how he knew the Lord would be with him. 

A powerful reminder of the Presence and grace of God which is upon senior pastors, and which is absolutely necessary for their ministry to be successful in God's eyes.

Pastor Chuck Smith introduces Nate, with some interesting and helpful homiletical suggestions at the end of the message

Pastor Ken Merrihew is the founding and longtime pastor of Calvary Chapel Oklahoma City. He is a leader, a friend to pastors, and a source of godly wisdom to his peers in ministry.

In this podcast, Pastor Ken shares with us his thoughts about the advantages and strengths of a small (or normal) sized church. This is necessary encouragement for the majority of pastors serving in the U.S. today.

Like the Dead Sea, without an outlet, believers will not produced life-giving water. There is nothing like outreach—and doing good—to stimulate and strengthen believers in their walks with the Lord. 

In this episode, show host Bill Holdridge interviews Pastor John Snoderly, the newly appointed Director of Calvary Disaster Relief. After explaining how John was called into the ministry, he shares about how Calvary Disaster Relief came into existence, and how this kind of ministry glorifies God and expands His kingdom. 

Pastors want to do better. Sincerely they want this. They want it because their calling is to feed the flock of God with His Word; their calling is to equip believers for their ministries and works of service, using the Bible. 

There is a lot riding on whether or not the pastor's teaching is anointed and clear. For the Great Commission to be fulfilled, there must be preaching power in the pulpit.

Pastor Bryan Newberry has a passion for helping pastors with their pulpit preparation and delivery. In this podcast episode Bryan will be talking about the difference between preparing the logos part of our messages vs. waiting upon God for the rhema part of our messages.  There will also be a clear path to further help and encouragement, should it be desired. 

Pastor Greg Phelps is the new senior/lead pastor of Calvary Chapel Red Bluff, CA. His is the story of eventual agreement with God's calling upon his life for this role, although he was like Moses initially ... very hesitant. 

Pastor Bryan Newberry was the Transitional Senior Pastor from Poimen Ministries that moved to Red Bluff with his wife Cheryl for nine months, and helped the church move from being stuck to unstuck.

Pastor Greg and Poimen Ministries pastor Terry McNabb tell the story of this church transition, and how the church was restored to health.

It's been a great year for Strength for Today's Pastor, and we thank God for what He has done, and how He has used each of our interviewees to strengthen pastors, to strengthen their churches.

In this episode, snippets are played from each podcast participant. 

This is a rich collection ... very rare to have this much wisdom packed into 50 minutes. 

May you be blessed, and may 2020 be the most fruitful year ever.

The pastors of Poimen Ministries have a huge heart for their fellow senior pastors. Huge.

This Merry Christmas end-of-the-year podcast features all eleven pastors that are part the Poimen team. In two minutes or less, each of them share what's on their heart for those currently serving as senior or lead pastors of their churches. 

Encouraging words to strengthen pastors, to strengthen their churches.

In this podcast episode, Trip Kimball takes us into the heart and example of Joseph, step-father of our Lord Jesus. Trip shows us how Joseph's life is a strong model for pastoral ministry, especially for the senior or lead pastor.  Practical and timely, Trip is a longtime pastor, missionary, and now part of the team of pastors serving with Poimen Ministries

A hard-to-hear-to beginning, as Pastor Brian shares authentically about the hard times of his ministry. Doesn't get much more real than this.

Then came the wonderful working of God.

Listen in as Brian tells their story. Spoiler alert: lots of 'quotables' in this podcast. Enjoy. Super encouraging for today's pastor.

Let's face it ... in almost every church, about 1/3 of the worship portion of the service is devoted to singing to and about God. And another significant portion is devoted to teaching/preaching.

Doesn't it make sense we pastors should pursue a great, unified relationship with our worship leader(s) and team(s)?

Yet many of us are bewildered concerning how to get that done.

Holland Davis has been leading worship since he was 16 years old. And he has served as the worship leader for pastors of a couple of the largest churches in America. He is currently a senior pastor himself—of Calvary Chapel in San Clemente, CA. 

Therefore, Holland is uniquely fitted to help every pastor know how to serve, lead, and enable his worship leaders be the best Jesus has made them to be.

Show host Bill Holdridge speaks with Holland in this podcast episode #40 of Strength for Today's Pastor.

Holland Davis has a lot to say about the worship of God. His approach has the fragrance of Christ all over it.

Senior pastors can learn from worship leaders, to be sure. But it may be even more helpful if a senior pastor hears from a man who is both an anointed worship leader and a senior pastor.  He can cover both sides of the same coin in terms of understanding worship in the church.

Holland is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel San Clemente, CA. He is also the writer of the worship song "Let It Rise," along with the book by the same title. 

Join show host Bill Holdridge as Holland helps us explore the heart of worship. 

Ministry may not have to be as hard as we pastors make it sometimes. 

Marc Knutson shares with us some of what he has learned over the years, and what he learned from Pastor Chuck Smith up close and personal, about flowing with the Holy Spirit in the ministry.

The Holy Spirit has a mind and will—and His mind and will are in complete cooperation with that of the Father and the Son. 

Host Bill Holdridge joins Marc in this encouraging conversation.

The early church, aka the apostolic church, was wholly dependent upon the Holy Spirit. As was the case in Corinth, the spiritual gifts were regularly manifested. Signs and wonders accompanied the preaching of the gospel. Divine healing happened. Believers were being baptized by the Holy Spirit, in fulfillment of the Promise of the Father.

Paul Berry is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Santa Marian, CA. His church is a charismatic church, in the Biblical way of understanding what that means. 

This podcast will be an encouragement for pastors to move beyond fears and apprehension about the work of the Holy Spirit, and into the fullness of life promised by Jesus to those who believe in Him.

Time away ... distance ... can often bring new perspective. 

Pastor Nate Holdridge of Calvary Monterey gained new wisdom and insight into the way he is to minister to his family, and he gained this perspective while on sabbatical.

This podcast isn't a spanking, it's an encouragement. It's wisdom for the pastor who loves his family. 

Strength for Today's Host Bill Holdridge interviews his son Nate, the senior pastor of Calvary Monterey on the Monterey Peninsula in California. 

Nate was able to take a two month sabbatical after 20 years of ministry in the church, and he shares some of what he learned and observed from his time away with his family. 

This will bless and encourage the senior pastor to make room for sabbath, and some of the valid and important reasons to do it.

Lonnie Frisbee was an important part of the Jesus movement of the late 60s and early 70s. His ministry was characterized by unusual spiritual power, amazing boldness, and strong evangelistic fruit. 

YWAM and Calvary Chapel leader Danny Lehmann knew Lonnie well. In this podcast, we will hear from Danny about some of the takeaways from Lonnie's life. 

Danny Lehmann is a major leader in Youth With A Mission (YWAM), an author, an elder of Calvary Chapel Honolulu, and an evangelist.

Danny is eminently qualified by the Lord to encourage and help pastors in their task of doing the work of an evangelist, which he does in this podcast interview with Poimen Ministries Director Bill Holdridge.

Danny has been walking with the Lord for 45 years, and is as relevant as ever. 

Jim and Janice Larson serve the Lord in Tanzania, East Africa. Their ministry there is an amazing model of developing sustainable leaders and ministry. The lessons learned are transferable to any culture. 

Learn from Pastor Jim as he discusses vision and how it affects actual ministry. 

Hear about bold, forward thinking radical discipleship as it pertains to raising up leaders. You will be encouraged and challenged. 

Bruce Zachary is the founding pastor of Calvary Nexus in Camarillo, CA. 

Along with the oversight and shepherding of that flock of believers, Bruce has been very active in leadership development all over the world. 

He co-directs the Calvary Church Planting Network with Pastor Miles DeBenedictis, which helps prospective church planters with training and other aspects of church planting. He also oversees the Velo Church Leadership team that comes alongside of churches and leaders to further equip and strengthen their leadership and service for God's Kingdom.

He is also the author of 16 books, as well as two training manuals (which are also in Spanish). 

Bruce breathes leadership, and oozes leadership. He is a leader's leader as well as a man eager to learn and grow.

In this podcast, Bruce will lay out the basics of a church leadership development plan, and will overview the many great resources available through Calvary Nexus, CCPN, and Velo.

If you want to grow in leadership, this podcast will help you. 

Stepping aside from a senior pastor role can be a fearful and uncertain venture. Who will lead this church moving forward? How will the congregation adjust to a new pastor? What will I do after the transition is complete?

Pastor Bill Walden of Cornerstone Ministries of Napa, CA (now called Calvary Chapel Napa),  led his elders and church through a five year process that is going very well on both ends.  Bill and his leaders read a lot, prayed a lot, talked a lot, and planned a lot. And the end result is working.

If you're considering transitioning your church in the future, this will encourage you. 

Remember: unless you are still the senior pastor when Jesus returns, someone else will be the senior pastor of your church!

Neal Pirolo is a missionary and kingdom builder. His excellent book Serving As Senders Today has been used by countless churches and missionaries as a primary text concerning the "how to" of sending and being a missionary ... from recruitment to return from the field. His followup work The Reentry Team: Caring For Your Returning Missionaries is also a vital work which will help ensure a successful return for missionaries to their country of origin.

This podcast explains how caring for missionaries is not only financial. As referred to in the epistle to the Philippians, there are at least six ways to care for missionaries. 

Learn how your church can do a great job sending and maintaining a fruitful, kingdom relationship with those you send out or support into another culture.

Paul exhorted Timothy to "be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5). 

Yet for the busy pastor, this is often a very challenging and perhaps lacking area in his life and ministry. 

In this episode, Pastor David Johnston strengthens us by giving very practical and strong ways to fulfill this part of our calling. 

David is a bi-vocational senior pastor who serves in Calabasas, California. He is a pastor-teacher, but also gifted as an evangelist. As an evangelist, he is uniquely positioned to equip his fellow pastors to follow Paul's admonition to his young protege. 

Spoiler alert: this will bless you.

Pastor, is counseling a burden or a blessing to you? How is your 1:1 ministry oriented? What's your end game?

Paul LeBoutillier speaks with program host Bill Holdridge about counseling, and the way the Lord has taught him to approach it in his church of almost 30 years. It promises to be both liberating and encouraging to any pastor.

Pastor Ed Taylor is an open book in private as well as in public. His transparency and sincerity are evident in this podcast episode, in which Ed provides abundant encouragement with regard to dealing with extreme loss, the pastor's calling, the pastor's own self-assessment and identity (spoiler alert: the pastor is not to be deemed successful on the basis of the size of your church!), and thinking and living within the good things that God has done and is doing.

Ed is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Aurora, Colorado, a solid, growing and relevant congregation near Denver. He and the church have completed 20 years as a fellowship, and during those years Ed has learned, and is learning valuable and transferable lessons in life and ministry. Ed's keeping it real...

Pastors are often isolated and feel alone. It's difficult to find others that can relate to the unique challenges of the ministry. 

Not too surprisingly, pastors report that they often suffer from discouragement, and even depression. 

Can isolation and feelings of being alone contribute to discouragement and/or depression?

In this episode, Pastor Tim Brown of Calvary Chapel Fremont, CA discusses the great need for us senior pastors to reach out to our peers in ministry, and to wash each other's feet.

Spoiler alert: this will encourage and strengthen you. 

Join host Bill Holdridge and Pastor Trip Kimball as they discuss some of the how-to's of disciple making, especially within the ministry of the senior/lead pastor.

Questions like, who should we look for? or what is the goal of disciple making? or how did Jesus do it? are part of the discussion.

This episode can be helpful to restart or jump-start an existing discipleship emphasis with our churches.

Every senior/lead pastor knows about the Great Commission and its importance in fulfilling God's vision for the church.

But what does that look like in the life and ministry of the busy pastor?

Pastor Trip Kimball has a long history of pouring into people that they might follow Christ well.

In this podcast, program host Bill Holdridge will interview Pastor Trip to help us all discover how we can grow as disciplers.

You've heard about this idea, and you've been thinking about it. There are roadblocks to consider, and you're reviewing some of them in your own mind.

Yet just the hope of an extended restorative time away charges your batteries.

How can the obstacles to actually doing this be overcome? 

What about your church's leadership, how will they ever get on board?

Why not just take an extra week of vacation?

In this podcast, Pastor John Cowan of Poimen Ministries responds to these questions with Program Host Bill Holdridge.

May the Lord bless you as you live in, and enter into His rest!

Many pastors do not consider the idea of taking an extended time away from their normal pastoral duties, to be renewed and strengthened personally and in ministry. 

Yet at the same time we hear about how many pastors are leaving the ministry these days ... many of which admit to experiencing burnout, lack of vision, or a weakened spiritual life.

Maybe you, pastor, may be in need of a sabbatical.

In this program, Host Bill Holdridge speaks with longtime pastor John Cowan about what a sabbatical is, and why it's important to consider.  John calls a sabbatical a time of "refueling."

If you've been in your church for ten years or more, you may indeed be a candidate for a sabbatical. Perhaps this podcast can help you determine that.

Poimen Ministries Director (and program host) Bill Holdridge interviews Pastor Gillett Doggett on the subjects of the senior pastor's retirement, care for his widow should the pastor go home to be with the Lord, and adequately preparing for a church transition when and if it gets to be that time.

This program will be helpful for church boards of directors, elder boards, deacon boards, and finance and budget committees. The senior/lead pastor may consider making this show available to his leadership team(s).

Gillett Doggett has served the Lord for many years, and is like a modern day Caleb. This octogenarian has a great passion for the care of pastoral widows, and for the pastor and his family.  

Host Bill Holdridge interviews Pastor Bryan Newberry, a senior pastor for 32+ years. Bryan is passionate about connecting with the next generation, and exudes proper confidence in the Lord that it's doable. 

Many pastors are asking, "why are the young people leaving?" And most of the time, we pastors are unclear about what to do about it!

But the next gen WANTS to be reached, and Bryan provides Biblical, practical, Jesus centered, and easy to implement practices that will encourage any pastor to go for it. 

Part two of this two part series focuses on some of the 'must do' practices for the church that wants to fulfill the Great Commission as it reaches the younger people. Bryan's suggestions, if applied, have the potential to radically change the dynamic of any church. 

Host Bill Holdridge interviews Pastor Bryan Newberry, a senior pastor for 32+ years. Bryan is passionate about connecting with the next generation, and exudes proper confidence in the Lord that it's doable. 

Many pastors are asking, "why are the young people leaving?" And most of the time, we pastors are unclear about what to do about it!

But the next gen WANTS to be reached, and Bryan provides Biblical, practical, Jesus centered, and easy to implement practices that will encourage any pastor to go for it. 

Part one of this two part series focuses on the mindset of today's youth, and how our churches can adjust to that mindset. The message and foundation remains the same as we reach out to young people, but the approach and methods can and must adjust.