Podcast
RE: CHURCH
Hosted by GFA Missions · EN
RE: CHURCH is a GFA podcast to encourage pastors and church leaders as they refocus, renew, and revitalize their churches. This podcast offers practical tips and suggestions to help you equip disciples to continually make disciples.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Keeping Your Focus in Ministry
4w agoTap to summarize“Don’t lose your walk with God while doing the work of God.” Ministry is a privilege, and God’s Word is sufficient, but pastors’ wives are not immune to the temptation to fear people in ministry. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses with his wife, Gretchen, three Scripture passages that have been anchors for her as she has faced her fears and the hardships of ministry. The Fants have been married since 1981 and spent their initial years in pastoral ministry as supported missionaries replanting a church in Rock Hill, SC. They currently serve in their local church and at GFA.
Transcribe →Parenting Under Ministry Pressure
Jun 8Tap to summarizeWhile the responsibilities of parents don’t change because of being in ministry, prioritizing the demands of ministry above family and fearing man may be greater temptations. How do you shepherd your children’s hearts towards the Lord, deal with criticism, and involve your children in ministry? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall and Gretchen Fant share practical advice on this topic. Speaking of the importance of cultivating a relationship with your children, Marshall Fant says, “Children will walk away from a home that is full of rules, but they typically will not walk away from a good relationship with their parents.” The Fants have been married since 1981 and currently serve in their local church and at GFA.
Transcribe →What God Teaches Us in Ministry Hardship
May 25Tap to summarizeAre 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."
Transcribe →Protecting Your Marriage in Ministry
May 11Tap to summarizeExpectations 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.
Transcribe →The Role of the Pastor's Wife
Apr 27Tap to summarize“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.
Transcribe →How to Handle Criticism Biblically and Wisely
Apr 13Tap to summarizeCriticism 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.
Transcribe →Five Realities of Church Revitalization
Mar 30Tap to summarizeWhen 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.”
Transcribe →The First 100 Days: What New Pastors Should Prioritize
Mar 16Tap to summarizeWhat 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.
Transcribe →Lifeline Mini-books for Teens
Mar 2Tap to summarizeHow 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.
Transcribe →Preaching in a Distracted Culture
Feb 16Tap to summarizeElectronic 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.”
Transcribe →