The Shepherds Circle

6:14 Ministries
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Pastor Stan Givens — Executive Director of 6:14 Ministries — is joined weekly by Pastor Victor Herman and Pastor Caleb Howell to talk small church ministry, pastoral life, church revitalization, cultural issues, and much more. 

  1. 5d ago

    Know Your Flock: How Pastors Can Get Honest, Usable Church Feedback | S3 E18

    How well do you really know what is happening beneath the surface of your church? Healthy shepherding requires more than preaching to people each week. It means listening carefully enough to understand how they are growing, where they are struggling, what concerns may be developing, and what needs exist within the surrounding community. In this episode of The Shepherds Circle, Stan is joined by Caleb Howell, Lance Sudduth, and Connor McLeod for a practical conversation about creating healthy feedback loops within the local church. They discuss pastoral visits, small groups, deacons, leadership conversations, conflict resolution, communication tools such as Slack and GroupMe, and simple church surveys created through Google Forms. The conversation also explores how pastors can ask better questions, when anonymous feedback may be helpful, and how community surveys can uncover meaningful ministry and outreach opportunities. Honest feedback can help church leaders evaluate discipleship, improve small-group participation, strengthen pastoral care, identify concerns before they become conflicts, and discover whether their ministry is truly connecting with the people they serve. Whether you pastor a small rural congregation, lead a youth ministry, serve as a deacon, or help guide a growing church, this episode will help you listen more intentionally, stay closer to your people, and turn useful feedback into faithful shepherding. Links & resources mentioned in this episode: Slack.com GroupMe.com Become a 6:14 Ministry Partner: https://614ministries.org/ministry-partners

  2. Aug 14

    Meetings That Move Ministry Forward | S3 E17

    Few things drain a church leadership team faster than a meeting with no clear purpose, no agenda, and no end in sight. But when handled well, a meeting can do far more than fill a calendar—it can strengthen relationships, clarify priorities, encourage volunteers, and move ministry forward. In Season 3, Episode 17, Stan is joined at Howell Baptist Church in Lucedale, Mississippi by Caleb Howell, Lance Sudduth, and Connor McLeod for a practical conversation about leading church meetings that people are actually willing to attend. Together, they share lessons learned from meetings that went off the rails and unpack what makes a leadership gathering productive: setting the right tone, beginning with prayer and encouragement, providing a clear agenda, distinguishing check-in meetings from planning sessions, keeping dominant voices from taking over, valuing everyone’s time, and ending with specific action steps, clear ownership, and genuine accountability. Whether you are gathering elders and deacons, church staff, ministry leaders, or volunteer teams, this episode will help you turn meetings from a necessary frustration into a meaningful tool for shepherding people and advancing the mission of the church.

  3. Aug 7

    The Word Does The Work | S3 E16

    What happens when believers slow down, listen carefully to Scripture, and give everyone around the circle an opportunity to share what they hear? In this special episode of The Shepherds Circle, Stan flies solo and welcomes Bill Slappy, Jacque, and Hank Fillingham for a conversation about Bible Listening Groups—a simple, highly reproducible discipleship model that is helping people engage with God’s Word, grow as leaders, build meaningful Christian community, and reach others both locally and around the world. Bible Listening Groups began as a way to share audible Scripture with people groups in Africa, including communities where many could not read or write. Today, that same basic model is also bringing people together online through their phones, tablets, and computers. The format is refreshingly simple: What did you hear? How did it impact you? What are you going to do about it? There is no complicated curriculum, large budget, new building, or Bible degree required. Participants slow down, focus on a few verses, listen to one another, pray Scripture over one another, and trust the Holy Spirit to use His Word. Leaders are not there to dominate the conversation or deliver another sermon. Their role is to create space for others to engage, speak, reflect, and grow. Stan and his guests discuss how Bible Listening Groups can help churches develop new leaders, involve members who may never feel comfortable speaking from a platform, provide community for people with difficult work or travel schedules, create a low-pressure online outreach into surrounding neighborhoods, and offer pastors a practical way to move church members from passive attendance into active discipleship. You will also hear personal stories of lives changed through the simple act of listening to Scripture together, including Derek Cavender’s testimony of finding consistent Christian community and continued spiritual growth while his work frequently keeps him away from his home church. This is not merely another church program. It is an invitation to get the Word of God out in the open, let people handle it together, and trust that the Word will do its work. Learn more or join a group at biblelistening.com. Watch additional testimonies at BLGglobe.com. Pastors and church leaders interested in hosting a Bible Listening Group training can also reach out to 6:14 Ministries for more information. 6:14 is proud to partner with Bible Listening Groups. Learn more about becoming a ministry partner with 6:14 on our official Ministry Partners platform.

  4. Jul 31

    The Spiritual Language of Today's Generation | S3 E15

    What happens when a room full of teenagers passionately worships... but struggles to connect their experiences back to Christ? In this episode of The Shepherds Circle, Stan is joined by Caleb Howell, Conner McLeod, and Lance Sudduth for an honest conversation about the spiritual landscape of today's generation. Sparked by Stan's recent experience speaking at youth camp, the discussion explores why so many students are hungry for authenticity, desperate for safe relationships, and eager to talk about their pain—yet often lack the biblical framework to understand what God is doing in their lives. The conversation tackles questions every pastor, youth leader, and parent is asking: Why are today's students so open about their struggles? What does it mean to minister in a post-Christian South?How do worship, discipleship, and authentic relationships work together to point young people towards Christ? What role do parents and the local church play in helping students develop a genuine faith? Along the way, the panel offers practical encouragement for anyone investing in the next generation, reminding us that creating safe environments is only the beginning—our calling is to lovingly disciple students until they recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd. Whether you're a pastor, youth leader, parent, or church volunteer, this conversation will challenge and encourage you as you seek to faithfully shepherd the next generation.

  5. Jul 24

    AI in Ministry: Authenticity, Trust, and the Tools Shaping the Small Church (with Josh Givens) | S3 E14

    Stan and Caleb sit down with 6:14 Communications & Creative Director Josh Givens for a candid conversation about artificial intelligence and its growing role in local church ministry. From sermon prep to social media graphics, this episode digs into where AI genuinely helps — and where it can quietly hurt — a church's witness. Josh unpacks a viral idea making the rounds in the design world: as AI-generated content floods the internet, polished and professional no longer wins the algorithm — authentic does. Small churches, it turns out, may be uniquely positioned to thrive in this new landscape, because real relationships and real stories can't be manufactured by a machine. Along the way, the guys talk through: Using AI as a study aid for Greek & Hebrew word studies — and why it can never replace the pastor's own heart and voice in the pulpitThe dangers of asking AI (or Google) theological questions without guardrails, and how to train your AI on trusted, conservative sourcesWhy a simple cell-phone photo of real people often outperforms a professionally designed graphicHow social platforms are now flagging AI-generated content — and a practical workaround for churches who want to use AI tools without the labelBuilding brand consistency so your church is recognizable even without your logoFive practical principles for church communicators navigating AI: start with truth, use AI to accelerate (not originate), build repeatable systems, keep humans as the final editor, and protect credibility over convenienceWhether you're a one-person media team or leading a growing communications ministry, this episode offers a grounded, gospel-centered framework for using AI wisely — without losing what makes your church, your church. Connect with us: 614ministries.org Connect with Josh: josh@614ministries.org Josh's Digital Portfolio: jdgivens.myportfolio.com Become a 6:14 Ministry Partner: 614ministries.org/ministry-partners Resources mentioned in this episode: "Authenticity in the Age of AI: Why trust and brand discipline matter more than ever" — at comprend.com ChurchVisuals.com Unsplash.com Lightstock.com ChatGPT.com Canva.com Claude.ai

  6. Jul 17

    Not Many Mighty: Matt Rutland | S3 E13

    Not Many Mighty | Pastor Matt Rutland What happens when God takes a skeptical young man who walked away from church, spiraled into addiction, chased a music career, and transforms him into a faithful shepherd serving the same congregation for nearly a quarter century? In this episode of Not Many Mighty, Stan sits down with Pastor Matt Rutland, Senior Pastor of First Congregational Christian Church in Douglas, Georgia, for an honest conversation about grace, calling, and the quiet faithfulness that marks a lifetime of ministry. Matt shares his remarkable testimony—from growing up in a Christian home but rejecting the faith, to a dramatic conversion that changed the trajectory of his life forever. Along the way, he opens up about the pain of divorce, battling addiction, wrestling with a sense of God's call despite believing his past had disqualified him from ministry, and how the Lord faithfully opened doors no one expected. Together, Stan and Matt discuss: The surprising realities of long-term pastoral ministryWhy integrity matters more than talentThe joys of watching spiritual fruit mature over decadesRaising children who love and serve ChristEncouragement for pastors serving faithfully in small churchesPractical wisdom for young leaders discerning God's callPastor Matt's story is a powerful reminder that God delights in using ordinary, broken people for extraordinary Kingdom work. Faithfulness—not fame—is Heaven's measure of success. "God doesn't call us to build our kingdoms. He calls us to faithfully serve where He plants us." Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, or simply someone wondering if God can redeem your past for His purposes, this conversation will encourage your heart and strengthen your resolve to stay the course. The Shepherds Circle is the official podcast of 6:14 Ministries, equipping and encouraging pastors, church leaders, and healthy churches across the Southeast. Not Many Mighty is a special interview series from The Shepherds Circle, highlighting faithful pastors who may never be widely known but whose quiet obedience is making an eternal difference in God's Kingdom.

    Not Many Mighty: Matt Rutland | S3 E13

  7. Jul 10

    Not Many Mighty: Jeff Abell | S3 E12

    Not Many Mighty | Pastor Jeff Abell: God Still Calls Ordinary People What does it look like to follow God's call when the path makes no sense? In this week's Not Many Mighty episode of The Shepherd's Circle, Stan sits down with Pastor Jeff Abell of Enigma Congregational Christian Church in Enigma, Georgia, to hear the remarkable story of how God transformed his life—and faithfully directed every step of his journey into ministry. Jeff shares his testimony of coming to Christ after a difficult upbringing, being radically set free from addiction, and discovering that God's guidance often comes one faithful step at a time. From leaving Illinois for the South, to meeting his wife Judy, to an unforgettable series of confirmations that ultimately led him into pastoral ministry exactly 40 years to the day after his conversion, Jeff's story is a powerful reminder that God is never finished writing our story. Along the way, Jeff and Stan discuss: Why God's calling becomes an anchor during difficult seasons of ministry.The joy of watching lives transformed by the gospel.Lessons learned from serving faithfully before ever becoming a pastor.The value of mentorship for young ministry leaders.Why ordinary, willing servants are exactly the kind of people God delights to use.If you've ever questioned your calling, wondered whether God can use your past, or simply needed encouragement to remain faithful where He's planted you, this conversation is for you. "Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise..." — 1 Corinthians 1:26–27 Not Many Mighty is a special interview series from The Shepherd's Circle, the official podcast of 6:14 Ministries, highlighting faithful pastors who may never be widely known but whose quiet obedience is making an eternal difference in God's Kingdom.

    Not Many Mighty: Jeff Abell | S3 E12

  8. Jul 3

    Not Many Mighty: Lance Sudduth | S3 E11

    What does God's call to ministry really look like? In this episode of The Shepherd's Circle, Stan sits down with Lance Sudduth, senior pastor of Hurley Baptist Church in Mississippi, for an honest conversation about calling, perseverance, and the joy of investing in people. Lance shares how a teenager who barely grew up in church spent years running from God's call before finally surrendering—and how that journey shaped the pastor he is today. Along the way, he reflects on the realities of bivocational ministry, the emotional highs and lows every pastor faces, and why community with other ministry leaders is essential for finishing well. Whether you're a pastor, church leader, ministry volunteer, or someone discerning God's direction for your own life, this conversation offers encouragement, wisdom, and a refreshing reminder that God delights in using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. In this episode: How Lance came to faith and recognized God's call on his lifeWhy he spent years running from ministry—and what finally changedThe unique blessings and challenges of bivocational ministryThe greatest joys (and biggest surprises) of pastoral leadershipThree pieces of advice for young men sensing a call to ministryWhy pastors need a "band of brothers" to endure the difficult seasonsAn inside look at the growing Pastor Training School and its mission to equip faithful shepherds across multiple states.  No celebrity pastors. No shortcuts. Just faithful servants pointing people to Christ and helping strengthen His Church—one leader at a time. One shepherd at a time.  "Consider your calling, brothers... Not many were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth..." — 1 Corinthians 1:26 Not Many Mighty is a special interview series from The Shepherds Circle, the official podcast of 6:14 Ministries, sharing the stories of faithful pastors who are quietly serving Christ and His Church every week.

    Not Many Mighty: Lance Sudduth | S3 E11
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About

Pastor Stan Givens — Executive Director of 6:14 Ministries — is joined weekly by Pastor Victor Herman and Pastor Caleb Howell to talk small church ministry, pastoral life, church revitalization, cultural issues, and much more. 

Information

  • Creator
    6:14 Ministries
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 6:14 Ministries
  • Show Website
    The Shepherds Circle