Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent EnduringChurches

Episode 271: Should I Go Back to School
 

Should I go back to School?

What is your ministry and personal purpose?

are you lacking something?


are you looking to something?



What is the support level of your family and church?


What will the impact be on your family and church?


How will you account for the financial impact?


Where will you choose?

theological alignment versus diversity


location


program - I called and asked questions



Bachelor's


Master's level -

basic skills in church and  ministry


or ThM - more academic degree, less on practical skills



DMin -

practical advanced degree to hone specific ministry skills


project in ministry



PhD -

a research based degree


Dissertation



other options

conferences


internships


mentorships


certifications



Pray aout the decision and seek advice from others

Episode270: Help! I'm in a Preaching Slump!
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
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Why do we get into a slump?

You have been in a season of extreme busyness


You've been dealing with conflict in church or at home


Your spiritual life isn't as vibrant


You have or haven't been away from the pulpit for a while


You are neglecting good sermon preparation habits


You are not thinking enough of the congregation (preaching at them)

How do we get out?

Still yourself


Fall in love with the Word of God


PRAY


Take a couple of weeks as a break


Develop your own sermon skills...examine another preacher's methods, read books...


Get input from your congregation


Remember you are the vessel, God is the One at work.

Episode 269: How To Receive A Mission Team
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
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Plan your projects well in advance

Have a well thought out list of things to do


Have contacts ready


Have supplies ready



Make sure you know about the team coming

Know their leader and know that you can trust them


Know their capabilities (Construction, evangelism, children etc.)



Communication is key

Communicate about expectations for the church and for the mission team


Communicate expectations


Communicate about sleeping arrangements and meals


Communicate about materials the mission team is expected to bring with them.


Communicate with your church about the team coming and expect them to be involved.



Plan your calendar well

6 months out -

make sure you have all your projects planned


make sure you have approval from your church of costs and plans



3 months out -

check with team and make sure their questions are answered.



1 month out -

check with all local leaders to make sure things are in place.



week of -

Pep rally for your church to get them excited and remind them of the expectations



afterwards -

evaluate

Epsiode 268: How to Call a Pastor 2024
 
Pastors, If you retire or leave a church in a healthy manner, you have an obligation to set up your church for success.

Are the bylaws up to date, clear, and workable

you must follow your bylaws



Do you have an external contact for your search team. Every search team needs training

 

Move past the human nature side of things...

Know that without guidance the tendency is to swing from extreme to extreme

pastors in the past 

good pastors - what did they do


not good pastors - what did they do




Make preaching the last element you discover about the candidate

The right person is more important than the right preacher

character


leadership


theology


family


emotional intelligence





Use a well-stablished process, hopefully you've gotten training

a clear job description


a clear budget


a clear list of qualities

what are the non-negotiables



know where to put out requests for resumes

respond to everyone who sends you a direct resume



Try to avoid going through resumes one at a time; set a date to go through them together



Communicate

communicate with your church often

have your church pray for you



communicate with candidates as needed


communicate written and unwritten expectations


avoid bringing in multiple candidates to see "who you like best"


find your one candidate and interview them


Bring them in at the appropriate time


 
 
Keep your search committee together for a year to serve as the mediator with your new pastor

meet once a month and talk about how things are going


be the first line of defense for your pastor family

 
Remember you are inviting a leader to fulfill the church’s vision, not your own.

Episode 267: Planning an Excellent Mission Trip
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
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Principle to keep in mind:  God calls every believe to be on mission!
We can participate by Praying, Giving and Going
 
Jesus himself gave us the model in Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
 

We need to be Holy Spirit powered and guided

         So prayer is critical to be in tune with God through His Holy Spirit

On mission we are to witness of Jesus.   Missions can look like many things and have lots of different activities, but if there is no witnessing about Jesus - then it is not a God-honoring mission trip


We start local (Jerusalem)  - if you won't witness locally, then you won't on the other side of the world.  So your trip is just a vacation


Judea - look for opportunities in your state and region


Samaria - in our nation and to people that you might not ever feel comfortable around.  Everyone on earth is the subject of God's love!

 

Uttermost parts of the earth -

 
Planning:

Connect with a good mission agency


Have a local contact person to work with


Make a trip there prior to taking a group - so you know what to expect and are able to prepare your group.


Be flexible


Know your purpose...work, evangelism, support...


Don't go with an agenda etched in stone - ask what the people there need.

Episode266: Our Interview With Church Revitalization Pastor Matthew Timmons
Matt is the Pastor at Norwood Heights Baptist Church in Palestine, TX
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
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