The path to church revitalizer doesn't always start with being a youth pastor. But it did for Rusty Small. In today's episode, we walk through this unique journey and learn about how he started, the challenges he faced in revitalizing a church, and the importance of community engagement and outreach. Rusty shares valuable insights on leadership, the significance of seminary education, and the importance of pastors genuinely caring for their congregations.

Pastor Grant Ethridge leads Liberty Live Church through 21 Days of Prayer twice a year. Senior adults, working men and women, and teenagers gather at 6 am at the church to seek the Lord. And the stories of how God moves will give you goosebumps! Listen as Brandon, Jeff, and Grant discuss the challenges pastors face in leading prayer initiatives and the miraculous stories that emerge from dedicated prayer

In this episode of the Not Alone Podcast, Brandon Pickett speaks with Mike Young from Noble Warriors about the importance of men's ministry in the church. You will hear about the challenges young men face in engaging with faith, the need for seasoned mentors, and practical strategies for local churches to effectively disciple men. You'll also learn valuable resources for men's discipleship and the critical issue of purity in today's culture.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/xbrpCEdv9IY

01:46 Celebrating 20 Years of Ministry

02:56 The Call to Ministry and Men's Discipleship

06:00 Understanding the Crisis of Young Men in the Church

09:31 Equipping Local Churches for Men's Ministry

10:45 Resources for Mentoring Young Men

14:47 Addressing Purity and Accountability in Men's Groups

19:05 The Importance of Open Conversations about Men's Issues

20:28 Call to Action for Men's Discipleship

Catalyst Church in Newport News walks dogs on the campus of Christopher Newport University to open up gospel conversations. In this episode, founding pastor Jeff Mingee shares with Brandon Pickett how this unique evangelistic effort started and shares insight into how churches and leaders can engage young adults during a pivotal season of life.

So many churches are, unfortunately, not growing, but are either stagnant or declining. That's why SBCV brings pastors together regularly to learn, network, and pray together to see this trend turn around. In this insightful podcast, we dive into three to four keys that helped Swift Creek Baptist in Colonial Heights and its pastor, Ryan Colpitts.

He's led the SBC of Virginia for more than a decade. You may know Brian Autry as the Executive Director of SBCV. However, there were many twists and turns on this path to serving that only God could have orchestrated.

In this episode, Brandon and Brian discuss the importance of community in ministry, Brian's personal journey, the role of mentorship, and the significance of maintaining perspective and humility in leadership. Brian shares his experiences in youth ministry, church planting, and the challenges he faced along the way, emphasizing that ministry is a privilege and that one's identity should be rooted in Christ.

Every church has specific challenges to face. Many of those challenges are the same, no matter the size or location of the church. But for those churches that are in rural or small town settings, answers may be hard to come by to help with their unique situations. That's why the SBCV held a special conference just for these churches. In this episode, we talk with John Sharp, who highlights some of the main takeaways that could really help your church.

When Philip Bramblet came to Rocky Mount, Virginia, to pastor Furnace Creek Baptist Church, he knew God had called him there. What he didn't realize was the journey he and the church would have to take and how long it would take. It's a revitalization story of two 5-year chapters, including a time when he was almost shown the door! But along the way, Philip learned one thing that he constantly needs... GRIT. God, Repentance, Instruction, and Time.

It was hard to watch Cracker Barrel try to reinvent itself this year. It tried to move away from the past and into a future that seemed to leave its customer base behind. But what can churches and ministries learn from this process? Marketing expert Mark MacDonald has been a frequent speaker at IFR's Worship & Technology Conference. In today's podcast, he breaks down some lessons that we can all take away from a $700 million rebrand that almost took a national icon down.

This past Virginia General Assembly, lawmakers approved two constitutional amendments that would tear down family and Biblical values in the areas of gender, marriage, and life. And these amendments, if approved by voters in November of 2026, directly impact every Virginian and every church. So why is this November's election so crucial and maybe even more important? We dive into those issues in today's podcast with Pastor Jonathan Falwell and our partner from the Family Foundation, Michael Morisi.