RE: CHURCH

How can an average church without skilled musicians effectively worship the Lord in its congregational singing? What kinds of options are available using current technology? In this episode, Marshall Fant discusses with John Lashuay, pastor of Pine Island Bible Church in Warwick, NY, how his church has found a worshipful way to sing even without a church pianist. These two websites have provided helpful resources and encourage the congregation to sing well: smallchurchmusic.com and praiseandharmony.tv. You can view one of the Pine Island Bible Church services on the church's YouTube channel. Reach out to Pastor Lashuay here with any questions. 

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What is a virtual roundtable, and how did it originate at GFA? Who should watch and why? While the roundtables were developed through GFA's desire to connect with college students during COVID-19 shutdowns, these live interactions with missionaries on their fields of service can stir any believer to participate in the Great Commission. In episode 79 of RE: CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses with Jon Crocker how the roundtables have impacted him personally as he has moderated them. Jon and his wife Andrea have served the Lord as missionaries in Mexico for over 10 years, and Jon also serves as one of GFA's regional directors. Consider participating in one roundtable this year. For more information and to register, go to gfamissions.org/roundtables.

What should a pastoral candidate expect as he interacts with the pulpit committee? What questions should he ask about the constitution, financials, the role of the pastor, and expectations for his wife? Listen to Marshall Fant discuss this topic with Bruce McAllister. As a friend to pastors for four decades, Dr. McAllister brings a wealth of experience to the table to help pastoral candidates wisely navigate their discussions with the pulpit committee. A few helpful resources he highly recommends are Before You Move by John Cionca, Search: The Pastoral Search Committee Handbook by William Vanderbloemen, and articles posted at gfamissionsjobs.org/blog.

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As pastors retire and fewer men are prepared to replace them, is a man who pastors multiple churches a viable option? In this podcast, Marshall Fant discusses circuit-riding pastors with Richard Archut, pastor of Community Bible Church in Barrington, NJ, and New Freedom Bible Church in Berlin, NJ. As someone who has had a long relationship with both of these churches that are 25 minutes apart, Pastor Archut shares the advantages, challenges, and goals he has in shepherding these flocks.

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With the coming shortage of Christian workers, how should a pastor nearing retirement prepare his church and family for a transition? Is there anything pastors in their 40s and 50s should be doing now in order to eventually pass the leadership baton effectively? In this podcast, Marshall Fant discusses with Bruce McAllister practical ways for younger and older pastors to be prayerful and intentional in preparing for a transition. They advise men who are retiring to continue serving the Lord by transitioning TO a ministry, not just out of a ministry. Bruce McAllister has served as GFA's Director of Ministry Relations since 2018 and has nearly four decades of experience with ministerial students. Both Marshall Fant and Bruce McAllister are passionate about serving the American church with the challenges it faces today. 

GFA recommends the following resources to guide churches and pastors in transitions. 

GFA church staffing website at gfamissionsjobs.org

Blog articles at gfamissionsjobs.org/blog

Effective Senior Pastor Transitions: A Brief Overview of Orderly Transition Options

Is it Time to Change Ministries? A Checklist of Vital Questions

Search: The Pastoral Search Committee Handbook by William Vanderbloemen

Before You Move: A Guide to Making Transitions in the Ministry by John Cionca

Fourth Quarter: How to Finish Your Course with Joy by Don Sisk

Next: Pastoral Succession That Works by William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird

In Search of God’s Man: A Help for Pulpit Committees by Douglas E. DeVore

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Apps are helpful tools. They make good servants but are terrible masters. In part two of this podcast, Marshall Fant discusses with pastors in their 30s and 40s what apps they use to be more effective overseers. Slack, Instant Church Directory, and OneNote are some of the tools that aid communication, scheduling, counseling, and praying. Taigen Joos has pastored Heritage Baptist Church in Dover, NH, for 14 years, and Joe Fant has pastored Community Baptist Church in South Bend, IN, for 3 1/2 years.

Access RE:CHURCH as a video on YouTube.

According to 1 Timothy 3:1, the man who desires the office of overseer desires a good thing. However, pastors juggle many responsibilities such as study, prayer, administration, personal outreach, and shepherding. How can they use today's resources to be more effective? On this podcast, Marshall Fant interviews men in their 30s and 40s about what apps make them more effective in their responsibilities. Taigen Joos has pastored Heritage Baptist Church in Dover, NH, for 14 years, and Joe Fant has pastored Community Baptist Church in South Bend, IN, for 3 1/2 years. 

Some of the apps they recommend are Kindle Reader, Spark, Accordance, OneNote, Instant Church Directory, Todoist, GoodNotes, Things, and Classic FM. You can email Taigen Joos here and Joe Fant here. 

Access RE:CHURCH as a video on YouTube.

One of the greatest heartaches a parent faces is when a child does not walk in truth. A complicating factor for pastors is the scriptural qualification to rule their own homes well (see 1 Timothy 3:4-5). Should a pastor immediately resign if his adult child turns away from the Lord? In this podcast, Marshall Fant discusses the heart of this thorny question with Dale and Denise Cunningham. Dale Cunningham has pastored for 37 years and has served as senior pastor at Boones Creek Bible Church in Johnson, TN, for the last 19 years. Both Dale and Denise Cunningham would welcome any interaction about this topic. You can reach out to Pastor Cunningham at [email protected] and Denise at [email protected]. Denise blogs regularly at refreshher.com. 

RE:CHURCH is now available on the GFA Missions YouTube channel here.

When women suffer pregnancy losses, such as a miscarriage or stillborn birth of a child, how should they respond? On this podcast, Gretchen Fant shares how God ministered to her personally through His Word when she lost a baby at 19 weeks. When we are hurting, we need a word from God. Listen to Dr. Carol Loescher (OB-GYN physician and GFA missionary), Gretchen Fant (pastor's wife and ACBC-certified counselor), and Rachel Barilla (GFA missionary) discuss how to navigate with faith the trials God entrusts to His children. 

From her experience, Gretchen wrote a "Dear Kathy" pamphlet available here on Amazon. Feel free to interact with Gretchen Fant, Carol Loescher, or Rachel Barilla about this topic. You can also watch this podcast as a video on YouTube.

Is your church typical with a greater number of women in it than men? On this podcast Dr. Carol Loescher, an OB-GYN physician and GFA missionary, shares how one in five women have suffered a miscarriage. With miscarriages being such a common experience, how can the church be better equipped to minister to couples suffering this kind of loss? Women especially need to speak truth into other women's lives and minister compassionately to women's spiritual needs. Listen as Dr. Loescher, Rachel Barilla (GFA missionary to Cameroon), and Gretchen Fant discuss this topic in Episode 71 of RE:CHURCH. Access RE:CHURCH as a video on YouTube.