RE: CHURCH

Are you discouraged by the ongoing uncertainty of COVID-19 and the challenges of ministering to your flock at this time? Are you facing opposition or strife within your assembly? Listen as Marshall Fant speaks as a pastor to pastors about Scriptural certainties that will give you hope during these unusual times. If you would like to speak further with Dr. Fant, you can contact him at [email protected].

Are you tempted to grow weary of the trial God's given you, or are you seeking to effectively minister to someone who is? There's a certain daily grind to persistent troubles. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant interviews John Lashuay about a physical trial he has faced since 2014. As the pastor of Pine Island Bible Church in Warwick, NY, Pastor Lashuay shares what he has learned about God's faithfulness, grace, and Word.

If your church were to gift you with a sabbatical, how would you use the time? In episode 58 of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant interviews Pastor Dale Cunningham about some practical ways to profit from a sabbatical. As the recipient of two of them over the course of his 20 years of ministry at Boones Creek Bible Church in Johnson, TN, Pastor Cunningham has experienced the helpfulness of "retreating so you can advance." This episode is one of two podcasts covering this topic.

What is a sabbatical, and how can God use one in the life of a church? While every believer needs time of refreshing away from the cares of life, what makes the role of a pastor especially demanding? In episode 57 of RE: CHURCH, Marshall Fant interviews Pastor Dale Cunningham about his church's gifting him with two sabbatical over the course of his 20 years of ministry at Boones Creek Bible Church in Johnson, TN. Because of the helpfulness of these sabbaticals, Dale Cunningham is passionate about their value for pastors. This episode is one of two podcasts covering this topic.

What is an echo chamber and what are the advantages and disadvantages of one? How can you be tenaciously committed to the Scripture but seek new ideas for practically doing ministry within your own context? What questions work as filters? From whom should you seek counsel? Thinking outside the box is not the same as thinking outside the Bible. Listen in episode 56 of RE: CHURCH as Marshall Fant interviews Jeremy Sweatt about ministering inside and outside of an echo chamber. Jeremy was reared in a pastor's home and is from traditional, independent Baptist churches. He planted a church in the Atlanta suburbs before moving to New England. He has served as senior pastor of Farmington Avenue Baptist Church in West Hartford, CT, for the last five years

What are the benefits of serving as a chaplain in the US military, a unique mission field? How can such a ministry extend a man's outreach? Are there any personal ministry benefits? Any benefits for churches? How can believers more knowledgeably pray for chaplains? Listen in episode 55 of RE: CHURCH as Marshall Fant interviews Matt Wilson about this topic. Not only does Matt serve as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves, but he also directs Grand View Camp in Eagar, AZ, and serves on staff at Ponderosa Bible Church. 

To learn more about GFA's next roundtable on October 24, go to gfamissions.org/roundtables.

Living in the limelight has challenges. How does being in a fishbowl as a pastor’s wife affect relationships within the church, the family, and personal life?  In this episode of RE: CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with his wife, Gretchen, and Helen Golson. Helen and Wayne Golson began ministry in 1967 when Wayne took a position as a youth pastor. He subsequently served as a senior pastor for almost 30 years. During their retirement years, Wayne served as an interim pastor in eight churches.  Helen has faithfully ministered alongside him in each of these assignments and speaks from experience about some challenges a pastor’s wife faces. Gretchen Fant highlights the great blessing it is to be a pastor’s wife and cautions that it is easy to be driven by others' expectations.

With so much unrest in our country, how are we to look at it through the lens of Scripture? The church in the New Testament is not given a political mission or tasked with transforming society, so how should you preach about social justice? Listen as Marshall Fant discusses this topic with two seminary professors who also pastor local churches: Dr. Ken Casillas pastors Cleveland Park Bible Church in Spartanburg, SC, and has a Ph.D. in Old Testament Interpretation; and Dr. Brent Cook pastors University Baptist Church in Clemson, SC, and has a Ph.D. in Church History.

Learn more and register for GFA's Roundtables at gfamissions.org/roundtables.

With many churches live streaming or posting services online because of the pandemic, what considerations need to be made to comply with music copyright laws? Listen as Marshall Fant interviews Eirik Shevy about CCLI license coverage and use in this episode of RE: CHURCH. With music degrees from Maranatha Baptist University and Bob Jones University, Eirik Shevy has served as the music pastor at Harvest Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC, since 2013. His wife, Brigette, composes and publishes sacred music.

With many small churches in needy areas in the US, when should a man consider bi-vocational ministry? What are some of the advantages to working a secular job in the community? Some of the challenges? Some of the blessings? Listen as Marshall Fant interviews Dale Seaman about this topic in Episode 51 of RE: CHURCH. As pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Porterville, CA, for 28 of his 40 years of ministry, Dale Seaman has been bi-vocational for much of his ministry. He recently authored How to Kill 12 Birds with One Stone: Help for the Working Pastor, a helpful resource for bi-vocational pastors.