Romans 1:16 teaches that the Gospel is the power of God leading to salvation for everyone who believes. In this podcast, Marshall Fant interviews Jonathan and Chrissa Edwards about the transforming power of the Gospel in Utah as this couple engaged in ministry there for decades. Serving with Northwest Baptist Missions, the Edwards planted two churches in Utah. For 28 years, Jonathan Edwards pastored Marysvale Baptist Church in Marysvale, UT, a community of 400 people. He shares how prayer, the use of their gifts for life-touching-life relationships, and believing Romans 1:16 have led to their lives being totally interwoven into the community.

According to Titus 2, God's grace teaches us how to live in this present age. In this podcast, Marshall Fant discusses how to shepherd people to live out their faith in this present age with Mike Hixson. As an assistant pastor, Mike Hixson oversees discipleship and outreach at Grace Church of Mentor, which is also home to ARCH Ministries in Ohio. Of primary importance to a pastor is leading by example in evangelism.

Why should a pastor and his wife consider rural America as a place of ministry? What are some of the blessings and challenges of rural ministry? On this podcast, Marshall Fant interviews John and Jennifer Goldfuss about ministering in a farming community in Indiana. John Goldfuss pastors Waterman Baptist Church in Kingman, IN.

Do you regularly face discouragement in ministry? What are some practical ways you can guard against this? How do you need to orient yourself spiritually to be encouraged in the Lord? Marshall Fant interviews Dale Cunningham in this podcast about this topic. Dale Cunningham has been in pastoral ministry for 38 years and currently pastors Boones Creek Bible Church in Johnson, TN. He has written about discouragement in ministry on his blog, From a Pastor's Heart. 

You can contact Pastor Cunningham at [email protected] with any additional questions about this topic.

How is renovating your facilities part of church revitalization? Philosophy of ministry, finances, facilities, leadership, and a church website are all aspects of revitalization. In this podcast, Marshall Fant interviews John Turner about how he led his church through a renovation project and the blessings they have experienced as a result. John Turner serves in Hampton, Virginia, as pastor of Grace Baptist Church. Access the full show notes at gfamissions.org/renovating-facilities/.

Is your church stuck not knowing what to do to reach your community for Christ? The first step in making disciples is to effectively evangelize and see people come to Christ. On this podcast, Marshall Fant talks with Pastor Dave Hine and Todd Bright about the food bank of Grace Baptist Church in Parker, Colorado. This outreach was initially started in the Brights' garage to help meet the needs of ministry families, but it has expanded to a gospel outreach with Bible studies, one-on-one evangelism, and people regularly getting saved. Watch this podcast on YouTube and access the show notes at gfamissions.org/rechurch.

Churches without pastors are vulnerable. And because a search for a new pastor is not a process churches go through frequently, pulpit committees tend to make some common mistakes. Listen to Marshall Fant interview David Shoaf about this topic in Episode 90 of RE: CHURCH. David Shoaf pastored Independent Baptist Church of Bolingbrook, Illinois, for 44 years before joining GFA's interim pastor program. He is currently assisting his third church in its search for a new pastor. You can contact David Shoaf here with any questions. 

Pastoral Candidate Questions

What are some of the common problems pastors and churches are facing in today's culture? What are some of the biblical solutions to these struggles? In this RE: CHURCH episode, Marshall Fant discusses both the struggles and their solutions with Dave and Claudia Barba of Press On! Ministries, a ministry assisting churches at all stages of growth. Before starting Press On! Ministries, the Barbas planted two churches and traveled in evangelism. They speak from nearly 40 years of ministry experience and have a desire to help other pastors and their wives.

Will your church support many missionaries for a small dollar amount or fewer missionaries for a larger dollar amount? Are you focused on any particular geographic regions? Why use a missionary questionnaire? These are practical questions that a church's missions policy helps answer. In this episode, Marshall Fant discusses with Dave Smith how to craft a church missions policy. As an MK who grew up in Papua New Guinea and then ministered there as a missionary for 10 years, Dave Smith currently serves as the missions pastor at Morningside Baptist Church and director of Open Door Baptist Missions, a ministry of this church in Greenville, SC.

Why should a church consider using an evangelist? What questions should a pastor ask before committing for an evangelist to come? Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Ben Farrell, current senior pastor of Reedy Creek Baptist Church in Lexington, NC. Because Ben Farrell grew up in the home of an evangelist and traveled with his dad in evangelism before transitioning to the pastorate, he is able to speak from the perspective of both the pastor and evangelist. He continues to travel some holding special services, preaching at camps, and ministering with Majesty Music.