What happens when believers slow down, listen carefully to Scripture, and give everyone around the circle an opportunity to share what they hear?

In this special episode of The Shepherds Circle, Stan flies solo and welcomes Bill Slappy, Jacque, and Hank Fillingham for a conversation about Bible Listening Groups—a simple, highly reproducible discipleship model that is helping people engage with God’s Word, grow as leaders, build meaningful Christian community, and reach others both locally and around the world.

Bible Listening Groups began as a way to share audible Scripture with people groups in Africa, including communities where many could not read or write. Today, that same basic model is also bringing people together online through their phones, tablets, and computers.

The format is refreshingly simple:

What did you hear?

How did it impact you?

What are you going to do about it?

There is no complicated curriculum, large budget, new building, or Bible degree required. Participants slow down, focus on a few verses, listen to one another, pray Scripture over one another, and trust the Holy Spirit to use His Word. Leaders are not there to dominate the conversation or deliver another sermon. Their role is to create space for others to engage, speak, reflect, and grow.

Stan and his guests discuss how Bible Listening Groups can help churches develop new leaders, involve members who may never feel comfortable speaking from a platform, provide community for people with difficult work or travel schedules, create a low-pressure online outreach into surrounding neighborhoods, and offer pastors a practical way to move church members from passive attendance into active discipleship.

You will also hear personal stories of lives changed through the simple act of listening to Scripture together, including Derek Cavender’s testimony of finding consistent Christian community and continued spiritual growth while his work frequently keeps him away from his home church.

This is not merely another church program. It is an invitation to get the Word of God out in the open, let people handle it together, and trust that the Word will do its work.

Learn more or join a group at biblelistening.com.

Watch additional testimonies at BLGglobe.com.

Pastors and church leaders interested in hosting a Bible Listening Group training can also reach out to 6:14 Ministries for more information.

6:14 is proud to partner with Bible Listening Groups. Learn more about becoming a ministry partner with 6:14 on our official Ministry Partners platform. 

What happens when a room full of teenagers passionately worships... but struggles to connect their experiences back to Christ?

In this episode of The Shepherds Circle, Stan is joined by Caleb Howell, Conner McLeod, and Lance Sudduth for an honest conversation about the spiritual landscape of today's generation. Sparked by Stan's recent experience speaking at youth camp, the discussion explores why so many students are hungry for authenticity, desperate for safe relationships, and eager to talk about their pain—yet often lack the biblical framework to understand what God is doing in their lives.

The conversation tackles questions every pastor, youth leader, and parent is asking:

• Why are today's students so open about their struggles? 
• What does it mean to minister in a post-Christian South?
• How do worship, discipleship, and authentic relationships work together to point young people towards Christ? 
• What role do parents and the local church play in helping students develop a genuine faith? 

Along the way, the panel offers practical encouragement for anyone investing in the next generation, reminding us that creating safe environments is only the beginning—our calling is to lovingly disciple students until they recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Whether you're a pastor, youth leader, parent, or church volunteer, this conversation will challenge and encourage you as you seek to faithfully shepherd the next generation.

Stan and Caleb sit down with 6:14 Communications & Creative Director Josh Givens for a candid conversation about artificial intelligence and its growing role in local church ministry. From sermon prep to social media graphics, this episode digs into where AI genuinely helps — and where it can quietly hurt — a church's witness.

Josh unpacks a viral idea making the rounds in the design world: as AI-generated content floods the internet, polished and professional no longer wins the algorithm — authentic does. Small churches, it turns out, may be uniquely positioned to thrive in this new landscape, because real relationships and real stories can't be manufactured by a machine.

Along the way, the guys talk through:

• Using AI as a study aid for Greek & Hebrew word studies — and why it can never replace the pastor's own heart and voice in the pulpit
• The dangers of asking AI (or Google) theological questions without guardrails, and how to train your AI on trusted, conservative sources
• Why a simple cell-phone photo of real people often outperforms a professionally designed graphic
• How social platforms are now flagging AI-generated content — and a practical workaround for churches who want to use AI tools without the label
• Building brand consistency so your church is recognizable even without your logo
• Five practical principles for church communicators navigating AI: start with truth, use AI to accelerate (not originate), build repeatable systems, keep humans as the final editor, and protect credibility over convenience

Whether you're a one-person media team or leading a growing communications ministry, this episode offers a grounded, gospel-centered framework for using AI wisely — without losing what makes your church, your church.

Connect with us: 614ministries.org
Connect with Josh: [email protected]
Josh's Digital Portfolio: jdgivens.myportfolio.com
Become a 6:14 Ministry Partner: 614ministries.org/ministry-partners

Resources mentioned in this episode:

"Authenticity in the Age of AI: Why trust and brand discipline matter more than ever" — at comprend.com

ChurchVisuals.com
Unsplash.com
Lightstock.com
ChatGPT.com
Canva.com
Claude.ai

Not Many Mighty | Pastor Matt Rutland

What happens when God takes a skeptical young man who walked away from church, spiraled into addiction, chased a music career, and transforms him into a faithful shepherd serving the same congregation for nearly a quarter century?

In this episode of Not Many Mighty, Stan sits down with Pastor Matt Rutland, Senior Pastor of First Congregational Christian Church in Douglas, Georgia, for an honest conversation about grace, calling, and the quiet faithfulness that marks a lifetime of ministry.

Matt shares his remarkable testimony—from growing up in a Christian home but rejecting the faith, to a dramatic conversion that changed the trajectory of his life forever. Along the way, he opens up about the pain of divorce, battling addiction, wrestling with a sense of God's call despite believing his past had disqualified him from ministry, and how the Lord faithfully opened doors no one expected.

Together, Stan and Matt discuss:

• The surprising realities of long-term pastoral ministry
• Why integrity matters more than talent
• The joys of watching spiritual fruit mature over decades
• Raising children who love and serve Christ
• Encouragement for pastors serving faithfully in small churches
• Practical wisdom for young leaders discerning God's call

Pastor Matt's story is a powerful reminder that God delights in using ordinary, broken people for extraordinary Kingdom work. Faithfulness—not fame—is Heaven's measure of success.

"God doesn't call us to build our kingdoms. He calls us to faithfully serve where He plants us."

Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, or simply someone wondering if God can redeem your past for His purposes, this conversation will encourage your heart and strengthen your resolve to stay the course.

The Shepherds Circle is the official podcast of 6:14 Ministries, equipping and encouraging pastors, church leaders, and healthy churches across the Southeast.

Not Many Mighty is a special interview series from The Shepherds Circle, highlighting faithful pastors who may never be widely known but whose quiet obedience is making an eternal difference in God's Kingdom.

Not Many Mighty | Pastor Jeff Abell: God Still Calls Ordinary People

What does it look like to follow God's call when the path makes no sense?

In this week's Not Many Mighty episode of The Shepherd's Circle, Stan sits down with Pastor Jeff Abell of Enigma Congregational Christian Church in Enigma, Georgia, to hear the remarkable story of how God transformed his life—and faithfully directed every step of his journey into ministry.

Jeff shares his testimony of coming to Christ after a difficult upbringing, being radically set free from addiction, and discovering that God's guidance often comes one faithful step at a time. From leaving Illinois for the South, to meeting his wife Judy, to an unforgettable series of confirmations that ultimately led him into pastoral ministry exactly 40 years to the day after his conversion, Jeff's story is a powerful reminder that God is never finished writing our story.

Along the way, Jeff and Stan discuss:

• Why God's calling becomes an anchor during difficult seasons of ministry.
• The joy of watching lives transformed by the gospel.
• Lessons learned from serving faithfully before ever becoming a pastor.
• The value of mentorship for young ministry leaders.
• Why ordinary, willing servants are exactly the kind of people God delights to use.

If you've ever questioned your calling, wondered whether God can use your past, or simply needed encouragement to remain faithful where He's planted you, this conversation is for you.

"Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise..." — 1 Corinthians 1:26–27

Not Many Mighty is a special interview series from The Shepherd's Circle, the official podcast of 6:14 Ministries, highlighting faithful pastors who may never be widely known but whose quiet obedience is making an eternal difference in God's Kingdom.

What does God's call to ministry really look like?

In this episode of The Shepherd's Circle, Stan sits down with Lance Sudduth, senior pastor of Hurley Baptist Church in Mississippi, for an honest conversation about calling, perseverance, and the joy of investing in people.

Lance shares how a teenager who barely grew up in church spent years running from God's call before finally surrendering—and how that journey shaped the pastor he is today. Along the way, he reflects on the realities of bivocational ministry, the emotional highs and lows every pastor faces, and why community with other ministry leaders is essential for finishing well.

Whether you're a pastor, church leader, ministry volunteer, or someone discerning God's direction for your own life, this conversation offers encouragement, wisdom, and a refreshing reminder that God delights in using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.

In this episode:

• How Lance came to faith and recognized God's call on his life
• Why he spent years running from ministry—and what finally changed
• The unique blessings and challenges of bivocational ministry
• The greatest joys (and biggest surprises) of pastoral leadership
• Three pieces of advice for young men sensing a call to ministry
• Why pastors need a "band of brothers" to endure the difficult seasons
• An inside look at the growing Pastor Training School and its mission to equip faithful shepherds across multiple states. 

No celebrity pastors. No shortcuts. Just faithful servants pointing people to Christ and helping strengthen His Church—one leader at a time. One shepherd at a time. 

"Consider your calling, brothers... Not many were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth..." — 1 Corinthians 1:26

Not Many Mighty is a special interview series from The Shepherds Circle, the official podcast of 6:14 Ministries, sharing the stories of faithful pastors who are quietly serving Christ and His Church every week.

Not Many Mighty | Pastor Jimmy Proulx: Holding On to the Call

What keeps a pastor going when ministry gets hard?

In this episode of Not Many Mighty, Stan sits down with Pastor Jimmy Proulx of Pleasant Hill Congregational Christian Church in Roberta, Georgia, to talk about the calling that has carried him through every season of ministry.

Jimmy shares his testimony of coming to faith as a teenager, the unexpected path that led him into pastoral ministry, planting a church in his living room, navigating the heartbreak of seeing that church eventually close, and the joy of faithfully serving where God has called him today.

Along the way, Stan and Jimmy have an honest conversation about the realities of pastoral life:

• Why a clear calling is essential for enduring difficult seasons.
• The privilege and weight of preaching God's Word faithfully.
• The importance of making disciples—not just filling church seats.
• What Bible colleges often don't teach future pastors.
• Encouragement for the next generation of ministry leaders.

Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, or simply someone who wants to better understand the heart behind faithful shepherding, this conversation offers wisdom, encouragement, and a refreshing reminder that God delights in using ordinary people for extraordinary Kingdom work.

"Consider your calling, brothers... Not many were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth..." — 1 Corinthians 1:26

Not Many Mighty is a special interview series from The Shepherds Circle, the official podcast of 6:14 Ministries, sharing the stories of faithful pastors who are quietly serving Christ and His Church every week.

How do pastors and church leaders guard the spiritual health and purity of the church in an increasingly challenging culture?

On this episode of The Shepherds Circle, Stan is joined by Vic and Caleb for an honest conversation sparked by insights from Stan's current preaching series. Together, they explore the biblical responsibility of overseers to protect the flock, maintain the integrity of the church, and lovingly guide families toward faithful discipleship.

The discussion touches on practical challenges facing churches today, the role of spiritual leadership in safeguarding sound doctrine, and ways pastors can help cultivate healthy, Christ-centered congregations.

This is a thoughtful and timely conversation for pastors, elders, ministry leaders, and anyone who cares about the future of the local church. We hope you'll find it encouraging and helpful—and this is likely just the beginning of a much larger conversation we'll continue in future episodes.

What should the primary goal of children’s ministry be?

In this episode of The Shepherd’s Circle, Stan sits down with children’s ministry leader, author, and speaker Amber Pike of RenewANation to discuss why discipleship—not entertainment—must remain at the center of every kids ministry.

Amber shares her journey from serving in children’s ministry at age 15 to now training church leaders and parents across the country. Together, she and Stan explore practical ways churches can create intentional discipleship environments for children, equip parents as primary disciple-makers, build meaningful intergenerational relationships, and ensure kids are learning the truths of Scripture rather than simply being entertained.

They also discuss:

• Why curriculum matters more than most churches realize
• How to partner effectively with parents
• Creative family ministry ideas that reinforce discipleship at home
• The role pastors play in championing children’s ministry
• Building a culture of safety and security for kids
• Why children are not just the future of the church—they are part of the church today

Whether you're a pastor, children's ministry leader, volunteer, parent, or church leadership team member, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and encouragement for helping the next generation know, love, and follow Jesus.

Resources Mentioned:

• Amber Pike: https://amberpike.org
• RenewANation: https://www.renewanation.org/
• RenewANation Family Ministry: https://familyministry.org
• The KidMin Huddle Podcast
• Intentional Children's Ministry by Amber Pike
• Top 50 Bible Lessons About Ordinary People in God's Extraordinary Plan by Amber Pike

After a brief break for our Not Many Mighty series, Stan, Caleb, and Vic are back around the table for a candid conversation about one of the most revealing indicators of church health.

How does your church feel about lost people?

It's a simple question, but the answer may reveal more about a congregation than attendance numbers, budgets, buildings, or programs ever could.

In this episode, the guys discuss five common ways churches respond to people who are far from God—ignoring them, fearing them, becoming disgusted by them, growing angry toward them, or genuinely loving them as Christ does. Along the way, they share real ministry stories, practical insights, personal challenges, and biblical examples that force every pastor and church leader to examine the culture they're creating.

You'll hear:

• Why evangelism is often the easiest ministry to neglect
• How fear can quietly reshape a church's priorities
• Why celebrating salvation and baptism matters
• The critical role leadership plays in cultivating a heart for the lost
• Practical ways churches can move from comfort and self-preservation to kingdom-minded mission

From washing curtains to ice cream celebrations, from bus ministry challenges to life-changing gospel conversations, this episode offers both encouragement and conviction for anyone who wants to see their church more closely reflect the heart of Jesus.

As Charles Spurgeon famously said, "Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor."

Take "The Lost Test" with us and ask the question every church needs to answer:

Do we truly love the lost?