The Thriving Church Podcast

Need some steps to thriving student ministry? This episode covers the who, what, and how of great student ministry to middle and highschoolers. Ensure that they grow and become part of God’s Kingdom ministry through your church. Whether you have one student, or many of them, this episode tackles your situation and stirs your passion for students. Listen, learn, and then change lives. The Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s NextGen Strategist, Katy Parker, and Nathan Smith, student pastor at First Baptist Church, Roswell, New Mexico, join podcast host Kevin Parker for this helpful conversation.

Podcast host Kevin Parker talks with NextGen Strategist Katy Parker (no relation!) and kid-friendly pastor Larry Evans about reaching children. This wide-ranging conversation answers lots of questions. Why is reaching kids so important? Do you need to reach kids? Where do we start? What do we do? Who can help us? Discover it all with us on The Thriving Church Podcast.

Participants at the 2026 New Mexico Evangelism Conference answered the question “How is your church thriving?” Podcast hosts Kevin Parker and Rick Brittain explore the conference answers in this first listener generated episode. Listen and find out how New Mexico churches see themselves thriving - or not. Fresh, frank, honest, and exciting answers all come from ordinary New Mexico Baptists willing to talk about their church.

Thriving Church Podcast hosts Kevin Parker and Rick Brittain welcome guests Steve Ballew and Matt Thackerson, BCNM leaders, to the podcast to talk about implementing and practicing the 12 characteristics of a biblically healthy church. They explore how the characteristics look in actual churches, not just in theory. How can churches do them? Offering possibilities to both large and small churches, they start with pursuing the characteristics in small groups so they strengthen the whole church. Together, the hosts and guests encourage churches to start with what is most accessible, then keep going. This episode wraps up the series about the 12 characteristics.

Thriving Church Podcast hosts Kevin Parker and Rick Brittain and guest Bryan Wooten, a Church Engagement Strategist for the International Mission Board's West Region, explore the background of the 12 characteristics of biblically healthy churches. Wooten explains how the characteristics are rooted in biblical principles and essential for church health and missiology. The 12 characteristics also guide local churches in fulfilling the Great Commission. While churches may not perfectly embody every characteristic, consistency in practicing them should be the aim for both new church plants and existing churches. The characteristics are opportunities rather than requirements, that help churches produce healthy disciples and support mission efforts locally and globally.

Podcast hosts Kevin Parker and Rick Brittain finish out the list of the 12 characteristics of a biblically healthy church with a conversation on “mission.” It is why the Church exists and why local churches do missions. Southern Baptists began by rallying around “mission,” saying in 1846, “We exist to bring the Gospel to the nations.” Today, the heart of the Church is still to go on mission. Activities such as personal evangelism and mission trips change other people and change the participants, forever. In this podcast you’ll hear how New Mexicans know what its like to receive mission trips, go on mission trips, and send out missionaries. Mission is the lab experience for working out all that the Church teaches. Mission transforms. It changes perspectives. Everything is theory until you get out of your chair and practice the mission.

Continuing the exploration of the 12 characteristics of a biblically healthy church, podcast hosts Rick Brittian and Kevin Parker dive into the topic of biblical giving from a positive and possible perspective. Relying on a multitude of biblical passages on giving and stewardship, they talk about moving beyond a minimalist approach to an opportunity approach in giving to God’s work. It is a core part of following Jesus and trusting Him in life. They encourage gratitude, generosity, and joy in giving. That takes an attitude of freedom and faith in Christ, enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Fellowship, accountability, and discipline appear among the 12 essential characteristics of a biblically healthy church. Beyond meeting together and eating, fellowship reflects a deep bond based on shared experiences. It lays a foundation for healthy accountability and discipline. Accountability and discipline begin with encouragement, prompting each other into good works, and bearing burdens. Discipline seeks to restore and draw people into the fellowship, not drive them away.

Practical, relational prayer is essential to biblically healthy churches. Such prayer extends beyond lists. It is part of an intimate relationship with God and often blurs into worship (another characteristic). A great way to understand prayer is a three-sentence description: be with God, agree with God, obey God.

Ordinances and worship are characteristics of a biblically healthy church. Baptist churches practice believers’ baptism by immersion. The event is a wonderful, monumental day in a Christian’s life and in the church. Likewise, the Lord’s Supper has become more creative, but retains its distinct weightiness. Churches want people to engage in both. They also want people involve in biblical worship, both corporate worship gatherings and daily acts of worship through Christian obedience.