Thriving in Ministry

On this episode of the Thriving in Ministry podcast, we interview Mike Fritscher on how to live a marriage that will leave a legacy.

Pastor Bio
Mike Fritscher is the pastor of Cottonwood. Mike has been the pastor of Cottonwood since 1986. Under his leadership Cottonwood has grow from a small rural church to a dynamic community of faith impacting the local community and world.

Verse of the Day
Ephesians 5: 25-30 (ESV) - "Husbands, love your wive, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body." 

Notable Quotable
"I wanted to be the same guy in the parsonage, as I was in the pulpitl" - Mike Fritscher

Links
Daily Pastor Online Content
Talanton Church Services
Sow and Tether Music
Cottonwood Life

On today’s episode of the Thriving in Ministry podcast, we interview Mark Dance on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively in ministry.

Notable Quotable
"Pastors belong to the only profession that requires you to win both at work and at home."

"Every pastor gets tired; every pastor gets burned out. Everybody gets depressed to a point, but when you stay there for more than a couple weeks, then you have a problem." 

Dr. Mark Dance Bio
Mark Dance is the Director of Pastoral Development for Oklahoma Baptists, as well as the Executive Director of Care4Pastors. Mark Dance previously served as a senior pastor for 28 years before becoming an associate vice president at LifeWay in 2014. Mark studied at Howard Payne University, and both Southwestern and Southern Baptist Theological Seminaries and currently resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mark and his wife Janet have two adult children and when not encouraging pastors, Mark enjoys writing, traveling, and hunting. 

I’m Kyle Willis, Founder of Talanton Church Services, and as always Dr. Dace Clifton, from DailyPastor.com and also a pastor from Texas. 

Pastor Mark Dance welcome to the Thriving in Ministry podcast! 

Verse of the Day
1 Timothy 4:16
"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Websites and Other Links

Daily Pastor Online Content
Talanton Church Services
Sow and Tether Music
Mark Dance Website
Oklahoma Baptists

On today’s episode of the Thriving in Ministry podcast, we interview Pastor Todd Gray on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively in ministry.

Dr. Todd Gray Bio

Dr. Todd Gray is the Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Ennis, Texas. Todd received his Doctorate in Preaching from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and prior to pastoring Tabernacle, Todd served as a Captain in the United States Air Force. Todd and his wife Tammy have three children. When not spending time with his family, Todd enjoys spending time in the great outdoors. 

I’m Kyle Willis, Founder of Talanton Church Services, and as always Dr. Dace Clifton, from DailyPastor.com and also a pastor from Texas. 

Pastor Todd Gray welcome to the Thriving in Ministry podcast! 

Verse of the Day
Ecclesiastes 4:12
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."  

Websites and Other Links

Daily Pastor Online Content
Talanton Church Services
Sow and Tether Music
Tabernacle Baptist Church | Ennis, TX
Extreme Ownership Book

What are some of the common issues that are easy to ignore, but need your urgent? Especially as a pastor of a new church, you will want to be aware and be purposeful about these 5 issues. Kyle Willis and Dace Clifton talk about the 5 Issues New Pastors Cannot Ignore. 

1.  A Changing Community
2. Outdated Facilities 
3. Lack of Friendship, Fun, and Fellowship
4. Missional Drift
5. Burned-Out Staff

What are the key components that every pastor must have in their ministry tool bag? On this week's episode of the Thriving in Ministry Podcast, Kyle Willis and Dace Clifton discuss five key disciplines and practices every ministry leader needs. These are practices every leader, regardless of the size of ministry or years of service, should embrace to ensure years of faithful and effective ministry. 

1.  Mentor Relationship
2.  Process to Stay Fresh
3.  Accountability Measures
4.  Group of Friends 
5.  Plan for Rest

Links
Daily Pastor Online Content
Talanton Church Services
Carey Neiuwhof Article "Inner Circle"

Music by Sow and Tether

On today's episode of the Thriving in Ministry podcast, Kyle Willis and Dace Clifton discuss the phrase, "Pastor, we have a problem." Many pastors and church leaders have been caught off guard by church members or other leaders with an "urgent" crises. How we respond to them can either lead to encouragement and growth or an emotional response in the moment. Join us this week as Dace and Kyle discuss the best and worst responses to some of the common phrases pastors love to hear.

Links
Daily Pastor Online Content
Talanton Church Services

Music by:
Sow and Tether

On today's episode of the Thriving in Ministry podcast, we share 21 scriptures to encourage pastors and church leaders.

Matthew 6:33 "Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."

Psalm 49:15 "But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave."

Proverbs 15:22 "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."

Proverbs 29:11 "Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back."

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Proverbs 31:17 "She is energetic and strong, a hard worker."

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

1 Peter 5:7-8 "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

1 Timothy 4:8 "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

Mark 6:31-32 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

Jeremiah 33:6 “Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace."

Isaiah 40:28-31 "Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Romans 12:14-18

Matthew 20:26-28 "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

Luke 12:48 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

John 16:33 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Acts 20:28 " Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his own blood."

Psalm 112:7 "They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them."

Daily Pastor

Are you thinking about how to pay your church staff and pastors in 2022? With the unknown inflation and the continued demands placed on pastors, this episode of the Thriving in Ministry is a starting point for what personnel salaries may look like for you and your church.

Dace Clifton and Kyle Willis discuss the who, what, when, and how for evaluating pay in the upcoming year. Join us for this episode and share it with your church leadership team as you begin your church budget planning!

Links
Daily Pastor Online Content
Talanton Church Services

Music by:
Sow and Tether

On today’s episode of the Thriving in Ministry podcast, we interview Pastor Scott Weatherford on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively.

Scott Weatherford Bio
Scott Weatherford is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Wimberly, Texas and is passionate about helping pastors overcome their biggest challenges and grow healthy churches. His experience leading church plants, mega-churches, and established churches give him a deep empathy for a range of pastoral challenges, but Scott is deeply committed to the local church. He has helped to launch almost 50 churches in North America and around the world. Scott is married to his bride of 40 years Tara and has two grown children.

I’m Kyle Willis, Founder of Talanton Church Services, and as always another pastor from Central Texas and dailypastor.com, our co-host Dace Clifton. Pastor Scott Weatherford, welcome to the show!

On today’s episode of the Thriving in Ministry podcast, we talk about the Purpose Driven Church model with Pastor Scott Weatherford. If you’re looking for a simple path of discipleship to turn seekers into reproducing disciples, the Purpose Driven Church model may be what you are looking for. Do you have a process on how to introduce church attendees into membership and move members into progressively deeper steps of commitment and maturity? We all want to lead thriving churches who transform their city and the world, and that is why we are talking about the Purpose Driven Church model today with Scott Weatherford.

Scott Weatherford Bio
Scott Weatherford is a pastor and consultant who is passionate about helping pastors overcome their biggest challenges and grow healthy churches. His experience leading church plants, mega-churches, and established churches give him a deep empathy for a range of pastoral challenges, but Scott is deeply committed to the local church. He has helped to launch almost 50 churches in North America and around the world. 

I’m Kyle Willis, Founder of Talanton Church Services, and as always another pastor from Central Texas and dailypastor.com, our co-host Dace Clifton. Pastor Scott Weatherford, welcome to the show! 

Links
Scott Weatherford Website
Daily Pastor Online Content
Talanton Church Services

Music by:
Sow and Tether