Category: Uncategorized

Don’t Pastor Alone

Written on September 13, 2024.

In two separate conversations I’ve recently had with individuals involved in replanting a dying church, pastoral moral failure emerged as a significant factor contributing to the church’s decline. Similarly, in another conversation, an affinity group of churches revealed that 50% of their congregations had been affected by pastoral moral failure.

These conversations underscore a pressing issue within the church community.

Church members: Pray for your pastor

Your pastor carries a significant burden and is often the target of spiritual attacks. Your prayers are a powerful support in their life and ministry. Lift them up regularly, asking for wisdom, strength and integrity.

Pastors: Don’t Pastor in Isolation

Isolation is a dangerous place for any leader, especially pastors. Over the past 20 years of ministry, I’ve observed four behavioral patterns that frequently precede moral failure.

Recognizing these patterns can be the first step toward prevention:

1. Studying Scripture solely for lesson/sermon preparation

Ministry leaders who only engage with Scripture for the sake of teaching miss out on the personal transformation and guidance that comes from a deeper, personal engagement with God’s Word.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to

God.” (Col. 3:16)

2. Relying on personal strength and natural gifts

Leaning on one’s own abilities, rather than leading from a place of spiritual overflow and dependence on the Holy Spirit, can be detrimental. True leadership in ministry flows from a vibrant, personal walk with Christ.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17)

3. Developing a cynical and negative attitude

A ministry leader who becomes cynical and negative about their circumstances often exhibits a competitive rather than a cooperative spirit. This attitude shift can erode the collaborative environment necessary for healthy ministry.

“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Pet. 1:18-19)

4. Gradual isolation

As ministry leaders drift into the aforementioned patterns, they tend to isolate themselves. They may maintain a façade of accountability but, in reality, keep people at a distance, which can lead to moral failure.

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb. 3:12-13)

In Southern Baptist life, building strong relationships within your local Baptist association is one of the best ways to avoid pastoring in isolation. Recently my association, First Coast Churches, identified “Don’t Pastor Alone” as the main stated thread of their ministry, but it was part of their ethos long before it was a motto – and I am a better man for it.

Pastoring in isolation is a recipe for disaster. Genuine accountability and community are crucial for spiritual health and effective ministry. Church members, your prayers are vital. Pastors, your connection with others is indispensable. Together, we can support each other in fostering a healthy, vibrant church community.

Don’t pastor alone.

**This article was originally posted on the NAMB Replant Blog

Reframing Conflict

Written on September 12, 2024.

None of us like conflict. If you like conflict, then you better quit being a pastor. As pastors, most of us want to avoid conflict. Like the plague.

If we have a problem with somebody in our church or know there are two people who are arguing or fussing, and you come out of your office on Sunday morning and see them coming – you duck into any Sunday school classroom you can to avoid the conflict.

Conflict in ministry can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to bring the light of the gospel into your church. Instead of running from conflict, these five things can help you reframe it in a healthy and constructive way:

Conflict is inevitable, but it’s also an opportunity
You can’t avoid conflict, especially when leading a church through renewal. Instead of seeing it as something to flee from, view it as a gospel opportunity. This is your chance to let the gospel do its transformative work within your congregation.
Avoiding conflict can lead to greater harm
While most pastors naturally want to avoid conflict, dodging it can lead to bigger problems down the line. Addressing issues head-on, with grace and wisdom, helps to prevent larger divisions and misunderstandings.
Reflect on your relationship with conflict
If you find yourself drawn to conflict, it might be time to take a step back. Some individuals thrive on drama, which can be damaging to both them and their ministry. Honest self-reflection is crucial to ensure your motives align with your calling.
Lead with the gospel
Conflict is not just a hurdle; it’s a platform to demonstrate gospel-centered leadership. Approach disagreements with a spirit of reconciliation, aiming to restore relationships and bring healing through Christ.
Embrace the process
Reframing conflict isn’t about finding quick fixes. It’s about embracing a process that requires patience, prayer and persistent gospel application. Trust that God is at work, even in the messiness of ministry conflicts.

Remember, conflict is not something to be feared but an opportunity to glorify God by applying the gospel in real and tangible ways.

Liston to Mark Clifton discuss this with JimBo on Episode 257 of The Replant Bootcamp podcast.

This article was originally posted on the NAMB Replant Blog

Parenting With the End in Mind

Written on September 11, 2024.

Parenting is tough, and it’s even tougher when you don’t have a plan. Perhaps this is why the mother was so torn. Her family had been active in our church for almost eight years, but their child had started a new school and made new friends who attended a different church across town. That church had quickly become the trendy choice, with all the fun events, youth trips, and cool factors that a big budget could generate. The mother wanted to continue attending our church, but she also wanted to make her child happy. She insisted that nothing was wrong with our church, but she was torn because her child wanted to attend the other church with her friends. The father remained silent.

My advice wasn’t what they wanted to hear. I suggested that they should not leave a church they loved—and one that loved them—for another church’s appealing attributes. Instead, I encouraged them to evaluate each church’s ministry philosophy, mission, vision, and core values. I stressed the significance of making long-term decisions in parenting, rather than solely focusing on their child’s immediate enjoyment and friendships. I assured them that the church they loved offered valuable relationships that would contribute to their child’s long-term spiritual growth. I cautioned them that children’s interests and friendships change throughout adolescence. If they were to switch churches solely for their children to attend with their friends, those friendships might not endure through their teenage years. Instead, I emphasized the importance of their child having multi-generational relationships within a supportive church community that would last a lifetime.

While the father assured me that he was indeed the paterfamilias and wouldn’t dare allow his children’s whims to dictate his family’s spiritual decisions, they soon started attending the other church. My warnings came to fruition. Shortly after their departure, their child’s friendships dissolved, and they were again looking for another church to attend. This situation highlighted the crucial role of parents as spiritual leaders in their children’s lives, and the responsibility that comes with it.

These parents weren’t selfish or immoral. They thought they were being sacrificial. They were willing to leave a church they loved because they believed their child’s enjoyment of church was paramount. Unfortunately, this had an unhealthy effect. Without intending to, these parents imparted an unbiblical and potentially toxic value to their children. They modeled for their child a consumeristic approach to worship and church membership. Their child learned from the parent’s actions that church membership was meaningless, especially in the light of comfort.

Imparting Core Values

Whether we realize it or not, we impart values to our children with each decision. The question parents must wrestle with is, “What values do we want to impart?” Biblically, we as parents are to “Train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6 ESV). The question we must discern is what this looks like in our context. Is it simply attending church with our children and reading the Bible as a family, or is there more to it?

In episode 245, JimBo and Audrea Stewart tackle this parenting issue by sharing how they embraced core values to help guide them in discipling their children. While pastors engaged with replanting and revitalization are thoroughly familiar with the idea of imparting biblical core values into the church’s culture, rarely do we hear of parents approaching their family in a like manner. Discipline? Yes, indeed. Biblical education, of course. Love? Most certainly! But core values? It sounds a little too institutional for many parents.

But why should it be? Establishing core values is essential in replanting churches because it eliminates wasted resources such as time, money, and effort. Would not the same be valid for the family? Without establishing core values as parents, how many missed opportunities have we experienced to better disciple our children? How much energy have we expounded on pursuing things that aren’t beneficial to our children’s development? By establishing these core values for parenting, our potential to raise godly children is greatly intensified. This should motivate parents to set clear core values in their parenting, giving them a sense of purpose and direction.

Parenting with core values is essentially beginning with the end in mind. Jimbo and Audrea Stewart adopted this approach to parenting, aiming to raise children into “adults [they] would enjoy being around.” They focused on instilling values of respect, integrity, self-control, and joyfulness in their children. This not only aligns with biblical principles but is also a strategic and intelligent parenting strategy.

While Stewart’s core values may differ from yours, parents should contemplate how to follow suit. A book called The Other Half of Church by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks may help you in this endeavor. Though this is not a parenting book, it is beneficial in understanding brain science and how to develop biblical character intentionally.

The Need For Intentionality

Parents need to be intentional about their children’s growth and spiritual education. Bringing kids to church and reading the Bible together as a family are important habits, but young adults are leaving the church in alarming numbers, so these efforts may not be intentional enough. High school students are leaving the church after graduation at an alarming rate—66%, to be exact.

These are not unreached students. These students were actively involved in the youth ministry of an evangelical church for at least one year during high school but now do not attend church at all. Their church attendance declined at the same rate as Friday night football games and pep rallies. The church, once such an essential part of their lives, becomes as extraneous to them as a high school textbook in their college classrooms. The church is not merely losing ground among the unreached in post-Christian America—it is also bleeding out its own from internal wounds.

In their research project, Gen Z, the Barna Group presents extensive statistical data focusing on Generation Z’s worldview. According to research by Barna, the problem of students leaving the church comes down to a discipleship issue. Barna Group surveys, when compared with other research data, reveal an important lesson: the majority of young people who remained faithful to the church after high school attributed their faith to the influence of their parents. Those whose parents practiced intentional discipleship not only tended to follow biblical principles, such as attending church and embracing a biblical worldview, but also took their faith more seriously compared to those who simply attended church.

Even though children and adolescents seek independence, parents continue to be the most influential people in their child’s life. Even if youth leaders or children’s volunteers do everything right—building healthy relationships, becoming significant influences, and offering dynamic and relatable programs—they still won’t have nearly as much influence in a child’s life as their parents. Given that God designed parents to be the most influential relationship in their children’s lives, shouldn’t we acknowledge what a waste it would be to approach parenting without a strategy? Shouldn’t we recognize the importance of beginning with the end in mind and creating a plan to instill essential core values that contribute to long-term family discipleship?

FREE RESOURCE: Navigating Alignment in Church Adoptions

Written on September 11, 2024.

Replanting often involves adoption: A healthy church enters a conversation with a declining church so that two congregations, each with different stories, can prayerfully unite to reach a community for the glory of God.

Let’s say, for example, Redemption Crossroads Church, a new congregation meeting in a school cafeteria, enters an agreement with First Baptist Church, which has a building but only a handful of people. Redemption Crossroads has no building but does have a huge community presence and close to 200 people. The plan is for the new church to adopt the older one and move into their building.

What happens, however, is more than one church just adopting another. Adoption actually creates a new entity

An adopting church just doesn’t absorb the other one. Rather, it brings in those people with their culture, corporate identity, history, experiences and story. That changes both the new church and the old one. What comes out is something new and different.

Both groups, however, must know each is going to lose something and gain something. Both must decide whether the potential gain is worth the losing and gaining. The two churches begin the adoption process in prayer and with a posture of humility.

When you can bring two generations together, not based on preferences but on the love of Jesus, that’s glorious! This is hard work. It’s not easy, but if we follow the Lord’s leading, it can be great.

All that sounds good, but what does the adoption process look like? How do you get from entering the adoption conversation to the end of the process? How do you navigate the conversation?

Those are important questions and we are excited to introduce a new free resource that we hope will help simplify the adoption conversation process.

The purpose of the adoption process is to prayerfully explore God’s direction regarding one church adopting another. This resource will help a church and its leadership navigate alignment with another congregation during adoption.

Adoption is a significant and sacred undertaking that requires careful thought, prayer, humility and open communication. This new resource is designed to guide both churches through a structured process with a facilitator, ensuring that each aspect of the potential adoption is carefully considered.

The process is divided into six stages that represent different levels of exploration and discussion, beginning with prayerful preparation and culminating in the details of daily operations and the final decision.

While every adoption process is unique to the churches involved, there is a common path forward. We hope the Church Adoption Alignment Process resource will help you on the path toward vitality.

For a more in-depth discussion of this subject, we recommend a corresponding episode of The Replant Bootcamp Podcast, which focuses on navigating alignment in church adoptions.

The free Church Adoption Alignment Process resource can be downloaded here.

**This blog was originally posted on the NAMB Replant Blog

Replanting as a Family

Written on May 20, 2024.

When I was twelve years old, I saw down in the living room with my mom, dad, brother, and sister. My dad was having a family pow-wow with us, and it seemed important. “Kids,” he said,” Me and your mother love you all. And I want you to know that God is calling your Dad to serve another church.”

My dad had been serving at Bethel Baptist Church in Sycamore, GA, since before I was born, and we would be leaving the church where I had grown up to move to a new town. As a twelve-year-old, that move was difficult, but also exciting. From a young age, it taught me that my Dad’s call to ministry involved the whole family.

This week, on a special episode of the podcast, our host, Jimbo, had his whole family on the channel to talk about the joys and challenges of having a family during a Replant. If you haven’t listened, I encourage you to listen to this one and take special note of a replant from his children’s perspective. These are good things to know, not just for Replanters but for all ministers and church leaders. To summarize, I’ll give a few topics of the conversation.

Making Quality Time with Your Kids:

As your children grow up, what they will remember most and have the most significant impact on them is the time you have spent with them. Life is busy, and ministry is full-time, no matter what your job description entails. It seems like, in ministry, it is extra difficult to “leave work at home.” Though my children are three years old and six months old, they have already spent countless hours with my wife and me at the church on weekends or at my office for a few extra hours.

There are times when that is necessary. We have full-time roles, and there are projects to complete and things to take care of. But when we get home after a long day, we put our phones away and spend quality time with our kids. For our 6-month-old, it’s laying on the floor, having face-time with her, holding her, and caring for her. For our 3-year-old, it’s playing with monster trucks and cars, running around outside, and watering the plants together. Our kids will remember those small moments, and it instills in them the love and care we have for them.

Maybe your kids are older. Sometimes, we forget that while our kids have different likes and interests, we can always put away our “things” and spend quality time with them. Don’t neglect quality time. Every once in a while, we must put the phone or TV away, play some games, and do some silly dances with our kiddos. You’ll be glad you did.

Being Present at Home

Another way we can be intentional with our families is by being present at home. It is possible to be home without being at home. One example mentioned was being at home but checking work emails or working on your next sermon during family dinner to catch up. We must remember that our first ministry is always to our family. That extra 20 minutes for sermon prep may have to suffer a bit. I would rather have an underdeveloped sermon than neglect my family.

Focusing on our pastoral ministry does not have to come at the expense of neglecting our family ministry. This is why time management and balance are so important. If you have to, schedule every hour of your day so that you can schedule time to be present and intentional with your family. We must learn to say “not this time” when ministry opportunities present themselves for the sake of family time.

Raising them with Grace

Another great insight shared in this podcast was raising your kids to be good kids but not raising them to be a “pastor’s kid.” What do we mean? Children in ministry must not be raised with the impossible expectation of being a perfect, rule-following child as an example for other kids. In other words, we must not expect them to be ideal role models for the rest of the kids. Sometimes, we put high religious expectations on our kids, and they fear imperfection and feel the weight of pressure that no child should bear.

We must raise our kids to be great kids, not perfect kids. Yes, others will look at them and watch their lives. But we should normalize authenticity and grace rather than a facade of perfection that even we cannot maintain.

Creating Core Values for Your Family

At the end of this episode, the Stewart family began discussing their core values. I talked about this concept with Jimbo and loved their ideas. After he and his wife talked about how to raise their children, they came up with some core values they would instill at a young age and include in meaningful conversations with them. The four values they chose were respect, integrity, self-control, and joyfulness.

As each kid spoke, it became apparent that this was a significant part of their upbringing. I want to encourage you, the reader, to think of the same thing to implement with your family. Even if your kids are preteens or teenagers, it’s still something you can do.

Whether you are looking for a better work/life balance, learning how to lead your family spiritually, or struggling relationally at home, a good starting point is recognizing that if you have a family, your family is your first ministry. Let us know how we can encourage you to find the necessary balance in this pursuit.

Three Steps to Powerful Prayer in Your Church

Written on May 13, 2024.

A quote from Martin Luther hung in my grandparent’s bedroom when I was younger. It said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” I remember thinking how backward that seemed to me at the time. If you have so much to do, wouldn’t it be better to start doing it? Spending three hours in prayer seems like you’ve wasted so much time on what must be a busy day! Now that I am older, I see the wisdom in Luther’s quote. But I must admit… I don’t always follow his advice.

Perhaps you can relate. Many church leaders see prayer as something we do before we get to the “real work.” We rush through prayer to start a meeting because we understand the value of “starting with prayer,” but not in spending time to offer an “effective, fervent” prayer (James 5:16, KJV).

On a recent podcast episode, Jimbo spoke with Rev. Rick Fisher, the Vice President of Blackaby Ministries, and co-author of the book, Developing a Powerful Praying Church with Dr. Richard Blackaby. He stated that a praying church is one where “prayer is the foundation of everything you do.” You may think that you have built a foundation of prayer in your church, but are you truly seeing transformative, exciting communication with God? Or are you simply going through the motions of prayer to check off a box? Rev. Fisher discussed several steps to help churches and pastors move from a prayer life that feels lethargic and powerless to an effective and dynamic one.

Step One: Evaluate Your Own Prayer Life

The first step toward a powerful, praying church is to start with a powerful, praying pastor. Rev. Fisher recognized that while he knew the cliches to say in prayer and how to vocalize prayer, he didn’t know how to communicate with God. He wanted to hear from God, but often, God heard from him instead.

You may wonder at the difference– what does it matter if we speak or God does? But it matters a great deal. When we never stop to listen to what God is saying to us, our prayer life becomes one-sided and dangerously close to self-serving. We begin to rely on our own power to transform our church. True communication with God, where we sit and wait for His response, reminds us that this is God’s church, not ours.

Think about it this way: when you finish praying is there time for God to respond? Or are you immediately moving on, content to have spoken to Him? Just because you’re done praying, doesn’t mean you’re done listening.

Prayers that Seek God’s Face, not His Hand

As pastors, we often get caught up in praying for things that Rev. Fisher reminds us are in “God’s hands.” “God’s hands,” he says, “represent what God does.” When we pray with our hearts focused on God’s hands, we look to experience God’s gifts of favor, blessing, or reward. We hope to have our needs met and our expectations exceeded.

By contrast, Rev. Fisher points us toward Psalm 27:8: “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek..’” If God’s hands represent what He does, then God’s face represents who He is.

When we begin our prayer earnestly seeking God’s character, it changes our prayers from self-focused to God-focused. When we stop striving to convince God to move according to our wants and desires, it changes our hearts to recognize His sovereignty in all things and to relinquish control over them. When we are informed about who God is, we trust Him more.

A powerful praying church begins with a pastor whose personal prayer life is one of submission to God’s character and who makes time to listen to Him, not only speak.

Step Two: Engage Your Church in Scripture-Filled Prayer

How often have you heard the phrase, “Let’s start with prayer,” followed by, “Now, open your Bibles to this chapter and verse.” Rev. Fisher would encourage us to flip those two statements around. Your church doesn’t need to start praying without first beginning in Scripture. If we pray to seek God’s face, we must first understand who He is– and there is no better place to discover that than in His Word. Many times, Fisher says, “What you need to pray, what God wants to say to you, embed in you, and adjust in you comes right out of his word.” When we engage our churches to become powerful, praying people, we must first open our Bibles and teach them to do the same.

If your Wednesday night prayer meeting has devolved into a litany of rote names and their various ailments, it may be because your church is praying without a true understanding of who God is. They might need to be reminded through Scripture. Fisher recommends starting your prayer time by opening up to a Psalm and asking the question, “What does this Scripture tell me about God?” He explains that having a proper view of God and His character gives your congregation more confidence in seeking Him and in trusting Him.

For example, if we were to open up to Psalm 130 before we pray and ask, “What does this tell me about God’s character?” we can answer that God is forgiving, and He is merciful. We can say that God’s love is steadfast and He is attentive to our prayers. We are reminded to wait upon the Lord as we pray. As we begin to pray, we are better able to trust God with the outcome knowing that He is in control and our circumstances are not separate from His love and mercy.

Step Three: Pray with Purpose

Emojis have made it easy to water down prayers to a simple 🙏. We can post a quick response to someone’s prayer request before we mentally register what they even asked. “Thoughts and prayers,” has become so ubiquitous that even non-Christians post it as a knee-jerk response.

If we’re honest, perhaps even in our prayer times at church, we have grown complacent with standard cliches and phrases. We might even be guilty of praying without any thought at all. How many of us can rattle off a night-time prayer we learned in childhood? My grandfather said the same prayer every time he was asked to pray over a meal: “Dear Lord, make us truly thankful for these and all other blessings, we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.” At least I think that’s what he said– honestly, it was always said so quickly I barely even had time to close my eyes or bow my head before it was over.

If prayer is the foundation on which everything in our church is built, it deserves to be treated with respect. Rev. Fisher said he realized, “I had to stop saying things that didn’t make sense in prayer like ‘God be with us.’ We’re not asking God to be with us, He’s there. The better prayer is: ‘God, make us aware of how present you already are.’” Adjusting the phrasing and the way he prayed showed his church the importance of praying with a purpose.

Specific Prayers and Specific Pray-ers

In Acts 4, we get a very close look at a powerful, praying church. Peter and John have been arrested and tried before the Council and the early church Christians are experiencing persecution and trials. When they return to the church members, they don’t recite a thoughtless, memorized litany of requests and cliches. Instead, the Bible tells us that they “lifted their voices together to God,” acknowledged His plan and faithfulness, and prayed for boldness to continue healing and proclaiming His name.

The early church’s prayer was answered. The Bible says, “When they had prayed, the place they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” They prayed specifically for boldness, and God answered specifically.

Rick Fisher asked this question: “Is there anything your church is praying for that could only be explained if God did it?” We must be willing to pray specific prayers for our church– to ask God to do what only He can.

We must also be willing to pray fervently, without ceasing, until the prayer is answered. So often, we pray a few times and then stop. We get bored or restless and then begin to try to accomplish things on our own. But God doesn’t operate on our timeline. We must teach our churches to pray until God moves, whatever that looks like.

As pastors, we may also be guilty of being too willing to let someone pray corporately who frankly doesn’t have a solid prayer life privately. We need to be specific in our prayers, but also in who prays! Rev. Fisher makes this analogy: “We never think about asking a soloist to sing who can’t sing on key. Prayer is more important than singing. So why would we ever let anyone pray publicly who prays off key?”

Is the person praying over the offering in your services doing so because he is a righteous man, passionate about church finances being used for God’s Kingdom? Do you know that he is praying over the church budget and prayerfully supports the ministries of the church in his private life? Or did he just lose a rock, paper, scissors game before the offering was taken?

If you aren’t praying with your people, pastor, then you don’t know who is praying Spirit-filled, God-honoring prayers that truly communicate with the Lord. You don’t know who is seeking the Lord’s face daily.

Powerful Prayers Deserve Powerful Praise

The final step toward developing a powerful praying church? Celebrate answered prayers! When your church has prayed specific, fervent, God-seeking prayers, and you see God move in specific ways, then that deserves a celebration.

Don’t be tempted to speak in terms of “we were lucky to experience this,” or “this was an accident.” Give God the glory for the great things He has done! We prayed, God responded, and God did this! Remind your congregation of the times God has answered prayers in the past and encourage them to continue to pray and seek God’s face.

Rev. Fisher made this statement on prayer and I think it sums up exactly what prayer in our churches should look like: “Prayer is not merely a means of expressing our concerns to God but a divine invitation for God to lay His heart over ours. Through prayer, we align our thoughts and desires with God’s, allowing His perspective to shape our actions and decisions.”

I want to be a part of that! I want my church to be a part of that!

For more information on Rev. Rick Fisher or his book, Developing a Powerful, Praying Church, see www.blackaby.org.

Don’t forget to nominate guests for future episodes of the Replant Bootcamp podcast!

How Christians Engage with the Public Square

Written on May 6, 2024.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia: the fear of public places.

This term is normally used when someone is afraid to go into public due to an anxiety disorder. But the word, “Agoraphobia” is associated with ancient Greek culture due to its origin. “Agora” translates to “gathering place” or “assembly.” Every Greek city-state had an Agora where there was a public gathering of citizens who discussed politics, philosophy, and heard reports from governing authorities.

It’s also where we get our word for the “Public Square.” Over time, the Agora became a place for commerce, justice, and religion. It was the focal point for community life in the Greek city-state. But today, the Public Square can be found in any nation, any city. Wherever there is a general location for discussion, from small tribes in Africa to the busy streets of New York.

In today’s digital culture, most “public square” conversations are held online, through social media and other online forums. Since Christians are represented in the “Agora,” and if Christians are commanded to make disciples and live missionally, we must not have a fear of the public square. So, how should Christians engage it with the gospel? Should Christians engage with political and social action, or should they disengage entirely to “keep peace?”

For Leaders

Last week on the podcast, we hosted Brent Leatherwood with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) to discuss how Christians engage with the Public Square. If you’re reading this, you are probably a Christian leader who wants to steward your opportunity well.

First, leaders should first recognize the importance of helping Christians think biblically about political and social matters. Some Christians completely shy away from any political discussions. Either they get too overwhelmed, or they feel like they should separate from any and all worldly discussions in an attempt to “love not the world or the things of the world.”

But the Christian life is inherently cultural and contextual. Living on mission means we must understand our mission field, and that means being informed about the matters that affect our lives in the social sphere. The biblical examples are too many to count – Christians have always utilized their station in life to be the light of Christ in a dark world, and more often than not, that Christian living affects the public square in which they live.

Second, leaders must leverage the tools in front of them to disciple their congregations. God has lended the pulpit to pastors to preach the word. Pastors should carefully steward their time on Sunday mornings to help Christians exerise wisdom in their context. This does not mean telling your congregation who to vote for and dictating political responsibilities. But it does mean allowing God’s word to speak to contextual Christian living. As leaders, we cannot weaponize our opportunity, but leverage it in a Godly and peaceful way.

On the other side, we must not shy away from all discussion and ignore the issues surrounding us. Faithful preaching will simply preach the word, but make application of the word to the congregation. If your church is a voting poll, or a gathering place during the week for city meetings, utilize your people and place to show the love of Christ to the community. For example, this can be done by handing out snacks and water bottles, and praying over people as they walk out. We must lead by example, helping our people see the need of living on Mission for Jesus Christ.

For Churches

The ERLC is re-launching a wonderful resource that helps Christian engage the public square. You can find the link here: A Christian Guide to Political Engagement. Please utilize this resource and apply it to your context.

Biblically informed, God-honoring engagement from Church Members is not just helpful. It’s needed. We need wise Christians to be an influence in every area of life, including politics, for the Glory of God. Here are three ways that Christians can engage with the public square.

Public Theology

E. Harold Brietenberg, in defining Public Theology, wrote a helpful article in 2003 called “To Tell the Truth: Will the Real Public Theology Please Stand Up?” In it, he defined Public Theology as, “Theologically informed public discourse about public issues, addressed to the church…as well as the larger public or publics, argued in ways that can be evaluated and judged by publicly available warrants and criteria.”

Public Theology can bring light and clarity to many cultural issues. In his podcast

Thinking in Public and The Briefing, Al Mohler explains the theological connections and issues associated with Cancel Culture, Social Justice, Critical Race Theory, Abortion, and Transgenderism. As much as the culture exhibits a polarity of opinions related to this variety of topics, Christians should be able to articulate what they believe and why—a precedent set by 1 Peter 3:15.

Public Ministry

Mark Clifton says that Replanted churches must focus on “making disciples who make disciples who make the community noticeable better.” This said, churches in revitalization should place effort towards ministry in their community. Like Public Theology, Public Ministry is a form of political activism because it concerns itself with having activity in the affairs of the public square. Using the term “Public Ministry” is related to social action, but helps dispel the negative connotations associated with the Social Gospel Movement which helped give rise to the religious left today.

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus begins his public ministry by announcing his personal fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Luke 4:18-19. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” When we minister in the name of Jesus, we are continuing the ministry that Jesus left to his disciples when he ascended into heaven, and we will continue ministering until he returns.

Christians today involving themselves with any sort of public ministry should recapture the original intent of Christ’s ministry—to demonstrate his supremacy and restoration of sin, in all areas of life. Due to the complexity of cultural facets today complicated by time, sin, and population, Christians have many options for various public ministries such as pro-life ministries, sex trafficking ministries, justice ministries, medical ministries, and financial ministries. God places distinct burdens, gifts, abilities, and desires in each of us, and desires that we would be faithful in whatever calling He has on our lives. We need only to obey and magnify his Lordship while doing whatever task he has given us.

Public Office

Finally, another great way Christians can practice political activism is by running for public office. This effort involves those who are especially skilled in leadership, but Christians in political office can have a great impact on society. Each Christian should consider their own vocation and calling on their life and consult their abilities and skills as well as support from friends and family before considering running for office. While Scripture does not specifically tell Christians to try and run for political office, it does contain numerous examples of characters who were types of governing officials and in positions of influence.

In 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Paul says, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” Paul’s greatest desire is that he would be known for the way he obeyed his Lord and the way he handled the truth of the gospel in all areas of life. May this ethical and evangelistic mindset be the every Christian who desires to actively engage their culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For more information, please see my thesis on this topic from SEBTS: Transformative Cultural Engagement in Political Activism. I hope it’s helpful.

Resources for the Replant Wife

Written on April 2, 2024.

“You can’t be a pastor! That would make me a pastor’s wife! And I am NOT a pastor’s wife.” These were the very first words I said to my husband after he confessed to me that he felt God was calling him to be a pastor. (Encouraging, I know… Bear with me.) Some women attend seminary and meet their future husband while he is studying for a career in ministry. She’s prepared to be known as the “pastor’s wife” for their marriage. That is not what happened to me. I was completely unprepared to be a pastor’s wife– my husband was in logistics at a warehouse. I never imagined God would call him to be a pastor and I would be a “PW”– I didn’t even know what PW meant!

Thankfully, God brought me around and I joyfully accepted this new role. I looked at it as a big, new adventure we would go on together. My husband and I, in ministry, doing the Lord’s work. Proclaiming the Gospel to hurting and broken people, together! What could be better than that?

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Oh man… She might be in for a shock.” You’re right. I was!

After 16 years in ministry, I can honestly say it has been a big adventure– one that has included many wonderful, joyful mountains, but one that also included several painful and dark valleys. Most of those valleys have happened in the season of replanting/revitalization in our church. In those valleys, it’s easy to feel isolated and alone in ministry. Looking at other churches, I would think, “They have it all figured out. They don’t seem to struggle the way we’re struggling! Maybe we just aren’t called to this.” Perhaps you have felt that way, too. If you’re a pastor reading this, I can almost guarantee your wife has felt that!

On a recent episode of the Replant Bootcamp podcast, host Jimbo Stewart spoke with three replant wives (one of whom is probably his favorite guest of all time) to take a look at the resources available to the wives working alongside their husbands in church renewal.

The Replant Wife Experts

During those moments of isolation and loneliness, sometimes all we need is a small reminder that we aren’t alone. This is where I found myself at the first Replant Summit I attended with my husband. We had navigated some very discouraging and hard times in our church and we signed up hoping to be refreshed and renewed. I was burdened with many needs, some spiritual and some within our own family. When I saw a breakout session for “Replant Wives,” I thought, “Nope.” The last thing I wanted to hear was how amazing life was for all those wives and how wonderful their churches were.

My husband convinced me to go, and I entered that room overwhelmed and anxious. I sat at an empty table prepared to sit quietly and speak to no one. But before I could enact that plan, other women came to sit at the table. These women were all so friendly and kind, and I found myself sharing some of my concerns with them briefly before the session even started. They seemed to understand everything I had experienced. They seemed like they “got it,” in a way that my other friends didn’t. Those women were Audrea Stewart, Darlene Dryer, and Barb Bickford, the hosts of the breakout session and the spouses of Jimbo Stewart, Josh Dryer, and Bob Bickford, respectively. Turns out, I hadn’t sat down at an empty table– I was at “their” table! (I had somehow missed the purses, laptop bags, and materials they had around the table.)

For the next couple of hours, I sat with many other women in the room as these three incredible women poured into us with biblical, practical advice for this journey. They each shared their stories, complete with heartaches and struggles. They were transparent and relatable, but also gently and wisely continued to point us each back to Christ and His leadership. As we each began to open up with our own worries and anxieties, I realized I had been wrong. I wasn’t alone or isolated. There were so many women struggling with the same issues I was– and these three “expert Replant Wives” had struggled with them, too!

I know these three women would object to being called “experts”– they are just wives who are doing their best to assist their husbands in this work of church renewal. But that day, Audrea, Darlene, and Barb gave us more than the resources of books to read, biblical passages to study, and tangible tools for problem-solving– they gave us the resource of friendship. We were able to connect with each other, as women all over the room began to bond over shared trials, joys, and everything in between. The connections I formed that day reminded me that I wasn’t alone. The resource of friendship was something that I will never forget.

The Replant Wife Facebook Page- a Source of Connection

After the Summit, I went home and immediately joined the Replant Wife Facebook Group. There, I get to interact with Audrea, Darlene, and Barb, but I have also met Replant Wives from the Midwest, the Pacific Coast, and the Northeast United States. It is a closed group, so wives can be transparent without worrying about breaking confidentiality. They can share their burdens and know that someone out there understands what they are going through. They can share helpful articles and books they’ve read, but they also share prayer requests and biblical questions. It’s a forum for pastor’s wives in church renewal, so there are even helpful tools for struggling congregations.

Some of the questions that are asked and answered are practical– “Has anyone done VBS on a budget? What tools were helpful?” “Has anyone been involved in rewriting bylaws? What did you run into that you didn’t expect?” “What is a great meal for unexpected company or for feeding a large crowd?” These questions are answered by other women in the context of church renewal– churches with normative attendance, budgets, and resources. Churches a lot like yours.

This online connection fosters a community. Now, when I go to a replant conference with my husband, I can connect with the women I know from the Facebook page and get updates on their lives and ministries. We look forward to seeing each other and catching up. Our community has borne each others burdens and celebrated each others successes. We are truly in it together.

The Replant Wife Website, Blog, and Podcast

Another important resource for Replant Wives is the website, which also houses the blog. Audrea, Darlene, and Barb have all penned blog posts regarding common issues in this renewal life. Audrea wrote on navigating the post-holiday blues, Barb has written a series on longevitiy in ministry, and Darlene is writing about finding joy in trials. Think of this website as the “landing page” for all things Replant Wife. In addition to Audrea, Darlene, and Barb, there are also resources from Kathy Addis (wife of Andy Addis), Jeanette Pugh (wife of Colin Pugh), and Joyce Jackson (wife of David Jackson), each of whom bring their own stories of ministry mountains and valleys.

In addition to the incredible resources the three women have cultivated, they also have links to NAMB’s replanting resources. NAMB is consistently looking for ways to support and care for pastors in ministry and one of those focuses has to be the pastor’s family. In a replant/revitalization, where there are potentials for seasons of change and conflict, this is even more important. A pastor does not weather the conflict alone– his family will feel it, too. His wife will need support and encouragement, and she can find it within those resources.

But I think the best resource the women leading this effort have cultivated is their podcast. This podcast seeks to be a refuge for the replant wife to be equipped and encouraged for the work God has called her to do. Listening to it, you feel like you’re sitting around with three friends discussing Jesus, the bible, ministry, and families. There, the three women discuss their blogs and talk about important topics in church renewal. They take the time to really dive into scripture and give biblical, practical advice. They remind the listener that she is not alone in this work. But they also remind her that this work is God’s glorious calling.

For every replant pastor, there is a replant wife who needs to know she is not alone. We are here for you and we want to hear from you! The Lord has called us to bring dying churches back to life– that’s an amazing honor!

If you want to meet these amazing women in person, you can do so at the Am I a Replanter conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary April 5-6 or at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary April 12-13. (And, yeah, their husbands will be there, too.)

Crises and Dealing with Change

Written on March 25, 2024.

This week, the Bootcamp sat down with Will Cofield, pastor at Central Baptist Church in York, South Carolina. Will shared some highlights of his ministry over the past 15 years at Central Baptist, where he started as the youth pastor. Throughout his time, he became the church’s pastor and eventually led them through a Replant. Now, Central Baptist is committed to loving God, loving people, and making disciples. They do this through specific goals you can read about here.

One of Will’s passions is raising up church leaders and members to make disciples and help other churches revitalize and replant. The ministry of Central Baptist is one of many churches that have gone through the process, and not without hardships. As Jimbo and Will sat down to discuss this topic, Will shared relatable stories that many can identify with. Here are a few takeaways from the conversation:

The Breaking Point for Every Dying Church

What is the breaking point, the thing that every dying church must need before it undergoes any revitalization? Desperation. With desperation comes an understanding that there is nothing that we can do in our own strength to reverse the decline. We need the power of God, the leadership of Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our churches.

As Will led his church toward this effort, they needed congregational repentance. They had to repent that their church did not have a history of loving God and loving others the way God called them to. It was only through repentance and desperation that the church yielded its ways to God’s ways and sought after him. Through that time came the decision to Replant.

Many churches will continue to hang on by a thread if they have people in the pews and money in the bank. As time passes, a window of opportunity starts to close. What will happen when it’s too late, and Jesus removes the lampstand? What will happen if the favor of God’s hand is removed from the church?

We need repentance. If a doctor diagnosed you with cancer and simply told everyone you just had a bad cough, that doesn’t make it any less deadly. We must ask spiritual questions to properly diagnose a church’s spiritual condition. Are we loving Christ as we should? Are we worshipping any idols? Does anything else in our church have our allegiance, devotion, and loyalty? The breaking point for a dying church is this: we must be desperate for God’s work, no matter the cost.

Suffering Stories Matter

As Will shared some of his stories, it brought up memories for me, as I’m sure all of our listeners, of the hardships we face in our churches. Suppose you’ve served in any leadership capacity at your church. In that case, you know that people are sinful, suffering happens, and usually, it teaches us something about life and ministry that we need for the journey.

Consider these relevant, timely, and important verses from 1 Peter for situations of suffering in ministry:

1 Peter 3:13-14, “Who will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed.”

3:17, “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

1 Peter 4:12-13, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:16-17, “But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name. For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it starts with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

1 Peter 4:19, “So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.”

The Bible teaches that suffering will be expected, and God uses typically suffering experiences to prepare us for the next season of life. And when we come into a situation after suffering for a little while, we usually have been tested, proven, and challenged in ways that only suffering can produce in us.

Jimbo’s advice for seasons of suffering is that we shouldn’t try to “fix it” by addressing the symptoms. Instead, we should sit in it, seek to understand it and move forward in God’s timing, not our own. If you’re struggling in some area of your ministry, know that God sees you. He is near, and we only need to trust him through it.

Biblical Truth & Beauty from Ashes

In ministry, we can see things around us go up in flames.

Sometimes, turmoil causes us to question God, asking where God is through the turmoil. Do we not know the God that we worship? It is in his nature to redeem, restore, and make beauty from ashes. God’s work is often a refining work. He often brings us through hardship to bring us to something beautiful. Our experiences are meant to be life lessons learned only in a dark valley.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.” Isaiah 40:28

God has not disappeared from you; he loves you, and there is a point in the struggle you may be experiencing. Sometimes, the disciplinary hand of our father. Other times, the refining fire of adversity. No matter your church’s current or past turmoil, it can be repented of and given a fresh, new beginning.

We encourage you to rest in the Sovereign hand of God and allow him to do refining work in your life and the life of your church. Please reach out to us if we can help in any way.

Reflecting on the Life and Legacy of Dr. Henry Blackaby

Written on March 18, 2024.

When we talk about “spiritual giants,” few names loom larger than that of Henry Blackaby. His bible study, Experiencing God (co-authored with Claude King), was published in over 75 languages and has sold more than 8 million copies in English since being published in 1990. Countless pastors, ministry leaders, and church members have been radically challenged and changed by the bible study and its subsequent spinoff studies, books, and devotions. Blackaby also coauthored several other books with his son, Richard, including one near and dear to most replant pastors, Flickering Lamps: Christ and His Church, which tells the story of the senior Blackaby’s journey of replanting a small church in Canada.

I never had the opportunity to meet Henry Blackaby during his life. But if I had, I imagine he would find my naming him a “spiritual giant” a little humorous. He simply wanted to be known as a “servant of God.” Blackaby was not someone who bought into his hype– he never allowed himself to fall into the entitlement that sometimes comes with fame. He was not someone who dismissed others or expected them to cater to him. Instead, he served God humbly, doing the Lord’s work wherever and however he was called to do so.

Richard Blackaby sat down with Jimbo on a recent episode of the Replant Bootcamp podcast to discuss his dad’s life and the legacy he left behind.

A Fearless Follower of God

Henry Blackaby didn’t believe in limiting God to what was practical. Was it practical to move a family of seven from the US to Saskatoon, Canada to a church with only 10 people in attendance and an offering of only $90 for the previous month? No. But as Richard stated, his dad believed “Ten people can’t start a church, but ten people plus God can start anything God wants them to.”

When he was faced with questions about moving to this small church in the middle of nowhere, Henry Blackaby believed even if no one else understood it, God called him to it. He truly felt that if God called him to go, God would provide for his needs. He said, “God called me to this. If you’d been there when we heard from God, you’d be just as convinced as we were. The difference is you haven’t heard from God and we have.”

Richard expressed that some people assumed his dad was impulsive, or that he just thought, “We serve a big God. So let’s just try and start a lot of things.” But that wasn’t Henry Blackaby. Instead, he made a practice of remembering who the master is and who the servant is. He would say, “We’re just the servants. We don’t come up with a plan. But when the master tells us to get busy and fulfill his plan, we’ve got no choice but to get moving.”

Henry Blackaby believed that once you heard from God, you’d be crazy to stay where you are. He was a fearless follower of God. He didn’t take unnecessary risks, but he believed in God and took Him at His word. He trusted that God would do what He said He would. He trusted that God was all-powerful and he was reliable.

An Encouraging Optimist for Others

One thing Richard learned from his dad was the power of a few minutes. After Henry’s passing, people would stop Richard to tell him how much his father had changed their lives. Many times, the story wasn’t about a book Henry wrote or a sermon he preached. It was usually the result of a short, ten-minute conversation they had with him between sessions or during a lunch break. And many of the stories centered on Henry’s encouragement as he poured hope into their lives.

We’ve talked many times about discouragement in ministry. It is no secret that working as a pastor can be discouraging– even more so as a pastor in a replant. Change is difficult and people who supported you in the beginning will occasionally turn on you. Your family will struggle, many times emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Your work may go unnoticed or unappreciated. Honestly, it can be exhausting.

It was in that season of discouragement and exhaustion when a pastor might find himself at a conference standing face to face with Henry Blackaby. Dr. Blackaby was always willing to spend time talking to people and hearing their stories. (Richard shared the story on his blog of the time his dad offered to sign his book for a couple of people on their way to a lunch break, and FOUR hours later, Richard found him still talking to people and signing their books.) Dr. Blackaby would take the time to listen.

For many pastors, those ten minutes changed their lives. It wasn’t just a quick conversation for them. It was a lifeline of hope in a season of doubt. When they would tell Henry about all of the problems they were facing, he would say, “I know all that’s true, but what, what do you have? You have Almighty God. The ruler of the universe is in your church. He’s the head of your church. He’s the provider for your church. What more do you need when you have him?”

That changed their perspective. Instead of seeing the problems, they saw the opportunities for God to work in their ministries. Instead of feeling discouraged about where they were, they felt hopeful about where they could go. They left the conversation excited to get back to their churches and see what God would do. Richard described his father as a “raging optimist,” and that quality was contagious for those who spoke with him.

Dr. Blackaby also took time to remind pastors that replanting and revitalizing their churches wasn’t all their responsibility. Yes, He called them to that church. But it was God who would do the work of revitalization, not them. He reminded pastors that their role was one of a willing servant. Richard stated that men who were feeling overwhelmed and inadequate would leave a conversation with his dad with the reminder that they didn’t have to solve every problem themselves. Instead, they could rest in the knowledge that God has never been scared or overwhelmed by the church’s problems. All they had to do was follow God’s leading in obedience.

A Legacy of Faithfulness

When asked what lessons Richard had taken from his father’s life, he shared that he wanted to follow the ancient paths his dad had walked. Henry, he said, walked in deep fellowship with God. He didn’t sway, didn’t falter, didn’t lose sight of God’s leading. Richard expressed a desire to follow that same pattern of faithfulness and to depend on God the way his dad had.

Richard also said that he learned to never treat any moment with someone as “ordinary.” If God is present, he said, nothing about that moment is ordinary. That quote really sat with me this week. When we look at that in light of Matthew 18:20, we realize any time two or more followers of Christ are present, He is in their midst. And if the Almighty author of the universe is present, that moment has an extraordinary, supernatural quality to it. Whether I am in the car with my children, sharing a coffee with a friend, or just quietly sitting with someone who is struggling, that moment is holy and has the potential for God to move and do something incredible with it.

Another lesson Richard learned from his father was to keep your family as your most important ministry. Sometimes in replanting a church, we get so focused on rebuilding that congregation that we neglect to realize our own home is breaking down. The truth is, you may not always pastor that church. But you will always be your child’s father.

I have seen this to be true in so many ways. Pastors who were gifted at leading and who built wonderful congregations have pushed their families to the side while they do the work of the Lord. Instead of looking at their family as a part of their ministry, they sometimes saw them as a hindrance to it. And when you put your family behind the church, you run the risk of losing both.

An Ordinary Man and an Extraordinary God

As Richard points out on his blog, his dad “didn’t write a book or become famous until he was 55 years old. For most of his life, he served faithfully in relative anonymity.” Henry Blackaby wasn’t a famous pastor because he had a mega-church. His church membership never grew over 250 at most. He wasn’t famous because he was perfect. He had frailties and faults like everyone. He wasn’t extraordinary on his own. He was extraordinary with God by his side.

When we look at our legacy– at the things we will leave behind– we must remember that the books we’ve written and the sermons we preach will fade. The degrees we worked so hard to earn will no longer hang on the walls of our offices. The churches we’ve poured our lives into will be under someone else’s leadership. What will last are the people we invested in. The relationships we built. The time that we took to speak life into others.

We are just ordinary people. But as Henry Blackaby taught us, our extraordinary God can do a lot with ordinary people.