In this episode of the Replant Bootcamp, we dive into the importance of developing meaningful relationships and support networks in ministry. Ministry can often feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. We talk about why pastors need other pastors, the dangers of going it alone, and how to intentionally build connections that refresh and sustain you.
We also share some of our own stories of finding encouragement and practical help through friendships in ministry. If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying the weight of ministry on your own, this episode is for you.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
Why isolation is so common in ministry
The biblical and practical reasons pastors need community
How to identify and cultivate supportive relationships
Stories of encouragement and lessons we’ve learned along the way
Practical steps to move from loneliness to meaningful connection
EP 298 - You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: Practical Steps for Leadership Development
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Here we are, back at the Bootcamp and back at it again! I’m excited about this episode because we’re diving into one of the most important topics we return to over and over on this podcast—equipping others for ministry. If you’ve listened for a while, you know Ephesians 4:11–16 is probably the most quoted passage on the Bootcamp. It reminds us that ministry isn’t just about us doing the work but about raising up and equipping others.
To help me unpack this, I’ve got two of my fellow NAMB Replant team members, Brandon Moore and Evan Skelton, joining me. Together we dig into the widening leadership gap the church is facing—fewer pastors stepping into ministry, an aging pastoral workforce, declining seminary enrollment, and the reality that most churches can no longer afford a full-time pastor.
But instead of just focusing on the challenges, we talk through what this means for us as leaders in normative-sized churches and, more importantly, what we can do about it. Here are a few of the things we hit on:
Why we need to recover a biblical vision of leadership development (Ephesians 4 and 2 Timothy 2:2).
Why bi-vocational ministry is increasingly a reality, and how we should view it as a viable calling.
How to spot potential leaders in your congregation—starting with character, not competency.
Why prayer for laborers is the very first step Jesus gives us (Luke 10:2).
The importance of creating a culture where people can step out, try, fail, and grow without fear.
Practical steps for moving from “sage on the stage” to “guide at the side.”
We also talk about the resources we’ve been working on to help churches actually implement this. Over at renewalmovement.com, you’ll find a quick-start guide on developing a replant residency as well as upcoming cohorts designed to walk alongside pastors who want to raise up leaders. These are not pie-in-the-sky ideas—they’re built from the real experiences of guys who’ve been doing this work in the field.
If you’re pastoring a normative-sized church and feeling the weight of trying to do it all alone, this conversation is for you. You don’t have to carry the load by yourself. God has placed people in your congregation who can grow into leaders—you just need to start praying, looking, and investing.
Take a listen, and I hope you’ll be encouraged to take one small step this week toward developing leaders in your church.
EP 297 - The Healthy Bi-vocational Pastor Cares Attentively for His People - Bi-vocational Characteristics
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Learn why balance is a myth and how bi-vocational pastors can practice situational priorities to attentively care for family, church, and community without burning out.
In this episode of the Replant Bootcamp, JimBo Stewart is joined once again by the “Bi-Vocational Bros,” Matt MacNaughton and Chris Snider, as they continue their series on the characteristics of a healthy bi-vocational pastor. Today, they dive into the fifth characteristic: attentively caring for your people.
Being bi-vocational brings unique challenges—balancing family, church, and work responsibilities. Matt and Chris share wisdom on how pastors can prioritize relationships without burning out, how to navigate pastoral “triage,” and why balance may be a myth. Instead, they encourage pastors to think in terms of situational priorities, learning to be fully present wherever God has placed them in the moment.
This conversation covers the importance of caring well for your family, shepherding your congregation attentively, and knowing when to say no to good ministry opportunities in order to protect your first callings at home.
Key Topics Discussed
The importance of attentively caring for family, church, and community.
Why “balance” is a myth and how to think in terms of situational priorities.
Practical examples of when to prioritize family over church responsibilities and vice versa.
How to be fully present and avoid treating people like “tasks” to check off a list.
Tools like pastoral triage to help navigate urgent vs. non-urgent needs.
Building healthy rhythms and small rituals to communicate attentiveness at home.
Action steps for pastors to intentionally love, listen, and shepherd their people.
Quotes from the Episode
“Your church can find a new pastor, but your wife cannot find a new husband, and your children cannot find a new dad.” – Chris Snider
“I don’t think balance is possible. Instead, we have to practice situational priorities and learn to give attention where it’s most needed in the moment.” – Matt MacNaughton
“I want the people I pastor, and especially my family, to feel that they are fully seen and heard when they’re with me.” – JimBo Stewart
Resources Mentioned
Craig Hamilton’s book: Wisdom in Leadership (on situational priorities)
Galatians 6: Bearing one another’s burdens
Psalm 23: A pastoral fallback when unexpected circumstances arise
Action Steps for Pastors
List your top five people-needs that regularly pull your time and energy. Label which can shift depending on season.
Establish small, consistent family rituals (like a weekly meal) that communicate presence and priority.
Practice pastoral triage by asking questions to discern urgency before rushing away from family time.
Be fully present in each moment—eye contact, listening, and remembering details matter.
Pray for attentiveness before entering your home or engaging in a pastoral conversation, asking God to clear distractions.
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Don’t miss the rest of this series on the characteristics of healthy bi-vocational pastors. Subscribe to the Replant Bootcamp wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with another pastor who may be navigating the challenges of bi-vocational ministry.
EP 296 - Turning Inspiration into Implementation -- Turning Conference Insights into Action
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Conferences can inspire, but without next steps, they often stall out as notes in a notebook. In this episode, JimBo unpacks a post-conference process used at the Replant Summit to help leaders convert big ideas into concrete action. Drawing from guidance by Andy Addis and wisdom from mentors, the episode outlines practical frameworks you can use with your team and church to go from learning to living: capture insights, choose the right priorities, start small, build accountability, and multiply impact through others.
Key Scriptures
– James 1:22 — Be doers of the word, not hearers only
– 2 Timothy 2:2 — Entrust to faithful people who will teach others
– Matthew 7:24 — Hear and do; build on the rock
– Mark 4:26–29 — Seeds start small; God gives the growth
– Exodus 18:21–22 — Jethro principle: empower capable leaders
– Psalm 127:1 — Unless the Lord builds the house
– Ephesians 4:11–12 — Equip the saints for the work of ministry
– 2 Corinthians 9:6 — Sow bountifully to reap bountifully
Big Idea: Inspiration is a gift, but transformation requires a pathway. Most people need help turning abstract ideas into concrete steps. Build rhythms that move your church, team, and discipleship relationships from information to implementation.
The Four I’s: A Pathway to Implementation
– Inspiration: “This matters.”
– Information: “Here’s what it is.”
– Invitation: “Join in. This is for you.”
– Implementation: “Here are the first steps and how we’ll do them.”
Three Phases to Move Ideas into Action
1) Inspiration to Integration
– Capture everything while it’s fresh
– Write a one-page summary of top ideas
– Filter: Does this align with our mission and people?
– File good-but-not-now ideas for later
2) Idea to Action
– Pick 1–3 priorities, not 10
– Define the “first next steps” with who, what, and when
– Shoot bullets before cannons: pilot small, then scale
– Accept God’s pace; start small and let it grow
3) Action to Multiplication
– Share what you’re learning
– Equip and empower others to carry the work
– Seek field-validated needs, not personal pet projects
– Build accountability and celebrate progress to maintain momentum
Choosing the Right Priorities
Use a simple Venn approach:
– Biggest impact on the mission
– Least additional effort required
– Most needed by your people and context
Listen to the field; it will lead you to the future.
Team, Not Solo
– “Team” doesn’t mean paid staff only; build a core of committed partners
– Avoid the whiplash of returning from conferences with 10,000 urgent ideas
– Share the why, not just the what
– Guard against burnout by distributing the work
Backcasting Workshop (for Teams)
– 10-year dreams: If nothing were an obstacle, what would faithfulness look like?
– Rank-vote to narrow to 3–5 major aspirations
– 5-year goals: measurable, actionable
– 3-year habits: culture and rhythms to support the goals
– 1-year action items: concrete projects and milestones
– Start with low beams if you’re in the fog; extend the horizon over time
The Five P’s Framework
– Prayer: Seek the Lord’s direction first
– Priority: Focus on the one thing with greatest gospel impact
– Plan: Define who, what, and when with clear dates
– People: Ministry is never solo; equip saints for the work
– Persist: Accountability, regular check-ins, peer partners, and celebration
Practical Examples
– Example plan: “Start a monthly leaders’ lunch; John schedules the first by October 15.”
– Coaching tip: If someone stalls on action, set items and don’t meet again until completed
– Sermon application: End services with a simple, doable action step
– Family discipleship: Provide take-home handles that point families to one next step
Memorable Phrases and Images
– “Shoot bullets before cannons.” Pilot before you scale
– “You can only shoot a cannon from a canoe once.”
– “Every good idea degenerates into hard work.” Be ready to persist
– “Don’t let your notebook become a graveyard of good intentions.”
Suggested Next Steps for Listeners
– Pick one idea from your last conference or sermon and define the first next step
– Identify two people to share the load and set a check-in date
– Pilot a small version this month and evaluate before you scale
– Add one clear action step to the end of your next sermon or meeting
Resources Mentioned
– Replant Summit post-conference process facilitated by Andy Addis
– Mentors: Rick Wheeler and Bob Bumgarner
Episode Takeaway
Don’t just pack a pen for your next conference. Pack a plan. Choose the one thing with the biggest gospel impact, start small, share the work, and keep sowing. God brings the growth.
This week on the Replant Bootcamp, JimBo sits down with Jason Mayo, pastor of Valle Vista Baptist Church in the Inland Empire region of Southern California and the 2025 Replanter of the Year. Jason shares his story of stepping into a struggling church, trusting God for spiritual renewal, and seeing lives transformed through the steady ministry of the Word, prayer, and disciple-making.
In this conversation, Jason and JimBo discuss:
Jason’s journey to Valle Vista Baptist and the role of faithful mentors in preparing him for replanting.
The impact of the Providence Collective, a network of normative-sized churches collaborating for church planting and renewal.
Why spiritual renewal must precede and inform strategic renewal in every replant.
The joys and challenges of bivocational ministry, including lessons of humility, calling, and perseverance.
Encouragement for pastors to embrace collaboration, residency, and long-term faithfulness in the work of church renewal.
Jason’s story is a testimony that God can bring new life to declining churches when leaders are willing to labor patiently, depend fully on the Spirit, and work together for the sake of God’s kingdom.
Resources Mentioned:
Valle Vista Baptist Church
Providence Collective
North American Mission Board Replant Team
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Don’t miss future episodes of the Replant Bootcamp! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and help us spread the word by sharing this episode with other pastors and leaders passionate about church renewal.
EP 294 - Shared Leadership and Radical Collaboration
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In this episode, JimBo challenges the solo-pastor paradigm and calls churches toward a biblical model of shared leadership and radical collaboration. Drawing from Romans 12:4–8, Ephesians 4:11–16, and 1 Corinthians 12, he explores why the path toward health and renewal requires leaders to multiply, not maintain, and to view their church as part of something larger than itself — the Kingdom of God.
Using the memorable illustration of being “at the end of the liver line,” JimBo warns against the exhaustion and temptation that come when pastors function as lone heroes instead of equippers. Listeners are equipped with practical pathways toward building collaborative leadership structures marked by wise Leadership, Membership, and Discipleship, producing churches that are self-governing, self-sustaining, and self-replicating.
EP 293 - Setting Boundaries and Expectations for Bi-Vocational Pastors
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In this month’s “Bi-Vo Bros” episode, JimBo Stewart sits down again with Matt MacNaughton and Chris Snider to unpack the fourth healthy characteristic of a bi-vocational pastor: clearly setting and expressing realistic expectations and boundaries.
Serving as a bi-vocational pastor means juggling ministry, family, and other vocational responsibilities—all while resisting the pressure to say “yes” to everything. The guys discuss why boundaries matter theologically, how to communicate them effectively, and how to maintain them even when others don’t respect them. They also explore the importance of protecting your family from unrealistic ministry demands, navigating church expectations with humility, and making sure technology works for you instead of against you.
From practical tips like using “Do Not Disturb” settings and location-based phone filters, to shepherding wisdom on triaging emergencies, this episode offers both spiritual and strategic guidance for thriving in the long haul of bi-vocational ministry.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why boundaries are essential for your spiritual health, family life, and ministry effectiveness
How to communicate expectations without sounding like you’re trying to avoid work
Ways to use technology to protect your focus and availability
How to handle people who ignore your boundaries
What realistic expectations for your spouse and kids should look like
How to navigate long-standing church culture and shift expectations over time
EP 292 - Resources for Replant Wives with Dr. Darlene Dryer
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This week on the Replant Bootcamp, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Darlene Dryer, founder of ReplantWife.com. Dr. Dryer brings a wealth of insight and compassion to the unique challenges faced by women walking alongside their husbands in church replanting and revitalization.
Drawing from her own experience and deep understanding of ministry life, Dr. Dryer and her team are committed to educating, equipping, and encouraging replant wives—many of whom serve in overlooked and under-resourced contexts.
Key Resources for Replant Wives
ReplantWife.com: The go-to hub for blogs, podcasts, book recommendations, and event information—including a new series of prayer books written specifically for replant wives.
Private Facebook Group: Offers weekly encouragement, connection, and community.
Breakout Sessions at Replant Events: Special gatherings for pastor wives are planned at upcoming events in Mississippi (September) and Daytona (October).
Introducing the Replant Wife Book Club (Virtual Cohort)
A new initiative to meet replant wives right where they are—often stretched thin and isolated.
Purpose: To foster spiritual and emotional support for wives who rarely have the margin or means for formal training. The cohort addresses shared challenges like ministry fatigue, budget constraints, and lack of team support.
Format: Meets once a month over four months—structured for sustainability.
Key Focus: Combatting “extreme isolation”—mental, emotional, and geographical—by cultivating deep conversation and community.
Book Lineup:
Educating – Reclaiming Glory by Mark Clifton
Helps wives understand the biblical and strategic nature of church replanting, building a common language between husband and wife.
Encouraging – A Place to Belong by Megan Hill
Re-centers the heart on Christ and the joy of loving the local church.
Equipping – Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety by Elyse Fitzpatrick
Offers tools for managing emotional burdens and counseling pressures often faced by pastor wives, including healthy boundaries and mental wellness.
Common Struggles Faced by Replant Wives
Exhaustion: From absorbing the emotional toll of their husband’s ministry challenges.
Bitterness: Resulting from past hurts, unrealistic expectations, or criticism.
Dr. Dryer recommends writing “letters of grace” (not to be sent) as a pathway toward healing—an act of releasing pain without minimizing it.
Dr. Dryer’s New Ministry Season
Dr. Dryer’s husband, Josh, now serves as the Associational Missional Strategist in Eastern Polk County, Florida—one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions.
Dr. Dryer is now focused on planting churches among French Creole and Spanish-speaking communities, while also equipping legacy congregations to host multicultural church plants.
Advice to Replant Pastors (Husbands)
Stay Communicative: Keep the door open for honest, vulnerable conversations.
Show Appreciation: Regularly affirm your wife’s partnership and sacrifices.
Encourage without Pressure: Let your wife use her gifts freely—without the unrealistic expectation of being the “perfect pastor’s wife.”
Replant Summit Breakouts for Wives
Wives attending the Replant Summit will have access to two dedicated breakout sessions:
Identifying Your Gifts and Calling in Your Local Context
Fighting Isolation Through Intentional Friendships
Pastors—bring your wives! Discount codes are available to waive their registration fees, because investing in them is investing in your ministry.
In this episode, we explore the foundational concept of Word-centered leadership and its transformative impact on church revitalization and organizational change.
Episode Highlights:
The Foundation of Word-Centered Leadership – Discover why leadership must be rooted in Scripture rather than trendy techniques or formulas. Word-centered leadership begins with personal transformation before attempting to influence others.
Four Marks of Word-Centered Leadership: • Humility – Recognizing God as the ultimate authority and approaching leadership as service • Patience – Understanding that true transformation takes time, not quick fixes • Love – Leading with genuine care that pleases God and meets people’s needs • Faith – Moving forward with confidence in God’s power even when facing impossible odds
Practical Steps for Growth – Five actionable ways to develop as a Word-centered leader, including prioritizing personal Scripture engagement and surrounding yourself with truth-tellers.
The Impact – How Word-centered leadership brings clarity in confusion, builds resilience through difficulty, and creates a lasting legacy beyond your tenure.
EP 290 - Developing and Sharing Leadership as a Bi-vocational Leader
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In this episode of The Replant Bootcamp, host Jimbo Stewart dives into the topic of intentional leadership development for bivocational pastors, joined by Matt McNaughton and Chris Snyder. The discussion explores the importance of sharing leadership responsibilities within the church, addressing common barriers such as perfectionism and lack of discipleship experience. They emphasize that developing leaders is a long-term investment that leads to healthier pastors, families, and churches. The episode also touches upon practical steps to start the process of leadership development and recommends resources such as Mark Hallick’s ‘Replant Roadmap’ and Ken Blanchard’s ‘Situational Leadership.’
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
00:40 Monthly Bi-Vocational Leadership Discussion
01:01 Characteristics of a Healthy Bi-Vocational Pastor
02:24 Developing and Sharing Leadership
04:12 Challenges and Benefits of Shared Leadership
11:52 Practical Steps for Developing Leaders
21:01 Overcoming Barriers to Leadership Development
