Fresh off the AMS Replant Lab JimBo discusses the power of partnership. The guys dive into the biblical foundation of partnership, encouraging pastors to work together for the greater mission. Mark and Brandon discuss the benefits of collaboration, including trust-building, credibility, and the potential for a movement in church replanting.
Local associations are the best-placed organization in Southern Baptist life to help pastors care for each other, collaborate, and celebrate together.
Join JimBo, Mark, Brandon, and more at the Am I a Replanter events in April:
We do hope to talk Bob Bickford into coming back on periodically as a guest host.
We are joined in this episode by another Bob, Bob Bumgarner, a good friend and mentor, to share insights on shaping the replant bootcamp moving forward.
Listening to the Field Will Lead You to the Future – Bob Bumgarner introduces a valuable principle: “If you listen to the field, it will lead you to the future.” This concept originated in his experiences consulting and coaching churches, realizing that coaching, rather than consulting, proved more effective. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the field’s needs and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the process.
Cultural Exegesis and Community Engagement – Bob Bumgarner delves into the significance of cultural exegesis, drawing parallels between understanding a community and the principles of foreign mission trips. He discusses the relevance of studying a community’s values, fears, and needs, emphasizing the role of pastors as cultural exegetes. The conversation highlights Acts 6, 17 and other biblical examples as models for engaging with culture.
Bob Bumgarner offers practical steps for exegeting your community
pray with humility
observe without judgment
ask questions,
join God in what He is already doing in the community
“You can’t exegete your community from your desk”
SUGGEST A GUEST – We would love to encourage you to participate in shaping the podcast’s future. Visit the Replant Bootcamp website and suggest guests or topics. Whether sharing personal experiences or recommending someone with valuable insights, the goal is to foster a community of learners.
Bob Bumgarner offers practical steps – pray with humility, observe without judgment, ask questions, and join God in what He is already doing in the community.
We are happy to be joined in this episode by special guest, Andy Addis to discuss his book, Rhythms. Get a free digital copy of Andy Addis’ book Rhythms at this website: http://FindingBiblicalRhythms.com
You can see a video of him teaching on this book in more detail at the 2023 Replant Summit HERE.
In this episode, JimBo and Andy dive into the importance of intentional time and task management for pastors, especially those in bi-vocational ministry. Andy Addis emphasized the significance of establishing rhythms in life to move from surviving to thriving.
Annual Rhythm: Andy Addis discusses the concept of an annual rhythm, suggesting a sabbatical break every year. Ideally, pastors should take three weeks off, but even a one-week break can make a significant impact. This time is not just about rest but also includes intentional study and planning. It’s an opportunity for pastors to recharge, refocus, and prepare for the upcoming season of ministry. The annual rhythm is a deliberate step toward sustainability, ensuring pastors are not just surviving but thriving in their roles. Even if you can only take one day, Andy walks through how to make the most of that day. This is particularly important if you are a longer-tenured pastor as we have discussed before in EPISODE 215.
Regular Rhythm: Another crucial rhythm is the regular break every seven weekends, allowing pastors to step away from the pulpit and create space for personal and family time. This rhythm is essential for preventing burnout and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. By taking a weekend off regularly, pastors can experience a sense of normalcy, engage in family activities, and enjoy a break from sermon preparation. We have talked about this subject before in EPISODE 221 – Sharing the Pulpit
Weekly Rhythm: The weekly rhythm involves designating one day a week as a true Sabbath day. This day is not limited to Sundays, as pastors often find it challenging to rest on their busiest day. Andy Addis shared his practice of taking either Mondays or Fridays as his Sabbath, emphasizing the importance of having a designated day for personal rest and rejuvenation. It’s about finding what truly brings rest and joy and making it a regular part of the weekly routine.
Day Part Rhythm: Lastly, the day part rhythm encourages pastors to choose two out of three day parts (morning, afternoon, or evening) to work, leaving one for family time. This intentional approach ensures that family gets dedicated time and attention, preventing the exhaustion that comes with working non-stop. By planning family activities during specific day parts, pastors can create a healthy balance between ministry responsibilities and personal life.
Implementing these rhythms is not about perfection but about progress. Pastors can start small and gradually incorporate these practices into their lives. The goal is to move from the trap of constant busyness to a sustainable ministry that allows for rest, family time, and personal growth. By embracing intentional rhythms, pastors can model a balanced life for their congregations and lead by example in navigating the demands of ministry. Wanting to dive more into pastoral self-care? Check out EPISODE 185 with Frank Lewis.
Pastor Matt MacNaughton is back on the Bootcamp to talk further about bi-vocational ministry. This time we are also joined but Pastor Colin Pugh. Collin pastors Clinton Baptist Church in the D.C. area.
Maintaining Spiritual Appetite and Pastoral Grit: Colin emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with God, especially in the challenges of bi-vocational ministry. He highlights key verses from Jude (20-21) as instrumental in his spiritual growth. JimBo explores how Colin managed the high expectations of pastoring two churches and the importance of maintaining energy and spiritual vitality.
Serving Your Spouse: The guys discuss practical ways to serve and support their wives amid busy and demanding schedules, highlighting the significance of intentional communication and quality time.
Shared Leadership: Matt shares strategies for bivocational pastors, including determining priorities, developing leaders, and delegating responsibilities to create margin for essential tasks. Colin emphasizes the role of small groups, one-on-one meetings, and showing appreciation for small wins in developing leaders within the church.
Pastor Matt MacNaughton returns to the bootcamp for this episode as we survey and explore the landscape of bi-vocational ministry. Here at the Bootcamp we know that if we will listen to the field it will lead us to the future and Matt says that bi-vocational ministry is the future of the church. We would love to listen to you. Take a couple of minutes and fill out this survey: https://su.vc/bivosurvey
Hey Bootcampers, we hope all is well with you and yours! The guys took some time during the deep freeze and snow to talk about leadership styles as defined by the Leadership Guru himself, Patrick Lencioni. His organization, The Table Group, does a great job of defining leadership styles and how they work together for good in organizations and even churches.
In this EP the boys break down the six types of working Genius and talk about how they might play out in the life of your church.
WONDER
People with the Genius of Wonder love to speculate and question. They ask questions like, “Why are things the way they are? Is there a better way?” They love to sit in the ambiguity and imagine the possibilities. People with the Genius of Wonder help create the conditions for Invention.
INVENTION
People with the Genius of Invention get joy from taking challenges and generating solutions. They enjoy innovating from scratch and love a blank whiteboard or piece of paper on which they can brainstorm. Invention is the most commonly recognized Genius but all six Geniuses are needed to get work done.
DISCERNMENT
People with the Genius of Discernment have a natural ability to evaluate the workability of ideas. They are good curators of what’s going on around them and can recognize patterns. They know how to connect the dots and give people good feedback across a broad range of topics.
GALVANIZING
People with the Genius of Galvanizing love to get things moving. They are great at pushing people out of their comfort zone and inspiring them to get started. They enjoy rallying people around an idea and getting them moving in the right direction.
ENABLEMENT
People with the Genius of Enablement make things happen. They know how to help, when to help, and can flex to whatever the situation calls for. People with the Genius of Enablement are people-oriented and want to help realize a vision. This Genius provides the support needed to move solutions into the first stages of Implementation.
TENACITY
People with the Genius of Tenacity are task-oriented and love to take things across the finish line. They ensure a project is going to have the impact it’s supposed to have and lives up to agreed-upon standards. They don’t respond to the emotional appeal of the Galvanizer but to the need to see the work completed. They get joy and energy from checking off a box on the “to-do” list.
Do you know your style? Have a special insight or comment? Drop us a line and let us know. Get with our Genius sponsor, One Eighty Digital, they’ve got the know-how to get your web and social media game up to speed.
Well buckle up Bootcampers, this EP is tackling an important but also somewhat controversial issue—burnout in ministry.
The topic came up via a social media post where a quote was shared; “I have never met a burned-out pastor ready to quit that was deeply abiding in Christ.” – R. Blackaby
There were some hot sports opinions shared by many, the sum of which indicated that this is a touchy subject. The guys break down some nuances about ministry difficulty, discouragement, and burnout. In short, the ministry is challenging. Let’s get a working definition of burnout:
Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress. Sounds like ministry doesn’t it?
Here’s some good news, burnout is not a given, it is not inevitable.
We’re not going to load up the notes here, we do encourage you to listen and be open to seeing your challenges from a different vantage point.
Hey there Bootcampers, we are tackling an important issue in this EP-funding your ministry. There are a lot of opinions on funding and we break down some basics. In future EPs we’ll take the opportunity to dig a little deeper into some of the ins and outs of making ministry possible financially.
Let’s start with the basics: Funding Ministry
Single source – one church pays your salary
The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor,[b] especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,[c] and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”1 Timothy 5:16-18
Missions and ministry support
“And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel when I left Macedonia, no church entered into a partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases your credit. I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” (Phil 4:15-18)
Self-Funded – You work a job, if married your spouse may work a job to be able to do ministry
How many Pastors are bivocational? 60-80%? Our best guess
Today it is estimated that 60-65% of Southern Baptist churches are served by bivocational pastors.Founders Blog
Though we don’t have precise data, we estimate that there are over one million bi-vocational pastors and church staff in North America alone. Rainer – Church Answers
Bivocational – two jobs as a necessity to support your role as pastor not to burden the church
CoVocatioal – intentionally choosing to engage in a dual vocational role
“And he [Paul] found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.” (Acts 18:2-3)
“Or is it only Barnabas and me who have no right to refrain from working for a living?… If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ… What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” (1 Cor 9:6, 11-12, 18)
Here’s a great quote from a fantastic article by Dr. Geoff Chang:
Spurgeon: The most practicable remedy is to find volunteer laborers who will not need maintenance from the people. This admirable remedy is already largely used, but not so largely as it might be. We have among us numbers of brethren engaged in handicrafts and professions who are endowed with gifts at least sufficient for the gathering of moderate congregations, and some of them display ability equal if not superior to the average of stipendiary pastors. It is an exceedingly great gain to the community when these brethren addict themselves to the ministry of the saints.
Are you serving as a bi-vocational or co-vocational pastor? We’d love to hear from you!
Get the web help you need from our great friends at One Eighty Digital, they’ve got the expertise to get your church’s social media and web presence heading in the right direction.
Happy 2024 Bootcamp crew! Welcome to the beginning of the new year, we’re praying for you! Check out this list of 8 critical questions you can ask as you plan for the coming year. We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line, send us some feedback and submit your own questions!
Eight questions to ask as you plan your projects and priorities for 2024
Is this the right time to be making this change? Do I have the leadership capital for this change?
How does this project or priority help our church grow in love, unity, or maturity?
Are our priorities and projects focused more on God’s people and purpose or programs?
Is the issue at hand a biblical command or a missional context issue? (Think front seat of the car [identity] or back seat of the car [infrastructure] – see our previous episode on spiritual and organizational church health)
Does everything on our list of priorities, projects, and programs have a current value and purpose or are we just re-doing things because that is how we have done them before?
You might have questions about your website, check out what our good friends at One Eighty Digital can do to get you up and running. They have the know how and expertise to get you up and running and connecting with your community.
Hey there Bootcampers! We hope you had a great Christmas. We’re taking some time to reflect on the past year and the year to come and wanted to encourage you to engage in the same. Here are some thoughts related to a blog Jimbo read over at Practical Shepherding.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. – 1 Samuel 7:12-13
As you close the door on 2023, think through your year in ministry. But be sure to factor in the most important part of ministry and Christ-following in general: faithfulness. Below are some questions to get you started:
Did I seek the Lord in His Word and in prayer regularly? Did God faithfully teach me from His Word and faithfully listen to me in prayer?
Did I respond to God’s love for me by loving others? Did God faithfully love me even when I didn’t?
Did I worry about ministry, finances, and church relationships? Was God faithful to carry me through my fears?
Did I pray for my church regularly? Did God faithfully soften my heart towards others and protect me from bitterness as I prayed?
Did I speak the gospel to both believers and unbelievers? Did God faithfully strengthen and uphold my own faith in the gospel?
Did my church express care for me and my family? Did God faithfully care for me and my family even if the church failed to do so?
Did I serve as unto the Lord, knowing that God faithfully sees what others don’t?
God will never stop being faithful to you, no matter how things are going in ministry and in life. It’s His very nature to be faithful to you. And you can lean on His faithfulness. It’s what upholds your own faithfulness. Paul encourages us this way, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Because our ministry is done ultimately for, through, with, by, and to Christ, it can never be in vain. It’s never wasted, even if the metrics don’t look great through earthly eyes. Press on. Walk into this new year of labor knowing that God will faithfully walk with you every moment, every step. He is always faithful to you.
Think less about goals and more about your rhythms in ministry. Check out Andy Addis’ book by the same name.
Get your year started off in the right way by getting our good friends over at One Eighty Digital on your website and branding. They have the know-how and expertise to make this year a great one for you on the interwebs.
