EP 255 - How do we talk about Christianity to a world that's lost its mind? with Mike and Daniel Blackaby
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In this episode, we welcome special guests Mike and Daniel Blackaby, sons of previous guest Richard Blackaby. Mike, a church planter from Victoria, BC, and Daniel, an Atlanta-based member of Blackaby Ministries, join us to discuss their new co-authored book, ‘Straight to the Heart: Communicating the Gospel in an Emotionally Driven Culture.’
We explore the nuances of engaging both ‘head’ and ‘heart’ cultures in church ministry, the importance of empathetic listening, and the power of storytelling. The guests also share their insights on building community within the church and offer practical advice for pastors dealing with the modern challenges of emotionally driven ideologies.
00:00 Welcome Back to the Bootcamp
00:13 Meet the Blackaby Brothers
01:08 Daniel’s Ministry: The Collision
02:10 New Book: Straight to the Heart
04:26 Head vs. Heart Culture in Churches
09:58 The Power of Narrative in Ministry
18:12 Engaging with Emotionalism in Culture
24:52 The Role of Community in Church Revitalization
EP 254 - There are no Silver Bullets to Discipleship with Daniel Im
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I am excited to have Daniel Im stop by the Replant Bootcamp this week to discuss discipleship. Daniel Im is a pastor, Bible teacher, writer, and podcast host passionate about the local church. He is the lead pastor of Beulah Alliance Church and the author of No Silver Bullets, The Discipleship Opportunity.Planting Missional Churches, and You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies about Work, Life, and Love. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife Christina, and their three children. For more information, visit danielim.com
In this episode, we dive deeper into his book ‘No Silver Bullets,’ one of my favorite discipleship books. We dive into this and his next book, The Discipleship Opportunity.
00:00 Setting the Stage: Introduction to Our Special Guest
00:18 Daniel M.’s Tapestry of Experiences and His Path
01:14 Savoring Cultural Diversity and Culinary Delights
02:54 ‘No Silver Bullets’: A Glimpse Inside
05:06 Unraveling the Idea of Spiritual Maturity
06:06 Identifying Spiritual Maturity: A Practical Exercise
15:54 Discipleship: Balancing Inputs and Outputs
23:14 Bringing It All Home: Practical Applications in a Church Setting
To hear more you can listen to the audio from Brandon’s breakout session at the 2024 CalvaryCon by clicking here and scrolling down to his breakout session. You can access his PowerPoint file by clicking here.
This episode is packed with practical insights to help you assess and enhance the health and maturity of your church. Here’s a quick summary:
Evaluating Church Health
– Identities: Worshipers of God, family with one another, and missionaries to the world.
– Foundations: Growth through the gospel, scripture, and prayer.
– Structures: Leadership, membership, and discipleship pathways.
Steps for Assessing Church Maturity
– Rating System: Leaders rate each area on a scale from 1 to 10.
– Evidence: Provide two pieces of tangible evidence for each rating.
– Gap Analysis: Identify why the rating isn’t higher to pinpoint improvement areas.
Identities (Love)
Worshipers of God:Measure joy in the Lord.
Family with One Another: Measure unity and tangible evidence of unity.
Missionaries to the World: Measure compassion that leads to action.
Foundations (Humility)
Hope in the Gospel: Where does your church place its hope for growth?
Submission to Scripture:Are the members living under the authority of the Word in practical ways?
Dependence on Prayer:Is there a deep-rooted dependence on prayer in your church’s culture?
Structures (Wisdom)
Leadership: Evaluate the structure for self-governing and development of leaders.
Membership:Look for clear covenant commitments and stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
Discipleship:Establish pathways for growth from new believers to potential leaders.
Practical Takeaways:
– Start with Foundations: Ensure the gospel, scripture, and prayer are central to your church’s growth strategies.
– Focus on Identities: Cultivate worship, family unity, and missionary compassion before addressing organizational structures.
– Implement the Rating System: Use the 1-10 rating system with your leaders to assess readiness and improvement areas.
– Encourage Open Dialogue: Foster open conversations among leaders about church health and maturity.
– Highlight Positives: While discussing areas for improvement, also acknowledge and celebrate your church’s strengths.
We hope these insights help you lead your church toward health and maturity. Join us for our next episode as we dive deeper into practical ministry advice.
00:00 Introduction and Recap
00:44 Evaluating Church Health
01:54 Steps for Assessing Maturity
05:12 Understanding Ecclesiology
06:48 Unity in the Church
11:24 Foundations of a Mature Church
11:38 The Role of Humility
12:57 Submission to Scripture
14:39 Dependence on Prayer
16:47 Setting Goals for Church Structures
17:47 Maximizing Momentum with Structures
18:51 The Role of Wisdom in Church Structures
19:58 Indigenous Church Planting Principles
20:39 Wise Self-Governance in Leadership
21:30 Self-Sustaining Church Membership
22:43 Self-Replicating Discipleship Pathways
23:48 Evaluating Church Maturity
26:36 Encouragement and Prayer
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Show transcripts are an approximation of the podcast, audio should be consulted for exact detail
EP 252 - Knowing and Loving Your Church, Community and Family with Ryan Durham
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Welcome back to the boot camp, everyone! Today we have an extraordinary episode featuring Pastor Ryan Durham, the 2023 Replanter of the Year.
Ryan shares his story of moving to Loop City, a small farming and ranching community in central Nebraska, where the local church was on the brink of closure after being without a pastor for years. Initially committing to serve once a month, Ryan and his wife, Brandy, fell in love with the congregation, leading them to a full-time ministry.
Before moving to Loop City, Ryan and Brandy were part of the Calvary Family of Churches, where they received training for replanting under leaders like Mark Hallock. This rigorous preparation shaped Ryan’s passion for replanting and pastoral ministry.-
Ryan and Brandy’s philosophy of knowing, leading, feeding, and protecting their congregation led them to immerse themselves deeply in the Loop City community. Ryan even took on a job with the city to build stronger ties.
Stay tuned for more insightful discussions, and until next time, keep serving diligently and faithfully!
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome Back to the Boot Camp
00:08 – Introducing Pastor Ryan Durham
00:36 – The Journey to Loop City
02:26 – Joining the Calvary Family of Churches
03:40 – Challenges and Unexpected Turns
07:42 – Big Wins in Ministry
12:42 – Loving and Knowing Your Community
14:44 – Lessons Learned and Advice
22:02 – Prayer and Closing Thoughts
EP 251 - Setting Effective Goals in Church Renewal (Part 2): Practical Insights with Brandon Moore
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In today’s episode, Brandon Moore is back with us to share some practical insights we discussed on setting and establishing goals as church renewal leaders.
Establishing clear goals is crucial for any church renewal leader. Goals help to keep the mission focused and the congregation aligned with the overarching vision of the church. Here are the main points we covered:
Starting with Evaluation: One consistent theme in our conversation was the importance of starting with an evaluation to define reality. Whether it’s leadership, ecclesiology, or missiology, the first step is to assess where your church currently stands.
Here’s how you can break it down:
Leadership (Shepherding and Strategy): – Evaluate your current leadership team and their effectiveness. Ask questions like: Who are the potential leaders? Who can you pour into?
Ecclesiology (Church Maturity): – Assess the spiritual maturity of the church. – Measure factors like joy in worship, unity in the congregation, and compassionate outreach.
Missiology (Mission and Outreach): – Get to know your community. Conduct surveys or simply meet with community leaders. – Assess how well your church’s mission aligns with meeting community needs.
Clarify Direction: Once you’ve evaluated your current situation, the next step is to clarify the direction.
Vision and Mission: Ensure that your church’s vision and mission statements are not just words on a napkin but are lived out and understood by the congregation. – Realign your vision and mission if they do not clearly inform your strategic objectives.
Set Leadership Goals: Identify key leadership goals, such as developing and mentoring new leaders. – Establish clear objectives for equipping, resourcing, and encouraging your leadership team.
Define Ecclesiology Goals: Focus on church maturity. For instance, set goals to improve areas in need, such as increasing unity or encouraging more compassionate actions within your community.
Set Missiology Goals: Based on your community assessment, set actionable goals to reach out and serve your community better. – Prioritize engaging with your community beyond the church walls.
Implementation: Now that you have a clear direction, it’s time to set those goals into action:
Create a Quarterly Plan: Break down your goals into manageable quarterly actions.
For instance:
Quarter 1: Evaluate and define the reality of your current leadership, health, and community engagement.
Quarter 2: Clarify and refine your church’s vision, mission, and set specific objectives.
Quarter 3-4: Implement the strategies and start executing your goals.
Build a Team: Work with a supportive team throughout this process. Involving others helps to distribute responsibilities and creates a sense of ownership.
Regular Check-Ins: Consistently revisit and review your goals and progress. Adjust as necessary to stay on track.
Practical Examples Here are some practical examples of the goals we discussed:
Leadership Goal: Month 1: Identify three potential leaders. – Month 2: Meet with each potential leader to gauge their willingness to grow. – Month 3: Develop a plan to train and develop these leaders.
Ecclesiology Goal: Focus on increasing church unity. Plan small groups or community events that encourage members to connect more deeply.
Missiology Goal: Set up quarterly community service projects based on the needs identified during your community assessment.
Closing Thoughts: Setting effective goals in church renewal involves evaluating your current situation, clarifying your direction, and implementing actionable steps. These goals should align with your church’s vision and mission, fostering leadership, ecclesiology, and missiology growth. By taking intentional steps and involving your team, you can make significant strides toward a healthier and more dynamic church community. I hope this episode provides a practical framework to start setting and achieving your church renewal goals. If you have any tips or experiences to share, please let us know. Let’s continue this journey of replanting and renewing our churches, one goal at a time!
Josh talks to us about the three main groups that you will be shepherding in most churches and the six leadership ingredients needed for leadership with each group.
Josh introduced us to the concept of “Leading from the Middle,” an idea that he’s pieced together from various leadership theories. Rooted in Everett Rogers’ “Diffusion of Innovations,” this strategy identifies three groups within any organization: the front, the middle, and the back. Here’s how Josh envisions these groups:
Front Group (Scouts): Early adopters who are enthusiastic and ready to forge ahead. These are your go-getters. They don’t need convincing but require clear direction and resources to forge ahead. Provide vision, encouragement, and the necessary resources to keep them motivated and aligned.
Middle Group: Majority of members who adopt change at a steady pace. This is where most of our congregation will be. It’s crucial to invest in this group by using all six essential leadership ingredients: build trust, cast vision, equip, resource, encourage, and serve.
Back Group: Those who are more resistant or slower to embrace change, often due to healing, learning, or adapting. This group often comprises individuals who are healing, resistant, or taking their time to adapt. Build trust, offer encouragement, and serve them to gently guide them forward at their own pace.
Josh highlighted six essential ingredients for effective leadership. Let’s go through these briefly:
Build Trust: It is essential for the back group to feel secure and included.
Cast Vision: It is crucial for all groups especially the front group, to maintain clear objectives and direction.
Equip: Most critical in the middle group to prepare them for future leadership roles.
Resource: Providing the necessary tools, especially important for the front group.
Encouragement: Necessary for all groups, particularly the back group and the front group dealing with initial pushback.
Serve: Show genuine care and support, which makes the back group feel valued.
One key takeaway from Josh’s strategy is resisting the urge to treat leadership as a linear continuum. Not everyone should or will move from the back to the front. Each person’s journey is unique, and our leadership approach should respect that individuality.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:02 Exploring Leadership in General
01:29 Understanding ‘Leading from the Middle’
05:35 Application of Leading from the Middle in Replanting
Ep 249 - Pastoral Grit and Tactical Patience with Tim Williams
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In this episode, we revisit with Tim Williams two and a half years after his initial appearance. Tim shares his challenging yet inspirational journey of replanting Gladewater Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant, Texas. He discusses the significant hurdles faced, including living in an RV, balancing multiple jobs, and navigating church politics, with a notable incident where he was almost fired right after being ordained.
Tim emphasizes the importance of tactical patience, pastoral grit, and faithfulness in ministry, likening it to not microwaving a brisket—profound changes take time and care.
He also highlights the love and support required from other men in ministry and the joy of seeing spiritual growth in his congregation. Tim concludes by asking for prayers for their upcoming church relaunch and finding ways to better serve their community.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Reintroduction
00:32 Tim’s Early Challenges in Ministry
01:37 Settling Down and Remodeling
02:11 Transition to Co-Vocational Ministry
03:07 Reflecting on Emotional Cycles and Wins
04:36 Ordination and Initial Struggles
06:56 Replanting and Community Engagement
13:31 Lessons Learned: Don’t Microwave the Brisket
EP 248 - Setting Ministry Goals with Brandon Moore
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In this episode, we return to the boot camp with Brandon Moore, now settled in Knoxville, Tennessee, after completing his residency in Colorado. Brandon shares his replanting journey and the lessons learned from the Calvary family of churches, emphasizing the importance of a shepherd-first mentality. The discussion focuses on the significance of spirit-led goal setting in ministry, addressing whether goal setting is unspiritual and highlighting the necessity of intentionality, accountability, and involving others in the process.
Key areas for goal setting include leadership, ecclesiology, and missiology, along with celebrating small wins to maintain morale.
EP 247 - Replanting when The Mission Field Changes with Frederick Clement
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In this episode of the Replant Bootcamp, we are joined by Fred Clement from One Family Church in Dayton, Ohio, who shares his experiences and challenges in replanting a church. Fred talks about the transition from Meadowdale Baptist Church to One Family Church, the importance of engaging the community, and maintaining relationships established by the previous congregation. He also addresses the cultural and demographic shifts within the community and how they have impacted the church. Fred emphasizes intentional evangelism and creating a culture that aligns with the mission of God. Listeners will also hear about Fred’s personal journey and strategies for leading a diverse congregation through challenging times.
In this episode, we are joined by Jordan Raynor, author of ‘Redeeming Your Time.‘ We dive into why Raynor wrote the book, emphasizing its unique Christian approach to time management and productivity.
Raynor discusses how the Gospel provides a different foundation for these topics, highlighting the importance of learning from Jesus Christ’s example.
JimBo shares personal experiences on how the book has transformed his ministry and family life, focusing on being present and purposeful. The episode also offers practical steps for pastors to improve their time management, including commitment tracking systems and managing digital distractions. Raynor concludes by emphasizing the significance of time stewardship as a biblical command.
