EP 239 - Hitting the Healthy Church Target with Brandon Moore
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In this episode of the Replant Bootcamp, we reconnect with Brandon, a former guest and a recent addition to the Replant team, who shares his journey from working with the Missouri Baptist Convention to joining the Replant team and moving towards replanting a church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Brandon discusses his experience and insights on church revitalization and replanting in Missouri, emphasizing the strategic role of associational leaders and state convention leaders in catalyzing church movement within their states.
He highlights the critical need for strong leadership and healthy church structures, focusing on the three identities of the church (worshipers of God, family in Christ, and missionaries to the world), foundational elements (Gospel, Scripture, and Prayer), and structural aspects (leadership, membership, and discipleship) essential for church health.
00:00 Welcome Back to the Bootcamp!
00:54 Introducing Brandon: A Journey from Missouri to Replant Team
01:11 Brandon’s Personal and Professional Shifts
02:10 The Mission in Knoxville: Replanting with a Vision
05:25 The Importance of Church Health and Identity
11:28 Defining Church Health: Identities, Foundations, and Structures
23:53 Practical Steps for Church Revitalization and Replanting
27:35 Closing Prayer for Healthy, God-Glorifying Churches
In this episode of the bootcamp podcast, I have the pleasure of welcoming back Brian Croft, a veteran pastor and the founder of Practical Shepherding to discuss his latest book, Pastoral Perseverance.
Brian shares his journey through 25 years of pastoral ministry, including facing significant challenges in the early years at Auburndale Baptist Church which tested his perseverance. Despite hardships like threats, financial crises, and health issues stemming from stress, Brian witnessed the church flourish under his guidance. You can read more about this and the lessons that Brian learned in his book, Biblical Church Revitalization.
Brian also discusses his transition to leading Practical Shepherding full-time, a ministry dedicated to equipping pastors and church leaders with practical tools for ministry.
This episode dives into the importance of pastoral qualifications, the concept of perseverance, and the critical understanding of suffering in ministry. Additionally, Brian introduces The Shepherd’s House, a retreat initiative for pastors needing rest and rejuvenation, emphasizing the importance of self-care among ministry leaders.
00:00 Welcome to the Bootcamp: Introducing Brian Croft
00:31 Brian Croft’s Journey: From a Dying Church to Thriving Ministry
02:08 The Birth and Growth of Practical Shepherding
03:34 Understanding the Five-Year Rule in Church Revitalization
06:33 The Impact of Practical Shepherding and the Shepherd’s House
11:03 Diving into ‘Pastoral Perseverance’: A Guide for Struggling Pastors
21:59 The Importance of Self-Care and Perseverance in Ministry
23:57 Closing Thoughts and Prayer for Perseverance
In this episode, we listen to the field to learn from the boots-on-the-ground story of Brayden Buss, a pastor returning to his roots at the First Baptist Church in Okmulgee, OK as he shares his journey of returning to pastor the church where he grew up, stressing the importance of understanding and respecting a church’s legacy while adapting to changing demographics and community needs.
He discusses the challenges and strategies associated with revitalizing a church, including leadership development, member mobilization, and the personal aspect of being a pastor in a familiar community. Brayden also touches on the significance of loving and caring for the church to foster revitalization effectively.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Arrival
00:52 Guest Background and Personal Journey
02:26 Challenges of Pastoring in Hometown
03:44 Legacy of Family in Ministry
05:46 Understanding and Adapting to Community Changes
08:39 Revitalizing the Church: Strategies and Challenges
16:57 Member Mobilization and Leadership Development
24:08 Final Thoughts and Prayer
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Show transcripts are an approximation of the podcast, audio should be consulted for exact detail
In this episode, we welcome three special guests to discuss the unique challenges and joys of being a pastor’s wife involved in church replanting and revitalization. Dr. Darlene, Audrea, and Barb share their personal experiences and resources they have developed to support pastor’s wives through this journey. They hope to offer hope, friendship, and encouragement, underscoring that pastor’s wives are not alone in their challenges through the following resources:
00:00 Welcome to the Boot Camp: Introducing Our Special Guests
00:11 The Mission: Supporting Pastor Wives on Their Replant Journey
01:00 Meet the Guests: Stories of Struggle and Support
05:21 Creating a Community: The Birth of Replant Wife Resources
07:11 Expanding the Support Network: From Facebook Group to Podcasts and Beyond
19:52 A Gift of Prayer: The Replant Wife Book
25:48 Closing Prayer and Reflections
EP 235 - Facing Crises and Embracing Change in Church Leadership with Will Cofield
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On this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Will Cofield, who, besides being known as ‘Mr. Erin Cofield‘ (the trophy husband of one of the Bootcamp blog writers), shared insights from his remarkable and tumultuous journey in church leadership as he led a church to replant from within.
From beginning his ministry as a youth pastor and then moving into the lead pastor role in a struggling church with a history of division and turnover to facing severe challenges, including a church split over bluegrass, resistance to change, leadership disputes, almost getting into a fistfight with a deacon in his 80s who is on dialysis and a harrowing incident of abuse. Despite these trials, Will recounted how these crises eventually led to a profound transformation within the church. The congregation underwent a process of repentance, recommitted to its mission, and adopted a fresh approach to ministry that prioritizes Christ-centered worship and community outreach. Will emphasized the invaluable lessons learned through suffering, the importance of pastoral friendship, and the necessity of dependence on God above all.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation
01:39 Guest’s Journey to Ministry
02:03 Challenges in the Church
05:28 Conflict and Confrontation
08:30 Facing the Dark Valley
12:57 The Path to Revitalization
19:25 Lessons from the Dark Valley
19:30 The Power of Community and Support
25:06 Closing Thoughts and Prayers
EP 234 - Remembering Henry Blackaby with Special Guest Richard Blackaby
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Henry Blackaby was a servant of God. Henry Blackaby was an ordinary man whom God used in extraordinary ways. Henry recently passed away from this earth and is now basking in the glory of God and walking with Jesus.
In this episode, we’re back at the Replant Bootcamp Podcast with a heartwarming and insightful conversation with Richard Blackaby, a dear friend and an incredible leader in his own right and Henry Blackaby’s oldest son. Richard continues his dad’s legacy as president of Blackaby Ministries.
Richard shares his personal journey, growing from the influence of his father, the late Henry Blackaby, into a global leadership mentor. The passing of Henry Blackaby has reminded many of us of his deep impact on church revitalization and the way he modeled a God-centric life of service beyond the confines of church size. We dive into how Henry’s legacy has shaped Richard’s approach to ministry, emphasizing the importance of seeing God’s hand in every situation, no matter the challenges. Additionally, we discussed our shared passion for reading and how it fuels our growth, Richard’s upcoming back surgery, and a heartfelt prayer for our listeners. This episode reiterates the power of legacy, faith, and leadership through the lens of the Blackaby family’s journey.
Join JimBo, Richard, and many others at the upcoming Revive Summit in Pickerington, Ohio on May 21-22 – CLICK HERE for more information.
00:00 Introduction and Welcoming the Guest
00:44 Guest’s Background and Ministry Journey
01:57 Remembering Henry Blackaby: A Legacy of Church Revitalization
03:43 The Impact of Henry Blackaby’s Ministry
04:57 Growing Up with Henry Blackaby: Personal Reflections
08:34 The Challenges and Joys of Ministry
20:01 The Importance of Reading and Learning in Ministry
EP 233 - Effective Interim Pastors: Fearing God more than Man with Scott Catoe
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In this episode, we welcome Scott Catoe, a first-time guest but longtime friend of the podcast, who shares his experiences and insights from serving as the lead pastor at Slater Baptist Church for 10 years and his current role as the Associate Mission Strategist for the Three Rivers Baptist Association. Dr. Catoe discusses his book, ‘Effective Interim Pastors,’ which emerged from his doctoral research on interim pastors.
He highlights the importance of addressing sin, and conflicts, and shaping a healthy church culture through the period of interim ministry rather than avoiding disruption. The conversation emphasizes the tendency of interim pastors and long-term pastors alike to either fear man more than God or seek personal glorification in ministry, contrasting these with the gospel-centered approach required for impactful leadership.
The book outlines eight principles for effective interim pastors, urging a focus on biblical faithfulness, prayer, confronting sin, and equipping the congregation for future growth, all rooted in a deep reverence for God over the fear of man.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:17 Guest’s Background and Current Role
01:07 Discussion on Normative Size Churches
01:45 Revitalization and Replanting Churches
02:08 Introduction to the Book ‘Effective Interim Pastors’
02:41 The Need for Transitional Pastors
03:51 The Role of an Interim Pastor
05:45 The Importance of Addressing Sin in Churches
11:07 The Fear of Man and Hero Syndrome in Ministry
17:16 The Role of Decision-Making in Churches
25:22 Conclusion and Book Recommendation
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.
