RE: CHURCH is a GFA podcast to encourage pastors and church leaders as they refocus, renew, and revitalize their churches. This podcast offers practical tips and suggestions to help you equip disciples to continually make disciples.
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“Don’t lose your walk with God while doing the work of God.” Ministry is a privilege, and God’s Word is sufficient, but pastors’ wives are not immune to the temptation to fear people in ministry. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses with his wife, Gretchen, three Scripture passages that have been anchors for her as she has faced her fears and the hardships of ministry. The Fants have been married since 1981 and spent their initial years in pastoral ministry as supported missionaries replanting a church in Rock Hill, SC. They currently serve in their local church and at GFA.
While the responsibilities of parents don’t change because of being in ministry, prioritizing the demands of ministry above family and fearing man may be greater temptations. How do you shepherd your children’s hearts towards the Lord, deal with criticism, and involve your children in ministry? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall and Gretchen Fant share practical advice on this topic. Speaking of the importance of cultivating a relationship with your children, Marshall Fant says, “Children will walk away from a home that is full of rules, but they typically will not walk away from a good re
Are you going through a hard season in ministry right now? What challenges are you facing as you shepherd broken people? Suffering is often God’s tool to refine His undershepherds and make them more Christlike. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Brenson Jennings, pastor of Crooked Creek Baptist Church in Athens, GA. Speaking of some of the lessons he has learned, Pastor Jennings says, "Ministry is not measured by buildings, bucks, and bodies but by Christlikeness."
Expectations are high; time is short; criticism is real. How do you prevent these pressures of ministry from straining your marriage? Marshall Fant discusses this topic with his wife, Gretchen, in this episode of RE:CHURCH. Their conclusion? Humble communication is the key. The Fants have been married since 1981 and currently serve in their local church and at GFA.
“I thought my job was to keep all the women happy.” That was Gretchen Fant’s view for about three weeks after her husband became a pastor. People’s expectations for a pastor’s wife vary, but what Scripture passages outline God’s expectations? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with his wife, Gretchen, who served as a pastor’s wife for 21 years. The Fants have been married since 1981 and currently serve in their local church and at GFA.
Criticism is a normal part of shepherding, not an indication of failure. But why does it hurt so deeply? How can a pastor avoid becoming defensive, discouraged, or bitter? How can criticism actually deepen a pastor’s humility, grow his dependence on Christ, and make him more effective as an undershepherd? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses handling criticism with Dale Cunningham, a senior pastor for 40 years. He and his wife, Denise, now serve ministry couples through D&D Ministries.
When a ministry has experienced a long series of declines but still has a future, what realities guide its revitalization? How do you assess the ministry and make changes? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses church revitalization with Jeremy Sweatt, senior pastor of Farmington Avenue Baptist Church in West Hartford, CT, since 2015. Pastor Sweatt has been in full-time ministry since 1994, serving as an associate pastor in two ministries and also planting a church north of Atlanta. He shares this encouragement with anyone involved in a church revitalization: “If God has called
What should your priorities be during your initial days as a senior pastor? How can you avoid early mistakes? What is a healthy perspective on leading change in the first 100 days? This is the topic Marshall Fant discusses with Andrew Snavely, who has served as senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Highland Falls, NY, for 18 months. Prior to taking the senior pastorate, Pastor Andrew served for 10 years as an assistant pastor. Here are some nuggets of his advice: “Listen first. Lead wisely.” “Relationships are everything.” “Earn trust by small, predictable faithfulness.” You can check out t
How can we direct the hearts of teens toward the Lord in light of the challenges they face in an increasingly dark world? Desiring to love young people and help the church, the Wilds is partnering with Shepherd Press to publish a Lifeline Mini-book series for teens. In this episode, Marshall Fant talks with Kelly Collier and Jim Holmes about this new resource. As an ACBC certified counselor, Kelly Collier serves with her husband, Matt, at the Wilds in North Carolina. Jim Holmes has been involved in Christian publishing for over 25 years and currently serves as executive director of ministry an
Electronic distractions. Shorter attention spans. Competing sources of authority. How does a preacher grapple with these things? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Ben Smith, pastor of Vacaville Bible Church in Vacaville, CA, where he has served as senior pastor since 2015. While thinking clearly about the progression of a sermon through a text helps listeners, getting to know your congregation is essential to addressing competing voices of authority. Speaking of the overall goal, Pastor Smith says, “We want to see people grow in their love for the Word of Go
Emotional fatigue, physical exhaustion, spiritual discouragement. Pastors face both internal and external pressures that wear them down. What are some practical and spiritual ways to address weariness? What are some warning lights that a pastor is headed towards dangerous burnout? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Jerry Jacquot, pastor of Kingsway Baptist Church in Lake Wylie, SC. While planting a church, Pastor Jacquot was a bi-vocational pastor caring for the needs of a young family. Speaking about the pressure of church growth, Pastor Jacquot says, “Remem
How does a normative-sized church handle technology challenges based on limited budget, knowledge, training, and workers? What are some key considerations regarding sound, presentation video, lighting, and streaming? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Tim Owens, director of operations at SES Integration. With a degree in electronics engineering and 25 years of experience in this field, Tim Owens advises churches to apply basic principles well rather than invest in the most expensive equipment. He says, “Find a good AV partner who can help you.”
“There is a sense in which every sermon ought to be an exposition of Scripture.” That was Dr. Mark Minnick’s comment to Marshall Fant in their discussion of expository preaching for episode 117 of RE:CHURCH, “Preparing to Preach with Mark Minnick.” This 16-minute segment reviews why a pastor should prepare expository sermons using the rhetorical processes of explanation, illustration, application, argumentation, and exhortation. Pastor Minnick has served as the senior pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC, since 1989 and has been in pastoral ministry for over 40 years. He is
How can a church minister to its undershepherd when he is going through a season of loss? What are some practical ways for believers to practice the “one anothers” with their pastor and his family? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Gary Ledbetter and Chuck Herrell share with Marshall Fant their stories: a wife diagnosed with cancer, the pursuit of treatment options while managing ministry responsibilities, and her decline and homegoing. Gary Ledbetter entered the ministry in 1982 and has pastored four churches and served as an interim pastor in one. Chuck Herrell pastored 40 years in two different
What types of conflicts surface in a church? Does the resolution require forbearance, repentance, reconciliation, or forgiveness? What role do pastors and church leaders have in resolving conflict? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant and Rick Arrowood discuss scriptural principles and share practical wisdom about resolving church conflict. Pastor Arrowood has 47 years of pastoral experience and currently serves as an interim pastor with GFA. Resources: The Peace Maker by Ken Sande and Resolving Conflict: How to Make, Disturb, and Keep the Peace by Lou Priolo
What traditions in your community could inform your outreach? How could you use a Christmas Eve service as a first touch point with an unbeliever? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses with Matt Fagan and Andrew French how they plan a Christmas Eve service at Heritage Baptist Church in Windham, NH, to connect with people in their community. Matt Fagan moved to New Hampshire in 2001 to start Heritage Baptist Church, where he has served as pastor for 25 years. Andrew French joined the pastoral staff in 2013.
Do you struggle to manage your time? What should be your #1 priority when facing the demands of ministry? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses four non-negotiables of ministry with Dale Cunningham. At the top of the list is sitting at Jesus' feet. Speaking of the attitude that should drive us to the Source, Dale Cunningham quotes Oswald Chambers: “The greatest blessing that God gives to us is the knowledge of our utter destitution.” Dale Cunningham has been in ministry for 40 years, serving as the senior pastor at Boones Creek Bible Church in Johnson City, TN, for 23 years. He
Who qualifies for minister’s housing allowance? What is the process for determining it, and what are the most confusing or misunderstood points? How can pastors and church leaders exercise good stewardship as they establish the 2026 church budget? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses minister’s housing allowances with Corey Pfaffe, CPA and Principal at MinistryCPA.com and retired dean of the school of business at Maranatha Baptist University. The following resources are available on the website of MinistryCPA. Financial Health Questionnaire: https://ministrycpa.org/resources/o
Should you create and host a podcast for your church? What are some considerations for the format, technology, and content? Can such a podcast enhance your shepherding or take away from it? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Joe Fant, pastor of Community Baptist Church in South Bend, IN. Speaking of the opportunity a church podcast gave for informal ministry discussions, Joe Fant says, "If you can do it for your church, it’s an awesome opportunity to have conversations you couldn’t have in any other vein, but you have to be ready and make a commitment for a c
How long was the time from when your husband announced his retirement to the church until you left the church? What were some of the biggest practical changes you noticed right away after your husband stepped down from the full-time pastorate? Did you feel a sense of loss, freedom, or both? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses life after the pastorate with his wife, Gretchen, and Sue Goodwill. Sue Goodwill served as a pastor’s wife for 35 years, following her husband to three different churches. After retirement, Scott and Sue Goodwill began assisting churches through GFA’s in
Artificial intelligence, a rapidly changing but powerful tool, is changing how we live, much like automobiles did. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses with David Shumate his article, “An AI ‘Interview’ with C. H. Spurgeon,” published in the January/February 2025 issue of Frontline. Using well-crafted prompts and Anthropic's Claude, Dr. Shumate “interviewed” Spurgeon. What is the difference between a plausible answer and an accurate answer? What is a hallucination? How essential is fact-checking a quotation? Dr. Shumate, Academic Dean at International Baptist College and Semin
How can church leadership plan for a pastoral change? What makes a pastoral transition successful? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Doug and Ben DeMar share with Marshall Fant the story of the pastoral transition at Salem Bible Church in Salem, OH. As the founding pastor with 45 years of pastoral experience, Doug DeMar passed the baton to his son Ben DeMar after a five-year transition. Speaking of one lesson he learned during that process, Pastor Ben DeMar says, “You are not in the lead until you are in the lead.” His father says, “The primary thing is the Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Chu
What are the predominant worldviews in your community? How can you more effectively reach people from different cultural perspectives? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses with Greg Baker three questions to ask a person to learn his or her basis for determining truth, dominant view of God, and dominant fear. Greg Baker serves as pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Liberty, UT, and president of the Sego Lily Foundation, which creates and provides resources for evangelizing Mormons. Speaking of how posturing himself as a learner has helped him, Pastor Greg says, "When you start
What leadership style does God expect of leaders? Following Christ’s example means we lead through serving. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Ken Collier, friend, preacher, mentor, and the voice of many characters on The Adventures of Patch the Pirate. Ken Collier has spent 56 years employed by The Wilds, living out what it means to lead by serving. He has also co-authored Biblical Leadership: Becoming a Different Kind of Leader. Speaking of his desire to hear God’s “Well done thou good and faithful servant,” Ken Collier says, “The man or woman who dies with
Serving in a small ministry can magnify the isolation of a pastor and his wife. How can a pastor’s wife make wise decisions about ministry involvement and also benefit from the “one anothers” of the body of Christ? Whom can she tap for wisdom in her role? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Crystal Joos. Her husband, Taigen, has served as senior pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Dover, NH, since 2007.
