The Pillar Network

Nate Akin, Dave Russell, & Ryan Hutchinson recap the important topics and highlights from Dallas, including Pillar's presence at the SBC, the Sanchez Amendment, financial transparency, the ERLC, and more.

Brandon Langley talks with David King about Christ-centered preaching, the connection between biblical theology and church planting, the role of Christ-centered preaching in discipleship, and more. David is a member of our network and the Senior Pastor of Concord Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and author of Your Old Testament Sermon Needs to Get Saved.    

Nate Akin and Dave Kiehn host a discussion with panelists Dave Russell, Liam Garvie, Juan Sanchez, and Steven Carne on Baptist association among Pillar churches and a specific discussion about Pillar US churches cooperating within the SBC, including the upcoming SBC annual meeting in Dallas. This audio is from a network-wide Zoom call from May 28, 2025.

Brandon Langley talks with Garrett Kell about building a culture of discipleship within the local church. They discuss the role of leadership in modeling discipleship, some of the barriers to establishing a discipleship culture, dealing with specific issues like purity, and more. Garrett is a member of our network and the Lead Pastor of Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

Brandon Langley talks with Jerry McCorkle about Spread Truth Ministries and their evangelism resources, overcoming barriers to evangelism, the importance of normal conversations, how to invite people to respond during Sunday gatherings, and more. Jerry is the Executive Director of Spread Truth. Learn more about their work at https://spreadtruth.com/

Jenna DiPrima and Sarah Rogers talk with Anna Moore about biblical hospitality, including the gospel motivation behind hospitality, the unique role of a pastor's wife in fostering a hospitable environment, some of the challenges and struggles associated with hospitality, and more. Anna's husband Ed has served as the pastor of North Shore Baptist Church in Bay Side, NY since 1992.

Dave Kiehn talks with Steve Thiel about the challenges of ministry in New England, his experiences in church planting, raising up new leaders, and more. Steve is a member of our network and the Senior Pastor of Christ Proclamation Church in Windsor, CT. 

Nate Akin talks with Bill and Lyla Curtis and Adam and Judith McNinch about the ongoing care of church planters and their families. They discuss the need for clarity in communication, the value of presence, the importance of caring for the wives of church planters, as well as the joy and challenges of international partnerships. Bill is a member of our board and the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church near Florence, SC. Adam is a member of our network and the Lead Pastor of Christ Church in Queensferry, UK. 

Dave Kiehn interviews Ed Moore about the joys and challenges of pastoring, the need for purity in pastoral life, ministering to the weak, and revitalizing struggling churches. They also discuss the unique aspects of ministry in New York City and the camaraderie within the Pillar Network. Ed is a member of our network and the pastor of North Shore Baptist Church in New York City.

Brandon Langley talks with Kenny Ortiz about the stage of church planting before covenanting together as a church. They discuss fundraising, recruiting and developing core team members, setting up church structures and documents, and more. Kenny is a member of our network and the Lead Pastor of Horizon City Church in Orlando, Florida.

Jenna DiPrima and Sarah Rogers talk with Phil and Karen Newton about how to help your husband in ministry when he's discouraged and knowing how to handle criticism when it comes. They also discuss knowing your husband's heart, praying for him, and pointing him to Christ. Phil is the Director of Pastoral Care and Mentoring at Pillar and an elder at Midtown Baptist Church in Memphis, TN.

Dave Kiehn talks with Matt Rogers and Clint Darst about taking steps toward becoming an Antioch church (the primary sender of a church plant or revitalization team). They discuss their experiences of sending out the first church plant, planting churches locally, training up men to be sent, shepherding the congregation through sending fatigue, and more. Matt is the lead pastor of Christ Fellowship Cherrydale in Greenville, SC. Clint is the lead pastor of King's Cross Church in Greensboro, NC. 

Nate Akin interviews Jason Finley and Jeremy Chasteen about planting Village Church of Pendleton. They talk about the process of deciding to plant, preparing and strategizing, as well as some of the emotional and practical barriers to overcome in planting. Jeremy is a member of our board and the Lead Pastor of Crosspoint Clemson. Jason is being sent out of Crosspoint to plant Village Church of Pendleton.

Dave Kiehn interviews Jeff Strickland about his church planting experience in Indianapolis, pursuing higher education while in ministry, his book on John Flavel, and the joy that comes from assurance in Christ. Jeff is a member of our network, the Lead Pastor of The Fields Church in Indianapolis, IN, and the author of The Foundation of Joy: Assurance in the Theology of John Flavel. 

Jeff Long gives a talk on the importance of team dynamics among elders. He shares insights into the importance of team leadership, the character of an elder, the role of elders in leading the congregation, and more. Jeff is a member of our network and the Lead Pastor of Parkwood Baptist Church in Gastonia, NC. This talk was originally given at the 2025 Pillar Intensive in San Diego, CA.

Jenna DiPrima and Sarah Rogers talk with Jeanine Sanchez about motherhood in ministry, including the unique joys of a ministry family, developing relationships with church members, serving the church together as a family, and more. Jeanine teaches English and writing to children and teaches the Bible to women. She is the coauthor of Reaching Your Child's Heart.

Nate Akin talks with Jonathan Carswell, CEO of 10ofThose, about how their book ministry got started, how to encourage evangelism in your church, and ideas for evangelism around Easter and throughout the year, including good resources to give out to church members and friends who don't know Christ. Check out these resources and more at10ofthose.com/easter. 

Dave Kiehn gives a talk about lessons learned in church revitalization, including knowing who you are in Christ, prioritizing the preaching of the Word, trusting the Lord's providence, and more. Dave serves as the Lead Pastor of Park Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC and as Pillar's Director of Ministry for the Americas.

Phil talks with Vic Carpenter about co-vocational ministry. They discuss Vic's path to planting a church, the difference between bi-vocational and co-vocational ministry, planting while maintaining a separate full-time vocation, and more. Vic is a member of our network and the Teaching Pastor of Redeemer Bible Church in Spotsylvania, VA.

Jenna and Sarah talk with Nate about Pillar Ladies. They discuss women's ministry strategy for Pillar, ways to connect with other women in the network, biblical roles for women in ministry, and more. Sarah Rogers and Jenna DiPrima both serve as Women's Ministry Coordinators for Pillar.

Josh Wredberg shares principles of preaching that can help pastors grow in their ability to convey the truths of Scripture. He talks about the use of illustrations, applying the text with depth, and more. Josh is a member of our network and the lead pastor of Redeemer Community Church in Fuquay-Varina, NC. This talk was originally given at the 2025 Pillar Intensive.

Brandon Langley and Phil Newton discuss elder led congregationalism as a model for church polity. They talk about the difference between elder led, elder ruled, and purely congregational models, building communication and trust with the congregation, appointing new elders, and more.  

Dave Kiehn interviews Brian Walker from Anchored Virtual about biblical counseling in the local church. They discuss the crucial role of biblical authority in counseling, the story of Anchored Virtual, and more. Find out more about Anchored Virtual here.

Danny Rurlander gives a talk on the importance of holding the authority of Scripture over our experiences. Danny shares the ultimate experience of hearing the Word of God, to see Jesus as he really is and become like him, as we preach Christ through all the Scriptures. Danny is a member of our network and the senior pastor of Moorlands Church in Lancaster, UK.

Phil Newton shares valuable lessons on pastoral theology from faithful pastors and theologians throughout church history, including the pursuit of Christ-likeness, holiness as an example for the church, the effect of holiness on preaching, and how suffering shapes the character of a pastor. This talk is from one of the breakout sessions at the 2024 Unite Conference. 

Brandon Langley talks with Bobby Jamieson about young men aspiring to the office of pastor/elder, including pitfalls to avoid, thinking well about calling and desire, establishing pastoral internships, and more. Bobby is a member of our network and the senior pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, NC.

Clint Darst gives a talk on the authority of the Bible over culture. He discusses why Scripture has authority over culture and how we can have clarity and confidence from the Word of God as we relate to the world around us. Clint is the lead pastor of King's Cross Church in Greensboro, NC. This talk was originally given at the 2024 Pillar Unite Conference.

Nate Akin talks with Parker Moore about congregational singing, including how to promote joyful corporate singing, the value of theologically rich music, and the revitalization of Cleveland Road Baptist Church, where Parker serves as the Senior Pastor.

Matt Rogers & Nate Akin host a discussion with panelists Blake White, Jason Finley, Josh Wredberg, and Clint Darst. They discuss the importance of elder plurality, including some of the challenges, ways to maintain a healthy balance of authority and deference among elders, senior/lead pastor roles, and more. This audio is from a network-wide Zoom call from December 5, 2024.

In this episode, John Musyimi delivers a talk on maintaining the authority of the Bible over pragmatism. He delves into the fear of God versus the allure of success, exploring various temptations that can lead us towards pragmatism. John is a member of our network and the Lead Pastor of North Point Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya. This talk was originally given at the 2024 Pillar Unite Conference.

In this episode, Brandon Langley interviews Orlando Saer and Casey Williamson on college ministry in the local church and how it relates to church planting. They discuss some of the challenges, pitfalls, best practices, and more. Orlando is the Senior Pastor of Christ Church Southampton in the UK, and Casey is the Lead Pastor at Goodwood Community Church in Baton Rouge, LA. 

In this episode, Phil Newton interviews Aaron Menikoff and Zack DiPrima about planting from the perspective of a sending church. They discuss the motivations for sending, preparing both Zack and the core team, timing, and more. Aaron is the senior pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. Zack and his team were sent out to plant Trinity Church Kennesaw in early 2024. 

In this episode, Phil Newton and Jordan Thomas discuss pastoral endurance at a Pillar pastors gathering in Memphis, TN. They talk about challenges to enduring in pastoral ministry, what it looks like to endure faithfully, and more. Jordan Thomas is the Lead Preaching Pastor of Grace Church Memphis. Phil Newton has decades of experience in pastoral ministry and now serves as the Director of Pastoral Care & Mentoring for the Pillar Network.

In this episode, Liam Garvie, Johnny Lithell, Jason Wredberg, and Jimmy Steele discuss raising up leaders through residencies in the local church. They discuss the purpose and content of residencies, identifying candidates, funding, and more. This panel discussion is from one of the breakout sessions from the 2024 Unite Conference.

In this episode, Nate Akin gives a talk on Sola Scriptura, biblical authority, tradition, and how baptists have navigated these topics. This talk was originally given at the 2024 Pillar Unite Conference.

In this episode, Brandon Langley and Liam Garvie interview Matt Smethurst about deacon ministry in the local church. They talk about the biblical principles and functions of the office, identifying deacons, deacon ministry in church planting, and more. Matt is the lead pastor of River City Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, and the author of Deacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the Church.

In this episode, Phil Newton interviews Mark Livingston about church revitalization. Mark shares his experiences of pastoral ministry, biblical principles for revitalization, and encouragements for pastors in the process of revitalizing churches. Mark is a member of our network and the lead pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi. 

In this episode, Nate Akin interviews Dr. Albert Mohler about how he became a baptist, baptist confessions, holding important theological convictions, and more. Dr. Mohler is the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a member of Third Avenue Baptist Church.

In this episode, Phil Newton, Pillar's Director of Pastoral Care and Mentoring, shares eight tips for a healthy, effective, and Christ-honoring pastoral ministry. Phil covers topics such as being intentional in living as a Christian, nurturing and prioritizing your marriage, training potential leaders, and more.

In this episode, Liam Garvie and Phil Newton talk with David Martin about pastoring an international church in Germany, raising up leaders, and more. David is a member of our network and the lead pastor of International Baptist Church in Cologne, Germany. 

In this episode, Phil Newton interviews his pastors, John Sarver and Joshua Chatman. They discuss planting Midtown Baptist Church in Memphis, why churches should plant churches, planting with another staff elder, and more. 

In this episode, Nate Akin talks with Liam Garvie, Paul Rees, and Martin Smith about Martin's conversion, training and journey to pastoral ministry. Martin is the senior pastor of Hawick Baptist Church, a Pillar church in Scotland.

In this episode, Brandon Langley talks with Juan Sanchez about the dangers of pragmatism in pastoral ministry, and how the scriptures provide everything we need for properly shepherding and equipping the church. Juan is the senior pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, TX.

In this episode, Dave Kiehn talks with Jimmy Steele and Will Forrest about their experiences with planting churches on the west coast of the US. Jimmy is the lead pastor of the Hill Church in San Diego, CA, and Will is the lead pastor of Summit Life Church in Seattle, WA.

In this episode, Tiago Oliveira gives a message from 2 Timothy 1:15-25 on guarding the gospel. Tiago is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Lisbon, Portugal and he serves as President and Academic Dean of the Martin Bucer Portugal Seminary. This talk was originally given at the 2024 Pillar International Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In this episode, Brandon Langley interviews Austin Roden, pastor of Great Commission Baptist Church in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. They discuss some of the challenges for ministry in Cambodia and why the local church is vital in missions. 

In this episode, Brandon Langley interviews Jonathan Leeman about his book, Authority. They discuss what a biblical view of authority looks like, its importance in training leaders in the local church, and more.

In this episode, Pillar's Regional Director Dave Kiehn joins Pillar's Hispanic Coordinator Victor Rodriguez and Pastor Juan Hernandez of Rescue Mission Church to discuss the challenges facing Latin American churches and how God is moving in and through Pillar in the Spanish speaking world.

In this episode, Brandon Langley talks with Landon Dowden and Josh Wredberg about the importance of live exposition. They discuss the joys, challenges, and more.

In this episode, Ken Mbugua gives a talk on suffering for the gospel from 2 Timothy 1:1-14. Ken is the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya and the managing director for Ekklesia Afrika. Ken originally gave this talk at our 2024 Pillar International Conference in Scotland.

In this episode, Brandon Langley talks with Ken Rucker and Shawn Branscum about being Kingdom-minded when it comes to the challenges, sacrifices, and joys of sending out church plants.