Podcasts about georgia baptist

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Flag of Ukraine Federal workers sue over Musk firing threat, as Trump posts SpongeBob SquarePants meme mocking federal employees Trump talks about getting Ukrainian minerals to pay for aid, while France's Macron says truce may be weeks away with Europe providing peacekeepers Judge blocks immigration raids at 5 Quaker meetings, Georgia Baptist church network, and California Sikh temple Protesters blast Musk role in mass layoffs at rally outside Tesla facilities in Berkeley Israeli tanks move into occupied West Bank for first time in decades, Palestinian authorities call it “dangerous escalation” The post French president says peace in Ukraine may be weeks away; Protesters at Berkeley Tesla facility blast Musk role in federal mass layoffs – February 24, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Georgia Baptist state executive director Thomas Hammond pulled his name from consideration for the presidency of the SBC Executive Committee. Also, The Road to Indy has started with the Annual Meeting on the horizon.

1.  Seth continues a review of Matthew 26 further examining Jesus at Gethsemane. 2. Seth responds to a question in the inbox about angelic languages.3. Seth further discusses kids ministry consulting services offered to churches.

1.  Seth continues a review of Matthew 26 further examining Jesus at Gethsemane. 2. Seth responds to a question in the inbox about theonomy.3. Seth further discusses kids ministry consulting services offered to churches.

1.  Seth continues a review of Matthew 26 further examining Jesus at Gethsemane. 2. Seth responds to a question in the inbox about passionate evangelism.  3. Seth further discusses kids ministry consulting services offered to churches.

1. Seth continues a review of Matthew 26 further examining Jesus at Gethsemane. 2.  No questions in the inbox.3. Seth further discusses kids ministry consulting services offered to churches.

1. Seth continues a review of Matthew 26 further examining Jesus at Gethsemane. 2.  No questions in the inbox.3. Seth discusses kids ministry consulting services offered to churches.

This broadcast will help church leaders see the need to utilize church management software as part of their efforts to make disciples. Boyd Pelley has been the Co-founder/Culture Architect at Churchteams since 2000. From 1990 to 2008 has served as discipleship, administrative and family pastor of churches in New Mexico, Nebraska, and Texas. Churchteams was born out of his passion for discipleship and team-building in the local church. Married for 37 years, he and Pam have two married, adult children who love and serve Jesus with kids of their own! In this broadcast we discuss: This isn't just a broadcast for nerds. How church software can help you engage with a person for ministry. How can software be relational? How does a church that has never had software take its first step towards starting and building a church management software to be discipleship focused? Software does not replace a human relationship. It can only enhance relationships to help churches align values, processes, and data track to accomplish their mission.

Dan Williams formed Partnerships with a Purpose during the Olympics in Atlanta and Salt Lake City. He founded Sports Serve, where he devoted his time to leadership development through sports. Since 1993 Dan has been working with churches and organizations to make disciples in and through sport across North America. He is one of the founding members of the North American Sports Movement.Chris Weldon has been married for 31 years to Debby. They have 7 children and 3 grandchildren (number 4 is due in November). Chris has been in ministry for 32 years, with 10 of those years in Seattle as a Church Planter with NAMB. The last 5.5 years as a Co-Vocational Pastor at Emerson Church, a replant of a 150-year-old church, that is positioned next to the largest sport complex in Georgia. Chris has a BA in Biblical Studies, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctorate from SEBTS.In this episode we discuss: The cautions of travel sport commitments and the conflicts it creates in the local church. How important our world view is when making travel sport decisions. How anything can become an idol and specific guard rails we can utilize. That disciple-making can happen where you live, work and play. Tools to equip families who have chosen to engage in travel sports. The importance or seeing ourselves as “in Christ” and not defined by a sport or job. Who has the primary responsibility to disciple our children. Making disciples requires us to think creatively and keep the priority of connecting with a local church. How parents can know if they have crossed the line in priority. Mindset shifts church leaders can make to increase gospel impact. Three Key questions parents can ask to guide their decision whether to commit to a travel sport team.  

Ken Braddy is the Director of Sunday School & Network Partnerships for Lifeway Christian Resources.  He's been the managing director of adult ongoing Bible studies such as Bible Studies For Life, Explore The Bible, MasterWork, The Gospel Project, YOU, and more. Through his team's work at Lifeway, they served the Bible study needs of approximately 3 million adults each week.Matthew Gibbs has been the discipleship and evangelism pastor at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia for the past 15 years and has served in ministry over 25 years. He is a core piece of our discipleship team serving as discipleship consultant in our east central region and one of my close trusted friends.In this episode: The general purpose of Sunday morning bible study and how this can be communicated. How curriculum can help us achieve the purpose of bible study groups. Curriculum is important because our behavior grows out of what we believe. The pros and cons for giving your bible study leaders an option on approved curriculum vs a unified curriculum. Practical ideas on how to choose what curriculum to use. Why leaders must choose and communicate whether you have an open group vs a closed group when choosing what curriculum to use. Trends and cautions when choosing curriculum based bible study or sermon based studies and the benefits. One way to get a golf trip with Ken Braddy in the Swiss Alps!

We interview Ken Adams, pastor at Crossroads Church Newnan, Georgia and President of IMPACT Ministries. Carl Johnson also joins us. Carl is the pastor of leadership development at Peace Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia and serves as a contract representative for our Georgia Baptist Discipleship Team in the West Central region.In this episode you'll learn: Craig Etheridge writes that US is now #3 behind India and China for the most number of people NOT professing to be Christian.  One specific way to win a NEW 2023 IPAD PRO!! A shift most churches need to make is to understand what their Win really needs to be. The critical need to understand the church's marching orders and why we do what we do. How to FIGHT for a shift in culture. Form a framily-friends & family Identify and eliminate infections  Give kudos (never miss an opportunity to praise leaders) Hold high your core values Take up for your lay and paid leaders William Vanderbloemen says “culture wins with everyone… every time.” Keys to create a mindset or programmatic shift. Why regular and quality leadership meetings can be THE difference in your ministry. Ideas to move your people from consumers to co-laborers. 3 thoughts to help you make the above shifts including, seek to build onramps and not cul de sacs (credit: Aaron Hulse-First Fayetteville)

Dr. Allen Jackson currently serves as both a professor and pastor. For over half of his adult ministry life, he lived on the NOBTS campus and taught, researched, and spoke in the field of youth and collegiate ministry. Over the years, his interests expanded into other fields in Christian Education and Spiritual formation including leadership, administration, developmental psychology, risk management, and a heavy investment in the next generation. He has written extensively in adolescent, collegiate, leader training, and Bible teaching areas. Allen now serves as senior pastor at Dunwoody Baptist Church in Atlanta and has been a constant source of wisdom and friendship in my life for over two decades. Ray Sullivan III serves as the Discipleship Consultant in South Georgia for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Because conversion is the starting line, not the finish line, Ray is passionate about helping pastors and churches take their next step in developing intentional disciple-making pathways that lead converts to become fully trained disciples of Jesus. Before joining the GBMB, Ray served as lead pastor in churches throughout Kentucky, Florida, and Georgia. In the episode: Learn the events and experiences that influenced each generation and why that matters as we seek to reach and retain Millennials and Gen X. Millennials are the largest generation in the American workforce. Gen X is the first generation to experience the full effects of divorce and both parents working outside the home. Millennials are the first generation to be fully influenced by the cell phone becoming an everyday tool. Gen X accounted for the majority of start-ups pre-pandemic and has incurred more debt than any other generation. Millennials made popular long beards, flannel, and fedoras. Gen X, well, they got parachute pants! Millennials will experience the greatest transfer of wealth in American history so helping them learn to manage money is critical. Gen X are caring for aging parents and local churches can offer caregiver support. Note the pendulum swing regarding what becomes important from one generation to the next. Millennials want to be involved. Gen X are skeptical and need to see authenticity and moral integrity. Listen to learn best practices churches are utilizing to engage both.

Chris Trent is the Next Gen Catalyst on our Church Strengthening team. He served as a student pastor in churches in Texas and Georgia, most recently as student pastor at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church for 14 years. Jenni Carter is a Statewide Next Gen Consultant on our Church Strengthening team focusing on helping churches in Kids Ministry. She has served for over 10 years with the GBMB and is nationally recognized for her efforts in VBS training and for seeing thousands of children come to faith in Christ through VBS. Gen Z (born years 1997-2013) is easy to focus on the negative things society says about this generation. But on this broadcast, the team has a conversation on leveraging relational authority in the lives of this generation to see God using them in the local church. The team discusses:   Why relational authority with Gen Z is different than ever before. How can church leaders disciple a child if their parent can't (or won't) be the spiritual leader in the home? What's one of the first things we can do to begin the discipleship process for kids?

Let's face it. We gather people and organize events in our church to connect church families and guests. But when we create events, are we doing them with a next step in mind or how "great" the event can be?We invite JJ Yount on the broadcast alongside Adi Coe, who both serve at First Redeemer Church in Cumming, Georgia. As a seasoned student pastor and associate pastor, JJ shares some of his processes for helping events be next-step generators in our discipleship pipeline throughout his ministry and as the student pastor at First Redeemer. Adi serves on the team with JJ connecting women at First Redeemer and the community in discipleship. In this episode, the team talks about the following: How do we communicate and promote events? All events start with how the church views the events in general. What makes the engine of your church go, and how do you make it go faster? Are your events just for evangelism, or could they also do discipleship?  Who are you trying to bring in, and what action must they take? Do something exciting they haven't done before but know your strategy beforehand. Someone who has never been to church and doesn't have a relationship with the church, and it's hard not to see it from their view if they have been raised there.  It's like Marketing 101: Your internal language needs to be rethought and get out of the bubble of the church. The same event doesn't translate into different contexts, so know your demographic and the people you want to reach. Where do you start trying to make your church more diverse? Dig into what the community needs. People know when it's not genuine. God loves creativity! JJ visited Africa. Noticed that some of the negative impacts are when we go in and try to make churches in Africa like US churches, they lose the culture. We are not there to create a US church.  How can we figure out what culturally matters to that person so we can meet them where they are and meet their need? Every human wants to belong, but they belong differently, and you must also see this at your events. Train leaders to see this too. The win is the people who move on to the next stage (i.e., joining a small group, etc.). Pre- and Post-Checklist

Dr. Patrick Morley founded Morley Properties in 1973 and was one of Florida's 100 largest privately held companies. He's been the president or managing partner of over 59 different companies and has taught a bible study to over 5,000 men for decades on Friday mornings. He has written over 18 books. His book, Man in the Mirror has sold over 3,000,000 copies worldwide and selected as one of the most influential books of the 20th Century. Dr. Morley has a new book out entitled: A Man's Guide to Spiritual Disciplines. In this episode, Patrick and Scott explore: The status of men and spiritual growth in America. Evangelism without discipleship is cruel. Patrick Morley God tends to communicate in 4 ways. Through His works Through His Word Through the whisper of His Spirit Through the witness of believers The importance of drawing value from who I am not what I do. How to learn to engage with God's Word even if you do not like to read. Explore the deepest hunger of the human heart. How a pastor or leader can observe a Sabbath even when overwhelmed with work and family responsibilities. How the pastor can build men in the church through spiritual disciplines. A suggestion for the true measurement of men's ministry success.

Scott Sullivan and Carl Johnson interview Ken Adams, pastor at Crossroads Church Newnan, Georgia and the President of IMPACT Ministries. IMPACT Ministries has a full line of resources developed to help disciples make fully trained disciples.In this episode: Ken shares how IMPACT Ministries was birthed and how leaders all over the world are using the material. https://impactdisciples.com/ Ken shares how IMPACT resources may be different from others. Carl shares from experience that the material shows the heart of a disciple making pastor and helps the disciple learn to live a disciple making journey. We learn the purpose of curriculum and how it can be used effectively to guide one's journey. Solid biblical curriculum always points people to scripture as the source of faith and practice. Ken shares practical ideas how IMPACT curriculum is used at Crossroads Church. Scott shares that healthy churches multiply disciples, multiply groups, and multiply churches. And curriculum can be a guide to help you align the theology for a seamless biblical focus.

Where does evangelism end and discipleship begin? That is an initial question in a discipleship resource called This is the Gospel. This is the Gospel was created to help new believers and undiscipled believers understand their walk with Christ, become grounded as disciples, and gain a basic framework for the Christian life. This resource was developed by Dr. Paul Gotthardt, formerly the founding and lead pastor of Life Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. After 18 years of ministry in Las Vegas, he was called as the sixth senior pastor at Sherwood in June 2021. Paul is a native of Savannah, GA, and he and his wife have been married for 27 years. Father of two college age daughters: Shana and Kaylee. John Lagrange is the Director of This Is the Gospel at Sherwood Church, and he was previously the missions and groups pastor at Life Baptist Church in Las Vegas. He is originally from New York and married to Virginia. They have three kids and are exploring all South Georgia has to offer!In this episode: What drove Paul to create this curriculum? Why are relationships foundational in our walk with the Lord? John gives his testimony and talks about his involvement with This is The Gospel. How do we maintain the tension of the relationship with Christ, the Church, and the World? What does a basic framework for living a life of Christ look like?

Scott N. Smith is the Communications Director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board (GBMB). He was brought on the GBMB team in 2012 after he had built a digital consultancy for churches while traveling in full-time evangelism for 17 years. Scott's expertise in digital strategy and his broad engagement with hundreds of churches created an understanding of what churches need to use digital effectively. He recently did a series of Facebook live events in which his video on Artificial Intelligence went viral with high engagement.  PJ Dunn was between two Scotts (Scott Sullivan and Scott Smith) on this broadcast as the team dived into AI and applied it to discipleship that advances the Gospel: Scott Smith lays a definition of AI for the audience. Looking into the flaws of AI and how it takes on thinking processes. AI doesn't add to knowledge but helps humans do things quicker and more efficiently. Practical uses of AI with sermon and discipleship preparation. Somewhat like using a commentary. The medium is different, but the application is the same. You can give personal prompts to AI to determine the output. Is AI strengthening, or is it pushing you over to lethargy? See AI as a way to gain time back in your day and as an assistant. It can't replace personal study and connection to the Lord and Holy Spirit. AI can't duplicate uniqueness as you can.

In this episode you'll learn: Where preaching fits into a churches disciple making plan. Ideas to engage your church from the pulpit that leads to a next step in discipleship. How important it is to think and pray through the invitation, just like the rest of the message. That public proclamation (preaching) is not the only tool to make disciples. The art of engaging people and equipping them to serve. The digital footprint is now the first impression for many. Technology in church is a great avenue to involve young generations. The shift to hybrid worship (in-person and online) brings accountability in what we say and a stark reminder that many more people are watching than what you know. US is not #3 behind India and China in the number of people who profess to NOT be a Christian, Craig Etheridge in his book, BOLD. Outreach Magazine says that remote learning “threatens the $670 billion college-industrial complex. It also threatens the traditional approaches to discipleship.” Fight for relationship and the right to speak truth into another's life, not just to assert your authority.

Scott Sullivan and Ray Sullivan conduct an incredible interview with Scott & Dawn Smith. Scott is the Discipleship Pastor at Lakewood Baptist in Gainesville, GA. Dawn is the Connection Director at Lakewood. Together, Scott and Dawn lead a podcast called, Forevermarriage.org.  In this episode we learn: The creative ways that Scott Smith and Sully proposed to their brides! Why the Smiths began the Forevermarriage.org podcast. Key insights for couples to finish well. The critical need for leaders to have people upstream (mentors & walking buddies) and downstream (those you invest in). Powerful relationship building principles like, “listening to your spouse to understand them not to change them.” To study your spouse and discern whether they are a red solo cup or a crystal goblet. Hear an important meaning of “passion” that can change your perspective of your spouse. Effective ideas to affair proof your marriage. Lessons for young parents including: “you can raise your kids and spoil your grandkids or spoil your kids and raise your grandkids.” Incredible personal rhythms to help deepen intimacy and gospel impact like fighting through awkwardness to learn to pray together. The most powerful marriage advice that Sully has ever heard.

We know we need volunteers, but are we willing to slow down and create opportunities and pipelines that build a volunteer framework to get there? Volunteer expert Mac Lake is a pioneering influence in the church planting movement. Through his partnership with West Ridge Church, they created the LAUNCH Network. The North American Mission Board adopted the LAUNCH Church Planting system in 2015, and Mac served at NAMB through implementation. Mac founded the Multiply Group in 2019, which is committed to helping leaders and churches multiply. He is the author of four books, including The Multiplication Effect. Mac and his wife, Cindy, live in Charleston, SC, and have three grown children and four grandchildren. In this episode, you will learn: What Sarah McGlocklin has to do with reaching new volunteers Several current volunteer stats, including:1 in 4 Americans volunteers at least once in the past year, with women volunteering more than menresearch.lifeway.com/2018/07/26/data-paints-a-picture-of-volunteerism-across-the-nation As the percentage of the churches staffing budget increases, the percentage of people volunteering decreasestheunstuckgroup.com/measuring-church-health-how-many-people-will-serve Post pandemic still waiting for volunteers to return, with only 35% of Americas serving, down 44% from the pre-pandemic erachristianitytoday.com/news/2022/january/church-ministry-volunteer-gallup-survey-lifeway-wr.html  61% of people who volunteered in the last six months considered volunteering an act of generosity, and pastors disagreebarna.com/research/volunteering-giving Mac recaps his book, The Multiplication Effect - multiplygroup.org Ray talks first steps in addressing volunteer culture How discipleship is the backbone of your volunteer pipeline How to apply these principles to a church as small as 10 people What has it been like for Mac through and after the pandemic with the Multiply Group PJ's experience as a Serve Minister How to implement a “white glove” experience for new volunteers A word from Ray that it starts with us and discipleship to change how we reach and engage volunteers

Dr. Josh Smith is the Pastor of Prince Avenue Baptist in Bogart, GA. He is the author of Preaching for a Verdict, co-author of the Psalm 1-50 volume in the Christ-Centered Exposition Series, his latest work, The Titus Ten. Pastor Josh has ministered in more than 30 countries, worked with international students at Duke University, and served as a missionary in central Europe. FUN Facts: Josh has 4 daughters and wrote a book for MEN!! He was raised with a deep love for all things Elvis!https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/the-titus-ten-P005834421In this episode, Josh and Scott explore:Why men need to be grounded in the Word What is real success in local church men's ministry and why the need for consistent “movement” among our men? The need for men to take dominion over 4 domains: the flesh, home, work, and the church. How men who have never been discipled learn to disciple others Keys to get men serving in your local church Why do men seem so hesitant to volunteer in most churches? Where do small groups or Sunday School classes fit into effective men's ministry? Josh makes a bold claim that men cannot fulfill God's design for their lives without being involved in the local church. Why delayed gratification may be the missing link in many of our men's lives? And why YOLO may be the most important acronym for men in 2023!

In this episode PJ Dunn and Scott Sullivan interview: Dallas White, GBMB Young Leaders Network Director and pastor at The Grove Church in Ackworth GA. Dallas has revitalized The Grove Church in many aspects, including designing and updating intentional spaces on a limited budget. Kyle Clayton is the pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Cartersville, leading their church through revitalization and facility updates. They have intentionally improved areas in their building to help create a disciple-making culture by utilizing volunteers for design and construction. • How do environments, decorations, branding, and renovations communicate? • How to utilize church members to make updates and what parts should we reserve for professionals? • Key budget-saving tips and ideas when renovating? • Main issues why churches do not update spaces and environments and proven solutions & principles to consider? • Winston Churchill, “success is moving from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” • How can intentional environments stir people's affection for the Lord and help make disciples? • Six concepts to consider as you create intentional spaces:  Renovated people to match renovated spaces  Assess your current situation  Trust is the relational soil in which individual and organizational change happens  Start with a Holy Spirit breathed vision  Flexibility in implementation  Surround yourself with quality leaders  Build Momentum through member engagement  Make the process a fun and rewarding experience

Dr. Noe Garcia is the lead pastor at North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona. He and his wife have four children. Noe holds a Doctorate in Ministry and Executive Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a passionate disciple-maker. Noe is an adjunct professor at Gateway Seminary and a writer for Lifeway Voices. Have you ever thought your life is beyond repair? Perhaps you asked, "How could God possibly use my brokenness for good?" We all tend to look for purpose in our pain, and we are broken people living in a broken world. Depression, anxiety, hurting relationships, unmet expectations, and discouragement make us question God, wondering if there is even a purpose to be found. In his book, Repurposed, Noe Garcia journeys through Romans 8, which many have called "The Greatest Chapter in the Bible." Noe shares his life story, including abuse, depression, and overwhelming hopelessness. He reveals how God has redeemed him, repaired his brokenness, and restored him to new life. Get the Book -> https://a.co/2a0Qabm Noe, Scott, and PJ talk through how there is purpose in the pain of being broken and dependence on the Lord. From that brokenness, the Lord can work in our life and multiply our disciple-making efforts. Invite a friend and join us live for this authentic chat on making disciples in 2023!

We are excited to have GA Pastor, disciple-maker, and author of Grow Devotional Pathways Dr. Joey Rodgers in this curriculum review. Joey serves as the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Peachtree City, Georgia. He is a native of Atlanta and a graduate of Carson-Newman University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he earned his Master's and Doctorate degrees. Joey is married to Meg, the proud parents of four children. How to "Hit the Mark" in discipleship is something all churches must find to make disciples. Joey's devotional life discipleship guides are founded in Scripture and organized by topics. Learn more on this broadcast and at www.5marks.org

Join Ray & PJ as they co-host a talk on the first steps young adults (ages 15-25) take to own and grow in their disciple-making journey. We will have GA Baptist BCM leaders Beverly Skinner, Baptist Collegiate Ministry Director with the GBMB, David Williams, BCM Campus Minister at Valdosta State and previously FCA area director and pastor. On this broadcast, the team discusses: • The transformation from high school to college age to single adult regarding discipleship • Gen Z communicated in a recent study by Springtide Research that… o 52% have little to no trust in organized religion o 1/3 say a faith community is not important o 1 in 5 say they don't try to live out their beliefs  https://www.springtideresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/religion-and-young-people-overview.pdf • How David sees Gen Z interact regarding their faith and discipleship during his time pastoring and leading a successful local FCA • The way students age 15-20 change dramatically in asking questions regarding their faith • The importance of mentors to young adults • Beverly's "next step" that students take while at college • We need to know more about the person's life stage to relate to them first instead of building a program they need to join. • The difference for on-campus students, commuter students, and adults 18-22 not enrolled in college for disciple-making • The need for relationships at the center of any stage for young adults • Ray talks about his sons through this season of their life and the different ways the BCM supports students who don't even attend their events • Beverly breaks down the focus of the BCM and how they empower churches • David demonstrates the way local churches can partner with the BCM and the disciple-making process • PJ talks about when "adulting" happen and when someone identified as single • Adulting is primarily ownership of their life, surrendering their life to Jesus • The age for first-time marriage in America is 31 for men and 29 for women, churches that know their young adults are single will reach them

In This Episode: • Georgia Baptist Discipleship averages 16,000+ interactions monthly • Georgia Baptist Discipleship Facebook has grown from 60 to 3400+ members • Two ways to win FREE products and gift cards! • Implementing an intentional culture and an identifiable disciple-making plan are foundational (Broadcast: Brandon Guindon: Disciple-making Culture). • Why is strategic planning necessary for long-term church health (Broadcast: Leo Endel-Small Church Strategic Planning). • Keys to take advantage of significant energy & build attendance bumps (Broadcast: Levi Skipper- Riding the Waves of Attendance) • Challenge to train and empower lay leaders in 2023 (Broadcast: Steve Parr interview) • Ways to create a culture where everyone feels welcome and included (Broadcast: Mark Hearn interview). • Best practices: healthy churches need healthy pastors. Jim Putman shares how his pride almost upended his ministry. Jim also has the BEST quote of the year… the difference between wrestling and wrastling! • What leaders can do to reverse the trend of not being able to replace staff and fill ministry responsibilities. • Barna's study showed that 42% of pastors surveyed considered quitting, NOT just leaving but quitting. • 400-500 churches in GA without a pastor, and this is echoed around the nation • Virtual Reality discipleship. An example of leaders thinking beyond borders to thrive in the future church (Broadcast: Mike Wynn & team, PJ Dunn, Carl Johnson, Virtual Reality Discipleship) Lightning Round: • Best book read in 2022, in addition to the Bible? • Essential leadership qualities needed to win in the future church? • What was the top struggle you noticed in 2022 among pastors/staff? • Least talked about topic in discipleship that should be a headline? • Most creative solution and the problem it solved? *Listing with links to all topics and guests: Emotional Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdRpsYWku5g Ride the Waves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYksbhH_8oU Health in Disciple-Making: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6mqBQ4NDVA Disciple-Making Culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGH54bjKFQk Current Church Trends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYq4_rYJDVI Small Church Strategic Planning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEM4-Z_x5aE Calling Out the Called: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d07y1JF1A8 VR Discipleship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxo4RPWYmyE

Randy Gravitt is an author, speaker, and executive coach who encourages leaders to reach their potential. In 2014 Randy founded INTEGREAT Leadership where he currently serves as the CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer), leading a team of coaches and consultants who work with high-performance leaders and organizations all over the world. Randy works with companies like Chick-fil-A, Grand Hyatt, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Kroger, and the Winshape Foundation. He has also served as one of the leadership coaches for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Buffalo Bills. Randy's books include Finding Your Way and Unstuck. Both titles are aimed at helping leaders discover their passion and live fully engaged lives. Randy also has a daily podcast, Chasing Greatness, aimed at helping leaders win at work, win at home, and win at life. In this episode Randy and Scott discuss: • FUN FACT: a girl dad with a wife and four daughters; he cries the most at movies!! • “Silence does not make it on your calendar by accident” • How one's commitment to be quiet is connected to their ability to think deeply • That having a “failing forward” mindset can help a leader turn a failure into a launchpad instead of a landing pad • Leaders need courage to thrive and should acknowledge their fear, embrace the risk, and initiate action. • Reasons why many leaders stall out in the initiate phase of leading • Why accepting responsibility is a key leadership trait • Where curiosity fits in to the “leading self” discussion and how can we fan that flame in leaders around us • That one's willingness to learn is attached to their ability to grow • Scott shares the hardest “leading self” question that the Lord has posed to him since moving to Georgia three years ago

1. Seth continues his review of Matthew 16 examining the identity of Jesus.2. No Question.3. Seth discusses the Georgia Baptists environment.

Join our panel discussion on ways Virtual Reality (VR) can drive discipleship. Our team will introduce churches to meaningful applications of VR in the local church and online. Joining us on this broadcast are: • Dr. PJ Dunn: Not so closet nerd and NW and NE GA Baptist Discipleship Consultant • Carl Johnson: WC Discipleship consultant and discipleship pastor at Peace Baptist Church • Mike Wynn: Adults pastor at North Star Church in Kennesaw and started VR outreach over 2 years ago • Cole Ragsdale: Reach pastor at North Star Church in Kennesaw and lead on VR outreach and discipleship • Tim Steele: Cross Waves Church founding pastor a home church model church, and VR explorer • Justin Nava: Cross Waves Church communications director and navigating VR relationships In this conversation, we will address: • Justin talks about how the Metaverse is the new Corinth • In disciple-making, relationships always matter, and VR is no different • PJ highlights some common pushbacks regarding VR/Online engagement • Culture has to drive acceptance of a VR strategy, not the strategy • Mike & Cole share that North Star's interest in VR in evangelism • Cole breaks down how gatherings in VR can be worship, discipleship, and prayer • Using VR as a training tool to share the Gospel! • Tim & Justin share a one-to-one conversation approach to Cross Wave's focus on VR • The conversation first focuses on meeting people and connecting (walking the streets) • Justin discusses moving conversations on the "street" into spiritual life change • Tim demonstrates how Avatars create space for people to open up and be themselves and that there is no difference between the VR realm or our in-person relationships • Carl breaks down the theological challenges VR presents to the church • All guest share one way to have relational engagement online to focus on discipleship • PJ's reminder that relationships always matter regardless of what realm or reality you are in • We all have different cultures and know your people well enough to understand how to apply this type of technology to advance the Gospel

Shane Pruitt serves as the National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). He has been in ministry for over 20 years as a denominational leader, church planter, lead pastor, and student pastor. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies, and a Master's Degree in History. Shane is also a traveling communicator speaking to over a hundred thousand people about the good news of Jesus Christ. Shane is also the author of a popular blog, which has over 3 million views. His articles have been picked up by RELEVANT, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, The Gospel Coalition, CrossWalk, Church Leaders, The Baptist Press, FaithIt, HelloChristian, and many others. Shane and his wife, Kasi, were featured as ABC's Nightly News “Persons of the Week” in August 2017. Shane has written two books 9 Common Lies Christians Believe: And Why God's Truth Is Infinitely Better, and Calling Out the Called: Discipling those Called to Ministry Leadership (Release date – November, 2022). Both are available everywhere books are sold. He is also the host of the podcast, Next Gen on Mission (available on podcast platforms), and the YouTube Channel – GenSend. In this episode we discuss: • The “Paralyzed Church” • Scott declares that UGA will beat BAMA in national title game • “We're shuffling shepherds around, but not raising any up” • The nation-wide struggle of mass ministry openings and the “pool is dry” • The 3 distinct “callings” in scripture • What's the difference between everyone's call and a specific call to vocational ministry? • Reasons we are seeing a decline and obstacles for leaders to call out the called • The beautiful tension of the pastor transferring his heart for calling out the called and Holy Spirit driven call to ministry • 5 things leaders can do to make calling out the called a priority

Dr. Kevin Williams has been the pastor of First Baptist Church Villa Rica, Georgia for the past nine years. He is finishing his second term as President of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Dr. Williams was one of the few individuals to receive the ARCOM badge which for the ARMY is the peacetime version of the Bronze Star Medal to recognize outstanding performance. Kevin has a passion for world-wide missions and evangelism. Fun Fact: Kevin hung upside down from a helicopter in Tokyo, Japan. He was married in the US Embassy in Japan, but he and his wife are actually from my same hometown! In today's episode: • Kevin shares that the greatest form of discipleship is grabbing someone by the hand and showing them how to do it. • Kevin shares how to connect a local church's mission efforts to the command to make disciples not just make converts. • The benefits for members going on mission out of state as well as in the ministry area where you serve. • “One's capacity to lead publicly is based on their commitment to grow personally.” • Kevin shares lessons learned to lead an historic existing church to make shifts that increase gospel impact, build momentum, and won't get you fired. • Senior Adults can be the “canary in the coal mine” giving indication of whether the atmosphere in the church is toxic or life giving. • Scott shares that “healthy leaders look more like an iceberg than an icicle”. • Kevin talks about navigating the rough days when people push back on your attempts to move forward. • How to create an atmosphere where everyone feels an open door with you to share their heart but still respects your authority. • The value of leading your church to give to the Cooperative Program even when you do not agree with everyone. • If Satan is not bothering you, then you're probably not bothering him. • Two practices of effective leaders that create and sustain momentum: focus on solutions and learn to CEO your situation!

Join us this Thursday 3PM: Buck Burch, pastored in middle Georgia for several years, then Buck served as IMB missionary in Russia for 13 years. He is now in his 12th year with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board serving as Missions Catalyst where he leads his team to connect Georgia Baptist churches with missions efforts locally and globally. He is currently completing his doctorate at Liberty University. Jimmy Baughcum, is the Executive Director for the Atlanta Metro Baptist Association and before taking the position with Metro Atlanta, he was a Church Planting Consultant for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board for 5.5 years. He worked with international students and evangelism at First Baptist Church New Orleans. Jimmy pastored and planted churches in Georgia, served with Injoy Stewardship Services (a John Maxwell company). Dr. Baughcum is pursuing a 2nd doctorate (Ph.D.) in North American Missiology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In this episode hear: -How Jimmy broke his ELBOW pulling off his socks off. -That Buck is an expert making pecan log rolls and can curse you in Russian. -Get entered to win $75 by commenting and sharing broadcast. -How Jimmy is leading his churches to reach every neighborhood (246) in Atlanta. -Sully shares two things we all need a greater measure of. -Jimmy talks about what to do with people who do not look, act, believe, or smell like us. -How to strategically map out your ministry area. -How to calendar what you'll do, with whom, and how. -Where to start if you want to reach your neighborhood. -That “action without a tract will lack traction!” -How even a busy pastor can lead and launch his people to live missionally. -Tools to consider if you want to maximize your efforts. -The Acts 1:8 strategy for sustained missional living efforts. -That “we've tried that before and it'll never work” is the song of the defeated and may speak to a leader's lack of faith in God. -Hear three things great leaders do.

In this episode with Dr. Gevan Spinney: • Gevan has pastored at FBC Haughton, Louisiana since 2002. Dr. Spinney was saved, called to preach, ordained, and married Andrea at FBCH. Gevan has served as LBC President, is on the board of trustees at NAMB, has an earned doctorate, and an honorary doctorate for his work guiding LA Baptists to respond and rebuild during hurricane Katrina. • Fun Fact: Gevan is a co-host of “The Way It Was” hunting show on the Pursuit channel with legends like Hank Parker. • Crazy story of FBC Haughton where Sully and Dr. Spinney served. • Strangest thing Dr. Spinney ever attempted. • Lessons learned while implementing a NEW disciple-making strategy in a 130-year-old church. • Scott and Gevan share leadership lessons that help them survive a sexual predator experience in their church. • A new member class and strategy that set the culture for God-sized growth and are now averaging more people and budget coming out the pandemic! • Keys to leading as a disciple-maker when trouble arises. o Ex: Don't write checks with your mouth that your feet cannot back up. • Wisdom for leaders wanting to expand their platform and increase disciple-making impact. • 2 crazy cool ministry ideas First Haughton is doing to make disciples.

Smaller church pastors, this broadcast is to help you be a strategic planning hero! For decades Dr. Leo Endel has been helping churches to plan well. He is the Executive Director at Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention based in Rochester, Minnesota and Pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Madison, WI. He has a heart for helping small churches be strategic planners for missional impact. His book Where Do We Go from Here? is a strategic planning guide for smaller churches. In the three-hour meeting that Dr. Endel teaches in his book, every pastor can be a strategic planner in their church. In this broadcast, Scott, PJ, and Dr. Endel discuss: • Leo's fishing trip of a lifetime is a fishy story • PJ's 101 ways to cook mac n cheese • Understanding obstacles that keep your church from planning o "We are doing fine." o "We do not have the time." o "We've been there, done that, and it didn't work." o "Fear of conflict." o "Not operating in a way that recognizes barriers to growth based on church attendance." • Addressing each obstacle and why pastors don't plan • The difference between 75, 125, and 200 in attendance and planning • Getting to the point of change for planning • Drag a highlighter over some ideas to lead a planning meeting • Who to have on a planning team • How lay leaders, deacons, and key volunteers help a pastor be strategic in planning • Celebrating history while looking forward in planning

Dr. Wunch is the Mallory Baptist Associational Missionary and host of Wunchtime (wunchtime.com), a podcast specifically for the bi-vocational pastor to thrive in ministry. Dr. Wunch has recently released a book “Proclaiming the Kingdom of God, " which focuses on helping church members overcome barriers to understanding the Kingdom of God. Discipleship consultants Dr. PJ Dunn and Ray Sullivan also join in on this discussion and dive into why this issue matters for disciple-making. In this broadcast, the team discusses: • Jesus talked about the Kingdom more than any other topic in the NT • Hans talks about why he chooses to focus on this topic • Ray spells out the difference between kingdom rain and Kingdom Reign • Look at how the Kingdom issue has been misunderstood for years • Practical ways to incorporate Kingdom theology all year in your sermon prep • A Kingdom mindset impacts the ways disciple-making • How the heart of the Kingdom connects to a disciple-making process

Dr. Steve Parr is the Executive Director of the Gwinnett Metro Baptist Network and former Vice President of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Dr. Parr is a nationally known author: The Coffee Shop that Changed a Church, Why They Stay: Helping Parents and Church Leaders Make Investments That Keep Children and Teens Connected to the Church for a Lifetime, and more. Steve is a leading voice in leadership development, Sunday School, and Groups Ministry. Fun Fact: Steve has been in a Fantasy Football league for 32 years which is older than 99% of the 100 million people who will play Fantasy Football this Fall! Matthew Gibbs is the Adult Discipleship and Evangelism Pastor at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins and one of our Georgia Baptist Discipleship Consultants. He is one of the most high-capacity leaders in Georgia. Matthew has implemented and maintained a highly effective discipleship strategy at Second Baptist Church. Fun Fact: Matthew is a professional level model airplane builder. In this episode you'll learn: • Why it is important to surround yourself with people who “know” Learning Communities • Recruiting volunteers is getting more difficult and learn keys to recruit effective volunteers that stay • Giving lay leaders a vision worth giving their life to is critical • Unmet expectations are one of the great barriers to retaining volunteers • Sully shares a key leadership principle: it's ok to fail but it is NOT ok to be mediocre • Dr. Parr shares why church hopping is at an all-time high • Matthew talks about keys to understanding a consumer mentality in church members and how to shift that mindset • Consider an “exit interview” for church members who leave the church if you genuinely want to know why people leave • Sully shares a Jesus style model that moves people away from consumerism and toward Christ-likeness from a book he recently read • The SPARK Conference is HERE—August! 5 in person locations in Georgia and a nation-wide digital premiere on August 25. www.thesparkconference.com, register today for an in-person event and/or the digital premiere!! • Training is biblical and necessary for growing churches: train in drips, schedule gatherings of leaders 3-4 times a year, train the trainable, and more • We must move people from being recipients of the church's mission to being responsible for the church's mission • Current trends or future trends that will greatly impact our Sunday School and Small Group ministries

A disciple-making culture has to have a Biblical understanding of Love at its foundation. This broadcast features two of the best speakers on this issue in the nation, Brandon Guindon and our own PJ Dunn. Brandon has led churches worldwide to become healthy and effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ. He was ordained at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, ID and planted Real Life Ministries Texas in 2016. He has authored and co-authored several publications on biblical discipleship, including Disciple-Making Culture, Stay the Course, and the Real Life Discipleship Training Manual. In this broadcast, the team talks about: • Scott shares at the end the most significant lesson he has ever learned as a disciple and dad • We find out Brandon is an avid bowhunter and PJ played the sousaphone in High School! • PJ starts the discussion by recapping Brandon's book, Disciple Making Culture • Brandon shares why love is the core of all disciple-making efforts • Look at why it is so hard to love God and love others • How the GA Baptist Disciple team used Brandon's book as an equipping tool • Scott's new Parti Yorkie shows him a core discipleship principle • Unpack "A loving culture does not require us to solve everyone's problems." • We listen to people with the intent to respond but we need to listen to understand them. • 3 thoughts on "Strategy won't make a lasting impact if disciple-making is not who we are" • Ask yourself the tricky question, "Am I living out the Great Commission?". • "Creating a disciple-making culture requires careful pruning" How do pastors and disciple-makers do that? • How can disciple-makers stay the course in disciple-making? • Understand, "what is the win?" that helps you understand what you are pruning. • PJ pointed out that we have to measure to scripture and not programs. • Brandon and PJ advise leaders on where to start to make this shift to Great Commission disciples

Sunday School or Small Groups? In this broadcast, PJ discusses how to create and lead healthy communities of disciple-makers in our churches with Steve Gladen and Dr. Randy Stone. Regardless of your strategy to make disciples, they need to have a purpose! We will look at the top 3 recurring issues seen in creating and sustaining small groups in the local church as well. Steve Gladen has served as the small group pastor at Saddleback Church since 1998. He oversees the strategic launch and spiritual development of over 7,000 adult small groups. Steve has authored several books, including "Small groups with purpose" and "Leading small groups with purpose. In addition to being an elder at Saddleback, he travels around the world consulting and encouraging leaders. You can connect with Steve by going to www.smallgroups.net. Dr. Stone is a lifelong strategic discipleship guru skilled in church consulting, and team building and has a Ph.D. focused in Christian Education from NOBTS. He currently serves as a professor at NOBTS and leader of Strategic Church Solutions. He has served in churches from 100 to 5,000 in multicultural contexts, and you can connect with him further at www.strategicchurchsolutions.com. In this episode, the panel talks about: • What do you do in a small group, and how is it different than a Sunday School group? • Randy talks about from the classroom what pastors and second chair leaders see as the weakest area of focus for small groups • Steve unpacks how small groups worship together and how they need to be balanced in their experience • How do we keep groups sustainable and focused regardless of church size? • Steve gives to leaders looking to expand their small group's impact • Randy discusses ways to assess the health of their small groups in their context • Dive deeper into the tools used to evaluate group health • The top 3 recurring issues seen in creating and sustaining small groups in the local church • Are small groups an either/or or both/and solution for churches finding a way grow discipleship?

Scott and PJ talk with Dr. Clay Scroggins about leveraging influence in your current role to see change and even how to do it when you have a challenging situation. This transparent conversation with Clay Scroggins is a must for second-chair leaders and pastors alike! Clay Scroggins graduated as an industrial engineer from GA Tech and has spent the last 20 years in the local church and can play Babylon by David Gray on guitar. His doctoral work was on "creating online environments for personal growth," and he speaks, writes, and creates resources full-time for emerging leaders. In this broadcast: • 1/3 of workers feel "engaged and inspired" by their leaders • 3 out of 4 pastors since 2020 report severe levels of stress • 40% have an intense conflict with a church member at least once a month • Scott talks with Clay about how do leaders lead when they don't have authority • Do you have to be the boss in order to lead? • Scott discusses there's something deeper and more profound than just being the leader • When do we challenge authority and still maintain relationships? • If you're not challenging, you're not leading whether you're in charge or not • How Shane, an operator of a Chick-fil-A in Athens starting to make milkshakes. He challenged his bosses and was strategic on how he promoted it. • Clay reminds us you can always lead yourself and have the ability to govern yourself • We have to choose positivity, the attitude you bring is more important than your ideas, education, etc. • Think critically but have to be careful to not be critical • Reject passivity to be in charge • Clay shares one of the reasons he chose to resign • Unpack "Great leaders lead like they are not in charge even though they are in charge" for our Bivocational and pastors engaged with our broadcast today. • You need to learn how to lead through influence, relationships, etc. • PJ shares about how the phrase "because I said so" in a staff meeting didn't work out so well • Clay: everyone wants respect- a better strategy of wanting respect is to be a respectable person • One of his great failures is thinking he understands the whole situation. "Maybe someone just stepped in some poop!" • Clay talks about his new book and how we need to develop into the kind of leaders that the future is demanding

Dr. Wright is an author, national speaker and one of the most respected leaders in Southern Baptist life. He served as senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia for 38 years. He served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention from June 2010 to June 2012. Bryant founded Right From the Heart Ministries, radio program reaching thousands of people world-wide. And currently serves as President of Send Relief for IMB. Chris Trent, served as student pastor in churches in Texas and Georgia, most recently as student pastor at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church for the past 14 years. Chris is an author, Consider This: A Youth Minister's Guide to Longevity. Chris is the NEXT GEN Catalyst on our Church Strengthening team, an illusionist and master of all things Disney. Bryant shares • the keys to success over his four decades of ministry and rhythms that can help all leaders • wisdom from his new book Succession for all leaders looking to retire or leave a ministry well • the importance of a sabbath and guidance on asking your church for a sabbatical • gives specific details on guardrails he had/has in his life to help him stay morally faithful • why it is imperative for a pastor to build relationships with unbelievers in the community • why we are not seeing more young people surrender to ministry and what leaders can do Chris shares • keys to success from the second chair leader • there was never any confusion about what mattered most at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church • mission clarity precedes mission success • new initiative “called to ministry” initiative at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board in the Next Gen ministry to raise awareness and call out the called • what he hopes to know for when his ministry is completed Scott shares • people don't walk in straight lines unless they are focused on a target. If a person is dropped off in the desert and they have to walk their way out, they will almost certainly walk in circles (leg length discrepancy). • people remember a little of what you say and a lot of how you make them feel • challenges leaders to consider: when the tide rises, all the boats in the bay rise with it, so lead well and don't give up

In this episode, Dr. Hunt, Dr. Smith, and Dr. Sullivan discuss: • Trends in local church life post covid. • A key question to gauge the current health of your church is, "What percentage of your groups ministry is attending?". • Two big changes in groups ministry that every church should consider. • The importance of habit and how long it takes to develop an impactful rhythm. • The future of Sunday School in America. • What is broken about Sunday School and was it always like that? • Incredible key components of a successful growing groups ministry. • What are the biggest challenges facing church staff that have the responsibility of leading Groups Ministry? • Recruiting volunteers, training leaders, and starting new groups. • Josh & Tim talk about Sunday School University as a resource. • Scott shares what it means to be a 2nd & 3rd Mile Christian.

PJ was waiting at the end of the water ride for his friends he had invited that day to join them. He was unable to ride it due to weight restrictions. Suddenly he realized that food had made a wedge between him and disciple-making. The time waiting for the ride is where disciple-making happens, and he was sidelined. More on PJ's story here --> https://gabaptist.org/food-physical-wellness/ PJ talks about health in disciple-making with Dr. Judi Jackson and Dr. Marcus Glass on this broadcast. Dr. Judi Jackson has been connected with NOBTS for over three decades. She has a Ph.D. in Christian Education and has taught as an adjunct professor since 1995. One of her primary classes on the main campus was "Total Wellness and The Minister." Moving with her husband Allen to Atlanta six years ago, Georgia, Dr. Jackson currently serves at the NOBTS extension center in Atlanta as Student Services Director. Dr. Marcus Glass earned a doctorate from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and is an adjunct professor with Beulah Heights University at their extension center in Albany, GA. He is the lead pastor at New Seasons Baptist Church in Albany, GA. This is a sensitive issue and hard to discuss. Here are some areas the team discusses today: • PJ shares data on the physical health of disciple-makers in the church o Nearly half of pastors feel they don't get enough sleep o 4 out of 10 have high blood pressure o 1 out of 10 have had a cardiac event o 31% have high cholesterol • Dr. Judi talks about how we define "health" o Physical, Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, Social, Environmental • Dr. Glass is a workout machine! But that doesn't mean a Bivocational pastor, full-time with the fire department, and full-time husband and father comes naturally or easily! • PJ shares his journey of weight loss and not using food as a counselor • How can our overall health affect our ability to make disciples? • For many in the past years, mental health has been challenging; where do disciple-makers go to find help? • Where does a person start that is looking to improve their health?

In this episode: Dr. Ernest Easley earned a bachelor's degree from Dallas Baptist University, master's from SWBTS, and doctoral degree from Luther Rice. Ernest served over 31 years as senior pastor and his impact among Southern Baptists is immeasurable. His voice of reason and wisdom brought confidence and peace helping to make decisions that strengthened the Southern Baptist Convention. Ernest was the first professor of Evangelism in school history at Union University in Jackson, TN and is now the teaching pastor at FBC Cleveland where his son Jordan pastors. Jordan Easley is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Cleveland, TN after serving with some of the country's most influential ministries including Long Hollow Baptist Church (David Landrith), Second Baptist Houston (Ed Young), First Baptist Atlanta (Charles Stanley) and Prestonwood Baptist Church (Jack Graham). He earned his bachelor's degree at Dallas Baptist University and is concluding his master's degree at Union University. He is an author, national speaker, and most recently he co-authored Resuscitating Evangelism with Earnest Easley. Ernest shares: • what it is like now serving alongside his son and pastor, Jordan • on the national level there is a great concern about the decline of evangelism across the SBC (40+ years) • when the decline of evangelism and baptism began • the destructive temptation of tying your identity as a leader to what you do rather than who you are in Christ • talks about the critical role of the Holy Spirit in making disciples through the local church • fleshes out the principle of Strategy + Synergy + Systematic=Success • speaks a word to bi-vocational pastors Jordan shares: • talks about sharing the gospel with OJ Simpson in an airport • about the importance of having wisdom around you when making decisions • Talks about their new book Resuscitating Evangelism and how evangelism and discipleship are necessary • explains the concept of giving “an anemic gospel presentation” from the book • talks about the need for leaders being able to close the sermon • unpacks the discipleship strategy at First Cleveland Scott shares: • how FBC Haughton added 1800 members in 10 years and why they failed to grow in years 6-10. • that the older he gets the better he was • that unhealthy churches with a lack of disciple making presence is the unpaid bill of the 20th century • how healthy churches multiply disciples, groups, and churches

In this episode: Dr. Levi Skipper is the Church Strengthening Strategist here at GBMB. He earned a Doctorate degree at Luther Rice, a master's from NOBTS, and Shorter University in GA. Levi served as pastor for over two decades in several churches, most recently at Concord Baptist in NE, GA. He saw baptisms grow 122% and SS grew 115% during his tenure. He is the author of "Resolved" and "Spiritual Avalanche" as well as "Marriage in the Red." Levi is a national speaker and a "has been athlete," not to mention having the best hair at GBMB! Dr. Skipper spent two years between his 1st and 2nd pastorate in Africa, establishing pastor training schools where he trained over 300 leaders in Southern Ethiopia. In this episode, you'll find: • One of the most significant challenges for local church pastors and keys to solve it • Why equipping must accompany the announcement of needs to a congregation • Levi identifies three naturally occurring attendance bumps that he calls "waves." • Scott and Levi talk about the necessity of long-range planning and goal-setting for pastors/leaders • Levi has a particular word of encouragement for bi-vocational and multi-vocational leaders • Dr. Skipper shares a new resource called "Ride the Waves" and helps leaders understand how to use the resource to maximize impact during these waves. • https://www.ridethewaves.church/start • Levi explains how the Ride the Waves resource can help churches go "next level." • Scott shares that God is NOT opposed to effort, but He is opposed to earning. He then gives three concepts to help leaders grow as a disciple leader.

The Master Plan of Evangelism: Robert Colemanhttps://smile.amazon.com/Master-Plan-Evangelism-Robert-Coleman/dp/0800788087/ref=sr_1_1?crid=367ZA0RTPJPC1&keywords=master+plan+of+evangelism&qid=1647530179&sprefix=master+plan%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-1The Spirit of the Disciplines: Dallas Willardhttps://smile.amazon.com/Spirit-Disciplines-Understanding-Changes-Lives/dp/0060694424/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1PCI8Y3BVCC3J&keywords=dallas+willard&qid=1647530229&sprefix=dallas+willard%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-4Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Discipleshiphttps://smile.amazon.com/Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Cost-Discipleship-Paperback/dp/B01FOD778U/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+cost+of+discipleship+by+dietrich+bonhoeffer&qid=1647530275&sprefix=the+cost+of+di%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-2Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spyhttps://smile.amazon.com/Bonhoeffer-Pastor-Martyr-Prophet-Spy/dp/1400224640/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1647530347&sr=8-4The Discipleship Gospel: Bill Hullhttps://smile.amazon.com/Discipleship-Gospel-Jesus-Preached-We-Follow/dp/0998922609/ref=sr_1_1?crid=32YIIFBZH9OA2&keywords=the+discipleship+gospel&qid=1647530548&sprefix=the+discipleship+%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1Conversion and Discipleship: Bill Hullhttps://smile.amazon.com/Conversion-Discipleship-Cant-without-Other/dp/0310520096/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=conversion+and+discipleship+by+bill+hull&qid=1647530723&sprefix=converson+and%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1No Longer A Bystander: https://smile.amazon.com/No-Longer-Bystander-Radical-Christianity/dp/1956723005/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=no+longer+a+bystander+bill+hull&qid=1647530821&sprefix=no+longer+a+by%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-1

In this episode:JIM ALLEN is the Senior Vice President for the World Champion Atlanta Braves!! He has served in the Braves organization over 31 years. Jim has completed an ironman, six marathons, and in addition to all his executive duties with the Braves organization, he serves as an elder at Perimeter Church. JAY MCSWAIN, is the President and Founder of PLACE Ministries. He is an author and national speaker. Jay has served in churches with membership of 10 to over 9,000 and is known widely as an expert in local church assimilation. Jay currently serves as Pastor of Discipleship at First Redeemer Church in Cumming, GA. He played on the 1980 UGA national championship football team and currently serves the Braves organization as chaplain for the World Champion Atlanta Braves.Jim shares behind the scenes experience of winning the World Series in 1995 and 2021 and essentials for building a correct culture to achieve and sustain success.Scott relays that unhealthy churches with a lack of disciple making presence are the unpaid bill of the 20th century.Jay talks about leaving a family business that was one of the largest and most lucrative construction companies in the nation to pursue ministry. Scott shares about his dad starting a business in the oil and gas industry, nearly going bankrupt, then growing it to 27+ employees before selling in 2019 and the effect it had on him as a disciple of Jesus. Jim and Jay share how they integrate Faith and the Gospel in a secular marketplace that is rarely friendly to a Christian's world view.Jay talks about how God used a family tragedy to strengthen his faith and give him a marketplace ministry mindset.Jim talks about being part of a men's group at Perimeter Church and how he personally is investing in others in the Braves organization.Jay talks about leading a former Braves pitcher to Christ and a year later that player died.Jim shares keys to keeping Jesus first from watch professional players manage family, faith, and professional life.Scott shares the difference between influence and impact. “Influence is my capacity to affect others and impact is the fruit of my influence.”Jay gives guidance for pastors who want increase gospel impact through the marketplace ministry.Scott shares that “the greatest gospel force on the planet is not the preacher in the pulpit, it's the lay person in the pew who is equipped to serve.”

In this episode Interview with Dr. Dann Spader, founder of Sonlife Ministries and currently serves as President of Global Youth Initiative, an alliance of organizations in 95 countries committed to “equipping young leaders for movements of multiplication.” He's trained 750,000+ people in 90+ countries to make disciples through organizations he has led. He is national speaker and author of 4 Chair Discipling, Walk Like Jesus, Live Like Jesus and co-author of Growing a Healthy Church and The Everyday Commission, among other titles. • Find out why Dann spells his name with two n's “nn” and what it's like growing up with 15 siblings! • Dr. Spader talks key elements of a healthy church and why many churches fail; trying to put new wine in an old wineskin • Dann talks about the importance of changing values before you change structure • Spader shares the need for a movement not more programs and the critical difference • He gives an overview of the 4 Chairs of Discipling o Come and see (the lost-John 1:39) o Come follow me (the believer-John 1:43) o Become fishers of men (the worker-Matthew 4:19) o Go and bear fruit (disciplemaker-John 15:16) • One must fall in love with real Jesus not a version of Jesus based on what you get from Him • There is a “Yes” to be put on the table at every level of a believer's walk with Christ • Scott talks about moving people from being the recipient of the church's mission to being responsible for the mission • Dann dives deeper into John 15 and the blessing of being pruned. Ouch! • Scott and Dann talk about key differences between discipleship in America with limited results and disciplemaking movements happening across the globe

We are excited to share with you a discussion with Drew Hyun, Church Planter and Pastor of Hope Church Midtown, as well as the founding pastor of Hope Church NYC, a family of diverse churches in New York City, and co-founder of the New City Network, a network of urban churches. Drew has spoken extensively on the emotional health of the disciple maker. While serving at New Life Fellowship Church in Queens, NY, Drew was mentored by Pete Scazzero, pastor and author of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship: Moving from Shallow Christianity to Deep Transformation. Hear Drew and Ray discuss… • What is emotionally healthy discipleship? • What does it mean to follow Jesus well? • What's wrong with Western Christianity's measure of success? How should a healthy disciple-maker measure success? • How does our history and family of origin affect our emotional health? What does Drew mean by “Jesus may be in your heart, but Grandpa is still in your bones.” • What are some practical steps for pastors and leaders to be (and remain) an emotionally healthy disciple?

In our special Christmas episode, Josiah Molton returns! Hear our stories as Josiah talks about his time so far in Minnesota and as we recant some of our favorite moments from our time at Georgia Baptist! Thank you so much for listening and enjoy!  Follow us on Instagram: @aroundtheglobe | @rett15 | @edotnixon | @jdotmolton  Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cabintherapy/support --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cabintherapy/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cabintherapy/support