Strength for Today's Host Bill Holdridge interviews his son Nate, the senior pastor of Calvary Monterey on the Monterey Peninsula in California. Nate was able to take a two month sabbatical after 20 years of ministry in the church, and he shares some of what he learned and observed from his time away with his family. This will bless and encourage the senior pastor to make room for sabbath, and some of the valid and important reasons to do it.

Program host Bill Holdridge interviews Pastor Gillett Doggett on the subjects of the senior pastor's retirement, care for his widow should the pastor go home to be with the Lord, and adequately preparing for a church transition when and if it gets to be that time. This program will be helpful for church boards of directors, elder boards, deacon boards, and finance and budget committees. The senior/lead pastor may consider making this show available to his leadership team(s). Gillett Doggett has served the Lord for many years, and is like a modern day Caleb. This octogenarian has a great passion for the care of pastoral widows, and for the pastor and his family.

Tim Brown has been in pastoral ministry since 1973, and a senior pastor since 1985. He is widely regarded as a very wise man, full of sage advice and interesting insights on matters of theology and church life. In episode 019, Tim shares his thoughts on the subject of the pastoral ministry's greatest challenge. His conclusions may surprise you. But they most definitely will challenge and encourage any senior pastor, or anyone in ministry for that matter. Tim argues that the greatest challenge in ministry is not the need to be pure, but rather the need to remain ____________. Tune in and see if you agree.

The Bible is replete with examples of men and women who were clearly called by the Lord unto something He would work through them to do. Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Paul, Timothy, etc. are a few of many such examples. Calling is one thing. Living out one's calling is another thing altogether. Samson failed because rather than live out his calling, he repeatedly decided to live life on his own fleshly terms. If we are to hit the bullseye in life, we must not only know our calling, but use it as the baseline and chief decider concerning how we're going to fulfill it. Calling provides direction, courage, authority, and leadership direction. This is why the pastor-teacher must meditate upon his calling into the office of pastor-teacher, and then follow it. The pastor-teacher probably ought to think on these things every day. And then, calculate what he says "yes" to, and what he says "no" to, accordingly. Podcast 125 is part one of two episodes on this all important subject. We hope it's encouraging to you who shepherd God's people.

You probably need a sabbatical from your duties as a pastor and don't even realize it. A time of extended rest from the everyday grind of 24/7 ministry is many times what Christ asks us to do so we may serve His Church effectively. Karl Vaters interviews Sean Nemecek...and this conversation will give the overworked, trapped pastor an answer to his vocational dilemma.

You've heard about this idea, and you've been thinking about it. There are roadblocks to consider, and you're reviewing some of them in your own mind. Yet just the hope of an extended restorative time away charges your batteries. How can the obstacles to actually doing this be overcome? What about your church's leadership, how will they ever get on board? Why not just take an extra week of vacation? In this podcast, Pastor John Cowan of Poimen Ministries responds to these questions with Program Host Bill Holdridge. May the Lord bless you as you live in, and enter into His rest!

Many pastors do not consider the idea of taking an extended time away from their normal pastoral duties, to be renewed and strengthened personally and in ministry. Yet at the same time we hear about how many pastors are leaving the ministry these days ... many of which admit to experiencing burnout, lack of vision, or a weakened spiritual life. Maybe you, pastor, may be in need of a sabbatical. In this program, Host Bill Holdridge speaks with longtime pastor John Cowan about what a sabbatical is, and why it's important to consider. John calls a sabbatical a time of "refueling." If you've been in your church for ten years or more, you may indeed be a candidate for a sabbatical. Perhaps this podcast can help you determine that.

Bob Larson of Calvary Chapel Caldwell, Idaho, doesn't do things the way others expect him to do. He has a clearly defined set of priorities, and he lives them out in family life and in church life. He also applies (literally) the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8 ... and in doing so, his thought life has been profoundly affected. Prepare to hear a different slant on the rhythms of pastoral life and ministry. Is in unbiblical or unspiritual for a pastor to have fun? This podcast contains tools/concepts that every pastor can use, and tailor make for himself. Enjoy.

Gayle Erwin is an international treasure, a man who has allowed the Lord to use his life for many years as an author, pastor, lecturer, professor, and conference speaker. Gayle has (as he puts it) "one string on his guitar," and that string is Jesus and His nature. This podcast is on that subject. How does the nature of Jesus effect the way we live as pastors, and how we shepherd the flocks the Lord has committed to our charge? In Gayle's classic book The Jesus Style, Gayle goes into great detail to show that the nature of Jesus is understood from these descriptions embedded in the teachings of Scripture: 1. Jesus came as a Servant (not to be served) 2. Jesus did not Lord It over others... 3. Jesus came as an Example 4. Jesus was Humble 5. Jesus came as a Child 6. Jesus came as the Younger 7. Jesus was Last 8. Jesus was Least 9. Jesus used No Force 10. Jesus possessed No Blind or Selfish Ambition 11. Jesus made Himself of No Reputation 12. Jesus was fully Human 13. Jesus was wholly Obedient 14. Jesus was obedient unto Death Hopefully, this podcast will inspire pastors and leaders to undergo a new and fresh study of Jesus, that we might all make the Main One the main thing. In Gayle's own words, in the preface to the book, he writes: "This is the Jesus I want to talk about, the Jesus who called himself a servant. For reasons I cannot understand, I have not, in my research, found the qualities of servanthood, which seem so self-evident and basic to who Jesus is, treated in any but a surface and brief way. I only know that the realization of them and even minimal incorporation of them into life has power that I cannot describe; I can only invite you." “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42–45)

In episode 116 we’re joined by Roger Ulman, senior/lead pastor of Calvary Chapel Kalamazoo Valley, Michigan. Roger planted the church in 2000, after an interesting and God-ordained training process. This testimony is included in this interview. Roger is married to Lisa, his wife of 37 years. They have three children … two boys and a girl. #10 grandchild on the way. Roger Ulman is a pastor who is genuinely joyful, and very optimistic about ministry and life in general. Pastors always can use optimism and encouragement … these are very challenging times for pastors everywhere. So, where does such a positive outlook comes from? This could me a major key re: how we pastors serve the Lord Jesus and His people. Tune in to hear the not-so-secret secret of Divine Optimism in Pastoral Ministry.