Today we meet & converse with Chris and Heather Reif of Calvary Frontlines in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Chris has been the pastor of Calvary Frontlines since October of 2017. Today, we’re going to hear a bit of their story—an unusual story about how they both served in the U.S. Army ... Chris as a Green Beret ... how they met and married, and how they became strong in the Lord, and called into ministry as a couple, with Chris as a senior pastor. In this episode: ~ how their military background helped prepare them to serve the Lord ~ the importance of discipleship and training—within the church—in becoming prepared for pastoral ministry ~ comparisons between Special Forces commitment and the pastorate ~ the reality of Post Traumatic Stress and how the gospel, the Word, and the Holy Spirit provide healing ~ the testimony of what God has been doing in Ft. Smith, Arkansas! Blessings to all who listen!

Once again, today we have Bible teacher, author, and speaker Gayle Erwin with us, and our topic is Not Many Mighty, a discussion about the ways of God and the choices God makes in calling and using human beings. Gayle Erwin has beautifully addressed what this looks like in his book Not Many Mighty. God's Word says, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Corinthians 1:26). Obviously, God thinks about things differently, and thinks about people differently than we do, in the natural. It is clear from Scripture that God doesn’t use perfect people. If that was His criterion, no one would ever be used of God. But God uses imperfect people to contain and then release His marvelous life and light to others. It's His plan, and it fulfills His purpose for connection and relationship with human beings. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:6,7) Topics discussed: strength out of weakness; Paul's thorn in the flesh; outstanding Biblical examples of weak men mightily used of God; what does it look like for us be be 'anointed,' or to minister 'under the anointing'?; a liberating thought with regard to ministry and our response to God's grace. Gayle Erwin is the author of the bestselling book The Jesus Style, which explores the nature of Jesus. Not Many Mighty was written in that same vein.

Danny Lehmann is a leader in Youth With A Mission (YWAM), an international missions and church planting thrust that has had a tremendous world-wide Kingdom impact. In this podcast, Danny will be talking with us on the subject of vision. Specifically, we’ll be talking about a Biblical pattern for seeing and receiving God’s vision for our lives and ministries. Danny is keen on the subject of church life as well, having served for many years with Pastor Bill Stonebraker at Calvary Chapel Honolulu. YWAM has been, from its inception, big on hearing God's voice, obeying His voice, and persevering through the word commanded by that voice. YWAM founder Loren Cunningham has modeled that approach, and YWAMers have sought to emulate his pattern. Danny Lehmann has written four books on evangelism: Go! The Excitement of Personal Evangelism, For the Gospel’s Sake, Bringin’ Em Back Alive, and Beautiful Feet. He has also written on the subject of spiritual discipline: Before You Hit the Wall, as well as STOKED! Firing Up Your Passion for God. His latest book is entitled The Next Big Thing: How Little Choices Can Make a Big Impact. Danny lives in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with his wife Linda and now serves as part of the leadership team for YWAM Kona. NOTES from Danny's 5 Points about asking for, receiving, and implementing the vision the Lord gives us: 1) The PRAYER FOR THE VISION. Nehemiah 1:1-10 … his vision was initiated by God and prayed through by Nehemiah. Also Habakkuk 1:2-4; 12-17 … he cried out to God because of the injustice in the land and the LORD’s seeming indifference to it all. 2) THE POSTURE FOR RECEIVING THE VISION. (we must do the possible) Habakkuk 2:1 I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. 3) THE PROPHETIC WORD THE DETAILS OF THE VISION. Habakkuk 2:2 “Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets that he that reads it may run.” 4) FOR THE PROLIFERATION OF THE VISION. The vision must cast so that others may run with it. Habakkuk 2:2-3 Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, It will not tarry. 5) PERSEVERANCE TO OBEY THE VISION. Often there is a “death of a vision,” so that God’s will and word can be resurrected.

Pastor Jay McCarl is a longtime senior pastor. He also recently retired from a 30 year ministry as a Law Enforcement Chaplain. Jay has seen it all, and shares with us super effective, Jesus-like ways to provide real help to people in great need due to tragedy or loss. The wisdom Jay possesses is God-given, and comes right from God's Word, empowered and applied by God's Spirit. Jay is also the author of an amazing book on the subject: Answering Evil: Crisis, Compassion and Truth in an Age of Uncertainty. At the end of the podcast, Jay shares how to get a copy. These are tools every pastor can use.

Poimen Ministries staff pastor Mark Walsh shares his journey of faith throughout different continents of the world in serving the Church ... and the lessons learned along the way. We'll also discuss a new vision that has been birthed for Europe and the U.K. in equipping a new generation of church leadership in these critical regions of the world. Great insights and encouragement await all who listen to this meaningful conversation.

Ministry may not have to be as hard as we pastors make it sometimes. Marc Knutson shares with us some of what he has learned over the years, and what he learned from Pastor Chuck Smith up close and personal, about flowing with the Holy Spirit in the ministry. The Holy Spirit has a mind and will—and His mind and will are in complete cooperation with that of the Father and the Son. Host Bill Holdridge joins Marc in this encouraging conversation.

In the earliest stages of his first senior pastorate, Nate Holdridge comes out of the book of Joshua to explain how he knew the Lord would be with him. A powerful reminder of the Presence and grace of God which is upon senior pastors, and which is absolutely necessary for their ministry to be successful in God's eyes. Pastor Chuck Smith introduces Nate, with some interesting and helpful homiletical suggestions at the end of the message

Mike Hughes of Calvary Chapel in Emmett, Idaho uses a simple, but profoundly effective tool to memorize chunks of the Bible, one bite (section) at a time. Learn how this easy to learn, four step method can aid you in Bible memorization, even if you think you could never do that. As Mike says, if his high school students can do it, so can you. Mike discusses with show host Bill Holdridge the effect on the church, and upon the pastor's preaching and teaching style.

It's wise to listen to any pastor who has faithfully and successfully borne fruit for almost 50 years of ministry. In this episode Pastor Steve Carr of Calvary Chapel Arroyo Grande, CA will talk with Bill Holdridge about the recently completed transition of CCAG to a younger pastor. It's a textbook transition, one from which we can all learn. Spoiler alert: every pastor and church at least must have an emergency plan, then follow that up with a long-term plan, as the Lord leads. Steve is available by email at scarrck@lightspeed.net and via his website at https://covenantkeepers.org.

Pastors are often isolated and feel alone. It's difficult to find others that can relate to the unique challenges of the ministry. Not too surprisingly, pastors report that they often suffer from discouragement, and even depression.