John Gundacker is the senior/lead pastor of Calvary Chapel in Pahrump, NV, and has been for 20 years. Pahrump is a little more than an hour from Las Vegas, obviously a huge city. The church John was trained in was in Las Vegas. So when his family moved to tiny Pahrump to start a church, expectations had to change. In the process, John has learned contentment, which is a huge key in any ministry. As we'll see in this podcast episode, contentment produces its own kind of fruit ... makes it easier to wait for the Lord, it provides peace and focus upon the right things. Listen in as John tells part of his and his church's story.

Jimmy Morales pastors a wonderful church body in Las Vegas, Nevada. The name of the fellowship is Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain. I (show host Bill Holdridge) had the privilege of being with this congregation early in February of 2022. One of the plans we had for my time there was to record a podcast interview with Jimmy ... only in this podcast he would be the one interviewing me. He wanted to hear about pastoral transitions, so he prepared a list of commonly asked (or unasked) questions on that topic. So, that's what we talked about. Jimmy is not in the process of transition himself, nor is he planning a transition. He's still young, the church is exploding, and he's got a lot of gas left in his ministry tank. But Jimmy does have a heart for other pastors, and thus, the questions. When is a good time for a pastor to retire from his church pastorate? How does a transition process move forward? What should pastors do now, even those pastors who have years ahead of them in their present church? Is it better to choose a successor from within the fellowship, or from without? How involved should church leaders be in helping the pastor transition? And so on. Listen in. Pass it on. As we've said many times before, unless Jesus Christ returns before a pastor dies, someone else will pastor that church. Why not (at the very least) start pastoring as a pastor who is in transition? Why not have an emergency plan in case something happens to you? Why not invite outside counsel to come in and help with your thinking process?

Pastor Ken Merrihew is the founding and longtime pastor of Calvary Chapel Oklahoma City. He is a leader, a friend to pastors, and a source of godly wisdom to his peers in ministry. In this podcast, Pastor Ken shares with us his thoughts about the advantages and strengths of a small (or normal) sized church. This is necessary encouragement for the majority of pastors serving in the U.S. today.

Many churches are experiencing a leadership deficit. There are too few biblical elders, too few deacons, and not as many people who know which spiritual gifts they’ve been given by the Spirit, what they are called to do, or what ministries the Lord has opened up for them. Many leadership teams are not in alignment with their pastor in doctrine and practice, nor are they in alignment with each other. There are many fellowships — normal sized (50-200 regular attenders) — that believe they do not possess the resources to begin strong leadership development and equipping and training of the saints. That's what this podcast is all about. It's going to help the equipping senior pastor do the work of equipping those whom the Lord is calling into leadership ministry positions. And, he doesn't have to have it all figured out. He can join others who are part of what pastor Donn Fisher of Calvary Chapel Raynham, Massachusetts is talking about in this episode. There is an include transcript of this podcast interview, which may be helpful to you with your notetaking. Matthew 28:18-20

A clear and timely message from long time assisting pastor James Chapman of Calvary Chapel Stone Mountian, GA on what is needed in a servant who serves the senior pastor.