Gary Malkus Jr. shares his amazing testimony on how God has revealed wonderful ways to retain and engage young adults/ high school aged kids after they graduate. We all are all aware of the grim statistics that show the severe drop-off in our youth during this important transition in their lives.

It's a huge problem. And because of it, we're losing many of our best youth to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Too often, the young people in our churches run off to college or university and subsequently abandon the faith. Also, in our churches there often is a big chasm between what happens in youth or college groups, and what is going on in adult church. The younger generation isn't learning how to connect or get involved in service to Christ within the body. Many recognize these problems, and some pastors are actually doing something radical and visionary to rectify it. One such pastor is Gary Malkus, Jr. Gary is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel in Victorville, California. Gary's story was told in SFTP episode 155. In episode 156, Gary's vision to reach the next generation is told. What he has to say will get pastors and youth leaders thinking, and some will be moved to do something about their thoughts. For the sake of God's kingdom...

Pastor Don Rypstra is in his last days of a long pastorate in Rochester, Minnesota. He and his wife's move to northern Idaho means that a new normal is waiting for them, but also that someone will be called into an exciting opportunity to pastor and reach the people of Rochester, home of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. Pastor Don is not unlike many pastors, world-wide. Don is conscientious, faithful, thoughtful, and committed to Christ and the gospel. Another thing Don has been: he's been bi-vocational throughout his senior/lead pastor life. Over 25 years ago, he moved his family from California to Rochester in a career related move. Then the Lord called him into pastoral ministry, and to start a church. Which is what he did. Don refers to himself as a small church pastor. More and more, others refer to such pastors as normal sized church pastors, because it's a more accurate description in terms of average church size in the U.S. In this podcast, Don tells part of their story to show host Bill Holdridge. Not only is their story told, but the opportunity is now open to another called and gifted man to assume the leadership of Calvary Chapel Rochester.

Pastor Steve Marquez of Calvary Chapel Fort Smith, AR shares his dramatic testimony how he persevered through multiple cancer diagnosis' while pastoring his church.

Matt Valencia pastors The Regeneration Church in Scotts Valley, CA. He's a father of five, a church planter, a former school teacher, a former assisting pastor, and the current pastor of ReGen Church. He also heads up a team of leaders across Northern California and Northern Nevada. These leaders serve the senior pastors and churches affiliated with the Calvary Chapel Association. In addition to all of these things, and working together with all of it, Matt is a leader. He leads quietly, he leads patiently, he leads with openness. So, I thought he'd be a good person to talk about the spiritual health of the church, the spiritual health of any church. There needs to be a clear set of metrics ... biblical metrics ... by which we can measure our own personal spiritual health, as well as that of the churches we pastor. If we don't know what we're aiming at, how will we ever hit the target? In this episode, show host Bill Holdridge and Pastor Matt talk together, touching these points from a number of interesting angles.

Joey Crandall was raised in the church that he would be called to take over in the Carson Vally in Nevada. God's surprise calling from being a successful journalist to becoming a senior pastor was something he definitely was not expecting. Joey shares his gained wisdom and lessons learned from this blessed experience.

Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship in Gardnerville, NV shares his experience in taking a three month sabbatical after 34 years in full time ministry.

Dr. Richard Clinton is an expert in defining the cause and effect of ministerial failure and success. An insightful and powerful conversation awaits you! You will be challenged to re-think your approach to your ministry after hearing these timeless principles.

Part two of a insightful conversation about identifying the pitfalls and preserving a lasting legacy of finishing well in ministry ... with Dr. Richard Clinton.