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Alan and Trent are pastors helping churches and leaders make a difference and last.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Episode 201: Preacher or Pastor
Difference between a preacher and a pastor
A Preacher is:
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Has the wrong motivation
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in it for the money
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in it for name recognition
Tends to live in his own world
Keeps church relationships at a distance
Isn't there when needed
runs out of things to say quickly
A Pastor is:
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Is motivated by God's Word
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Gets involved in the lives of His congregation
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Allows for the joy and pain of close church relationships
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Is all in when needed
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Because he knows his people and God's Word always has something to say.
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Episode 200: 8 Revelations from Our First 200 Episodes
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We know a lot less than we than we thought.
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Lone Ranger Pastors are far too common. see episode 120
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The cultural shifts in churches over the life of our podcast has been monumental.
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We started pre-covid
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Covid exaggerated the health or lack of health of churches
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The Pastoral shortage and church leader shortage is growing faster than anyone thought
The local church is important because it is God's chosen instrument to reach the world
The love affair with Mega church culture is over.
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small is the new large
The local pastor
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needs to be lifted up - but not worshipped
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needs to be leading the church - but not burned out
They are not coming back - so reach out to them like pre-Christians and bring them in again.
We have more to say
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Episode 199: The Meeting Before the Meeting
Many times pastors and church leaders bring on themselves and on their church undo stress - because they have not had the meeting before the meeting.
Questions to ask yourself
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who is most invested in the topic we will be discussing?
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ask them to explain why this is important to them.
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what are the non negotiables - things they won't give in on
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who among the member is most highly regarded and trusted?
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answer all questions this person may have about the upcoming meeting.b
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ask if they would support the item being voted on - if not why not.
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ask them what potential problems they see.
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who is most likely to stir the pot?
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ask what info they would need
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ask what questions they could see coming up during the meeting
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These are the folks that you might want to have a meeting before the meeting with.
If you have these meetings you will accomplish these things:
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you will avoid most conflict
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as a leader you will be able to guide the conversation by sharing the most important info or leading others to share that info.
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You will have the opportunity to have the answers ahead of time to questions that will probably come up during the actual meeting!
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Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Episode 198: Preparing for a Storm
Here are some thoughts on how to be weather aware and prepare your facility and people.
Checking roads
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who does this?
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how long before the service?
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Leadership who decides if service is cancelled?
Communicating closure
What places do you communicate
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Social media/texting
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Local TV
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Local Radio
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Send out robo call
- Website
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designate one person to do communication
Cancelled if School cancels
in case of snow do this:
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clearing sidewalks
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greeters and helpers
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mop to dry up water on the floor
in case of rain do this:
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have umbrellas handy for greeters to help people from cars
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mop to dry up water on the floor
In case of tornado do this:
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does the church have a designated shelter?
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do teachers and leaders know where?
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Communicate to families that everyone is ok
For wind do this:
some places have high winds from time to time and need people stationed at doors to hold on to the door.
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
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We all work differently, but some of the things I have done:
1. A Word for the year
In October, I begin praying God would give me a "word" for the coming year. For instance this year was "design." I knew God was leading our association in a new direction. Just as God designed the world with intentional purpose, we need to set up our association with a deliberate design. In the past, the word has been "discipleship" or "trust." The word sets the tone for the year. For me this year is "construct." We are in the process of building a new associational model based on our new design.
2. A vision series
As a senior pastor January was a month where I would always take a Sunday to lay out a visionary message for the church. From the time I sensed I had my "word" from God, I had opportunity to examine the Scripture more closely. Since the word usually arose from my own study, that process was typically natural, but sometimes the word would lead me down a pathway of study that challenged me and surprised me. The most important part in preaching a vision series is that you can share what the church should look like at the end of the year. A vision sermon might be one week, but most of mine ended up being two to four weeks.
3. Personal Development
What are you going to do to grow yourself over the next year? Many pastors don't have an intentional plan of growth. One example I can remember is a sense where I needed to grow a bigger desire for international missions. I registered for a February conference across the country held by a church passionate about missions. By Easter, I had taken a trip to Lebanon, and my church was joining me in developing a greater passion for missions. Books, Conferences, accountability groups or cohorts, seminary or certifications...what are you going to do to develop your skills? (As the churches of DTBA, we are here to help you in this.)
4. A Challenge to be addressed
In ministry, we all grow frustrated with the infrequent attendance issues of our congregation. One year, I challenged our church to address this issue. I asked them to consider their attendance patterns and challenged them to see if greater faithfulness made a difference in their lives. For many it did. We reaped the benefits, we also felt the challenge as it was a year the enemy really attacked our church. That year I saw the benefit of addressing challenges directly. Because we were learning to face obstacles, we were able to overcome them more easily.
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
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Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
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Episode196: How Things Will Be Different in 2023
Outside forces
Trent's Plan
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
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Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Episode 195: 8 Momentum Makers
Want to build momentum?
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Baptisms
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Community Engagement
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A guest speaker
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Host a conference
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A special emphasis
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Mission trips
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Paying off a debt/ sometimes building a facility
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People Called to ministry
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Episode 194: Guard the Trust
Some Things A Pastor Must Protect
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What is taught in the church
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Guest speaker
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Sunday school classes or small groups
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shadow pastor
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doctrinal alignment...our own theology
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How your people are treated and treat one another
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Vision
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Momentum
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Thermostat - maybe the one on the wall, but you create an atmosphere
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Episode 193: Planning Your Sermon Retreat
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Beforehand:
Supplies:
The retreat:
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com
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Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Episode 192: Paint By Number: The Metrics that Matter
Pastors get together from time to time - and we would encourage you to do that. But when church people get together - they start comparing.
This is not healthy. We get hung up on the numbers
Context determines what your metrics need to be
We compare
attendance #
Pastors
Music program
Youth and children program
So lets change the numbers. Here are some numbers you should start comparing.
Paint these numbers
- People called out to ministry
- new volunteers
- new teachers
- hours spent serving the community
Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com
Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com