Strength for Today's Pastor

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! You may have heard this phrase, or even used it in a message: “I’d rather burn out than rust out!” Let’s be honest, many of us have worn that phrase as a badge of honor, as though it’s an honorable thing to burn out for God. Today, that phrase is a painful one … far too many of our brothers-in-arms have opted out of ministry (“I’m done, this isn’t what I sig...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Acts chapter 19 opens with this narrative: "And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples, he said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' " Eventually, these followers of John the Baptist became followers of Jesus Christ...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! What can be said about The Unconference?  When the concept was first introduced, many senior pastors on the West Coast were intrigued, and the 1st annual had good participation. But probably no one ever imagined what might happen in a mere 24 hours together with other hungry and desperate-for-God pastors. In. Credible. Tune in to hear from three senior pasto...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! 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...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! There are many examples in the scriptures that highlight the callings of men and women of God.  In this podcast episode, show host Bill Holdridge dives into the calling of the prophet Jeremiah, and makes applications for pastors in our day. It has never been more important for pastor-teachers to make their ministry calling a certain thing in their hearts and...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Today, many churches are hindered in their growth and spiritual health due to the lack of training/discipleship of potential leaders. Bill Holdridge sits down and shares his heart and experience with regard to raising up a vibrant, healthy ministry team made up of consistent, godly leaders. Your church can impact your town and the world at large from the alr...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Check this out! Making disciples. It's a primary command of Christ for His church, but is rarely actually done. Most Christians have never been discipled by another believer, and most churches do not have a discipleship focus for new converts.   Alan Stoddard believes that disciple making should be organic, should be reproduceable, and should use the Bi...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Pastor Alan Stoddard wrote his doctoral thesis for Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary on the subject of sermon based small groups.  That thesis eventually became a book, entitled Groups that Revitalize: Bringing New Life to Your Church through Sermon-Based Small Groups , co-authored with Kenneth Priest.  Alan is passionate about the amazing discipleship opp...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Pastoral transition is real, and unless Jesus Christ returns for His church before a specific pastor dies, someone else will be the pastor of his church!  In this podcast, Poimen Ministries Director Bill Holdridge provides fodder for thought for the senior/lead pastor who is considering whether or not to  move on to something else.  Is the senior pastor cert...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Pastoral ministry—especially as it pertains to the office of pastor-teacher—can be extremely multi-faceted. For most pastors, there is far more to do than hours in which to do them. Especially considering the fact that pastors have wives and families. Especially considering that pastors require proper rest ... in sleep and sabbath. Especially considering the...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! 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...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! From hippie commune to the business world; from the business world to planting and pastoring a wonderfully fruitful church FOR 30+ years, from senior pastoral ministry to Poimen Ministries, and then on to the mission field with Poimen Ministries, and now back in the U.S. strengthening pastors and their wives … Bob and Jeanne Claycamp have seen and experience...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Nick Cady's book The God I Won't Believe In : Facing Nine Common Barriers To Embracing Christianity is an amazing apologetics book like no other.  Written in response to on online poll he initiated, The God I Won't Believe In responds to the top nine responses to the phrase, "I could never believe in a God who ____________________________...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! In this podcast episode we will hear from Pastor John Miller, Senior/Lead pastor of Revival Christian Fellowship in Menifee, CA.   John will be sharing with us on the subject of Expositional Bible Teaching and Preaching, and specifically, he’ll be presenting the case for Expositional Bible Teaching/Preaching.  What is Expositional Teaching and Preaching?  Wh...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! In this podcast we’re with Doug Eagle of Eagle Retirement Plans, Inc.  John Wesley once famously stated in a sermon entitled “The Use of Money” that believers should “earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.” It’s good to have Doug Eagle with us today to talk about these things, especially geared towards senior pastors. Doug will be bringing...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Nate Holdridge is the Lead Pastor of Calvary Monterey (California), a church started 43 years ago by his father, Poimen Ministries Director Bill Holdridge. In this podcast, Nate interviews his dad on his own podcast, called "Jesus Famous with Nate Holdridge." In a conversational, father-son style of back and forth, dad and son talk about the histor...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Ron Arbaugh is the senior and founding pastor of Calvary Chapel San Antonio, Texas. Ron is a gracious and wonderful leader, and the Lord has blessed the ministry big-time in San Antonio, and expanded the church's reach amazingly. Ron was kind enough to invite me to join him on his call in daily (M-F) radio program entitled "Word to Stand On for Lif...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! 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 t...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! 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...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! This has been a long-anticipated episode of Strength for Today's Pastor. We have the blessing of being with Bruce Hebel, author of the incredible, life-changing book entitled Forgiving Forward: Unleashing the Forgiveness Revolution .  In episode 118, Bruce makes the case that God treats us in our relationship with Him as we treat other people, specifica...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Brian Hill is on the younger side of pastoral ministry, but is much older in wisdom. Much has been said about the ways the Lord prepares His vessels, men in whom He pours Himself and then flows through them to equip and bless others. That's the journey of Brian Hill. This is a cool story, an encouraging bio of a man used by God. Testimonies are helpful...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! 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 t...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! THIS PODCAST is being re-broadcast due to its relevance for today's senior/lead pastors. 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 talkin...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Mandate: "An authoritative command e; especially : a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one." Jesus has given His church a number of mandates. These are all commandments, not suggestions. The only possible responses to a Divine mandate are to obey it or disobey it. Of course, one can obey partially , but that didn't...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Episode 102 of Strength for Today’s Pastor features Pastor Lance Ralston of Calvary Chapel Oxnard, CA. Our conversation today concerns the ideas contained in a new book by author Rod Dreher … a book that contains a message that could have major impacts upon the ministries of pastors, leaders, and churches. A bit about Lance: he has been married to Lynn Ralst...