Strength for Today's Pastor

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Gino Geraci has transitioned the church he planted over 27 years ago, and is now moving ahead with a full menu of ministry options in the next season of his life as a pastor-teacher. Be encouraged at show host Bill Holdridge interviews Gino, and unpacks some of the particulars of his fresh vision — and what it looks like.  --- Support this podcast: https://p...

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

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

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Like the Dead Sea, without an outlet, believers will not produced life-giving water. There is nothing like outreach—and doing good—to stimulate and strengthen believers in their walks with the Lord.  In this episode, show host Bill Holdridge interviews Pastor John Snoderly, the newly appointed Director of Calvary Disaster Relief. After explaining how John wa...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Pastors want to do better. Sincerely they want this. They want it because their calling is to feed the flock of God with His Word; their calling is to equip believers for their ministries and works of service, using the Bible.  There is a lot riding on whether or not the pastor's teaching is anointed and clear. For the Great Commission to be fulfilled,...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Pastor Greg Phelps is the new senior/lead pastor of Calvary Chapel Red Bluff, CA. His is the story of eventual agreement with God's calling upon his life for this role, although he was like Moses initially ... very hesitant.  Pastor Bryan Newberry was the Transitional Senior Pastor from Poimen Ministries that moved to Red Bluff with his wife Cheryl for...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! It's been a great year for Strength for Today's Pastor, and we thank God for what He has done, and how He has used each of our interviewees to strengthen pastors, to strengthen their churches. In this episode, snippets are played from each podcast participant.  This is a rich collection ... very rare to have this much wisdom packed into 50 minutes....

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! The pastors of Poimen Ministries have a huge heart for their fellow senior pastors. Huge . This Merry Christmas end-of-the-year podcast features all eleven pastors that are part the Poimen team. In two minutes or less, each of them share what's on their heart for those currently serving as senior or lead pastors of their churches.  Encouraging words to...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! In this podcast episode, Trip Kimball takes us into the heart and example of Joseph, step-father of our Lord Jesus. Trip shows us how Joseph's life is a strong model for pastoral ministry, especially for the senior or lead pastor.  Practical and timely, Trip is a longtime pastor, missionary, and now part of the team of pastors serving with Poimen Minist...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! A hard-to-hear-to beginning, as Pastor Brian shares authentically about the hard times of his ministry. Doesn't get much more real than this. Then came the wonderful working of God. Listen in as Brian tells their story. Spoiler alert: lots of 'quotables' in this podcast. Enjoy. Super encouraging for today's pastor. --- Support this podcas...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Well known Bible teacher and commentator David Guzik again shares with us about revival. What does revival look like? What happens when revival comes? What is revival's impact? Obviously, those who know and understand the times in which we live also know and understand the need for revival in the church and spiritual awakening in our world.  David'...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Pastor David Guzik is a student, as well as a pastor-teacher. As a student, he has done extensive study on the subject of revival. In this podcast episode, hear David speak about what revival is and is not, as well as the possibility of a revival happening once again in our communities, our states, our country, or in our world. For David's website, go t...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Let's face it ... in almost every church, about 1/3 of the worship portion of the service is devoted to singing to and about God. And another significant portion is devoted to teaching/preaching. Doesn't it make sense we pastors should pursue a great, unified relationship with our worship leader(s) and team(s)? Yet many of us are bewildered concern...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Holland Davis has a lot to say about the worship of God. His approach has the fragrance of Christ all over it. Senior pastors can learn from worship leaders, to be sure. But it may be even more helpful if a senior pastor hears from a man who is both an anointed worship leader and a senior pastor.  He can cover both sides of the same coin in terms of understa...

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

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! The early church, aka the apostolic church, was wholly dependent upon the Holy Spirit. As was the case in Corinth, the spiritual gifts were regularly manifested. Signs and wonders accompanied the preaching of the gospel. Divine healing happened. Believers were being baptized by the Holy Spirit, in fulfillment of the Promise of the Father. Paul Berry is the s...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Time away ... distance ... can often bring new perspective.  Pastor Nate Holdridge of Calvary Monterey gained new wisdom and insight into the way he is to minister to his family, and he gained this perspective while on sabbatical. This podcast isn't a spanking, it's an encouragement. It's wisdom for the pastor who loves his family.  --- Suppor...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Strength for Today's Host Bill Holdridge interviews his son Nate, the senior pastor of Calvary Monterey on the Monterey Peninsula in California.  Nate was able to take a two month sabbatical after 20 years of ministry in the church, and he shares some of what he learned and observed from his time away with his family.  This will bless and encourage the...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Lonnie Frisbee was an important part of the Jesus movement of the late 60s and early 70s. His ministry was characterized by unusual spiritual power, amazing boldness, and strong evangelistic fruit.  YWAM and Calvary Chapel leader Danny Lehmann knew Lonnie well. In this podcast, we will hear from Danny about some of the takeaways from Lonnie's life.  ---...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Danny Lehmann is a major leader in Youth With A Mission (YWAM), an author, an elder of Calvary Chapel Honolulu, and an evangelist. Danny is eminently qualified by the Lord to encourage and help pastors in their task of doing the work of an evangelist, which he does in this podcast interview with Poimen Ministries Director Bill Holdridge. Danny has been walki...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Jim and Janice Larson serve the Lord in Tanzania, East Africa. Their ministry there is an amazing model of developing sustainable leaders and ministry. The lessons learned are transferable to any culture.  Learn from Pastor Jim as he discusses vision and how it affects actual ministry.  Hear about bold, forward thinking radical discipleship as it pertains to...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Bruce Zachary is the founding pastor of Calvary Nexus in Camarillo, CA.  Along with the oversight and shepherding of that flock of believers, Bruce has been very active in leadership development all over the world.  He co-directs the Calvary Church Planting Network with Pastor Miles DeBenedictis, which helps prospective church planters with training and othe...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Stepping aside from a senior pastor role can be a fearful and uncertain venture. Who will lead this church moving forward? How will the congregation adjust to a new pastor? What will I do after the transition is complete? Pastor Bill Walden of Cornerstone Ministries of Napa, CA (now called Calvary Chapel Napa),  led his elders and church through a five year...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Neal Pirolo is a missionary and kingdom builder. His excellent book Serving As Senders Today has been used by countless churches and missionaries as a primary text concerning the "how to" of sending and being a missionary ... from recruitment to return from the field. His followup work The Reentry Team: Caring For Your Returning Missionaries is als...

Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Paul exhorted Timothy to "be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5).  Yet for the busy pastor, this is often a very challenging and perhaps lacking area in his life and ministry.  In this episode, Pastor David Johnston strengthens us by giving very practical and strong ways t...