Are paid pastors actually more spiritually mature than the men in the pews? Why do so many leaders burn out while everyday laymen quietly endure? What if the men who don't get paid for ministry are often the ones doing it best?

In this Equipping Men in 10 episode, Jim Ramos looks back to his late 20s and early 30s in ministry and exposes a pattern he couldn't ignore. This episode isn't about tearing down pastors—it's about learning from the faith, grit, and longevity of everyday men who quietly walk with God year after year. You'll get a freash perspective on why longevity matters more than position in the Kingdom of God and the danger of vocational ministry replacing genuine devotion.

Jim's newest book, Guardrails: Ten Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage will be releasing in April 2026. Sign up to be notified when it's available at https://meninthearena.org/guardrails.

This episode is sponsored by Compassion International. Our goal is for the Men in the Arena tribe to sponsor 1,000 boys over the coming year! Help us reach that goal and make a difference in a child's life today. When you sponsor a child using our link, you'll receive a free copy of Jim's book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God!

We are also sponsored by MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab, a Christian-owned fitness app. This app, combined with diet, has helped Jim get in the best shape of his life! Get 6 weeks free with the code ARENA30 at MTNTOUGH.com.

Every man needs a locker room. Apply to join an exclusive brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room once a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life's difficult questions. Locker Room members also get access to monthly exclusive leadership trainings, historically only available to the staff team at Men in the Arena. Membership is by application only. Go here to apply: https://patreon.com/themeninthearena

Get Jim Ramos' USA TODAY Bestselling book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God (https://tinyurl.com/dialedinbook)

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