Trench Talk

The number of churches requiring a bi-vocational pastor is trending upward, and bi-vo ministry is a demanding task. While many—if not most—bi-vo pastors would prefer full-time ministry, how might those called to such a duty find contentment in their calling? Given the stringent demands of shepherding one’s family, shepherding the flock of God, and part-or full-time employment, how can the bi-vo pastor find the proper balance in expending his time and energy? How might the bi-vo pastor lead his congregation to understand and be sensitive to the demands upon his time? Listen as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio address these and other pertinent issues pertaining to the honorable task of bi-vocational pastoral ministry.

In this episode, Brian Croft and Jim Savastio further explore the need for pastoral rest as they discuss the theological basis of recreation, the benefits of recreation for avoiding pastoral burn-out, symptoms of a pastor’s need for recreation, the practicalities of avoiding counter-productive recreation, and the blessings of family-oriented recreation.

Listen as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio discuss the often neglected issue of pastoral rest. From the vacation to the day off to the pastoral sabbatical, Brian and Jim explore the biblical necessity of rest and offer practical insights for avoiding pastoral burn-out.

Every parent and pastor’s desire is to see children converted from sin and rebellion to forgiveness and obedience to the gospel. At the same time, few topics are so theologically charged as the conversion, baptism, and membership of children. The stakes are no lower for the relational impact these issues have on a pastor’s ministry. Pastors would do well to think carefully and practically before facing the variety of issues that attend the relationship of children to the church.So listen (twice!) as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio share their insights from decades of pastoral experience and Biblical thought.

This episode features a conversation between a full-time, senior pastor and a part-time, associate pastor. Listen as Brian Croft and Josh Scherrer discuss:How does a team of pastors work together? How can staff pastors work together with lay pastors? What are the advantages of having lay pastors? What are the challenges that lay pastors face? What should you look for in a lay pastor? How do you appoint lay pastors?

You might not be asked to preach in Middle Earth (a.k.a. New Zealand) like Jim Savastio, but many preachers will serve as a guest preacher at some point in their ministry. No matter how often you preach as a guest, there are also unique joys and trials of a weekly preaching ministry at your own church.Here are some questions that come up in this conversation:What are the differences between guest preaching and preaching at your own church?What challenges and temptations attend guest preaching?How do you think through accepting invitations to preach outside of your church?How do you decide what to preach about when you are a guest?What are the challenges and pleasures of preaching in your own church week after week?

Could you say this to your church?“We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8Brian Croft and Jim Savastio discuss how pastoral affections are necessary for weekly ministry. The relationship of a pastor to his church is more like the loving relationship of a marriage than it is the calculating processes of a manager. And this kind of love changes everything.

Brian and Jim talk about the crucial role that mentors have played in their lives, and how pastors can mentor others.Jim tells the story of how a devoted pastor of a small, rural church mentored him in ministry even at a young age.Brian recounts how a lack of mentors impacted his early life and ministry.Jim identifies key lessons his pastoral mentors taught him.How can pastors find a mentor?How can pastors be a mentor to others?

Brian Croft sits down with Jim Savastio to discuss life and ministry. Jim serves as the pastor of The Reformed Baptist Church of Louisville for the last 25 years, and serves as the president of the board of Practical Shepherding. He is married to Becky, and they have four children.Listen as Brian and Jim discuss the following topics:How did Jim sense his call to ministry?How did Jim’s plans change from ministry oversees to serve a church in Louisville?What is the fundamental role of a pastor?What is one joy and one challenge Jim has experienced in 25 years of pastoral ministry?What kind of experience have his wife and children had as a pastor’s family?

Miscarriage is a sorrowful, but all too common experience that calls for special pastoral care. Listen as Brian Croft discusses his own experience of a miscarriage, and how to care for others going through this loss. This episode address questions like…What is it like to experience a miscarriage?What do you say to someone who loses their baby?How does a pastor and a church care for someone grieving this loss?What does long-term care look like?