Trench Talk

Contact us. We’d love to serve youRequest a stay at a Shepherd’s House LocationGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyFind out more about the Advancing the Church Equip Conference taking place September 10-11, 2026 in New Albany, IN. (03:40) Setting up the topic "life-giving activities" for pastors and broaden definition to people, places, things.(07:00) Biblical Grounding: References to Elijah, Psalm 23, Jesus' retreats (Matthew 14, Mark 6) and Sabbath/rest.(12:00) People — Family & Friends: Jim and Brian discuss family time, grateful companions, and friends who aren’t seeking pastoral care.(20:00) Places — Restful Settings: Conversation about coffee shops, bookstores, mountains, historical cities, and travel as refreshment.(25:30) Things — Hobbies & Ministry Fruit: Examples include gardening, cooking, sporting events, and the joy of being helpful in ministry.(32:00) Why pastors need life giving rhythms—prevention of burnout, sustained joy, and ministerial effectiveness.(34:30) Final Prayer: Prayer for pastors to discover refreshing activities and sustain long-term ministry.

Contact us. We’d love to serve youWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ResourcesGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive(02:20) Ronnie’s Transition: leaving his lead-pastor role, and new full-time role with Harbor Network and pastor-in-residence duties.(05:00) Recent Creative Work: Ronnie’s devotional release, music projects(08:00) New Podcast & Harbor Network: Launch of Rambles with Ronnie and overview of Harbor Network’s pastor-care focus.(11:00) Purpose of the Book: Why they wrote The Unhurried Pastor and its aim to revive conversation about pastoral pacing.(16:00) Impact of The Unhurried Pastor & Events: How the book has opened conversations, influenced trainings, and led to speaking engagements.(20:00) Biblical Example & Sermon Application: Using Matthew 14 and Jesus’ rhythm as a model for unhurried ministry.(24:00) Personal Rhythms: Ronnie on learning to wait; Brian on listening to the body as an indicator of pace and health.(28:00) Practical Advice for Pastors: Emphasize curiosity about recurring anxieties, seek trusted confidents, and separate ministry success from soul health.(31:30) Closing Prayer & Charge: Prayer for pastors’ renewal and encouragement toward an unhurried, sustainable ministry.

(2:40) Biblical Foundations for Discipleship(5:15) How Discipleship Actually Happens in the Local Church(9:00) “Caught, Not Taught” – Organic, Life-on-Life Discipleship(12:00) The Rise of Small Groups / Community Groups(16:00) Balancing Capacity, Culture, and Methods(20:00) The Case for a Midweek Prayer Meeting(24:55) Comparing Prayer Meetings and Community Groups(29:00) Hospitality as a Discipleship Engine(33:10) Final Word and Prayer

Contact us. We’d love to serve youRequest a stay at a Shepherd’s House LocationGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Resources(01:57) Biblical Framework for Handling Differences(03:52) The Tension: Bold Preaching with Great Patience(04:21) Scenario 1 – Entering an Established Church with Different Views(06:45) Text-Driven, Book-by-Book Approach(11:27) Strategy for Early Years in a Church(14:21) Avoiding Buzzwords & Building Collateral(16:50) The Role of Personal Pastoral Care(17:34) Aim Is Not Total Theological Uniformity(18:49) What If You Haven’t Yet Gained Trust?(22:42) Scenario 2 – When a Pastor Changes His Own Position(23:58) Role of Confessions and Statements of Faith(27:05) Case Study: Statement of Faith and the Sabbath(29:40) Interviewing and Fit: Don’t Assume You’ll “Change It Later”(31:12) Preaching with a Clean Conscience(32:50) A Real-World Example of Pastoral Patience in Change(34:09) Final Word and Prayer

(02:36) Biblical Framework for Unity and Disagreement(05:00) Different Kinds of Elders & Influence vs. Authority(08:12) Helping Quieter / Younger Elders Speak Up(10:14 Categories of Decisions: Must Agree vs. May Differ(11:39) Decisions that Require Unanimous Agreement(13:38) Membership and Church Documents(14:49) Pulpit Access and Preaching Priority(17:41) When Majority Rule Is Appropriate(19:35) Practical Areas of Disagreement (Money, Mission, Benevolence)(21:50) Conscience, Yielding, and the “Dr. No” Elder(23:39) The Centrality of Trust and Relationship(25:05) Being Heard vs. Being Agreed With(27:05) The Joy of Healthy Plurality(28:30) Final word & Prayer

Contact us. We’d love to serve youWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ResourcesGrow in your ministry preparation through the FREE Practically Trained Pastors Cohort.Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive(01:59) Big Picture of Titus 2(05:48) Why Two Men Talking About Women in Titus 2?(06:56) Positive Vision for Women’s Ministry(11:04) Equal Value, Different Roles in the Church(12:25) Character Before Counsel: Qualities of Older Women(14:40) Loving Husbands and Children: Enjoyment, Not Just Duty(16:41) What About Single Women and Women Who Work?(21:57) Titus 2 Is Not Exhaustive or Anti-Work(23:13) Distinctives and the Brevity of Instructions to Young Men(25:39) Encouraging Older Women: You Are Needed(26:28) How Pastors Can Support Titus 2 Ministry (Public)(28:59) How Pastors Can Support Titus 2 Ministry (Private & Relational)(30:29) Asking and Activating Older Members(31:59) Everyone Has a Role: The Whole-Church Vision of Titus 2(33:11) Final Exhortation & Pastoral Prayer

Contact us. We’d love to serve youGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Find out more about the Seasoned Pastor Collective(01:33) Biblical Foundation for Older Men Investing in Younger Men(04:54) Larry Riley’s Story and Early Mentoring Burden(06:38) Key Mentors in Larry’s Life(07:41) Jim Savastio’s Conversion and Formative Mentors(10:18) Brian Croft’s Experience and the Need for Spiritual Fathers(12:33) Why This Matters: The Rarity of Real Mentorship Today(15:28) What’s Going Wrong? The Mentoring Gap(17:24) On-the-Ground Reality for Young Pastors(19:15) Why Aren’t Older Pastors Mentoring? Jim’s Diagnosis(23:55) Official Launch: The Seasoned Pastor Collective(24:41) How the Seasoned Pastor Collective Works (Older Pastors Side)(27:08) How to Join as a Seasoned Pastor(28:20) Training & Vetting: Why Experience Alone Isn’t Enough(30:51) The Joy of Investing in Younger Pastors(32:04) What Makes Mentoring So Rewarding?(33:31) Closing Prayer for the Collective

Contact us. We’d love to serve youRequest a stay at a Shepherd’s House LocationGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ResourcesFind more information about the Practically Trained Pastors Cohort(01:56) Biblical Framework for Caring for Younger Men(04:30) The Crisis of Masculinity and Young Men Today(06:32) Why This Crisis Is Worse Now than in Previous Generations(08:08) Online Influence, AI, and Weak Youth Ministry(09:33) Titus 2 as a Blueprint for the Local Church(10:56) The One Command to Young Men: Sober-Mindedness(13:14) Defining Sober-Mindedness / Self-Control(18:00) Why Sober-Mindedness Matters So Much for Young Men(18:40) How Pastors Can Urge Young Men to Be Sober-Minded(22:08) Young Men in Unreal Worlds: Media, AI, and the Need for Embodied Mentors(24:36) This Is a 2,000-Year-Old Issue with Fresh Applications(26:51) Sober-Mindedness About Self: Gifts, Limits, and Immaturity(28:17) Loving, Listening, and Validating Young Men(30:07) Spiritual Fatherhood and a Culture of Older-to-Younger Mentoring(31:38) Concrete Ideas for Churches and Pastors(33:05) Closing Prayer for a Generation of Godly Young Men

Contact us. We’d love to serve youRequest a stay at a Shepherd’s House LocationGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Resources2:14 – Setting the topic: How should pastors care for older men? Reference to Titus 2 and issues of generational/masculinity crisis4:21 – Examining Titus 2: Practical framework for church life and leadership distinctions5:13 – Reading and discussing Titus 2:1–8: Exhortations for older men6:41 – Diversity in Church: Bond-servant/master relationships as socio-economic analogy7:32 – Practical directions for ministry to older men and their mentoring impact11:04 – Discussion: Why mentoring roles differ for older men and women in the church12:19 – Importance of intentional intergenerational relationships and mentoring14:24 – Private ministry: Building rapport and learning about older men for deeper care17:49 – Tension for young pastors: Shepherding those more experienced and older than themselves19:36 – Public ministry: Avoiding generational hostility and fostering mutual respect21:11 – Calling older men to spiritual vibrancy regardless of age or physical limitations22:56 – Addressing spiritual immaturity in older men: Drawing out life wisdom, incremental growth26:49 – Encouragement: Realistic expectations, creative engagement, and not giving up on older men29:16 – Incremental growth and encouragement for young pastors; closing reflections29:50 – Final word and Prayer

Contact us. We’d love to serve youRequest a stay at a Shepherd’s House LocationGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Resources(00:43) Introducing the Topic: Christian friendship, especially among pastors(2:00) Biblical foundations: Proverbs 17:17, Ecclesiastes 4, Jonathan & David(04:54) Challenges for men in forming close friendships(07:00) Defining friendship—surface vs. deep bonds(10:00) Men’s reluctance to invest in friendships(12:37) Pastors’ relationships: transactional vs. genuine(14:02) Qualities of true friendship: presence, safety, loyalty, emotional connection(22:00) Cultivating friendship: prayer, planning, risk-taking, listening, being present(30:00) Sanctifying influence—“iron sharpens iron”(31:31) Final word and prayer