Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Our devices. Our phones. Our laptops. Our tablets. Our iPads. Whatever. They can be a huge blessing. They can be an enormous distraction. Listen in to this carefully and thoughtfully developed episode, taught by Pastor Nate Holdridge at Calvary Monterey in May 2025. Speaking personally, it blessed and encouraged me, big-time. I'm working smarter now, even on my so-called smart phone. Listen and share. This will helm many. For Poimen Ministries, its staff, ...
Jun 23, 2025•44 min•Season 5Ep. 176
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Cory Kilgus is a man with a vision. His vision drives his efforts. The key to all of this is explained in this podcast. Get the right vision (the Biblical vision), and then follow the Lord and trust the Holy Spirit to get it done. A simple recipe for God-produced success. A pattern for pastors and church planters and disciplers everywhere. For Poimen Ministries, its staff, ministries, and focus, go to poimenministries.com. To contact Poimen Ministries, ema...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 175
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Welcome to Podcast 174. Today I’m with Dr. Bruce Hebel, author of the incredible, life altering book Forgiving Forward: Experience the Freedom of the Gospel through the Power of Forgiveness. All close followers of Jesus Christ know that we should forgive others, but there are things about forgiveness that are about as clear as mud to us. In this episode of SFTP, we talked with Bruce about the common misconceptions that are out there about what forgiveness ...
May 20, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 174
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! At 72 years of age, Pastor John Offutt of LifeSource Community Church in Lindale, Texas, is hardly a young man. He started LifeSource when he was in his 60s, hardly an age thought to be fitting for a new church plant. One of the main things he had in his favor was that he'd been around the block before, several times in fact. He had experience and was (and is) gifted to do what he does. But he also didn't care. Meaning, he didn't care how others thought he...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 173
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! For Poimen Ministries, its staff, ministries, and focus, go to poimenministries.com. To contact Poimen Ministries, email us at strongerpastors@gmail.com. May the Lord revive His work in the midst of these years!
Apr 16, 2025•53 min
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! The Barnabas Method has silently transformed over 500 men's lives across decades, and now this powerful discipleship process is available to every church leader seeking authentic spiritual formation for the men they shepherd. What's the difference between knowing biblical information and becoming like Christ? According to Pastor Dale Lewis, most discipleship approaches focus too heavily on knowledge acquisition while neglecting the transformational aspects...
Mar 31, 2025•53 min•Season 5Ep. 172
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! This is a podcast done by Karl Vaters (author, Small Church Essentials ) and Sean Nemecek, a pastor who ministers to pastors to help keep them vitalized and fruitful. The name of the podcast is The Church Lobby, Conversations on Faith and Ministry. We asked permission to play this episode in its entirety. I think you'll find it to be extremely helpful and practical, dealing with the subject of pastoral sabbaticals. The Why, When, and How. Such a need in to...
Mar 15, 2025•49 min•Season 5Ep. 171
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Pastor Brian Heminger has been in pastoral ministry for a lot of years, most recently as the founding and longtime pastor of Calvary Chapel Half Moon Bay. As such, Brian was bi-vocational. His work life outside of the church was as a full-time evangelist, in the role of barber. Now he's retired from that role, but continues in his calling as a pastor-teacher. We pastors all need encouragement. Brian's story provides that for all of us. Blessings, Bill Hold...
Feb 19, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 170
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Episode 169 of SFTP tells the story of what it's like to minister in Las Vegas, Nevada, aka "sin city". It CAN be done! Where sin abounds, grace much more abounds. We all know that, but it's for real in the Las Vegas valley. Hear from Pastor John Knapp about some of the ways the Holy Spirit has led their church, Calvary Chapel Green Valley, to be fruitful and growing in Christ. The transcript is also part of this episode... For Poimen Ministries, its staff...
Jan 28, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 169
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! 168- Dale Lewis: A Pastor You Need to Know In the latest episode of our podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Pastor Dale Lewis, a man whose life and ministry have been profoundly shaped by his unique journey of faith. Pastor Dale shares his story, one that begins with a challenging childhood and evolves into a life dedicated to spiritual mentorship and leadership. Growing up without a father, Dale's early years were marked by a search for meaning...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 168
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! 167- Testimony: Powerful Renewal in the Holy Spirit- with John Knapp In the bustling community of Henderson, Nevada, a spiritual renewal is taking place at Calvary Chapel Green Valley under the leadership of Pastor John Knapp. For over 26 years, Pastor John has been a guiding light for his congregation, but recently, a new wave of the Holy Spirit has invigorated the church, bringing a fresh sense of purpose and community. The story begins with a simple que...
Dec 09, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 167
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Comments? Questions? Send us a message! In this heartfelt episode, Bill Holdridge shares a powerful message delivered at Regeneration Church in Scotts Valley, California. This episode is a departure from our usual format, as Bill recounts a personal journey of forgiveness and the transformative power it holds for pastors and believers alike. Drawing from his own experiences and the teachings of Bruce Hell, author of "Forgiving Forward," Bill explores the p...
Nov 18, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 166
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! This is podcast 164 of Strength for Today’s Pastor. In this interview, I'm speaking with Pastor Dan Jacobsen, a lead/teaching pastor at Heartland Community Church in Olathe, Kansas. In addition to his role as a pastor-teacher, Dan has the unique distinction of being a grandson of the now-in-heaven pastor and Bible teacher, the beloved Dr. Warren Wiersbe. This is going to be a fun conversation for that reason alone. But wait! There will be more! So, welcome...
Oct 30, 2024•51 min•Season 5Ep. 165
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Shaun and Sheila Sells have served faithfully as a senior/lead pastor and wife team with Calvary Chapel Cheyenne, Wyoming. Then, after 20 years in that role, Shaun handed the church leadership reins over to his admin pastor, with a vision to move on to the next season of life and ministry for the both of them. Both Shaun and Sheila are retired from the U.S. Air Force (Sheila ends her career in mid-November 2024). Listen to their story, and get inspired and...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 164
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Dr. Richard Clinton is an expert on Christian leadership. He and his father Dr. J. Robert Clinton have spent more than 40 years researching, analyzing, and instructing on the subject. They've looked at Biblical leaders, at leaders in the history of the church. They've been thorough, to say the least. What Richard has to say with regard to the life stages of the Christian leader is vital and helpful for Christian leaders fom a vision and preparation standpo...
Sep 24, 2024•59 min•Season 5Ep. 163
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Richard Clinton is passionate with regard to helping Christian leaders—particularly pastors—finish well. Richard pastored 5 churches during the course of his 40-year pastoral ministry, and also served with his father, Dr. J. Robert Clinton, in the field of Christian leadership studies and training. The book The Making of a Leader: Recognizing Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development is the foundational book resulting from their work. 49 Biblical leader...
Aug 28, 2024•46 min•Season 5Ep. 162
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Podcast Episode 161 Introduction We love to hear pastors tell their own stories, and provide wisdom to others that they've gleaned and that has grown in them over their years of service. Today we have with us pastor Rich Lammay, who has been a senior/lead pastor for 32+ years in the relatively small town of Gardnerville, Nevada. Poimen Ministries recently served the church Rich serves, High Sierra Fellowship, as Rich and his wife Suzanne took three months ...
Aug 13, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 161
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Welcome to Strength for Today’s Pastor, episode 160. Our hope and goal is to provide encouragement, sometimes instruction, and sometimes ministry tools to current pastors and leaders, that the churches they serve might also be encouraged, strengthened, and equipped. To that end, today we have with us Pastor Joey Crandall, senior/lead pastor of Calvary Chapel Carson Valley, located in Gardnerville, NV. We’re actually recording here in the church facility. S...
Jul 16, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 160
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! If we pastors don't know what we're aiming at, we'll never hit the target. It's essential to have the right target, and there's no question that the Biblical target is to equip saints unto spiritual maturity and spiritual fruitfulness. Join Bill Holdridge and Pastor Matt Valencia as they put skin on this topic, helpful for any pastor anywhere. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bill-holdridge/support For Poimen Ministries, it...
Jun 12, 2024•52 min•Season 4Ep. 159
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Matt Valencia pastors The Regeneration Church in Scotts Valley, CA. He's a father of five, a church planter, a former school teacher, a former assisting pastor, and the current pastor of ReGen Church. He also heads up a team of leaders across Northern California and Northern Nevada. These leaders serve the senior pastors and churches affiliated with the Calvary Chapel Association. In addition to all of these things, and working together with all of it, Mat...
Mar 06, 2024•52 min•Season 4Ep. 159
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! It's nothing short of a miracle that Steve Marquez is still with us, here on planet earth. Listen to the story of his healing, and even more importantly, of the ministry to which God has called himPastors and leaders, this episode will provide great insights into how to minister to and care for cancer patients.Also, this episode will be super encouraging, illuminating many hearts towards kingdom ministry.Steve is the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel Ft. S...
Feb 13, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 158
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Pastor Don Rypstra is in his last days of a long pastorate in Rochester, Minnesota. His and his wife's move to northern Idaho means that a new normal is waiting for them, but also that someone will be called into an exciting opportunity to pastor and reach the people of Rochester, home of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. Pastor Don is not unlike many pastors, world-wide. Don is conscientious, faithful, thoughtful, and committed to Christ and the gospel. Ano...
Jan 17, 2024•53 min•Season 4Ep. 157
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! It's a huge problem. And because of it, we're losing many of our best youth to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Too often, the young people in our churches run off to college or university and subsequently abandon the faith. Also, in our churches there often is a big chasm between what happens in youth or college groups, and what is going on in adult church. The younger generation isn't learning how to connect or get involved in service to Christ withi...
Jan 02, 2024•45 min•Season 4Ep. 156
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Every pastor has a testimony, but very few have one like Gary Malkus Jr. Inspiring and directional, Gary's testimony touches a lot of lives, from those in the worst kind bondage to those who need to remember where they came from as they deal with present realities and future dreams. An amazing story... from meth to ministry. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bill-holdridge/support For Poimen Ministries, its staff, ministries...
Dec 12, 2023•50 min•Season 4Ep. 155
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Sandy Adams is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain, Georgia. He is known as a tremendous communicator and teacher of God's Word. At the recent International Pastor's Conference in Southern California, Sandy delivered a message entitled "Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should". His text was from 1 Samuel 24, the account of David having had a chance to kill Saul in a cave in En Gedi, but refused to touch the Lord's anointed. Yet, he did cut off...
Nov 30, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 154
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Welcome to podcast 153. Today, it’s a blessing and honor to welcome Thom Rainer. Our subject will be church revitalization, a subject that Dr. Rainer is an expert on… Thom S. Rainer is an author, researcher, speaker, and former president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Prior to LifeWay, he served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for twelve years where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is ...
Nov 14, 2023•26 min•Season 4Ep. 153
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! In episode 152, Bill Holdridge sits down with pastor Nick Cady of White Fields Community Church in Longmont, Colorado. The topic is the backstory of Nick's book, The God I Won't Believe In. How would you complete this sentence, “I could never believe in a God who…?” In 2019, Nick Cady asked the Internet that very question. The responses, along with other research, highlighted nine common themes – topics which people say make it hard for them to embrace Chr...
Nov 02, 2023•43 min•Season 4Ep. 152
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Jack Arnold pastors Calvary Chapel Mt. Si, in North BendWashington.In 2016, the Lord called Jack and family to move to North Bend and become the pastor of Calvary Chapel North Bend, which is now called Calvary Mt. Si. North Bend is only 30 miles from Seattle, a hotbed of far left wing, progressive thinkng. It is not considered a particularly fertile place for the gospel or a place where true believers and new covenant disciples can be made.Yet, the gospel ...
Oct 17, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 151
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! SFTP Podcast number 150 focuses on how a ministry which is considered a frontlines ministry must first of all, be a healthy ministry. There must be the life of Jesus , the light of Jesus , and also the love of Jesus . Today I’ll be speaking with Pastor Arnold, who ministers right in the thick of the ongoing cultural and spiritual rebellion against God which is so prevalent in these times in which we live. Jack pastors Calvary Chapel Mt. Si, in North Bend, ...
Oct 03, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 150
Comments? Questions? Send us a message! Rich Cathers has written a book. He didn't write a book to write a book; he wrote a book that would advance a ministry passion of his ... the discipling of God's people into the Word of God. Helping them make Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible contemplation and application as much a part of their lives as breathing or eating. So, the book is called Seven for Seven. As you listen to this episode, you'll discover the reason for the title (which all by its...
Sep 12, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 148
