Brian Croft and Jim Savastio discuss shepherding believers who are married to unbelievers. They ground it in 1 Peter 3, 1 Corinthians 7, and Matthew 10 — while rejecting any use of Scripture to excuse abuse — then urge pastors to gauge whether the spouse is supportive, indifferent, or hostile, help the believer prioritize commitments, serve creatively, and pray hopefully.

Be encouraged as you listen.

How do you move a church raised on topical sermons toward expository preaching? Brian Croft and Jim Savastio share hard-won counsel: start with the Sermon on the Mount, not Romans; watch your sermon length; and expect the transition to take years, not months. Humbling, practical, and deeply pastoral. Enjoy this episode of Trench Talk!

Pastors rarely talk about retirement until it’s too late. In this episode, Brian Croft and Jim Savastio tackle the often-ignored questions: How should a pastor plan financially? What does “retirement” look like for someone whose calling never really ends? They explore biblical wisdom, practical tools (housing, insurance, investing), global and U.S. challenges, and the idea of being “reassigned” rather than stepping away from ministry. A candid, pastoral conversation to help you finish well.

Brian Croft and Jim Savastio discuss how pastors can wisely care for the weak, faint‑hearted, and idle in their churches. Working from 1 Thessalonians 5:14, they unpack Jim’s metaphor of “buckets with holes” versus “buckets with solid bottoms” to picture how different people receive pastoral investment. They explore identifying weaker brethren, balancing patience with boundaries, avoiding coddling or burnout, using admonish/encourage/help appropriately, involving others in care, and discerning between genuinely weak sheep and resistant, bitter individuals.

Brian Croft hosts Mez McConnell, Matthew Spandler‑Davison, and Steve Bray to highlight the Advancing the Church Equip Conference. They introduce the coalition (Practical Shepherding, 20 Schemes, Mile One Mission, Church in Hard Places), explain the focus on hard places, and describe equipping tracks (planting, revitalization, global missions, biblical counseling, discipling women, discipling men, and preaching), curated exhibitors and partners, affordable pricing, and the importance of friendship and cooperation in ministry.

Brian Croft interviews Bethel Webb, leader of Practical Shepherding Women, about caring for pastors’ wives and kids. Bethel shares her ministry background from the Philippines, her call to counseling, and how she joined Practical Shepherding. They address isolation, expectations, and cultural pressures on pastors’ wives, along with challenges facing pastors’ kids. Bethel explains their three pillars—care, content, and cohorts—plus counseling, mentoring, and global book groups designed to create safe, gospel-centered support.

Brian Croft and Jim Savastio ask, “Do pastors need seminary?” They outline biblical foundations, share their unconventional training stories, explain when degrees are truly necessary, highlight alternative church-based pathways, and encourage non-seminary pastors to prize calling, character, competence, and lifelong learning over credentials.

Brian Croft and Jim Savastio explore when pastors should and shouldn’t defend themselves against accusations. They trace biblical tensions (Jesus’ silence, Paul’s defenses), distinguish personal slights from ministerial slander, outline clear cases requiring defense (illegality, heresy, disqualifying charges), warn against chasing gossip and image-management, and urge humility, wise counsel, and prayerful discernment.

This Trench Talk episode explores how pastors can preach to tender consciences without abandoning strong, biblical exhortation. Brian Croft and Jim Savastio trace the trend toward harsh, “hammer” preaching, reflect on their own overreactions, and emphasize knowing the flock, balancing law and gospel, maintaining hope, and patiently trusting the Spirit—aiming to be both faithful and effective in pastoral ministry.

Brian Croft talks with pastor Kyle McClellan about his new book "Pastor, What Are You Wearing?", launching the Thriving Pastors series. They unpack why clergy attire matters, five guiding principles for what pastors wear, historical context, and practical wardrobe guidance.

Brian Croft and Jim Savastio address the often-neglected ministry of caring for widows and widowers in the local church. Drawing from Psalm 68:5, James 1:27, 1 Timothy 5, Acts 6, and Job, they show God’s particular concern for the poor, orphan, and widow and the church’s responsibility to reflect that heart. They unpack physical, relational, and spiritual needs—from finances, housing, and practical help to deep loneliness, especially for widows, widowers, and pastors’ spouses who’ve lost their partner. The episode closes with practical ideas for pastors, deacons, and members to pursue intentional, relational care and a prayer that no widow or widower under their care would be neglected.

Brian Croft and Jim Savastio explore how elders can move from transactional leadership to relationships marked by honesty, accountability, and friendship. From Acts 20:28, they show pastors are sheep needing care, and offer practical ways to structure meetings and culture so leaders can share real struggles wisely.

When does long-term faithfulness become staying too long? In this episode, Brian Croft and Jim Savastio tackle the rarely discussed problem of pastors who overstay their ministry, drawing on Acts 20, 2 Timothy 4, and 1 Corinthians 16. They unpack warning signs, heart issues, and succession questions to help pastors, elders, and churches discern when it’s time to pass the baton—and why finishing well is about faithfulness, not just longevity.

Brian Croft and Jim Savastio reflect on the life and legacy of Pastor Al Martin and other pastoral mentors who shaped their ministries. Jim shares biographical highlights and vivid stories of Martin’s preaching, pastoral heart, and emphasis on a holy, text‑driven ministry. Brian recalls lessons from his mentor Jackson Boyett, especially loving people well and spiritual fatherhood. Together they urge pastors to seek older mentors, invest in younger men, and carry on a legacy of faithful, intergenerational shepherding.

Brian Croft and Jim Savastio interview Sean Corser about his five-year attempt to revitalize a declining church in Louisville. Sean recounts arriving to very few members and limited finances, seeing encouraging signs of life—new families, children, community outreach—while also facing entrenched control, behind‑the‑scenes scheming, and a public conflict in a business meeting. They walk through the painful discipline process, Sean’s eventual resignation, its toll on his family, and the lessons he learned about suffering, calling, and God’s providence in “unresolved” revitalizations.

Enjoy this episode of Trench Talk.

Brian Croft and Jim Savastio discuss how pastors navigate church calendars alongside national and “Hallmark” holidays. They contrast regulative vs. normative principles of worship, and explore the place of tradition, sharing concrete stories about July 4th, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Mother’s Day. They emphasize acknowledging cultural expectations without letting them dominate the Lord’s Day, and argue that pastors should prioritize pastoral care and biblical focus over personal preference when handling holiday-related pressures.

Enjoy this new episode of Trench Talk!

Brian Croft and Jim Savastio discuss what pastors should do when it’s hard to love certain people in their churches. Starting from the biblical ideal of loving all the flock (1 Thessalonians 2), they distinguish wounded sheep from wolves and explore a spectrum from minor criticism to deep personal wounds. They also address bitterness, identity in Christ, and how physical and emotional stress show up in the body.

Enjoy this episode of Trench Talk!

In this episode of Trench Talk Brian Croft and Jim Savastio explore “life-giving activities” pastors need to sustain long-term perseverance and joy in ministry. They define life-giving as people, places, and things that refresh the soul beyond spiritual disciplines—family, grateful friends, quiet retreats, coffee shops, mountains, travel, hobbies like gardening or cooking, and the joy of helping others.

They ground the conversation biblically (Elijah, Psalm 23, Matthew 14, Sabbath), warn against guilt-driven overwork, and urge pastors to notice recurring anxieties, cultivate restful rhythms, and prioritize joyful refreshment to prevent burnout and increase ministerial effectiveness. The episode closes with a pastoral prayer.

Brian Croft interviews Ronnie Martin about life changes, ministry, and their book The Unhurried Pastor. Ronnie discusses relocating, his full-time role with Harbor Network, recent devotional and music projects, and a new podcast. They reflect on why they wrote the book and how it’s sparked conversations about slowing, pastoral pacing, and caregiver renewal. Practical applications include training events, preaching from Matthew 14, cultivating waiting, listening to bodily cues, and encouraging curiosity about recurring anxieties. The episode closes with a prayer for pastors’ renewal and sustained, joy-filled ministry.

In this episode, Brian Croft and Jim Savastio tackle one of the most pressing questions for pastors and church leaders: how should we actually do discipleship? They walk through Scripture’s foundations, then contrast public preaching, midweek prayer meetings, small/community groups, and organic, life-on-life relationships in the home. Jim makes a passionate case for corporate prayer as a “Declaration of Dependence,” while Brian shares honest stories about hospitality, capacity, and even mistakes that burned out his family. If you’re wrestling with small groups vs. prayer meetings—or simply wanting more intentional discipleship—this conversation will clarify, challenge, and deeply encourage you.