Around the new year we always start thinking about new plans and new goals we want to implement in the new year. Church planters in particular are notorious for having busy schedules, setting big goals, and doing a poor job of creating healthy margin in our lives. So how can we do better?  In this episode, Jared and Logan talk about annual planning, calendaring, and productivity for pastors and church planters. They cover everything from setting annual goals to building out calendar...

Church planters aren’t immune to idolatry. In fact, there are unique temptations and idols that can become a snare to church planters that we must be wary of. Some of those idols are good things that we turn into ultimate things. In this episode, Jared and Logan talk about some of the common idols that church planters turn toward and how we can guard ourselves from serving those idols. If this podcast is a blessing to you, we would be honored if you would subscribe on your favorite podcast...

It seems like we hear another story about a pastor having a moral failure on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, sexual sin is not just rampant in our culture. It is all too prevalent in our churches. And church planters and pastors need to be on guard. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” In this week’s episode, Jared and Logan talk about the dangers of sexual sin, why pastors fall into it, how to flee from it, and what to...

This is the first ever SOLO episode of In The Trenches! With Logan out this week, Jared is doing his first ever solo episode. This week, Jared talks about both the unique challenges and opportunities church plants have this Christmas season. He also gives 5 practical ways you can equip your church to be on mission this Christmas season in light of the limitations churches are facing with new restrictions and lockdowns. If this podcast is a blessing to you, we would be honored if you would...

While Scripture teaches that the role of pastor is reserved for men, it’s also clear in Scripture that women play significant roles within the Body of Christ. Unfortunately, many complementarian churches do not have clear pathways for women to be trained and equipped for ministry. As a result, half of the missions force of the church is not equipped and many gifted women aren’t invested into as they should be. Other churches swing the pendulum in the opposite direction and blur the lines of...

Scripture tells us that false teachers and divisive people will arise from time to time even from within our churches (Acts 20:29-31, 2 Pet. 2:1-2). But dealing with these situations is easier said than done. How do you handle these situations when they arise and how can you be prepared for them when they inevitably come?  That's what Jared and Logan talk about in this week's episode. They share from their own experience, talk about "Do's and don'ts" when it comes to dealing with divisive...

A healthy diet and regular exercise have a much bigger impact on ministry effectiveness than we realize. In fact, neglecting to watch what we eat and exercise regularly isn’t just unadvisable, it’s sinful. It hinders your ability to “do everything with excellence as unto the Lord”. So how can you turn things around with your diet and your exercise? That’s what Jared and Logan discuss in this week’s episode. Be sure to check out other episodes and our blog at our website,...

Whenever someone starts sensing a call to ministry, usually the first thing they think about is going to seminary. But is that the right move? Is it the best way to get equipped? In this episode, Jared and Logan talk about the right way to approach seminary when you are preparing to plant a church, be a missionary, or enter into vocational ministry.  Be sure to check out other episodes and our blog at our website, www.getinthetrenches.com! If this podcast is a blessing to you, please do us...

This week, Jared and Logan welcome Matt Hess back in the trenches! Matt was the co-host of In The Trenches with Jared for the first 4 seasons. Matt is currently a church planter in Toronto, Ontario and a Church Planting Catalyst with the North American Mission Board. In this episode, the guys talked with Matt about the challenges of church planting in a region where restrictions on gathering have been heavy and how that has impacted what ministry looks like. They also talked about how...

Many churches want to help support church planting and missions domestically and internationally but have trouble finding good work to support as well as knowing how to be helpful. Every church wants to know that the investment they are making into the missionaries they support is a good investment!  In this episode, Jared and Logan discuss how to identify worthy church planters and missionaries to support. Then they discuss ways in which partner churches can both help and hinder the work of...

Church planters are notorious for trying to be the jack of all trades. They preach every week, plan outreach events, counsel church members in crisis, balance the budget, fundraise, schedule volunteers, and more. While this can seem heroic, it’s actually doing more harm than good. One of the best things any church planter or pastor can do is learn how to build a strong team of leaders around them so that they aren’t doing everything alone! Jared and Logan talk about how to do just that in...

This week Jared and Logan interview Clint Clifton to talk about how to identify, raise up, and train potential church planters and leaders in your church. Specifically, the guys talk about how to start a church planting residency in your own church. And guess what? You can start doing it from day 1!  Clint is a veteran church planter and the Senior Director of Development for the North American Mission Board's Send Network. If you have further questions about church planting residencies, you...

Depression and anxiety are very real issues for many church planters and ministry leaders. And many who are in ministry suffer silently and never talk about it with someone else. In this episode, Jared and Logan discuss the reasons behind why pastors and ministry leaders are reluctant to get help for depression and anxiety. Then, they talk about the cause behind the growing number of ministry leaders who are depressed and what we can do about it. Resources for depression - Books Gentle...

What is it like planting churches internationally and how do you know if you are called to do so? in this episode, Jared and Logan share about their experiences church planting in Canada and Iceland, respectively. They discuss some of the unique challenges, thing that may surprise you, and the joys of planting churches cross culturally. Be sure to check out other episodes and our blog at our website, www.getinthetrenches.com! If this podcast is a blessing to you, please do us a huge favor...

There's a lot of debate amongst Christians right now about how and when to resume in person worship gatherings. But if there's one thing that's become clear since the onset of COVID-19 in March, it's that being able to gather physically with other believers is both important and precious.  In this episode, Jared and Logan argue that while there’s room for Christian freedom in the specific ways we lead our churches during this season, we can safely say that biblically we ought to make every...

You probably had plans to reach your community in 2020. And then COVID-19 happened. COVID-19 has in many cases exposed our over-dependence upon programs, events, and advertising to reach lost people.  But when all of that is stripped away, it puts us in position to completely depend upon God and on the power of the Gospel through simple evangelism and discipleship. This week, Jared and Logan talk about how COVID-19 has taught them that the best way to reach people during the pandemic is to...

There are plenty of lessons to learn from COVID-19 for pastors and church planters. One of the most valuable lessons may be our need to slow down and be content with the ministry God has given us. In this episode, Jared introduces his new co-host, Logan Douglas. Then, Jared and Logan talk about how to truly make a big impact for the Kingdom of God and how COVID-19 has helped both of them learn to slow down and enjoy Jesus and ministry a whole lot more.  Be sure to check out other episodes...

This week, Matt & Jared talk about what their experiences have been like so far leading their respective church plants through the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic. They talk about what they've been doing in their churches as well as some ideas for other church plants to consider.  Be sure to head over to iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify and “subscribe” to In The Trenches and then leave us a written review. Check out our other episodes at our website,...

We're back for season 4! After a couple months off, we're exited to be kicking off another season. Due to the demands on our schedule, we will be putting out new episodes on a monthly basis as opposed to a weekly basis for Season 4. We hope and pray that In The Trenches continues to be a blessing to you!  In this week's episode, Matt and Jared talk about the difference between doing ministry "in the flesh", in our own strength, and doing ministry "in the Spirit", in God's strength. The...

Matt and Jared talk to Vance Pitman, about how a church planter can guard against working “for” God rather than allowing God to work through him. Vance reminds us that the primary task of any church planter is not to plant a church, but to know God. They also talk about APEST roles on church planting teams and the power of incorporating more corporate prayer into Sunday morning gatherings and how to do it. You don't want to miss this episode!  Vance is the pastor of Hope Church in Las...

One thing that church planters often struggle to do is get adequate rest during the week. But taking a Sabbath day off during your week is critical to your long term health and success as a church planter! Not to mention, it's also a command in Scripture! This week Matt and Jared talk about how to be consistent taking a Sabbath rest, how we're tempted to "cheat" on our rest days, and when its appropriate for a church planter to think about taking a sabbatical and how to put that process into...

Church planters and pastors talk a lot about prayer, but does the way we structure our calendars and the way we conduct our worship services actually reflect that we believe prayer is as vital as we say it is? In this week's episode, Matt & Jared discuss this and talk about changes that we can make to move beyond giving lip service to the importance of prayer. They also discuss the power of prayer and why prayer is the single most important thing a church planter or pastor can do.  Be...

This Thanksgiving week Matt & Jared talk about what they are thankful for, Jared's disdain for driving large trucks in the city, and how to know if you are called to plant a church. While "calling" is a much talked about topic in the church planting world, many people continue to jump into church planting without the essential elements of a strong call. In this episode Matt & Jared talk about what those essential elements are and the potential dangers of jumping into church planting...

This week is Part 2 of Jared and Matt's interview with Brian O'Day, the Executive Director of the Praetorian Project. The Praetorian Project is an effort to multiply the gospel through the establishment of new churches in military communities around the world. The churches are identified with their common name, Pillar Church. The goal is for military and civilians alike to find a church home at any Pillar Church they may encounter. With 7 churches, from Japan to Southern California to...