RE: CHURCH

“Every person needs a trusted voice to speak into his life, especially regarding retirement or leaving a church.” The discussion in this episode of RE:CHURCH between Marshall Fant and Dale Cunningham begins with this comment. How can a pastor discern that it is time to step aside? Why is the way a pastor leaves a church so important, especially after years of fruitful ministry? What are some common mistakes pastors make when retiring? Dale Cunningham was a senior pastor for 40 years. He and his wife, Denise, now serve ministry couples through D&D Ministries.

Do you want to grow spiritually and please God but know you are struggling? How can you be a more consistent, stable person? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses with Mardi Collier how growing in her knowledge of God has changed her life. Mardi is the author of What Do I Know About My God? She has been married to Ken Collier for 53 years, and together they have served at The Wilds throughout that time. Speaking of how knowing God has been transformative, Mardi quoted her husband: “When there is a gap between the wisdom and ways of God and our understanding of the wisdom and ways of God, we fill the gap with trust.” See https://gfamissions.org/knowing-god/ for the show notes.

How common is isolation and loneliness among pastors? What are ways to cultivate friendships as pastors? The ministry requires pastors to spend time alone studying the Word and praying, and it can be tempting to stop reaching out to others. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses with Dan Pelletier, pastor of Hamilton Square Baptist Church, some warning signs that a person has become isolated and what to do to avoid it. Speaking of how he fights discouragement, Pastor Dan says, “By focusing on others, I stay encouraged.”

When requests began coming in to help start camps around the world, what did The Wilds of North Carolina do? It started CampsAbroad as its missions arm to assist missionaries and local pastors in reaching teens through sustainable and indigenous camping ministries. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses CampsAbroad with Tim Endean, its director since 2025. Speaking of the joy of seeing God touch the lives of 15,000 teens annually around the world, Tim says, “There are brothers and sisters in Christ who have the same desire, the same goals that you have of seeing the next generation come to know the Lord and walk with Him and live for Him.”

“Don’t lose your walk with God while doing the work of God.” Ministry is a privilege, and God’s Word is sufficient, but pastors’ wives are not immune to the temptation to fear people in ministry. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses with his wife, Gretchen, three Scripture passages that have been anchors for her as she has faced her fears and the hardships of ministry. The Fants have been married since 1981 and spent their initial years in pastoral ministry as supported missionaries replanting a church in Rock Hill, SC. They currently serve in their local church and at GFA.

While the responsibilities of parents don’t change because of being in ministry, prioritizing the demands of ministry above family and fearing man may be greater temptations. How do you shepherd your children’s hearts towards the Lord, deal with criticism, and involve your children in ministry? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall and Gretchen Fant share practical advice on this topic. Speaking of the importance of cultivating a relationship with your children, Marshall Fant says, “Children will walk away from a home that is full of rules, but they typically will not walk away from a good relationship with their parents.” The Fants have been married since 1981 and currently serve in their local church and at GFA.

Are you going through a hard season in ministry right now? What challenges are you facing as you shepherd broken people? Suffering is often God’s tool to refine His undershepherds and make them more Christlike. In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with Brenson Jennings, pastor of Crooked Creek Baptist Church in Athens, GA. Speaking of some of the lessons he has learned, Pastor Jennings says, "Ministry is not measured by buildings, bucks, and bodies but by Christlikeness."

Expectations are high; time is short; criticism is real. How do you prevent these pressures of ministry from straining your marriage? Marshall Fant discusses this topic with his wife, Gretchen, in this episode of RE:CHURCH. Their conclusion? Humble communication is the key. The Fants have been married since 1981 and currently serve in their local church and at GFA.

“I thought my job was to keep all the women happy.” That was Gretchen Fant’s view for about three weeks after her husband became a pastor. People’s expectations for a pastor’s wife vary, but what Scripture passages outline God’s expectations? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses this topic with his wife, Gretchen, who served as a pastor’s wife for 21 years. The Fants have been married since 1981 and currently serve in their local church and at GFA.

Criticism is a normal part of shepherding, not an indication of failure. But why does it hurt so deeply? How can a pastor avoid becoming defensive, discouraged, or bitter? How can criticism actually deepen a pastor’s humility, grow his dependence on Christ, and make him more effective as an undershepherd? In this episode of RE:CHURCH, Marshall Fant discusses handling criticism with Dale Cunningham, a senior pastor for 40 years. He and his wife, Denise, now serve ministry couples through D&D Ministries.