Pursuing the Call to Ministry – Growth

What does it really cost to leave behind everything familiar—your home, your church, your family, and the comforts of American life—to serve the Lord on the mission field? And how do you remain faithful when ministry is difficult, progress is slow, and the sacrifices are greater than you ever anticipated?In Episode 290 of The Postscript Show, Brandon Briscoe sits down with Justin Bedwell, a missionary sent out of Decatur Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama, who is serving as a church planter in eastern Zambia. After years of laboring to advance the gospel, disciple believers, and equip Zambian pastors for ministry, Justin shares an honest look at the realities of missionary life and what it means to remain committed to God's calling through difficult circumstances.Together, they discuss the challenges of establishing a ministry in a foreign culture, the importance of counting the cost before entering the mission field, and the need to develop indigenous leaders who can carry the work forward. Justin also shares some of the personal trials his family has faced, including the difficulties of adjusting to a new culture, navigating family hardships, and returning to Zambia following the unexpected death of his father.This conversation also explores an important principle of sustainable missions: the work of the ministry must transcend the missionary. Rather than building a ministry around one individual, the goal is to train faithful men who can disciple others, strengthen local churches, and multiply the work of the gospel throughout their communities.How do we remain faithful when following Christ comes at a great cost? And what does it look like to depend upon the Lord not only for the success of our ministry, but for the strength to continue when the fruit comes slowly?Join us for this honest and encouraging conversation about missions, discipleship, sacrifice, and faithfulness.Email [email protected] for more information about the Brandon Smith Scholarship.Learn more about Justin and his family's ministry:https://www.bedwells4christ.com/Learn more about Living Faith Bible Institute:https://lfbi.org/learnmore

In this new edition of the Ps+ we join MBT Youth Ministry Director Seth Harper to discover the meaning of biblical worship. 

What if the universe around us is communicating something far more profound than we realize? From the mathematical precision of creation to the remarkable patterns repeated throughout nature, we live in a world governed by order and design. But what if Scripture reveals the same precision—through its language, how reasons and within its thematic patterns. What if God was trying to use both large and small motifs of the Bible to provide us with explicit instruction for the Christian life? What if he has gifted us with a divine logic within the pages of His word?One the most remarkable examples of this is in the design of the Old Testament tabernacle, a structure built according to a rigid, and divinely revealed pattern. Yet that pattern reveals far more than architectural design—it echo’s nature itself. It holds deeper truth. It speaks to our relationship with God, the work of Christ, and our calling to be conformed to his image. What if learning to recognize this pattern could transform not only how we understand Scripture, but how we live?Today on The Postscript, we're joined by Stephen Charette, pastor of First Bible Baptist Church in Gardner, Massachusetts who has spent years studying the relationship between language, mathematics, and biblical patterns and lectured on this topic at the Living Faith Fellowship Certainty Conference in 2022.For further information, follow the link to read the notes for Episode 289.To hear from the 2026 Certainty Conference, visit https://www.lffellowship.com/certaintyVisit lfbi.org/learnmore

What happens when the world’s understanding of the human mind conflicts with the truth of God’s Word? And how should Christians respond to the growing influence of secular therapeutic culture?In this episode of The Postscript Show, Brandon Briscoe sits down with Greg Gifford, author of Lies My Therapist Told Me, to examine the assumptions behind modern mental-health diagnoses, the influence of psychological labels, and the differences between secular therapeutic frameworks and biblical counseling.Together, they discuss how our understanding of the human person shapes the way we interpret suffering, emotions, behavior, and personal struggles. They also consider the potential consequences of diagnostic labels, particularly for children, and why Christian parents need discernment when navigating testing, diagnoses, and counseling recommendations.But this conversation goes beyond criticism. How can Christians minister to people experiencing hardship? What role should Scripture play in understanding the human condition? And how can believers distinguish between practical help and a worldview that conflicts with biblical truth?Brandon and Greg explore the importance of biblical anthropology, the renewal of the mind, and the church’s responsibility to equip believers to disciple others through difficult circumstances. They also discuss how Christians can thoughtfully evaluate secular counseling while recognizing the importance of careful, discerning decisions about mental-health care.Whether you are a pastor, parent, biblical counselor, or Christian seeking to understand these issues more faithfully, this conversation challenges you to examine the assumptions shaping contemporary views of the human person and to consider the transformative work of God’s Word.As Brandon emphasizes at the close of the episode, we encourage you to test the claims of Scripture and consider how God’s Word can renew your mind and bring lasting change to your life and family.About Greg Gifford: Greg Gifford is the author of Lies My Therapist Told Me (available by following the link), a book examining the assumptions of modern therapeutic culture from a biblical perspective.Want to grow in your ability to minister to others through biblical counseling?Living Faith Bible Institute offers training to equip believers for biblical ministry, discipleship, and counseling.Visit: https://www.lfbi.org/learnmore 

Parenting is one of the few God-given responsibilities that changes constantly. The way we parent a five-year-old can’t be the way we parent a fifteen-year-old, and if we do our job well, our children will eventually need no parenting at all. So how do we make that transition well?In Episode 287, Brandon Briscoe sits down with Pastor Alan Shelby, dean of the Living Faith Bible Institute, for a practical conversation on the purpose of biblical parenting and the stages that serve it. Pastor Shelby argues that most parents never settle on the goal of parenting, and that without a goal, principles become scattered tactics. His answer: raise children who are prepared to face “the evil day” and to establish godly homes of their own.In this episode:• Why the goal of parenting must come before the methods (Eccl. 12:1; Eph. 6:4, 13; Gal. 1:4; Prov. 22:6)• A four-stage framework: discipline, relationship, fellowship, and responsibility• Authority versus authoritarianism, and what it means to be “an extension of the Holy Spirit” in your child’s life• The role of conscience in moving from external control to internal conviction• Law without life: what Samson’s upbringing warns us about following principles without the Spirit• Recognizing idols in a teenager’s heart without panic or judgment• Hope for parents who feel they’ve missed the mark: meekness, humility, and honest candor• The church family’s role, especially for single parents and children who need godly mentors• How to measure success in parenting, and why faithful preparation matters more than outcomesWhether you’re raising toddlers, shepherding teenagers, or praying for adult children, this episode points you toward the heart, mission, and goal behind the work.Visit https://lfbi.org/learnmore

Most young disciples begin in ministry with zeal. They're grateful for the opportunity, excited to serve, and eager to prove their faithfulness. They're willing to take smaller ministry assignments, do the unnoticed work, and pour themselves into whatever field God has given them.But eventually, ministry becomes familiar. The work gets repetitive. Progress can be painfully slow, people can be difficult, and the fruit doesn't always match the effort. What once felt like a privilege can slowly become a burden. Without even realizing what's happening in our hearts, weariness becomes boredom, boredom becomes restlessness, and restlessness eventually settles into apathy.So what happens when the field God has given us no longer feels exciting? How do we learn to love the ordinary work of ministry, remain faithful when things get difficult, and recover joy when our hearts have grown tired?On this episode of The Postscript Show, host Brandon Briscoe is joined by Pastor Mitch Dobson, instructor of Biblical Studies at Living Faith Bible Institute, to discuss ministry apathy, the danger of restlessness, and what it means to faithfully and joyfully stay the course.Together, they explore how young ministers can prioritize spiritual growth over the pursuit of new experiences, resist comparing their ministries to others, recognize the warning signs of apathy, and find renewed joy in serving the people God has entrusted to their care. They also discuss the importance of rest, fellowship, prayer, and maintaining a Christ-centered perspective on ministry.For pastors, church planters, and growing spiritual leaders, this conversation offers practical wisdom for persevering in ministry, cultivating godly character, and remaining faithful in the work God has called you to do.In this episode:• Why young ministers become restless and seek the next opportunity• How ministry apathy develops and how to recognize its warning signs• Why spiritual growth matters more than checking boxes or climbing the ministry ladder• How comparison, pride, and a desire for recognition undermine faithfulness• Finding joy in small ministries, ordinary responsibilities, and unseen service• The difference between temporary weariness and growing apathy• Why rest, fellowship, prayer, and time with Christ are essential for ministry leaders• How to keep serving faithfully when ministry becomes difficult or repetitiveVisit https://lfbi.org/learnmore

In this episode of the Ps+ Pastor Chris Allred wraps up this series on the call to ministry with a conversation about what confirmation looks like. 

Confession is one of those Christian practices that many believers struggle to understand. We know 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” But James 5:16 goes further: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”So why is confession still necessary if our sins have already been forgiven through Jesus Christ? Why does God call Christians to confess not only to Him, but also to one another? And what would happen in our churches if believers felt free to honestly acknowledge sin, weakness, and struggles without fear of gossip, shame, or condemnation?In this episode of The Postscript Show, Brandon Briscoe sits down with Chris Best, an instructor at Living Faith Bible Institute, to examine the biblical theology and practice of confession. They discuss the difference between positional righteousness and our practical walk with God, the relationship between confession and fellowship, the role of the Holy Spirit in conviction, and how unconfessed sin can affect our prayer life, joy, relationships, and fellowship with other believers.Brandon and Chris also explore James 5:16, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 32, 1 Corinthians 11, the Lord’s Supper, repentance, accountability, discipleship, and the role of confession within the local church. They discuss how churches can develop a healthy culture of confession rather than encouraging believers to hide their struggles or simply “perform” their faith.The conversation also addresses an important question: Is biblical confession the same thing as the Roman Catholic practice of confessing sins to a priest? Brandon and Chris examine the historical and theological differences between Catholic sacramental confession and the New Testament teaching concerning confession, forgiveness, fellowship, prayer, and spiritual growth.Finally, they discuss practical ways pastors and church leaders can encourage a healthy culture of confession through prayer, Bible studies, discipleship relationships, accountability, pastoral example, and the church invitation.If you have ever wondered why Christians need to confess sin after salvation, what “confess your faults one to another” actually means, whether Christians should confess sins to a priest, or how confession should function in the local church, this episode is for you.The Postscript Show is Living Faith Bible Institute’s weekly podcast and YouTube series featuring in-depth theological and ministry conversations with pastors, Bible scholars, missionaries, and professors.Visit http://lfbi.org/learnmore

Motherhood is often described as one of life’s greatest joys—and it is. But for many women, it can also become one of life’s darkest and most disorienting seasons. Exhaustion, isolation, hormonal changes, overwhelming responsibility, and the quiet fear that “I’m not the mother I’m supposed to be” can converge into something much deeper than ordinary discouragement.For some, that darkness has a name: postpartum depression. For others, depression arrives later and lingers silently behind the daily responsibilities of raising a family. Unfortunately, Christian mothers can also feel an additional burden—the fear that admitting they are struggling somehow means they are failing spiritually.So, how should the church understand depression in motherhood? How do we take seriously the relationship between the body and the soul without surrendering our confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture? And how can husbands, pastors, friends, and churches recognize suffering and respond with truth, compassion, and genuine biblical hope?Today, I’m joined by Christine Chappell, author of Midnight Mercies: Walking with God Through Depression in Motherhood, for an important conversation about postpartum depression, the pressures mothers quietly carry, and how the gospel meets women in some of their darkest moments—not merely with explanations, but with the enduring hope of Christ.Follow the links to get Christine Chappell's book Midnight Mercies: Walking with God Through Depression in Motherhood and upcoming devotional Crying Out in Faith.Visit: https://www.lfbi.org

In this episode of the Ps+ Pastor Chris Allred walks through the different stages of spiritual growth—and how they relate to our involvement in the call of ministry.