Pastor Eric Thomas from First Baptist Church in Norfolk joins us to share some incredible lessons he's learned from more than 30 years of ministry. He stresses the importance of adapting to cultural shifts while remaining faithful to biblical principles. And he also reflects on the significance of building trust within the church community and the necessity of a long-term vision in leadership.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Ministry in a Changing Culture

10:24 Lessons from Long-Term Leadership

21:06 Building Trust and Leading Change

31:40 Cultural Adaptation and Community Engagement

31:40 Addressing Current Events in Ministry

34:10 Advice for Aspiring Ministers

35:55 Looking Ahead: Future of the Church

Leading worship in a small church? You're navigating impossible expectations—blending hymns with modern songs, stretching shoestring budgets, and wondering if anyone else gets it.

In this episode, Brandon Pickett and David Morton dive into the real talk rural worship leaders need: How do you transition styles without splitting the church? Which songs actually have theological substance? And where do you find support when you're the only worship leader for miles?

David pulls back the curtain on what's working in smaller churches—from service planning strategies that actually stick, to the game-changing workshops and networks designed specifically for leaders like you.

This isn't another "mega church worship" conversation. This is about doing ministry where resources are slim, relationships run deep, and every Sunday matters.

If you've ever felt isolated in your calling, this episode is your reminder: You're not alone.

The path to church revitalizer doesn't always start with being a youth pastor. But it did for Rusty Small. In today's episode, we walk through this unique journey and learn about how he started, the challenges he faced in revitalizing a church, and the importance of community engagement and outreach. Rusty shares valuable insights on leadership, the significance of seminary education, and the importance of pastors genuinely caring for their congregations.

Pastor Grant Ethridge leads Liberty Live Church through 21 Days of Prayer twice a year. Senior adults, working men and women, and teenagers gather at 6 am at the church to seek the Lord. And the stories of how God moves will give you goosebumps! Listen as Brandon, Jeff, and Grant discuss the challenges pastors face in leading prayer initiatives and the miraculous stories that emerge from dedicated prayer

In this episode of the Not Alone Podcast, Brandon Pickett speaks with Mike Young from Noble Warriors about the importance of men's ministry in the church. You will hear about the challenges young men face in engaging with faith, the need for seasoned mentors, and practical strategies for local churches to effectively disciple men. You'll also learn valuable resources for men's discipleship and the critical issue of purity in today's culture.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/xbrpCEdv9IY

01:46 Celebrating 20 Years of Ministry

02:56 The Call to Ministry and Men's Discipleship

06:00 Understanding the Crisis of Young Men in the Church

09:31 Equipping Local Churches for Men's Ministry

10:45 Resources for Mentoring Young Men

14:47 Addressing Purity and Accountability in Men's Groups

19:05 The Importance of Open Conversations about Men's Issues

20:28 Call to Action for Men's Discipleship

Catalyst Church in Newport News walks dogs on the campus of Christopher Newport University to open up gospel conversations. In this episode, founding pastor Jeff Mingee shares with Brandon Pickett how this unique evangelistic effort started and shares insight into how churches and leaders can engage young adults during a pivotal season of life.

So many churches are, unfortunately, not growing, but are either stagnant or declining. That's why SBCV brings pastors together regularly to learn, network, and pray together to see this trend turn around. In this insightful podcast, we dive into three to four keys that helped Swift Creek Baptist in Colonial Heights and its pastor, Ryan Colpitts.

He's led the SBC of Virginia for more than a decade. You may know Brian Autry as the Executive Director of SBCV. However, there were many twists and turns on this path to serving that only God could have orchestrated.

In this episode, Brandon and Brian discuss the importance of community in ministry, Brian's personal journey, the role of mentorship, and the significance of maintaining perspective and humility in leadership. Brian shares his experiences in youth ministry, church planting, and the challenges he faced along the way, emphasizing that ministry is a privilege and that one's identity should be rooted in Christ.