Not Alone

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/xbrpCEdv9IY01:46 Celebrating 20 Years of Ministry02:56 The Call to Ministry and Men's Discipleship06:00 Understanding the Crisis of Young Men in the Church09:31 Equipping Local Churches for Men's Ministry10:45 Resources for Mentoring Young Men14:47 Addressing Purity and Accountability in Men's Groups19:05 The Importance of Open Conversations about Men's Issues20:28 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.

Every church has specific challenges to face. Many of those challenges are the same, no matter the size or location of the church. But for those churches that are in rural or small town settings, answers may be hard to come by to help with their unique situations. That's why the SBCV held a special conference just for these churches. In this episode, we talk with John Sharp, who highlights some of the main takeaways that could really help your church.

When Philip Bramblet came to Rocky Mount, Virginia, to pastor Furnace Creek Baptist Church, he knew God had called him there. What he didn't realize was the journey he and the church would have to take and how long it would take. It's a revitalization story of two 5-year chapters, including a time when he was almost shown the door! But along the way, Philip learned one thing that he constantly needs... GRIT. God, Repentance, Instruction, and Time.

It was hard to watch Cracker Barrel try to reinvent itself this year. It tried to move away from the past and into a future that seemed to leave its customer base behind. But what can churches and ministries learn from this process? Marketing expert Mark MacDonald has been a frequent speaker at IFR's Worship & Technology Conference. In today's podcast, he breaks down some lessons that we can all take away from a $700 million rebrand that almost took a national icon down.

This past Virginia General Assembly, lawmakers approved two constitutional amendments that would tear down family and Biblical values in the areas of gender, marriage, and life. And these amendments, if approved by voters in November of 2026, directly impact every Virginian and every church. So why is this November's election so crucial and maybe even more important? We dive into those issues in today's podcast with Pastor Jonathan Falwell and our partner from the Family Foundation, Michael Morisi.

No one ever hopes for a disaster. But we all know that it's unfortunately a part of life. So, being prepared to help someone in need is so important. That's where the SBC of Virginia Disaster Relief ministries come in. In today's podcast, we talk with a brand-new, trained volunteer who also served with DR as an intern. Aiden Wolfgang shares his experience and why he would do this for a living if he could!

One of the most rewarding things in ministry is to see our church members grow in the Lord and serve with joy. But how to get people from the parking lot to the pew to serving can also be one of the most challenging. Today's episode breaks it down and gives you insightful ways to recruit, track, and train your fellow members as we "equip the saints for the work of the ministry!"

No matter where you turn, there is another digital device that is on your desk, your wrist, or your countertop, either chirping, buzzing, or ringing at you. It's just about impossible to live without digital distraction. But author and strategist, Jeff Mingee, tells us ways we can take dominion over our digital lives and even gives us ways to tell if it's actually working!

How do you serve in a historic or traditional church and make changes that don't blow up the ministry or leave a trail of destruction behind you? Josh Morgan, the pastor of 1st Baptist of Dillwyn, believes that the answer may be as simple as listening, learning, and staying long enough to build relationships that, in turn, help solve long-standing issues keeping the church from growing.

Pastor Chad Wilhelm from Winchester, VA, shares his story of how he and his church are navigating a growing community, a growing church, and nowhere else to grow! How do you move forward with limited resources but unlimited opportunities for ministry? It's an incredibly helpful revitalization story

No matter the size of your ministry, everyone needs people right beside you taking on some of the load. In a church context, it's even more important - and Biblical - to have deacons. But do they even know what they are supposed to do and how to do it? And even more importantly, why? Pastor Jamie McClanahan talks with us in this Not Alone episode about how they are revitalizing their church through a health deacon ministry!

What do you do when your church is growing but you aren't able to start a new service? How do you plan for and accommodate any new growth? In the case of Salem Baptist outside of Richmond, they decided to realize an earlier vision. They are going to actually break down the center wall of the building they currently occupy and open up major space. But Pastor Jeff Dickson believes this is just a visual representation of a bigger reality - that there are other barriers God wants to break down!

This is a historic year in Virginia! The General Assembly has passed two amendments to our constitution that will dramatically change the way we deal with marriage and abortion in the Commonwealth. And they negatively target our Biblical and family values. Virginia Delegate Mark Earley and Michael Morisi from our strategic partner in Richmond, The Family Foundation, join the Not Alone Podcast to discuss these important issues. We dive into the details and explain why it is crucial to both be informed and get involved, so we can turn the tide before these amendments become locked in place.

A great way to invite families to your church is through sports. One of the strong ministries making an impact for God's glory is Upward Sports.SBCV's Cindy Middaugh invited Jennifer McCraw and Jessica Drotleff from Upward Sports to share how families are getting to know more about God through this dynamic ministry. Listen to this conversation that may encourage your church to begin one for your community.Not Alone Podcast Episode #105

How intentional are you with your prayer life? There are so many distractions around us that it is easy to get out of a daily routine of communicating with the Lord.SBCV's Dolly Mink thinks through this topic with Andrea Lennon who works with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Andrea is also the guest speaker for the Equip Women's Conference on May 4, 2024 at Kempsville Baptist Church in Virginia Beach. Listen to this conversation on how we can boldly seek God's will.Not Alone Podcast Episode #104

Girls who are in 6th through 12th grade are searching for their identity. This can become a very blurry and challenging task. They need truth spoken in their lives.SBCV's Lexi Shipp caught up with Gabrielle McCullough, an author and speaker who helps strengthen women to be God-honoring. Gabrielle is also the keynote speaker for Purpose: A Gathering for Girls. This SBCV event is on September 22, 2023 in Virginia Beach. Join us as we spend the evening digging into defining our identity and who we really are.Not Alone Podcast Episode #103