In this practical episode, Phil Gifford and Richard Pope dive into six essential tips for holding baptism services that are meaningful, mission-focused, and joy-filled. Whether you're a lead pastor or part of a church team, this conversation is packed with real-life stories, helpful strategies, and a few tangents along the way.

You’ll learn:

• How to capture and share baptism stories to inspire your church and community.
• Why it’s better to spread out baptisms instead of batching them all together.
• The importance of giving space but not waiting too long between decision and baptism.
• How to make baptisms a true celebration that mirrors heaven’s excitement.
• Why you should let others baptize and empower spiritual leaders beyond just the pastors.
• How to invite people to respond—both those watching and those being baptized.

Phil and Richard also get honest about navigating baptisms with kids, avoiding false conversions, and balancing theology with pastoral care.

Key Takeaway: Baptisms should be a regular, joyful, and mission-driving part of church life, not just an occasional event.

In this second part of our two-part conversation with Jim Collins, we pick up the story after his failed church plant in Tennessee. Now, Jim shares how God led him—slowly and graciously—toward planting again, this time in Las Vegas, Nevada. But this story isn’t just about “success.” It’s about soul-level transformation, submission to God’s process, and the deep lessons of leadership that only come through waiting, listening, and learning.

From new rhythms of spiritual health to wise counsel and assessment, Jim walks through how he and his wife approached this second attempt with humility, intentionality, and kingdom dependence. Whether you're in a season of rebuilding or preparing for what's next, this episode will encourage you to lead faithfully and stay rooted in the gospel.

Key Topics Covered:

• How to know if you're ready to try again after failure
• What healthy preparation looks like for church planting
• Why waiting is often part of God’s leadership development
• The role of assessment, training, and spiritual mentors
• How to build the right kind of core team
• Leading from a place of joy and surrender
• What makes ministry leadership sustainable over time

Key Quotes:

“God killed off the idol of being ‘the guy.’ I was finally ready to just be faithful.”
“Delays in ministry are not disobedience—they’re often obedience.”
“We weren’t launching a service to grow a church. We were living on mission to reach people.”
“Your greatest failure might become the thing you thank God most for.”

In this unfiltered and unscripted episode, Phil and Richard have a real conversation about why summer is one of the most strategic seasons for church outreach—and how your church or ministry can make the most of it.

Rather than settling for the “summer slump,” they share how their churches are leaning in with clear goals, creative outreach ideas, and intentional mobilization. From micro-events to digital reach, and personal invitations to park pop-ups, they explain how summer can be a season of growth, not just survival.

You’ll hear real strategies, some goofy banter, and a healthy reminder: good intentions don’t become faithful action without clear goals. Whether you’re dreaming big or just trying to do something with purpose this summer, this episode will help you get there.

In This Episode:

• Why most churches waste the summer—and how yours doesn’t have to
• Outreach goals that go beyond attendance (and actually excite your people)
• Why digital impressions do count as gospel outreach in 2025
• How to leverage summer events to build fall momentum
• Encouragement for ministry leaders to stay engaged and not grow discouraged

Memorable Quotes:

“Summer is for lead, not lag.”
“A good goal turns good intentions into faithful action.”
“Stop using Sunday attendance as your only metric for summer success.”

In this raw and encouraging conversation, Phil sits down with Jim Collins to talk about something we don't hear enough in ministry circles: failure. Jim shares his personal story of planting a church in Tennessee that didn’t go as planned—from launch dreams to a painful unraveling. But more than that, Jim reflects on the deeper lessons God taught him about leadership, calling, submission, and identity through that hard season.

Whether you’re a young leader eager to launch or a seasoned pastor navigating burnout or regret, this episode is a grace-filled reminder that failure isn’t fatal—and God is never done shaping us.

Key Topics Covered:

• The danger of launching without spiritual counsel
• How pride and ambition can masquerade as calling
• The difference between modeling and copying a ministry
• Why slowing down is not the same as disobedience
• What it looks like to find your identity after ministry “failure”
• Leadership lessons from real-world pain
• The importance of submitting to authority before leading others

Key Quotes:

In this episode of Ministry Mix, Phil and Richard ready up to bring you a Fortnite-themedguide to real ministry leadership. Whether you’ve built your share of ramps or have no idea what a "Loot Llama" is, this episode is for you.

What can Fortnite teach us about ministry? Turns out—a lot.

From failed solo pushes to sweaty wins and unexpected healing stations, we share 5 (plus a few bonus) leadership lessons that apply just as well to church planting and ministry teams as they do to Battle Royale:

• Don't lead alone – Ministry is better in squads.
• Winning teams talk – Clear communication changes everything.
• Adapt or lose – The game (and culture) is always changing.
• Have fun – Joy is a ministry essential, not a luxury.
• Better with friends – Celebrate wins and survive losses together.

Yes, we talk lightsabers. Yes, Richard got yelled at for playing until 3am. But we also hit on real, practical ministry advice.

Key Quote:
"If you're doing ministry alone, no one's there to revive you when you go down—and no one's there to celebrate you when you win."

If this episode made you laugh, challenged how you lead, or made you want to jump in a squad, leave us a review and share it.

In this episode of the Ministry Mix Podcast, Phil and Richard dive into a practical conversation for anyone sensing a call to ministry. Whether you’re a high school student, a mid-career professional, or already serving in a church, this episode outlines six clear and biblical steps you can take right now to discern and develop your calling—before you ever get a position or a platform.

You’ll hear about:

• Why character must come before competency
• How lingering and showing up consistently can shape your future ministry
• The importance of being teachable and asking the right questions
• Why reading your Bible and submitting to discipleship is non-negotiable
• How your local church plays a central role in affirming your call
• And why “don't wait for a stage—start with a broom” might be your next best step

This episode is packed with personal stories, pastoral wisdom, and helpful pushback for those navigating early ministry aspirations. Whether you're mentoring someone or starting to explore a call yourself, this is a must-listen guide to spiritual formation and practical readiness.

Key Quote:
"A call to ministry isn’t a call to perform—it’s a call to be faithful. And faithfulness starts long before a microphone."

If this episode was helpful, share it with someone considering ministry leadership. And don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and connect with us in our Facebook group for pastors and ministry leaders!

In this episode of the Ministry Mix Podcast, Phil and Richard explore what happens when the people who helped shape you in ministry are no longer there—whether through death, burnout, moral failure, or natural transition. They open up about their own experiences of losing key influences in their life and the disorienting, yet defining impact it can have on a leader's soul and direction.

The conversation covers:

• Why losing a mentor hits harder than expected
• How feelings of grief, betrayal, and disillusionment can affect your leadership
• The dangers of dependency and idolizing mentors
• How to grow into your own leadership voice when the voices you relied on are gone
• Why it's worth the risk to keep pursuing deep, formative relationships in ministry

Packed with personal stories, biblical reflections, and raw insight, this episode is a reminder that while mentors may come and go, the call of God remains—and so does the opportunity to become the kind of leader others can lean on.

Key Quote:
"Our ministry can’t be built on the mountains of men—it has to rest on the faithfulness of God."

Let us know what this conversation stirred up for you. Connect with us on socials or drop a review to help other ministry leaders find the show.

In this episode of Ministry Mix, Phil and Richard explore one of the most vital tasks of ministry leadership—helping people move toward the mission of God. Drawing from real-life stories and pastoral experience, they walk through eight practical ways to encourage everyday believers to live on mission.

From telling everyday stories of obedience, to normalizing small steps of faith, to making prayer and missional rhythms part of church culture, this conversation is full of accessible ideas any ministry leader can implement. Whether you lead a small church or a large team, this episode challenges the idea that mission is just for the professionals—and reminds us it’s the calling of every Christian.

You’ll hear quotes from Spurgeon, examples from churches, and honest thoughts on why not every sermon—or season—feels like a “home run.” But more than that, you’ll get tools to help your people take real, faithful steps forward in living out the Great Commission—starting now.