Every servant of God goes through a desert. Moses spent 40 years there, Paul spent three, and Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness before his public ministry began.

In this episode, Pastor Joshua Kelly of Helotes Independent Baptist Church talks about leaving a decade-long career in law enforcement to go into full-time ministry, and about the two-year desert season that followed. He speaks openly about money trouble, the loneliness of the move, and nearly quitting. He also shares what God taught him in that time and how it prepared him to pastor.

This conversation is for missionaries, ministry students, and anyone in a hard season right now.

In this episode:

Going from police detective to assistant pastor

Why every servant of God goes through a desert

Moses, Elijah, Jesus and Paul in the wilderness

Choosing to get better instead of bitter

Why godly friendships matter before you need them

“Accept the hit”: getting your heart ready for hard ministry

“Elijah’s a man who was alone with God before he stood before kings.”

Resources mentioned:

A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards

The Well-Worn Path podcast (Helotes Independent Baptist Church), available on Spotify and other podcast apps

Subscribe for more conversations that encourage and equip missionaries: youtube.com/@VBMintl

#Missions #Ministry #DesertSeason #ChristianPodcast #FaithfulGod

Learn More About Vision Baptist Missions

👉 https://visionmissions.com

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Quotes

“I’ve never regretted serving God. I’ve sometimes, like everyone else, wondered what God’s doing — but I’ve never regretted serving the Lord.”

“Elijah’s a man who was alone with God before he stood before kings.”

“God says you’ll get alone with me first. And it’s not always comfortable, but you learn a lot of good things from it.”

“He’ll put you at the very edge — but he will not push you over it.”

“Don’t go through it enduring. Go through it looking to learn.”

“You can either get bitter or better.”

“When you go into the ministry, you should just accept that it’s going to be hard. Once you accept something, it’s so much easier to endure it.”

“It’s good to have godly influences that will hold you up when you can’t hold yourself up.”

“I don’t know your situation, but I’ve been through a desert — and let me tell you about a faithful God.”

“I don’t know that I can help you, but I know a God who can.”

How do you find young people to train for ministry, and how do you keep investing in them once you have? Pastor Jim Roberts spent ten years as a missionary in India and planted four churches there that are still going. Now he pastors Holly Springs Baptist Church in Pickens, South Carolina, and he shares the simple, practical approach to discipleship he has used on both fields.

Jim arrived in India without knowing a word of Hindi. He prayed for a man to disciple, and within days he met Das, a new believer who had come to faith after searching “Who is Jesus?” on Google. Das became Jim’s language tutor and his first disciple. Jim’s lessons with him grew into a small group of Das’s friends, and that group became a church.

In this episode:

-Why prayer is the first step in finding someone to disciple

-The “fisherman’s approach”: keep inviting people and don’t overthink it

-What to ask in a first discipleship meeting

-How to tell who is ready to grow, and when to move on

-Serving people on their schedule, even if that means meeting at 5:45 a.m.

-Starting with Bible reading when someone isn’t in the Word

-How to set priorities so ministry busyness doesn’t crowd out discipleship

-Why missions only lasts if nationals are trained to reach their own people

“We can all drown in the sea of busyness… but if you prioritize and you plan your days, then you will actually get something accomplished.”

📍 Holly Springs Baptist Church, Pickens, SC

Learn More About Vision Baptist Missions

👉 https://visionmissions.com

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#Discipleship #Missions #Ministry #ChurchPlanting #India #Pastor #Missionary #Gospel

How do you know when it’s time to move on to your next church plant? In this final installment of our series on multiple church planting, Jeffrey Bush sits down with missionary Jason Holt to discuss the reality of launching and multiplying local churches in major global cities like Santiago, Chile.

We break down why single mega-churches rarely work in dense urban settings, why attendance numbers shouldn't determine your readiness to launch a new plant, and how to navigate the hard personal transition of letting go of a ministry you built.

If you’re preparing for the mission field, currently serving overseas, or pursuing biblical church multiplication, this episode gives you practical frameworks for disciple-making leadership.

Learn More About Vision Baptist Missions

👉 https://visionmissions.com

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to:

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📌 In this episode, we cover:

The practical math of urban church planting in dense populations.

Why training prepared leaders matters more than hitting attendance targets.

How to hand over leadership smoothly to national pastors.

Finding your personal identity in Christ rather than in the local church you planted.

Preparing your wife and children positively for ministry transitions.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction & Setting Up Episode 3

01:30 - Why We Need Multiple Churches in Dense Urban Cities

03:45 - The Urban Layout: Santiago, Chile Case Study

05:55 - Setting Attendance Goals vs. Preparing National Leaders

08:20 - Redefining Missionary Success Beyond Sunday Numbers

09:40 - The Challenge of Handing Off a Church Plant

11:35 - Finding Your Identity in Christ, Not the Church

13:10 - How to Transition Your Family Well to the Next Plant

15:00 - Closing Remarks & Wrap-Up

🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS

Subscribe to our channel for more foreign missions training and podcasts: [Insert Link]

Learn more about Vision Baptist Missions / Our Ministry: [Insert Link]

Connect with Jason Holt: [Insert Link]

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:

What is the biggest challenge you face when thinking about multiplying churches or training leadership? Let us know in the comments below!

👍 If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone preparing for the mission field!

Quotes

"We have no biblical reason to think attendance is the goal—the goal is having someone prepared to lead."

"A touchdown for a missionary isn't numerical attendance; it's raising up someone for ministry."

"We find our identity in Christ, not in the church we’ve planted."

"We're not there to be remembered or honored—the goal is that Jesus is remembered."

"Frame the move as an opportunity to build God’s kingdom, and your family will catch the vision."

#ChurchPlanting #Missions #MissionaryLife #ChurchMultiplication

What happens when what you depend on suddenly changes? In this episode, a creative access missionary with VBM shares why it's important to be anchored in Christ rather than in temporary comforts, roles, relationships, or circumstances. Discover how a fixed heart and an unshakable faith can help you navigate life's unexpected storms and remain steadfast no matter what changes come your way.

Learn More About Vision Baptist Missions

👉 https://visionmissions.com

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to:

👍 Like the video

💬 Leave a comment

🔔 Subscribe for more missions-focused content

Quotes

“Too often we anchor ourselves in the certainties of today.”

“We don't realize what we're anchored to until we lose it.”

“God is good whether things change or not.”

“Find out what those props are before they're knocked away.”

“What’s certain today might not be certain tomorrow.”

“Christ is our focus, not our circumstances.”

“If Christ isn't our greatest joy, change will shake us.”

“We can anchor ourselves to good things instead of God.”

“When everything changes, God is still good.”

“Get anchored now before the storm comes.”

“My heart is fixed, O God.”

“The safest anchor is God Himself.”

“Secondary anchors make poor foundations.”

“Hold tightly to Christ, not to comfort.”

“A fixed heart can face changing circumstances.”

When is the right time to start a second church? In this episode, missionary Jason Holt shares practical insights on multiple church planting, the importance of training faithful leaders, and why church planters should always be preparing for the next church. Discover how intentional discipleship, leadership development, and a vision for reaching the world with the gospel can multiply the impact of a ministry.

Learn More About Vision Baptist Missions

👉 https://visionmissions.com

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to:

👍 Like the video

💬 Leave a comment

🔔 Subscribe for more missions-focused content

Quotes

“The purpose of this church is to reach the world with the gospel.”

“When windows start a second church, my answer would be soon.”

“We’re trying to work ourselves out of a job while training others.”

“People need to hear the gospel.”

“Every young man that walked in the door, I was thinking, ‘This guy could be a pastor.’”

“Pray with a purpose.”

“If God’s given you that man, you’re probably ready to start a church.”

“The church is the pillar and the ground of truth.”

“Let’s always be thinking, ‘As soon as I can, I want to take that next step and start that next church.’”

“Multiple church planting begins with training leaders.”

In this episode, we sit down with Bo Carpenter to explore the role of technology in ministry and how believers can use modern tools to advance the gospel without replacing meaningful relationships. From social media and church communication to productivity systems and AI, Bo shares practical insights on choosing the right tool for the job while keeping people at the center of ministry.

Discover how technology can strengthen discipleship, improve follow-up, enhance church organization, and expand evangelistic outreach. Whether you're a missionary, pastor, church planter, or ministry leader, this conversation will help you think biblically and wisely about using technology for God's glory.

From the Garden to the City by John Dyer: https://a.co/d/0fk69DyK

Learn More About Vision Baptist Missions

👉 https://visionmissions.com

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to:

👍 Like the video

💬 Leave a comment

🔔 Subscribe for more missions-focused content

Quotes

“Technology is a tool, not a master.”

“The right tool serves the right mission.”

“Technology can change the world around us, but it also changes us.”

“Use tools to strengthen relationships, not replace them.”

“Technology should move the ministry forward and serve people well.”

“The question isn’t whether a tool is good or bad, but what it is doing to us.”

“Automation can improve processes, but it cannot replace people.”

“Good communication builds strong relationships.”

“Technology is most effective when it helps us care for people well.”

“Work the tools. A shovel against the wall never digs a hole.”

Pastors need pastors too. In this episode, Corey Bane shares how God is using decades of pastoral experience to mentor and encourage pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders. Learn practical lessons on leadership, accountability, navigating difficult seasons, and staying faithful for the long haul.

Whether you're serving in ministry or preparing for future leadership, this conversation offers wisdom, hope, and encouragement to help you stay in the fight and finish well.

If you would like to know more about Corey Bane's ministry, Advanced Pastoral Concepts, follow this link: https://www.apcministry.com/

Learn More About Vision Baptist Missions

👉 https://visionmissions.com

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to:

👍 Like the video

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#PastoralLeadership #MinistryLeadership #PastorsNeedPastors #ChurchLeadership #MissionaryLife #Mentorship #ChristianLeadership #MinistryEncouragement #FaithfulMinistry #MissionPostPodcast #visionmissions #advancedpastoralconcepts

Quotes

“Pastors need pastors too.”

“Pray for wisdom beyond your years.”

“The life preserver is the Word of God.”

“You are not alone in this journey.”

“Mentorship is not one and done.”

“Listen before you lead.”

“God can do His deepest work through transparency.”

“Stay in the battle for the next generation.”

“We're resources, not the answer. God is.”

“My goal is to leave a man in a better place than where I found him.”

“Healthy churches start with healthy leaders.”

“The same God who calls you will help you.”

“Don't become a casualty of ministry.”

“Follow the Great Shepherd wherever He leads.”

“Experience becomes valuable when it helps someone else.”

What is the true measure of a missionary's success? Is it building one thriving church, or leaving behind churches that continue reaching people long after the missionary is gone?

In this episode, missionary Jason Holt shares the biblical vision of multiple church planting and explains why the goal of missions is not dependence on a missionary, but the establishment of healthy, indigenous churches that can stand on their own. Drawing from over two decades of ministry in Chile and the planting of nearly twenty churches, Jason discusses the Great Commission, the New Testament pattern of church planting, and the importance of training leaders who will carry the work forward.

Whether you're a missionary, pastor, ministry leader, or someone passionate about reaching the world with the gospel, this conversation will challenge you to think beyond one church and embrace a vision of multiplication.

Topics Covered: • Why church planting is essential to the Great Commission

• The biblical pattern of multiplying churches

• Training national leaders for long-term impact

• Why every missionary must think beyond their first church

• Building ministries that continue after the missionary leaves

"The goal is not to build something that depends on us, but to establish churches that will continue reaching their communities for generations."

Subscribe for more conversations with missionaries, pastors, and Christian leaders who are making a difference around the world.

Learn More About Vision Baptist Missions

👉 https://visionmissions.com

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to:

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#MissionPostPodcast #ChurchPlanting #Missions #GreatCommission #JasonHolt #VisionBaptistMissions #IndigenousChurches #MissionaryLife #BiblicalMissions #ChurchMultiplication #VisionMissions

Quotes

"Every missionary leaves. The church should remain."

"The missionary isn't the plan. The local church is."

"Plant churches, not monuments."

"The missionary goes. The church stays."

"Don't build dependence. Build disciples."

"The first church is the beginning, not the goal."

"Train leaders. Plant churches. Repeat."

"The next town matters too."

"Multiplication is the heartbeat of missions."

"Plant churches that outlive you."

"A missionary's legacy is measured by what remains."

"Healthy churches should produce healthy churches."

"Think beyond one church."

"The goal is not addition. The goal is multiplication."

"Churches that outlive missionaries are the true legacy of missions."