The Mathena Center for Church Revitalization exists to train SBTS students for the work of pastoral ministry in established, struggling SBC churches. Therefore, in the spirit of what the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:1-2, our alumni who go into the trenches of church revitalization and seek to faithfully shepherd these churches back to health are our “letters of recommendation.” This page shares the stories of our alumni currently pastoring around the world.

cody bishop - mathena center intern 2016-2017

How long have you been pastoring at Foothills Baptist Church?

5 years.

What was it like when you first got to Foothills Baptist?

When I arrived as an associate pastor, the church was Senior Pastor led, church council/deacon governed with congregational approval needed only for the yearly budget. Historically there had been a low bar for membership and therefore a low bar for baptism. The membership roles were inflated, not only with people who were no longer around but also with unregenerate people who were sort of around. The big draw to our church for decades was the worship and fine arts ministry. In summary, our church had a faulty polity, with no clear understanding of church membership, and an emphasis on worship and fine arts.

What is it like now at Foothills Baptist?

As I write this, we are now an elder-led, deacon-served (task-specific deacon ministry), congregationally governed church. We have a thorough church membership process that all of our elders engage in, along with our entire church membership as we receive and remove members as a church family. More importantly, our lead/preaching pastor (3 years into his tenure as lead pastor) is committed to consecutive expositional preaching.

How has your training at the Mathena Center equipped you for the work of revitalization?

I have been helped significantly by the Mathena Center as I played a role in navigating all of the changes our church has undertaken in the past 5 years. A few things I have heard Brian Croft say several times stick out that have helped. "Love & shepherd the people before you try to make changes." "You only have one wife; you can always have another ministry role/opportunity, so put your wife and family first." Another concept that has proved helpful is the fact that revitalization is not always reflected in the numbers attending on Sunday or in the size of the budget, but in the faithfulness of the pastors to shepherd the flock of God that is among them, for we will give account to God for those he has entrusted to us. A healthy church has faithful pastors who truth-love the members of Jesus' flock that have been assigned to their care.

What are two specific ways we can be praying for you moving forward?

Pray for me to continue to grow in my love for Jesus. Pray that I will be faithful to lead others (family, church, neighbors) in my care to do the same.

Steve Barbee - Mathena Center Intern 2016-2017

How long have you been pastoring at The Church at West Creek?

West Creek is a merged church that was constituted in January 2021. I pastored one of the two churches that were part of the merge (Old Oak Bible Church) for three years. I've pastored largely the same group of people for 4.5 years.

What was it like at first when you first got to The Church at West Creek?

When I arrived at Old Oak Bible Church, I came as one who had grown up in that church. I knew the neglected areas well and had the church's trust to address them. While it had a good heritage of expository preaching, it had neglected biblical church membership and discipline. People claimed to be members, but the church had no member roll. We averaged roughly 50 in attendance and were predominantly older. The church also had substantial debt.

What is it like now at The Church at West Creek?

God has been kind to foster a sweet unity among members of our church. Part of this comes from a resilience of enduring so much change and loss together. We walked through the death of the former lead pastor and the sale of our building. This unity has also come from a new clarity and intentionality about the who and what of the gospel. Instead of approaching a church like a club where we show up and consume, more people approach church as a gathering where they come to provide.

How has your training a the Mathena Center equipped you for the work of revitalization? 

My training at the Mathena Center instilled in me the priority of shepherding. Brian [Croft] teaches and embodies that pastors are not just preachers, but shepherds (who even shepherd as they preach!). One practice that has stuck with me is praying through our entire member roll once a month. I try to communicate with each member once a month to check in and encourage him or her. I've found I can react more effectively to conflicts and crises because I've done this shepherding work on the front end.

What are two specific ways we can be praying for you moving forward?

You can pray for three men I am training to become elders, that God would give them the desire, competency, and character for the task. You can pray for me as I am still somewhat of a newlywed (July 11 is our two-year anniversary), that God would give me wisdom to balance tending to my wife and the church I pastor.

Spencer Harmon - Mathena center intern 2017-2018

How long have you been pastoring at First Baptist Church Jacksonville at Nocatee?

3 ½ years.

What was it like at first when you first got to First Baptist Church Jacksonville at Nocatee?

The Nocatee Campus was in a season of major transition. There were several staff changes that preceded my arrival, and the church was just months away from “cutting the ribbon” on a facility after worshipping in a school auditorium for 10 years. As is normal during seasons of transition, the church had lost many members and was weary of all the changes. One of my goals coming into the church was to provide vision, stability, and leadership through those important changes.

What is it like now at First Baptist Church Jacksonville at Nocatee?

By God’s grace, church life is very fruitful. We are situated in one of the fastest-growing communities in America, and we are regularly meeting new people who are moving to our area from around the country. The church is hungry for God’s Word, eager to reach the lost, and desires to grow in faithfulness to the Lord. I would say that we are now in another season of change from being a “small church” to a “medium-size” church – and we’re experiencing all the growing pains of that transition. But God has given the church a humble heart as we make changes to accommodate growth.

How has your training a the Mathena Center equipped you for the work of revitalization? 

There are two major ways that the Mathena Center has equipped me:

First, in emphasizing a focus on personal soul care. In the middle of lots of changes in ministry, it’s easy to neglect my own personal walk with the Lord. The Mathena Center (in the very best way!) pounded into my soul to not neglect this. I’m so grateful that Brian told us about this temptation and equipped us to fight it.

Second, in emphasizing that faithfulness leads to fruitfulness. I grew in my conviction that my role as a pastor is to simply be faithful to the Lord, his Word, and his people – and to let him control whether or not we grow numerically. The Mathena Center helped me grow in this conviction.

What are two specific ways we can be praying for you moving forward?

Pray for wisdom to know what is essential to our ministry and what is not. There are many opportunities, and many exciting things around us, and what is most important right now is saying yes to the things that are central to our mission.

Pray for pace for me as I lead a growing congregation. I want to be a faithful Christian, father, and pastor, and I need God’s grace as I do this in a ministry that needs much attention and care over the next several years as we grow.

Sean Corser - Mathena center intern 2015-2016

How long have you been at First Baptist Church of Eastwood?  

I began my pulpit ministry at Eastwood in March of 2019, and was called as pastor September 29, 2019. So, coming up on 2-years as Pastor, or as Sr. Fellow Brian Croft says, “not long enough to know what a mess of a church I have taken, and not long enough for them to see what a mess of a pastor they called.”

What was it like when you got to Eastwood?

The very first time I preached my family (wife, daughter, and I) made up nearly 40% of those in attendance (totaling around 10). It was a beautiful building with warm people who seemed eager to hear the Word. I began with an exposition on John 11, the raising of Lazarus, and followed the service by asking members “what is needed for the church to come to life?”

After being called as pastor, my first month was occupied with a finance meeting where it was discovered that if the rate of spending to giving remained the same, and if the Lord did not do something miraculous, we would be closing the doors or liquidating resources within 18 months (March 31, 2021).    

What is it like now at Eastwood?

The Lord is faithful in the midst of struggles and has added to our membership, by bringing in new families to where we now have around 25-30 in attendance. First and foremost, we are seeking to be faithful in our preaching and teaching ministries. The financial aspect remains troubling, but we are seeing the Spirit work among his people through the Word of God to bring about healthier discipleship and personal sanctification. The Lord is also allowing us to serve our community and restore what has historically been a negative perception among our neighbors. By God’s grace, we are praying he will allow our days to continue in serving our community, proclaiming the Gospel, and seeing lives transformed. 

How has your training at the Mathena Center equipped you for church revitalization?   

I would not be where I am without it. I certainly would not be pastoring First Baptist Church Eastwood, and if I had even taken it I don’t think I would have been able to stick it out this long. All that to say, pastoral perseverance is of utmost importance in sticking it out among hostility in the early days of ministry. While we were taught that in the internship, I am learning it firsthand now.  

Secondly, my pastoral priorities and aspirations were transformed during my time as a Mathena Center Intern. I would have been delighted to pastor a “mega-church” and build a platform under my own strength, but the Lord has seen fit to correct my path by the ordinary means of every day plodding in a small church revitalization at First Baptist Church of Eastwood.    

What are two specific ways we can be praying for you moving forward?

Pastoral Ministry is difficult and Church Revitalization in difficult contexts even more so. Some of these difficulties involve deeply held views on what a church is, who leads the church, and how do we move forward together. Pray that I and my family would persevere through these hardships as a bi-vocational pastor. 

Also, pray for my personal holiness. Being a bi-vocational pastor with young kids doesn’t come with much free time. Pray that I would regularly pursue an intimacy with Christ, and would constantly strive to be more like him. 

mike Craig - Mathena center intern 2015-2016

How long have you been at Lakeside Baptist Church   

5 and a half years

What was it like when you got to Lakeside Baptist Church?

Lakeside was a sleepy, shrinking, and aging congregation. My kids were the only kids consistently in the nursery. The average age was over 75. And I performed 12 funerals in my first year.

What is it like now at Lakeside Baptist Church?

Lakeside is a growing, multi-generational church. We are in process of completing major renovations of the building and are seeing both baptisms and attendance numbers on the rise. These aren't the most important metrics, but (as you know) spiritual growth is much harder quantify and quickly explain.

How has your training at the Mathena Center equipped you for church revitalization?  

Brian and the Mathena Center provided me with a practical paradigm for revitalization that was invaluable during my early years at the church. The training I received from Brian prepared me for what to expect in a revitalization, how I would need to respond, and (maybe most importantly) gave me a longer-term vision for revitalization ministry that sustained me in the years of waiting and kept me from turning to man-made solutions as the Lord worked in our church.

What are two specific ways we can be praying for you moving forward? 

I've got 3 things: First, that the Lord would grow us in our burden for prayer as a people. Second, that he would give us wisdom in how to faithfully excel at disciple-making. Third, that the Lord would grant us HUMILITY. The moment things go well (which they are right now), I've noticed a tendency in my heart toward pride as I start to congratulate myself for what He has done.