Trench Talk

Practical Shepherding is a Gospel-driven resource center for pastors and church leaders to equip them in the practical matters of pastoral ministry. In this podcast, pastor Brian Croft sits down with other pastors to discuss the gritty details of pastoral ministry. Our goal is to examine the life and work of a pastor and give helpful guidance for our brothers laboring with us. This is a podcast by pastors for pastors. We are in the trenches of ministry with you, and we want to equip you to continue in this task.

Trench Talk is a religion podcast hosted by Practical Shepherding, with 300 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Practical Shepherding hosts Trench Talk, a religion show with 300 episodes published.

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  Trench Talk

  Ep. 332: Caring for pastors wives and pastors kids with Bethel Webb

  Aug 11, 202635 min

  Contact us. We’d love to serve you Request a stay at a Shepherd’s H ou se Location Give financially to s upport the wo rk of helping pastors thrive Writ e a revie w on Apple Podcasts o r Spotify Find out more about the Adva ncin g the Church Equip Conference taking place September 10-11, 2026 in New Albany, IN. (01:45) Introducing Bethel Webb & Practical Shepherding Women (03:15) Bethel’s Background in the Philippines & Ministry Family (06:15) Call to Counseling & Move to Southern Seminary (08:15) Connecting with Kara Croft & Joining Practical Shepherding (10:25) Two Types of Pastors’ Wives (11:50) The Deep Struggle of Isolation for Pastors’ Wives (15:00) Finding a Place in the Church & Expectations (17:30) Cultural Differences in Expectations of Pastors’ Wives (19:15) Global Patterns & Unique Church Contexts (20:55) Three Pillars of the Women’s Ministry: Care, Content, Cohorts (23:00) Counseling, Writing, and Upcoming Book Studies (24:45) Global Cohorts & Safe Spaces for Pastors’ Wives (26:45) Mentoring Pastors’ Wives & Need for Seasoned Leaders (29:00) Challenges Facing Pastors’ Kids & Deconstruction (31:15) Giving PKs Freedom, Voice, and Honest Conversation (32:43) Final word and Prayer

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  Trench Talk

  Ep. 331: Is seminary necessary for pastors?

  Jul 21, 202639 min

  Contact us. We’d love to serve you Grow in your ministry preparation through the FREE Practically Trained Pastors Cohort. Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Resources (03:20) Framing the Question: Do Pastors Need Seminary? (05:10) Biblical Foundations for Training (06:50) How Seminaries Assumed the Training Role (07:27) Jim’s Training Story: Church-Based “Seminary” (10:00) Brian’s Training Story: Mentors & “Informal M.Div.” (13:15) Serving at Southern Seminary Without a Seminary Degree (15:45) So, Is Seminary Required? Global & Historical Perspective (18:30) Who Really Needs Seminary? Denominations, Missions, Teaching (21:45) Credentials and Closed Doors (23:30) Seminary as Structure, Deadlines, and Motivation (26:05) The “Educational Bubble,” Enrollment Decline, & Competition (28:10) Tension: “You Need the Church” vs. “You Really Need Us” (29:40) Encouraging Smaller, Church-Connected Seminaries (31:15) Alternative Pathways & Practical Shepherding Cohorts (32:40) Encouragement to Non‑Seminary Pastors (34:45) Pastors, Don’t Outsource Training Your Men (37:10) Final Word & Prayer

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  Trench Talk

  Ep. 330: When pastors should or should not defend themselves

  Jul 14, 202635 min

  Contact us. We’d love to serve you Request a stay at a Shepherd’s House Location Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Find out more about the Advancing the Church Equip Conference taking place September 10-11, 2026 in New Albany, IN. (01:45) Biblical Framework: when should/shouldn’t pastors defend themselves? (03:40) Biblical tension: Jesus’ silence vs. Paul’s self-defense; key NT texts (06:55) Proposed “template”: personal slights vs. ministerial slander; online smear story (09:35) Important caveat: abuse, real guilt, and not helping guilty pastors “defend” themselves (10:28) Clear cases to defend: disqualifying accusations (false romantic relationship story) (13:09) Private vs. public accusations; defending against allegations of illegal activity (15:05) Accusations of heresy and doctrinal error; how and why to respond (19:18) How to defend without being defensive: tone, frequency, and using elders/outside counsel (23:26) When not to defend: social media critique (“cesspool of wokeness”) and letting it go (25:39) Critiques of preaching style/length and why not to publicly “answer from the pulpit” (28:23) Lifestyle criticisms: vacations, cars, “nice things,” and unnecessary self-justification (31:10) Vacation time example: fear of criticism and the paralysis of people-pleasing (33:21) Don’t chase gossip; when silence is wiser than trying to correct every rumor (34:12) Final counsel: humility, prayer, seeking counsel; closing prayer

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  Trench Talk

  Ep. 328: Pastoral Attire with Kyle McClellan

  Jun 23, 2026—

  Brian Croft talks with pastor Kyle McClellan about his new book "Pastor, What Are You Wearing?", launching the Thriving Pastors series. They unpack why clergy attire matters, five guiding principles for what pastors wear, historical context, and practical wardrobe guidance.

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  Trench Talk

  Ep. 327: Ministering to Widows

  Jun 16, 2026—S0

  <p >(02:33) Launching the topic: caring for widows and widowers in the church<br>(03:33) Key biblical texts: Psalm 68:5, James 1:27, 1 Timothy 5, Job<br>(04:30) Acts 6, the poor–orphan–widow triad, and modern neglect of widows<br>(07:17) Why widows seem less vulnerable today (social safety nets, insurance, work)<br>(09:49) First-century context, global poverty, and defining widow/widower<br>(12:51) Physical needs, deacon ministry, and keeping a clear list of widows<br>(15:43) Relational needs: loneliness, identity shifts, remarriage questions<br>(20:20) Widowers’ unique vulnerabilities and differences from widows<br>(23:08) Equipping members, interns, and stay-at-home moms to visit widows<br>(31:19) Spiritual care: public prayer, private visitation, Scripture, and prayer...

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