Jay Stewart- How To Get Refreshed and Restored

This is Andy Thomas from the Masculine Journey Podcast where we discover what it means to be a wholehearted man. Your chosen Truth Network Podcast is starting in just seconds. Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing the Truth Podcast Network. Today, my pastor Jay Stewart joins us today on the Man Up Show.

Jay, welcome back to the Man Up Show. Man, Nikita, it is an incredible honor to be asked to come back. I go places sometimes and they never want me back, so man, the fact that you would invite me back on the air with you again really is an honor, man.

Thank you so much. Well, it's just a privilege to have you on the show, and I have to kind of chuckle now that you say that. You know, I've preached in over 1,200 churches, but I think about 1,195 of them have never asked me back.

Well, maybe not that many, but I do have quite a number that have invited me back way more than one time. But I think I come in so heavy-handed and some of them, they're like, ah, we ain't having that guy back. I get my one shot at it, Jay. I get my one shot at it. One shot. Drop the hammer one time.

Drop the hammer. Well, what's that expression? You were an evangelist prior to becoming the lead pastor.

What was the expression? The evangelist blows in, blows up, and then blows out of town. Is it something like that? That's it, brother. That's it.

Blow in, blow up, blow out. That is exactly right. And we leave the pastor there to mop up all of the tears and bloodshed there from all the hard words. That's right. They pick up all the pieces and clean up all the mess that evangelists make.

Exactly. Now, if you're a pastor out there listening, don't let that discourage you from bringing me in as an evangelist, by all means. All that simply means is that I speak the truth of God's word and I don't mince words, and sometimes it is a hard word.

I'm doing my best, and Jay, you might verify this, I'm doing my best not to be one of those of what the Bible talks about, tickling the ears of the listeners. One of the many things I've always loved about you, Nikita, is that you are courageous and bold and never afraid to speak the truth. And honestly, the Bible says it's the truth that will set people free, and I really feel like as a pastor, and I think you feel the same way, I do people a disservice if I don't tell them the truth.

Yes. And so that's one of the greatest things we can do, even though sometimes it's hard to swallow, is to speak the truth, and I love that about you. You're unapologetic and you never compromise the word of God, so thank you for that. And I appreciate that, I really do, and I'm reminded of another, I guess, saying is not only the truth will set you free, but sometimes the truth hurts, right? The truth hurts.

The truth hurts sometimes, it really does. I mean, when you've got to go to another brother or go to a sister in the Lord, and sometimes call them out, iron sharpens iron, right? Proverbs 27, 17. Maybe you have to call somebody out, somebody's feelings may get hurt, but if it's absolute truth, like you and I are talking about, then ultimately the potential is there to set them free, right?

From whatever sin they may find themselves in, whatever bondage they may find themselves in, it can set them free, right? I was just studying Ephesians 4 this morning, and Paul reminded the church at Ephesus, when he said, you have to speak the truth in love to one another, and he talked about how it strengthens the individual, it strengthens the body of Christ, but the key is in love. Speak the truth in love, right? A lot of people are great at speaking the truth, but there's no love factor. The truth spoken without love hardens the heart. The love spoken without truth just becomes a license to compromise, so we have to have both. Man, you just took the words out of my mouth. I was going to say, hey, the last thing I want to tag onto this are those key words, in love, speak the truth in love.

Great insight. Now, you pastor down. Of course, our relationship goes back 20-plus years, back to 1993, when I surrendered my life to the Lord, October 1993, and we've developed this friendship, this relationship, this bond, ever since that time. And, of course, you're pastoring the Refuge Church there in Kannapolis, North Carolina. You've got campuses in Salisbury, North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina, and just a thriving church there.

You've got campuses down in South America and over in Africa as well. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, so over the years, the Refuge has really grown and expanded and healthy and thriving, and because, Jay, and I think just I want to say for the record, too, because you, in a loving way, you from the platform Sunday after Sunday after Sunday, also speak that truth without compromising. And I think many, many, many people appreciate that, even though some people might get offended or get their feelings hurt. Sure. You, yourself, which I think is what's made our relationship so great, is you take that same approach. So, appreciate that.

Yeah. Well, the last time we had you on, we had you and actually one of the other pastors, Pastor Derek Hawkins, we had you guys on, and we highlighted, we talked about the book that you guys wrote together, released together, in a timely manner, in God's perfect timing about unity, and just give our listeners a quick update on the book and tell them about it. Man, be glad to, Nikita. It's still to this day, and it's been almost two years, not quite two years ago, when the book was released. It was November of 2020, and the book is called Welded, and the subtitle is Forming Racial Bonds That Last.

And although we all know we've made a lot of progress in America when it comes to racial unity, we still have a ways to go. And God has really breathed on Welded and used it in so many ways, in some ways that we never even saw coming. But we're so grateful for the message of the book and then the way God's using it. There's a small group curriculum that we talked about the last time that we were on the air with you that is carried by Right Now Media. That's a six-session DVD curriculum that goes through the book, and so that's been a real blessing. I think the last time we talked as well on the air at that time, there were 2,000 copies of the book Welded in every single prison in South Carolina, 2,000 copies in every prison in Tennessee, 2,000 copies in the 50 largest prisons in Florida. And man, I'm thrilled to report that as of today, there are 2,000 copies in every single prison in the state of North Carolina as well. And that was a thing we never saw coming. I mean, a lot of churches have really benefited from the book, a lot of individuals.

We just constantly get great reports. In fact, I'm holding in my hand a letter right now that came to me from an inmate in a Florida prison. And this is the second letter that he's written to me. The first letter, he'd gotten a copy of the book. He read the book.

He was greatly impacted by the message in the pages of Welded. And he wrote me a letter and he asked me if I would consider mentoring him and training him for ministry. And he's in prison and he knows while he's there, he feels like he can minister to guys. And then when he gets out, he wants to be in full-time ministry. And so I wrote him back and I said, hey, man, I don't know how that would work, but I'm totally open to it.

And if we can find a way to make it happen, let's do it. So he's written me again. And so that's been a real blessing.

I just got a testimony this morning from someone in our church who works just out in corporate America, a secular job. And a guy in her company saw whatever shirt she had on that said something about prayer. And he approached her. Anyway, long story short, she ended up giving him a copy of the book Welded.

And she found out just a couple of weeks ago, he read the entire book in one day. He was greatly impacted by it. He was out of church. Now he wants to come and may even show up this Sunday at the refuge because he was so impacted by the message of the book.

So, man, we're grateful God continues to use it. And I believe, and we talk about this in the book, that unity is an absolute prerequisite for revival. And I believe there's a great revival coming to America.

And I believe a key part of that is that we get this racial unity thing figured out. Well, and I, for one, those are some great stories. And I'm not surprised, one of many that I'm sure have come in and many that will continue to come. I myself read the book on a plane trip.

I forget where I was flying to. And certainly in reading it, for those of you listening out there, this is striking a chord with you. There's someone you know that would benefit from reading the book Welded.

And, or yourself, or several that you may know. To get a copy of this book, it is very insightful with Pastor Derek. And it's kind of like, so a guy in his mid-50s, a white guy in his mid-50s and a black guy in his mid-30s, right? That God brings together, right? Am I correct on that? To give a vision for this book and then the impact and the inroads that it's making on bridging the communication, right? And one of the things I learned from the book was how it can help prompt you and or give you some insight on how to initiate conversations with people of another color, right? That's exactly right.

That's exactly right. And that's one of the key messages throughout the book is, listen, we have to start somewhere. And a lot of people have such a fear of like, I don't know where to start and I don't know what to say. And I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing.

Right. And so the book really equips people to just start having those conversations that we've put off or that we've dreaded having. And I think a lot of people have been very surprised as they waded into those waters. They've been very surprised at what has happened and the relationships that have been formed, the healing that has come, the work that God's done in their hearts and in the hearts of other people. It's a beautiful thing, man. And I'm just blown away, humbled and blessed that I had the privilege of putting the heart of God on the pages. And now it's touching the nation. Well, and it is. And it's going to, I believe, continue to grow and expand even beyond the borders of America. And I just feel, you know, Lord knows we need resources like this, like the book and the study guide. You didn't call it a study guide. Yeah, small group curriculum. Yeah, small group curriculum to initiate those conversations and then building those relationships. And so I'm just thrilled about the current success.

And of course the prisons, you know, getting it in the prisons and as it continues to grow and expand. And now if somebody, a website or Amazon, like if people want to find the book welded, where might they go? Yeah, sure. So Amazon is the easiest and best place to get the book. And you can get it in Kindle format. You can buy a hard copy. You can buy a paperback copy or you can get the audio book. All of that's available on Amazon.

Or you can go to weldedbook.com and there's even more information about the book on that website. And then right now, media, right now, R-I-G-H-T now, media is where you can get the small group curriculum. Awesome. Well, and I encourage all of you out there, you know, this is going to benefit so many in so many ways.

And there's actually one other opportunity how somebody could get their hands on the book, like almost like immediately as well. And that is at a conference that we're going to, you're going to have a vendor table there. The refuge is going to have a vendor table at the Man Up Conference in Fort Mill, South Carolina, August 25th to the 27th. And a couple of things you may or may not know, Jay, is not only can they get a copy there at the conference, and perhaps hopefully meet you, Pastor Derek, some of the other staff there from the refuge, is part of our theme for the Man Up Conference, the word, the Lord dropped in my spirit, is the word unity. You're listening to the Truth Network and truthnetwork.com. Call of the Ring and Redemption.

Go to www.colof.net and donate today. You're listening to the Truth Network and truthnetwork.com. Unity. And so, and we got a great, I mean, just incredible, Al Wood, NBA All-Star Al Wood is going to be speaking, WWE. Come on. Yeah, WWE superstar Lex Luger going to be speaking there at the conference. Lieutenant General Jerry Boykin speaking, bringing a powerful message for men. International evangelists. You got the Benham brothers, right? David and Jason Benham, internationally acclaimed business entrepreneurs. International evangelists, Frank Shelton, Dr. Rick Joyner, Chris Reed, I'll be there of course.

What a lineup. It is. It's going to be great. And we're going to have a special movie night, and I'm not going to give it away, but you talk about this movie we're going to show on the special movie night with popcorn and candy and soft drinks. You actually talk about it in the book Welded, so anyone who's already read it, they go, ah, I know what movie you're talking about.

But it's, I mean, it's a guy movie and more or less in a sense, but it ties right into the theme of the book and reconciliation among ethnic groups and among these different races. And so, so we're going to, that's August 25th to the 27th, so hey, if you want to get a copy of Welded, just come on out to Fort Mill, South Carolina, and stop by the refuge vendor table there and get your copy. And maybe, maybe, maybe we get it autographed.

I don't know. You know, I've autographed a few books over the years, but a couple of the books that. No, that's going to be exciting, man. I'm so excited about the Man Up conference down there at Morningstar and such a great lineup of speakers and really excited. We're going to be able to have a table there, offer the book Welded to guys, and it ties right in with what got put on your heart with unity for the conference. And, oh man, that's going to be good. I can't wait.

Hope to meet some of you guys there at the conference. Starts on that Thursday, goes through Saturday, and it's going to be powerful. Yep, absolutely. Thank you.

Yeah. Thursday night, we'll kick it off seven o'clock, go through Saturday night. We got a social hour where one night where everyone will be down in the midst of all the vendors and all the vendors.

I mean, we're going to have everything from, I got a massage therapist who's going to give away like 10 minute free massages. We've got businessmen, we've got ministries that are going to be promoted, books that are, the Benin brothers are going to be signing their books. General Jerry Boykin is going to be signing his book. Rick Joyner and I are going to be signing our books. And on Saturday, I almost forgot this, we're going to do Truth Radio, Robbie Dilmore, the man himself, is going to be doing live radio broadcasting from the conference.

He'll be doing his show, Christian Kargai, Masculine Journey, and I'll be doing the Man Up show live from Fort Mill, South Carolina at the Man Up conference. So, hey, come on out. Yeah. Yeah. Come on.

Maybe we'll get you on the radio with Robbie too, Jay. So, but mstarevents.com where you can go register a VIP, general admission, still a few VIPs left, general admission, a one day pass. You may be local in the in the in the area to Charlotte, North Carolina, and you're like, I love to come. I just can't come the whole thing. All right. Well, we'll solve that for you. A one day pass.

Okay. Come Friday, come Saturday. And if you're a church group discount, get 10 or more guys, load up the van, you'll get a special group discount. mstarevents.com, go get registered today, hotel right on site, food trucks, cafes, food, all right there.

It's going to be great. But there we go. That said, there's another major conference coming up. So not only is unity and racial reconciliation on your heart, Jay, there's a pastors are on your heart as well. And you've got a big conference coming up in October right there at the main campus in Kannapolis, North Carolina, a pastors cadre.

I had to go look that one up, just so you know. Like, I'm like, I know I believe it or not, I get a lot of harassment about the word cadre right from my own family members. Okay. And then others who are like, what in the world is a cadre? Exactly. Exactly.

Enlighten our listeners, Jay. What is a cadre? What is a pastors cadre? Go ahead, fill us in. It's a three day intensive and a cadre really is a specially trained force of people that have been given a specific assignment.

Almost like you would see like the Delta Force or Navy SEALs or Green Berets or whatever. You're listening to the Truth Network and Truth Network dot com. All feet agree. Clemens carpet is where you need to be with carpet, vinyl, tile and hardwood from the top brands. Clemens carpet does it right from beginning to install.

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You're listening to the Truth Network and Truth Network dot com. And so a cadre is the cadre that I'm doing is three days of just impartation and encouragement and instruction to anybody who is in ministry. Does not have to be a senior pastor or lead pastor.

It can be male or female. It can be youth pastors, children's pastors, worship, worship leader. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Anybody in ministry. And really, Nikita, it just has stemmed from just a growing desire over the last several years to pour into other pastors. And I've had the opportunity to coach a lot of pastors and pour into church planters and did that for a number of years. And then God put it on my heart because I was I was I was doing it more locally and regionally.

And then I had a lot of guys from around the country that were asking if they could be a part of it. And that's when I decided to do it in a three day format. So it's a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. So those that are in ministry don't have to miss a Sunday.

They can fly in on Monday and they can fly back out on Thursday evening. And we just I'm I'm just a few months away from turning 60. And so I have almost four decades of full time ministry experience. And I've just taken what I feel like in the times in which we're living.

You know, the Second Chronicles 12, the sons of Issachar who understood the times and they knew what to do. And so I'm like, the times that we're living in are so unique and so challenging to ministers and pastors. So I just prayed and said, God, what is what are the things that we need the most?

What can I impart to others that would help them to understand the times, but also give them some practical ways to walk it out? So I have other people that come in and help me lead some of the sessions. People like the Benebros and they both do a session. Jason does a session on marriage and ministry. David does a session on navigating cultural wars.

And both of those sessions are hands down some of the greatest information I've ever heard in my life. One of my executive pastors on staff is a female and she does a session on women in ministry. Again, one of the greatest sessions I've ever heard, one of the greatest teachings I've ever heard on women in ministry. Pastor Derek Hawkins that co-authored the book Welded with me, he does a session on racial reconciliation. Pastor Nathan Smith does a session on developing a leadership pipeline and volunteers within the church. And then there's other things that I pour into the leaders.

It's a great time, we do an event at Top Golf. We feed you, we pour into you, and then we end the entire thing by having our staff and other leaders lay hands on every person in attendance and pray over them and send you out with encouragement and with prayer. So I would love for anybody, you're in ministry or you know someone in ministry, please give them the information and get them registered, maybe even offer to pay their registration. And get them here, I believe it will be such an encouragement to them. Yeah, it would be a great investment in someone you know in ministry. And maybe there's a pastor that just couldn't, let's just say this way, couldn't afford, you know like, a lot of times in the camps and stuff we do, men just, you know, I love to come to camp but I can't afford it.

But they'd love to come to this cadre and they're like, I just can't afford it. And you're out there and you could sponsor a pastor or two, or more, or more. Make a donation to the Refuge Church. So like Jay, where would they, so this is peaking somebody's interest out there today, where would they go to register and or get more information on the pastor's cadre? All of the information is available on the Refuge website. So if they would go to therefuge.net, therefuge.net, and then on one of the tabs there, I believe it's on the Events tab, they'll find all of the information and the registration and the details and the cost for the cadre, it's October 18th, 19th, and 20th.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. And I would love, I would love for people to come. And if they have questions, they can certainly reach out to the Refuge and get more information if they need it.

Okay, and let me ask you this, we're almost out of time, but let me ask you this. So if, as we're talking, so a couple questions. If a pastor says, I'd really like to go to that, is there on the registration or something, is there a place on there for them to say, hey, I could use some financial assistance or something of that nature? And or can people go on there and designate, donate and designate specifically to the cadre?

So yes to both. So I don't know if there's a place on the registration form for them to indicate that they would need help. But all they would have to do would be to shoot us an email and just say, I want to come, but I need some help.

I need some assistance in covering the registration. I've already had people approach me from within our congregation and say, we'll sponsor pastors that want to come, but they can't afford to come. And so email us and reach out to us. And then if there's others that want to donate, do the same thing.

Shoot us an email and say, hey, I heard the broadcast and I'd love to sponsor a pastor or two or more like you were saying, Nikita. And then we'll tell them exactly how to do that. OK. The refuge dot net. Write that down.

Make a note, mental note to self. Go find out more information. Register for the cadre.

Get more information on the Pastors Cadre. October. What are those dates again? October 18th, 19th and 20th. October 18th, 19th and 20th. August 25th, 26th, 27th. The Man Up Conference Fort Mill, South Carolina. Heritage USA hosted by Morningstar Ministries.

Go to mstarevents.com and get registered there. Don't procrastinate any longer, man. Don't wait, ladies. Give them your blessing and send them to the Pastors Cadre and or come with them there and or send your men of all ages, of all ages. I'm praying and believing for three or four generations and come come to the conference and get your hand delivered book of welded. And so Jay Stewart, Pastor Jay Stewart, thank you for being a part of the show today. Thank you for sharing all this amazing information, all that you're doing for the body of Christ.

Such an honor, Nikita. Thank you so much. Thanks for all you're doing as well. Thank you to our wonderful listeners out there.

Tune in again to another episode of Man Up because it's time for men to Man Up. God bless you. This podcast is made possible by the grace of God and your faithful prayers, support and generous gifts. May God bless you for your continual contributions. Go to Koloff.net and donate today.

Nikita Koloff here. Have you registered for the Morningstar Men's Conference in August? Not yet. What are you waiting for? We have an amazing lineup of speakers, including NBA All-Star Al Wood, WWE Superstar Lex Luger, General Jerry Boykin, David and Jason Benham.

The Benham brothers were renowned evangelists Frank Shelton, Chris Reed and of course, Dr. Rick Joyner and yours truly. Get registered today. What are you waiting for? Go to mstarevents.com. Nikita Koloff here. If you're needing to buy a car and have marginal credit and considering using buy here, pay here, that's worse than taking the Russian sickle. Winston-Salem motorcars will put you behind the wheel of a car you can rely on while helping rebuild, repair or establish your credit score. Conveniently located on Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem, be sure to check them out today at wsmc1.com because you are number one.