Proverbs 4:23 says, ”Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Welcome to the “Issues Podcast” (formerly the Dear Church Podcast), where pastors Tom Brennan, Martin Wickens and Stephen Russ get to the heart of the real issues. These pastors hope to stir your heart and challenge your thinking on key issues within the Independent, Fundamental Baptist movement. Are you ready to deal with your issues? We love God, His Word, and His Church. We love our heritage as independent Baptists and cherish the fundamentals of the faith. We rest in our identity in Jesus Christ. We desire, above all else, to glorify God. We are humbled that God has called us to serve the local church. As we watch the shifting sands of countries and cultures erode the foundations of many local fellowships we are troubled and want to help. While we hope that all believers will benefit from this podcast, we have a special burden for pastors and other church leaders. We want to encourage pastors to continue to passionately look to Christ, hold steadfastly to the Word, prioritize their families, humbly lead their churches, graciously reach out to their communities, compassionately engage in debate, and faithfully encourage one another. May God be glorified and His people blessed through this endeavor.