Mark Buchanan sits down with us again to explore everything from how storytelling forms us to our addiction to control. He articulates how narratives help us navigate the truths of life and our identity, emphasizing the significance of weaving

Tammy Giffen on Neighbourhood Contextualization, Processing When People Leave, and What Helps Canada Feel Smaller

Mar 25th, 2024 1h 1m

How do we contextualize our churches to the neighbourhoods God has called us to? And how do you keep your heart healthy when people leave your church? In today’s episode with Tammy Giffen, lead pastor of Groundswell Church in Truro, Nova Scoti

Nicky Gumbel On His Succession at HTB, a Vision to Train 10,000 Pastors, and the Significance of April 17, 2033

Mar 11th, 2024 59m 36s

In this episode, Jason sits down with the pioneer of the Alpha Course and former Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton in London, Nicky Gumbel. Nicky shares about his journey of transitioning leadership at HTB after nearly two decades in the senior ro

Jerry L. Sittser On the Early Church “Third Way”, Re-introducing a Christian Imagination, and Navigating Grief through a Redemptive Lens

Feb 26th, 2024 1h 12m

In this episode, Jason had a conversation with Jerry L. Sittser, a retired professor of theology from Whitworth University, renowned for his expertise in Christian spirituality and history. In this conversation, Jerry shares the relevance of ea

Jonathan Smith On Nurturing Change in Churches with Compassion, Embracing the Vitality of Pruning for Church Growth, and Recognizing the Essential Role of Spiritual Mentors

Feb 12th, 2024 1h 2m

Change and the process of pruning are essential yet challenging aspects of personal growth and church life. Jonathan Smith understands this reality deeply, having navigated 30 years of church ministry and leadership. In this engaging conversati

Jeff Vanderstelt on The Dealing With Criticism, Navigating Toxic Church Culture, The Crisis of Discipleship, and Dallas Willard’s Last Unanswered Question

Jan 29th, 2024 53m 3s

Discipleship lies at the heart of the Christian journey, yet it often becomes compartmentalized within separate ministries or aspects of the Christian faith. Jeff Vanderstelt, with years of experience leading others in the way of Jesus and equi

Durwin and Angel Gray on Being Called to a Place and Community, Navigating Imposter Syndrome, and Parenting as the Primary Avenue of Discipleship

Jan 16th, 2024 1h 3m

In this episode, Jason had the privilege of sitting down and having a conversation with his very first pastors—Angel and Durwin Gray, who played a crucial role in shaping his pastoral imagination during his formative years. Angel and Durwin hav

Special Episode: Elita Friesen on Abiding in Jesus, The Fruitfulness of Rocky Soil, and Recognizing the Work of the Vinedresser

Jan 8th, 2024 33m 37s

This past year we gathered for a one day conference with pastors and leaders from across North America, collaborating with our friends at Practicing The Way. Together, we engaged in meaningful discussions on spiritual formation within the conte

Darren Herbold on Embracing Holy Inconvenience, Why Ministry Friendships Are Key & Choosing Faithfulness in All Seasons

Dec 14th, 2023 1h 6m

In this episode, Jason and Darren Herbold, President of The Alliance Canada, mine Darren’s eclectic ministry background which includes time in pastoral ministry, the business world and in the missionary field. Darren lets us into his own journe

Evan Wickham on Fostering Compassionate Curiosity, Embracing Courageous Orthodoxy, and Creating Healthy Spaces for Questions & Disagreement

Nov 28th, 2023 1h 10m

Today, church planter and worship leader Evan Whickman joins us from Park Hill Church in sunny San Diego. In this conversation, Jason and Evan explore various themes, starting with Evan's personal journey of deconstructing and reconstructing hi

Darrell Johnson on Carving out a New Understanding of Pastoring, Trusting the Power of God’s Word, & How the Ten Commandments Speak to Our Cultural Moment

Nov 27th, 2023 49m 19s

Darrell Johnson, our record holder for “most interviews on the podcast” joins us to speak into the evolving landscape of pastoral ministry. Join Jason and Darrell as they explore themes like the art of preaching, going the distance in ministry

Bonus Episode: Getting Practical with Jon Wright on Nurturing a Culture of Biblical Generosity & Year-End Giving

Nov 6th, 2023 28m 52s

For this 30-minute episode, we're stepping away from our usual podcast format to dive deep into a topic that we know many pastors feel stuck or uncomfortable in – the art of communicating about giving and generosity to a church. Our friends at

Ebonie Davis on Nurturing Gritty Faith, Four Spiritual Practices for the Next-Generation & Being a Student of Those You Lead

Oct 30th, 2023 1h

No matter where you fall on your church's organizational chart, we believe that this conversation with Ebonie around thoughtful discipleship in the youth space will serve you. In their time together, Ebonie and Jason explore how the church can

Pieter Valk on the Historical Christian Sex Ethic, Demystifying Vocational Singleness & How Pastors Can Serve the LGBT+ Community

Oct 17th, 2023 1h 9m

In this episode, we deviate from our typical format of interviewing a pastor, to host a conversation with Pieter Valk from Equip on how the Church can live into loving and serving the LGBT+ community. Through conversations with pastors across C

Jason Matta on Prioritizing Your Closest Relationships in Ministry, Being Held By the Body of Christ in Hard Times, and Building For Eternal Value

Oct 3rd, 2023 42m 43s

In this episode, join Jason Ballard as he interviews Jason Matta, the senior pastor of Hope Church Toronto West. This dynamic community, rooted in the gospel, unwavering in proclaiming the Word, and deeply reliant on prayer, has been serving th

Archbishop Michael Miller on Overseeing 70+ Parishes, Prayer as a Central Pastoral Activity & Dealing Realistically with Criticism

Sep 19th, 2023 42m 56s

It's not everyday that we have an Archbishop on the podcast... In this conversation, Jason and Archbishop Michael Miller dive into the story of how he ended up in such a prominent position in the Catholic Church, and the insights he's gleaned o

Chris Price on Preaching: Being a Prophet to Culture, Adopting the Right Kind of Relevancy & Moving Beyond Information Transfer to Encounter

Sep 4th, 2023 1h 17m

One of the most requested topics for the podcast has been preaching. Here it finally is… a long-awaited conversation on preaching featuring a friend of the podcast – pastor, preacher, and author Chris Price. After delving into Chris' captivatin

Bishop Jenny Andison on Stewarding a Church with 180 Years of History, Her Passion for Evangelism & Cultivating the Monastery Within

Aug 21st, 2023 1h 2m

St. Paul’s Bloor Street, the largest Anglican Church in Toronto, carries a 180-year-old history of ministry to one of Canada’s greatest cities. Leading this diverse and expanding community is Bishop Jenny Andison. Join Jason and Jenny as they d

Jonny Hughes on the Simplicity of Prayer, Discerning His Call to Pastoral Ministry & the Story of Trinity Church

Aug 8th, 2023 50m 6s

For this interview, we welcome Jonny Hughes, an English pastor and close friend of Jason's, joining us all the way from Nottingham, England. Jonny's journey as a pastor began in London and Southern California, where he served in various churche

Montreal Spotlight | A Conversation with David Pothier of La Chapelle

Jul 25th, 2023 50m 34s

In a span of just a few decades, Montreal underwent a remarkable transformation, shedding its once-revered title of "city of a hundred steeples" to become one of Canada's most secularized urban centers. Today only 0.7% of Montreal's population

Montreal Spotlight | A Conversation with Patti Miller of Evangel Church

Jul 10th, 2023 55m 27s

In just a few decades, Montreal has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from the once-revered "city of a hundred steeples" to becoming one of Canada's most secularized urban centres. As a result, the percentage of Montreal's populat

John’s Story: How a Pastor’s Journey to Health Transformed Him and His Family

Jun 26th, 2023 25m 38s

In 2020, John Lamos sat down next to his wife Jessie after a long day at the church, and she expressed with great fatigue and honesty: “John, if this is what ministry is like, I can’t keep doing this.” John was leading on reserves at the time —

Special Episode: Mark Sayers On Discipleship as Perseverance, Giving God Your Reputation & Recalibrating the Church’s View of Revival

May 29th, 2023 1h 20m

What might it look like for us to match the complexity of our time with courageous and creative responses for discipleship? Join pastor and thought leader Mark Sayers as he seeks to answer this question amongst many others in this long-form con

Ken Shigematsu on Seeking to Bless Those We Envy, Practicing Confession as a Pastor & How We Can Survive Shame

May 16th, 2023 49m 41s

Into a revolving door of senior pastors, Ken Shigematsu arrived to lead a struggling community in Vancouver, BC by the name of Tenth Church in 1996. After over two decades, Ken is still at the helm, having led Tenth to become one of the largest

Jonathan Tremaine Thomas on Engaging the Gospel Amidst Unrest, Seeking Righteousness and Distinguishing Between a Biblical and Secular View of Justice

May 1st, 2023 58m 59s

“You will love the guns out of their hands.” These are the words that Jonathan Tremaine Thomas sensed the Lord say to him in his junior year after he led a violent drug dealer to Jesus on the curb of a McDonalds in North Carolina. Since that mo