Canadian Church Leader's Podcast

As pastors we want to run the race well and finish more in love with Jesus and with His church than when we started. Pastors that have been both fruitful and faithful set a beautiful example for what longevity in ministry can look like. This week, Dan Cochrane, Pastor of CrossRoads Church in Red Deer, Alberta, joins us on the podcast to share insights from over 45 years of experience as a Pastor. With 27 of those years being spent at CrossRoads Church alone. Dan shares about: His story and the path he took to discovering his call to the Pastorate His experience inheriting a legacy of faithfulness Managing church growth and learning to grow alongside the church he is pastoring The gift it is to be able to preach the Living Word of God Today we’re praying that you would hear the invitation to joy and delight in the Holy Spirit as you hear the passion and energy Dan carries for the Church in Canada. Bio | Dan Cochrane has been the Senior Pastor of CrossRoads Church since July 1, 1997. Prior to CrossRoads

What does community look like when it’s rooted in love and grounded in the realities of life? How do we grab hold of a vision for biblical unity within our congregations and learn to live in the tensions that come with knowing and loving others well? This week, Rich Villodas, author of The Deeply Formed Life and Pastor of New Life Fellowship, joins us on the podcast for a second time to share insights from his wealth of experience and out of his heart to care well for other pastors. Rich shares about: The realities of biblical unity, what it looks and feels like in a dynamic congregation Dealing with expectations that are placed on Pastors, by others and by themselves His new book, The Narrow Path, and how the Sermon on the Mount offers a reframing of what it means to follow Jesus in our time We hope by listening to this conversation you experience a fresh invitation to the counter-cultural way of Jesus and that His love and grace cover you and keep you today. Bio | Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born le

The church growth movement of the 20th-century has left a lasting impact on our perception of the Church today. What can we learn from its successes and shortcomings, and how can we move forward in the context of our post-everything society? This week, Daniel Im from Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton joins us on the podcast for a second time Daniel shares about: His experience pastoring in the midst of deep loss Reflections on the transition into the Lead Pastor role of Beulah Alliance Church, a church with a 103 year history The value of surrounding yourself with people who can sharpen you and challenge you while you are in leadership His new book, The Discipleship Opportunity: Leading a Great-Commission Church in a Post-Everything World We hope this conversation encourages and equips you as you serve those in your church and in your community. Bio | Daniel Im is a pastor, Bible teacher, writer, and podcast host with a passion for the local church. He is the Lead Pastor of Beulah Alliance Church in

Every leader faces moments when vision dims and passion wavers. How do we sustain a vision for long term leadership and be able to lead with joy in our hearts and conviction in our steps? This week, Shaila Visser from Alpha joins us on the podcast for a second time to share insights from her extensive leadership experience.  Shaila shares about: Sustaining vision for longevity in ministry The importance of asking the Holy Spirit to spark passion for personal evangelism New research Alpha has done in partnership with flourishing congregations on the perception and practices of evangelism in Canada today We hope this conversation fills you with hope and encouragement that you are part of a work that God is doing across our nation in our time. Bio | Shaila Visser is the National Director of Alpha Canada and the Global Senior Vice-President for Alpha International. She is the Executive Producer of both The Alpha Youth Film Series (2013) and The Alpha Film Series (2016), and currently holds a position on the

What is unique about your church that you bring to the broader body of Christ? And, what from the broader body of Christ can you draw from and be strengthened by? Chrishan Jeyaratnam joined us this week from Hillsong East Coast where he and his wife Danielle serve as Lead Pastors. Chrishan shared with us about his family’s move from Perth to New York during the pandemic, and what it has been like to serve the church alongside his kids.  Arriving in New York during a time of great cultural tension & loss, there’s a lot of wisdom to be found in the stories Chrishan shares about leading people through grief, reckoning with distrust, and seeking transformation as a community.  It’s a conversation that leads us to reflect on the unique charism of our churches in our cities, and how we are mutually strengthened as we grow in friendship with other church traditions. Bio | Chrishan and his wife Danielle have served at Hillsong Church for many years, most recently as the Lead Pastors at Hillsong East Coast USA  wh

How can the people of God inhabit our cities - in workplaces, commutes & classrooms in a way that’s coloured by the hope of God’s kingdom breaking in? This week Tyler Staton and Pete Hughes join us on the podcast in a conversation that was originally a part of one of our Emerging Leaders Lab cohort sessions.  Tyler and Pete share about: Finding Rhythms of Personal & Corporate Prayer Creating a Culture of Contending Through Storytelling Seeing God’s Redemptive Vision for Your City We were inspired by their ability to see redemption in their local communities and hope you will share their passion for your own city. Bio | Pete Hughes is the Senior Pastor of KXC, an Anglican church in the heart of London. Pete and his wife Bee planted the church in 2010, establishing a community with the simple vision to recklessly give themselves away to God, each other, and the people of King's Cross and beyond. Tyler Staton is the Lead Pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, and the National Director

38 years into ministry, Helen Burns speaks of the Church with love in her voice and delight in the work God is doing among His people today.  Joining us on the podcast for a second time, Helen is a voice of encouragement as she reflects on what she has learned along the way. From planting Relate Church with her husband John in 1986, to the process of succession as their daughter Angela and her husband Rod stepped into the lead pastor role in 2018 - the significance of mentorship and intergenerational relationships underpin our conversation. Helen reflects back on past ministry with humility, letting us into moments where she felt the heart was right but the emphasis was off. Helen humbly models what it looks like to stay soft to the way God is pruning and growing His people, leading us into deeper purity as we walk with Him. As we consider the need for spaces of belonging, we hope you’ll find inspiration for how you can set the table for pastors to gather in your community, making room for God to break throug

Letting Jesus shepherd us into renewed courage and contentment when our vision for success has been broken is a wrestle many of us are familiar with.  It's a path that our guest this week, Evan Allnutt, has walked at different moments in his vocational journey. Through changing careers from teaching to ministry, taking on a Lead Pastor role at a new church, and navigating the changing cultural dynamics in the last 4 years, surrender and re-surrender to Christ’s leading has been a red thread through it all. In moments where he felt like a failure, Evan shared how God stirred fresh hope in him as he situated himself within the rich legacy of the 87-year-old church he pastors, and the global Church as he heard stories of revival in his denomination, and witnessed the Church full of vibrancy and life in London, U.K.  For the pastor who feels discouraged or alone, this episode is drenched in Kingdom imagination & vulnerability. We hope that it emboldens you to press into where God has called you, as you lo

John Mark Comer joins us again for a conversation on why people in our congregations are gravitating towards spiritual formation right now, and how we can pastor people beyond conversion into deeper healing and sanctification in their walk with Christ. Jason and John Mark talk through what it’s like to pastor today, and how the cultural hostility pastors navigate can purify our motivations and remind us that Christ is our reward. Thinking about practices for pastoral longevity, John Mark shares the need for balanced rest and activation and how to cultivate deep, brutally honest friendships. This episode encourages us to think deeply about the role of confession in the Pastorate, how we can shepherd people in different stages of discipleship, and the desire people in the Church have for deeper communion with God. Bio | John Mark Comer, once the founding pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, dedicated two decades to integrating discipleship to Jesus into the post-Christian West. In 2021, he pivoted to develo

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 hope-filled, gospel-rooted stories into the fabric of our cultural imagination. Throughout our conversation, Mark draws from the life of David to think about leaning on character over gifting and the temptation of success. Mark offers a candid look into what spiritual practices have deepened his love for Jesus, and what he has been learning about the importance of deep friendships in this season of his life. This episode is an invitation to reevaluate our leadership in ministry, challenging us to lead in a manner that not only fosters integrity but cultivates a deeper love for Jesus. Bio | Mark is an author, Associate Professor of Theology at Ambrose University in Calgary, Alberta, and former pastor. His books include “God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul” and th

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 Scotia, we explore these questions and more from her journey in ministry. Tammy became a Christian through Alpha as an adult and later moved into vocational ministry, eventually planting Groundswell in 2018. It’s a story of leading in ministry for the long haul, compelled by uncovering the beauty of Jesus for herself, and in the lives of the community she pastors. Bio | Tammy Giffen is the lead pastor of Groundswell, a multi-site church in Central Nova Scotia. Groundswell is a church plant that launched in September of 2018 with a vision to be a church un-churched people love to attend. She came to know Jesus as an adult when she was invited to attend Alpha. Since then she has been passionate about breaking down barriers to church and helping people meet Jesus. Tammy is marr

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 role, emphasizing the importance of healthy succession and not taking changes made by new leaders personally. Their church, HTB, is helping to train pastors in England through a new initiative called the Caleb and Peter streams. Their vision is to see tens of thousands of pastors equipped, coming from less educated and affluent backgrounds, or who have retired from previous careers and are in the later seasons of life. Later in the conversation, Nicky shares a profound vision for the future of the Church: that the bible would be translated and the gospel shared to 99.6% of the world by the 17th of April, 2033. Nicky's joy for evangelism and seeing as many people as possible come to know and follow Jesus is a beautiful gift to the global church. We hope this conversati

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 early Christian practices in today's world and highlights the importance of the church embracing a new catechumen. He unpacks the challenges and opportunities for the church posed by a post-Christendom world, advocating for a deeper, more resilient approach to faith. Jerry also shares personal reflections on grief and loss not as something to avoid, but learning to carry it redemptively. His dedication to bridging academia and the church infuses our dialogue with hope and understanding, inviting us to explore what it means to follow Jesus in our time. Bio | Jerry has been a professor emeritus of theology and senior fellow at Whitworth University, specializing in the History of Christianity, Christian Spirituality, and Religion in American Public Life. He is now retir

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 conversation with Jason, Jonathan candidly shares his transformative journey, from the bold endeavor of planting a church at the young age of 23 to the nuanced task of guiding an established congregation toward embracing the next generation. Jonathan's entrepreneurial spirit, seasoned wisdom, and unwavering passion for the thriving of the church in Canada shine through as he reflects on his experiences. Through his insights, we invite you to glean from this conversation on how to navigate change well, foster healthy growth, and the importance of listening to those older and further along in the faith journey. Bio | Jonathan has over 30 years of leadership and pastoral experience - leading churches in Halifax, Montreal and Toronto. He has been a church planter, Lead Pastor and

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 equipping the broader church through his writings, is now dedicated to mentoring pastors and leaders in gospel fluency and missional living. In this insightful discussion, Jason and Jeff delve into the significance of maintaining an open-handed approach to those entrusted to pastors' care, navigating critical voices, and the profound impact of Dallas Willard's last unanswered question. Jeff candidly shares his personal leadership journey within a fractured church, reflecting on how God's intervention brought healing to his own brokenness amid numerous challenges. We hope this conversation encourages you and we invite you to share any thoughts or reflections on how it may have impacted you with us. Bio | As the Executive Director of Saturate and founding leader o

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 have been serving as pastors at Hillside Church for 25 years, and they generously shared with us the joys, challenges, and insights they have gained throughout their journey. They delve into the profound meaning of being called to a specific place and community, navigating feelings of doubt and imposter syndrome, and embracing parenting as the primary avenue of discipleship amid the demands of ministry. Angel and Durwin emanate joy, care, sincerity, and reflect the hope of Christ for the world. Enjoy this insightful conversation, and if it sparks any thoughts about the individuals or experiences that shaped your pastoral imagination, feel free to share them in the comments or send us a message at contact@ccln.ca. Bio | Durwin and Angel were university sweethearts and have

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 context of the local church. This full day gathering consisted of teaching and dialogue from John Mark Comer, Ken Shigematsu, Tyler Staton, and Elita Friesen. Elita closed the conference with a beautiful message on abiding in Christ, sharing that as we lead people to a deepening relationship with God we ourselves would abide deeply in Jesus. We hope this message gives you hope and a renewed vision to abide in Jesus as we move into 2024. Bio | Elita Friesen is a writer and Bible teacher and has served in various ministry capacities for the last 10 years. She currently serves on the teaching and pastoral team at The Way Church, a church with locations in both Vancouver and North Vancouver. Elita feels uniquely called to encourage this generation not only toward biblical litera

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 journey of wanting to be an active, not reluctant, follower of Jesus and all the places that posture took him. Throughout the conversation, Darren emphasizes his most formative learnings, sharing themes like listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the speed of love, what a cultivated curiosity toward others can impact & more. The conversation concludes with Darren’s reflection on the importance of faithfulness in each ministry season: whether unfair, uneventful or full of God’s leading. We hope you enjoy this insightful conversation.   Bio | Darren has served The Alliance Canada for over 15 years. Darren served as pastoral staff for seven years at Beulah Alliance. In 2014, Darren, and his wife, Naomi, were sent as international workers to Thailand where they serve

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 his faith in Jesus, and the environments that helped him along the way. Together, they also unpack the concept of "Compassionate and Courageous Orthodoxy," and in it, the delicate balance of standing firm on core Christian truths while creating environments for open and honest conversations. Evan shares profound insights on engaging in meaningful dialogue with those who hold different perspectives, while both tackling challenging questions and maintaining a genuine curiosity toward those in the conversation. Throughout the interview, Evan exudes faith and courage while staying grounded in the complexities of pastoring in this moment. We hope you enjoy our conversation with him.  Bio | Evan Wickham is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker, and lead pastor of

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 and marriage, and to close, Darrell’s thoughts on the ancient ten commandments’ continued relevance in a modern world. Throughout the entire conversation, there is one thread that continually emerges as vital: the pastor's job is to guide people toward abiding in Jesus. We hope this conversation serves you to that important end. Bio | Darrell Johnson has been preaching Jesus Christ and His Gospel for over 50 years. He has served a number of Presbyterian congregations in California, Union Church of Manila in the Philippines, and the historic First Baptist Church in the heart of Vancouver, Canada. He has taught preaching for Fuller Theological Seminary, Carey Theological College in Vancouver, and Regent College in Vancouver. He has authored eight books, including The