All Episodes

Sometimes life has a way of blowing up our plans - especially in ministry. In this episode, we talk with Jon Stairs and hear about a devastating disruption his church faced - just thirteen days after he became the lead pastor. We learn a lot about dependency on God, leadership, and doing the right thing, even when it's hard. Jon is the Lead Pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Cambridge, ON. To learn more about the church or to contact Jon, visit www.templebaptistchurch.ca. In the conversation, Jon recommends the book "Ecclesial Repentance" by Jeremy M. Bergen. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff are officially back in the studio for the new year. They discuss the practical and spiritual realities of planning for pastors. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, please email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

Hearing God's voice is hard - it's even harder when you have the wrong mindset. In this episode, we talk with Kyle Harnett about his transition process from leading a small, nimble multiplying church plant to leading a very large church. We also discuss spiritual renewal and mobilizing the church for mission. Kyle is the Lead Pastor of Foothills Alliance Church in Calgary, Alberta. To learn more about the church or to contact Kyle, visit www.myfoothills.ca. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff pretend it's January (when it's actually December). They discuss New Year's resolutions and book recommendations - and delve into Geoff's unique approach to parenting. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, please email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

Rural churches are everywhere, but who should lead one? In this episode, we talk with Phil Houston about the learning (and unlearning) that took place when he began pastoring a rural church. We also talk about the challenges of finding rural pastors and ministry strategies in an agrarian environment. Phil is the Lead Pastor of Park Avenue Bible Church in Melfort, Saskatchewan. To learn more about the church or to contact Phil, visit www.pabc.ca. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff talk about service planning for Christmas Eve Sunday and New Year's Eve Sunday. They also give some year end book recommendations. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, please email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

When your church and your community both need healing, where do you begin? In this episode, we talk with Milissa Ewing about leadership challenges in a church wrestling with past abuse in a city marked with a bad reputation. We also discuss women in ministry, Indigenous leadership, and gospel contextualization. Milissa is the Lead Pastor of Redwood Park Church in Thunder Bay, Ontario. To learn more about the church or to contact Milissa, visit www.redwoodpark.org. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff talk alot about coffee. They also discuss ways for pastors to share their leadership challenges with others. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, please email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

Why are we losing our evangelistic pulse in local churches? In this episode, we talk with Bill Hogg about the disappearance of evangelists and the pressing need to fan into flame gospel potency and evangelistic giftings in local churches. Bill is the National Director of Message Canada and Lead for Advance Canada. To connect with Bill or to learn more about his work, visit www.messagecanada.org. Information about Advance Groups can be found at www.advancegroups.org. To register for the Advance Evangelists Summit, go to www.advancesummit.org. In this episode, Rob references two books: Preaching by Tim Keller and How to Preach & Teach the Old Testament for All Its Worth by Christopher J.H. Wright. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff talk about appropriate Christmas decorating and the challenge pastors face in doing personal evangelism. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, please email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

Is Advent something worth celebrating or is it a dead tradition? In this episode, Rob talks with Rev. Dr. Dean Pinter about Advent, liturgy, Evangelicalism, and church tradition. Father Dean is the Rector of St. Aidan Anglican Church in Moose Jaw, SK. In the podcast, he references two authors: Malcolm Guite and Stephen Cherry (Barefoot Ways). For more information about St. Aidan, or to connect with Dean, visit www.staidan.ca. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff debate American versus Canadian Thanksgiving and discuss Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Advent traditions. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, please email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

Is Eastern Canada hard soil for church planting? In this episode, we talk with Chad MacDonald about his first year planting a church in Halifax, Nova Scotia and how he received a little help from south of the border. We also discuss strategic church planting and his church plant's unique team structure. Chad MacDonald is a pastor from Port City Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia. For more information visit www.portcitychurch.ca. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff discuss emergency surgery and days of rest for pastors. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, please email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

Are we seeing a shift in how we train future ministry leaders? In this episode, we talk with Mark Burch and discover how his church is investing a significant portion of its budget toward leadership development and church multiplication. We discuss church planting, gospel contextualization, and the future of theological training for pastors. Mark is the Lead Pastor of Northview Community Church in Abbotsford, BC. For more information about Northview, visit www.northview.org. You can check out their Leadership Institute at www.northviewinstitute.org. In the pre-show, Rob and Geoff are joined again by guest host Kaitlin Brennan, Director of Youth Quake at Briercrest. They discuss the effect of daylight savings time on ministry and attempt to become generational translators. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, please email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca.

Are we seeing the end of youth ministries in Canada, or is God up to something? In this episode, we talk to Sid Koop about the current state of youth ministry after Covid. We discuss the importance of youth worker training, the uptick in youth conferences, and the challenges of helping youth form Christ-centred identities. Sid is the Executive Director of Youth Worker Community. Find out more on his website, www.youthworker.community. The Volunteer Youth Worker Podcast can be found on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6gGVtFXl09YJ3QGF6TR4cA?si=54e4d353c651476f In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff discuss Geoff's new album release and the use of ChatGPT for sermon development. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, please email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. Check out Geoff's album: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0woVdQAQT4AVGWheLpUyZN?si=qaXhy6vLQ3SaNDh-GdMJOA

Rural churches are disappearing and should we rely on standard models to rejuvenate them? In our conversation with Nathan Weselake, we uncover an alternative approach to reaching and growing disciples in rural communities. We also discuss his church's journey of reconciliation with First Nations communities and how to stay healthy while in ministry. Nathan Weselake is the Lead Pastor of Prairie Alliance Church in Portage La Prairie. In the pre-show, Rob and Geoff are joined by guest host Jeremy Cook, Assistant DS of C&MA Midwest. They swap Thanksgiving preferences and discuss strategies for pastors on airplanes. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. Jeremy can be reached by email: jeremy@canadianmidwest.ca.

Does our cultural infatuation with safety and security hinder the gospel? Nahom Okbatensae takes us to school as we hear about his flight from persecution in Eritrea, to his arrival in Canada to his church planting journey. We also discover his church's passion for prayer and approach to keeping the next generation in the faith. Nahom is the Lead Pastor of Living Christ Alliance Church in Edmonton, Alberta. You can visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/alcc777 . In the pre-show, Rob and Geoff are joined by guest host Kaitlin Brennan, Director of Youth Quake at Briercrest. They discuss Gen Z slang and the importance of youth ministries. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca.

Ministry isn't just hard; it's impossible apart from God. In this episode, we talk to Phil Collins about his adventurous hiking excursions, prayer retreats, and church renewal. We also discuss multi-site and the intersection between counselling education and pastoral leadership. Phil is the Lead Pastor of Willow Park Church in Kelowna, BC. For more information about Willow Park Church, visit www.willowparkchurch.com. Phil can be contacted at: pcollins@willowparkchurch.com. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff discuss Dan's hiking adventures, Taylor Swift (gasp!), and Pastor Appreciation Month. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca.

Not all emerging adults are deconstructing or done with faith. In this episode, we explore growing disciple-making movements and church plants on Canadian university campuses. Robin Wallar is the Lead Pastor of LIFT Church in the Toronto/Hamilton region. He leads a multiplying, disciple-making, multisite church that spans six different university campuses. For more information about LIFT Church, visit www.liftchurch.ca. For more information about Robin's books, visit www.liftchurch.ca/books. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff discuss the autumn equinox, long-term planning, and visiting other churches. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca.

Are bigger churches better than smaller churches? In this episode, we talk to Ron Baker about the significance of smaller churches and the implications of the recent EFC "Significant Church" study. Ron is the Director of the Canadian Small Church Ministry Centre. Find out more on his website, www.cscmc.ca, where you will discover links to his recommended books and his podcast "This Is Us! Canadian Small Churches in Action." Ron's book, "This Is Us!" is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/evauijp. In the pre-show, Rob and Dan are joined by guest host Roger Reid, Youth Specialist at Hillside Church in Moncton, NB. They discuss Halloween decisions for churches as well as pastoral sabbaticals. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca. Roger can be contacted at roger@hillsidemoncton.ca.

Multiplying disciples sounds good in theory, but how do you actually do it? In this episode, we discuss multiplying disciples and churches with Jeremiah Capule. Jeremiah Capule leads a diverse disciple-making, house church network throughout Calgary (and beyond) with SEND Network Canada and Alberta Underground. For more information about SEND Network Canada, visit www.sendnetwork.ca. To contact Jeremiah, email him at jonathaninitiative@gmail.com or text him at 780.716.1208. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff discuss bug infestations, murder hornets, and pastor nightmares. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca.

Dr. Keith Taylor is the former Lead Pastor of Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton, where he served for thirty years. He also served as the interim President of The Alliance Canada. Rob and Keith discuss building lifelong resiliency in ministry, being intentional in the last ten years, emerging generations, and other topics. To contact Keith, email him at doctaylor@shaw.ca. In the pre-show, Rob, Dan, and Geoff discuss the fall launch, sports, church announcements, and much more. For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. For questions or inquiries, email us: podcast@churchinthenorth.ca.