Reward Sibanda on How Culture Shapes Ministry, The Role of the Megachurch Today, and Fasting as a Means to Soul Rest
In this episode, Jason sits down with Reward Sibanda, a pastor, speaker, and writer, a leading voice on fasting and a Pastor at Saddleback Church. Reward is known for his contagious joy, his deep love for the church, and his ability to bridge cultural gaps in ministry.
Tyler Staton on the Redemption of Pain, Contextualizing Our Suffering Within the Story of Scripture, and Cultivating a Daily Desire to Experience the Power of the Holy Spirit
In this episode, Jason sits down with Tyler Staton, lead pastor of Bridgetown Church and author of The Familiar Stranger, to explore how God works in seasons of suffering and renewal. Tyler shares candidly on how deep pain has shaped his understanding of faith, ministry, and the presence of God in everyday life.
Claude Lainey on Ministry in Rural Canada, The Church’s Call to Raise Up the Next Generation of Church Leaders, and How Listening Prayer Inspires Courageous Leadership
Pastoring in rural Canada comes with unique challenges and opportunities—navigating leadership transitions, bilingual ministry, and the call to raise up the next generation of leaders. In this episode we’re joined by Claude Lainey, lead pastor of Gospel Mission Church in Winkler, Manitoba, to hear his story of moving from Northern Ontario to Manitoba and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
Mark Sayers on Leadership and Suffering: A Theology of Resilience, Cultivating Spiritual Authority Over Charisma, and The Call of the Church in a Changing World
Our world is changing at a rapid pace and it can be hard to make sense of. The weight of pastoral leadership can feel heavier when we’re navigating through uncharted waters. That’s why we’re grateful for voices like Mark Sayers—leaders who cut through the noise with a prophetic edge, distill complex cultural trends, and speak to the Church with a non-anxious presence.
Megan Fate Marshman on Preaching with Integrity, Practical Prayer Rhythms, and Cultivating Hope in Longing
Preaching with authenticity is no easy task, but for Megan, authenticity is the only gear she knows. The question remains—how do we craft honest sermons and let the message impact our lives first?
Megan is a pastor, speaker, and author joining us from Lakewood, California. She serves as the teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois and leads a women’s Bible study at Arbor Road Church in Long Beach, California. Whether preaching, leading, or writing her latest book, Megan brings a refreshing honesty that resonates deeply and inspires many.
Andy Moore on God as the Faithful Redeemer, Pastoring a Century-Old Church, and Building Environments Where Emerging Leaders Can Thrive
It’s a New Year, and we’re thrilled to welcome you back to The Pastorate. As we step into 2025, we’re continuing our mission of creating meaningful conversations to equip and encourage pastors, starting with an episode we pray will strengthen both your hands and your heart for the work ahead.
Our guest today is Andy Moore, Pastor of Coastline Church in the heart of Victoria, British Columbia. With years of ministry experience and a heartfelt dedication to developing leaders, Andy offers a perspective both profound and practical. This in-person conversation, recorded in Andy’s home, is one we’re excited to share with you.
Darrell Johnson on His Morning Rhythms, Praying the Psalms, and Reflections on His Personal Health
We’re excited to bring you a special episode to end the year. Last year, we began a tradition of hosting a conversation with Darrell Johnson near the end of each year, and it’s quickly become a meaningful rhythm for this podcast—a chance to sit down and reflect on life and ministry.
In this episode, Darrell shares about his morning rhythms and the practices that he’s found that work in his life to create space for a life with God. He explores disciple-making in our modern context, including the value of one-on-one conversations and how he would anchor discipleship in teaching people how to read the Bible and pray. Finally he offers some reflections on his health journey over the past few months, candidly sharing about both challenges and God’s faithfulness through it all.
AJ Sherrill on Cultivating a Distinct Pastoral Voice, Slowing Down to Shepherd Well, and Rediscovering Christmas
AJ Sherrill joins us from St. Peter’s Church in Charleston, South Carolina. AJ has pastored in diverse contexts—from California to New York to Grand Rapids—before settling in Charleston with his family. He’s also an accomplished author, and his latest book, Rediscovering Christmas, is a profound exploration of the Bible’s Christmas story, helping us embrace the ancient wonder of the season.
In this episode, AJ shares about how to discover and develop your unique pastoral voice as a communicator, his new book, Rediscovering Christmas, and its surprising insights into the Bible’s Christmas story, and the importance of slowing down to truly pastor your congregation where they are.
Glenn Packiam on Navigating Expectations in Ministry, Drawing Strength from Ancient Wisdom, and Building Teams Rooted in Self-Awareness
In this episode of The Pastorate, we sit down with Glenn Packiam, Lead Pastor of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California, to explore the depth and complexity of pastoral ministry in today’s world. Glenn brings his unique perspective as a pastor, offering insights on how to remain grounded in the midst of ministry’s ever-growing demands. Drawing from both his own experiences, Glenn unpacks practical strategies for navigating the weight of expectations placed on pastors, cultivating resilience through ancient spiritual practices, and fostering healthy team dynamics with a focus on self-awareness. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to pastoral ministry, this conversation will encourage and equip you to lead with renewed clarity and grace.
Carey Nieuwhof on Navigating the Pitfalls of Pastoring, How Ministry Models Need to Shift Alongside Culture, and Learning to Find Joy in Passing the Baton
This week on The Pastorate, Carey Nieuwhof joins us for a conversation on how ministry models need to shift alongside culture and how to find joy in passing the baton in ministry.
Carey discusses his journey of founding and then stepping back from the Lead role at Connexus Church. He reflects on how stepping aside has required humility and an intentional shift from leading to supporting. He then takes the time to walk us through some insights on the shift away from consumer Christianity towards a desire for genuine discipleship and connection as well as a need to reorient our ministry models alongside this cultural shift. Finally, Carey opens up about his experience with the potential dangers of pastoring: isolation or confusing church success with personal faith — along with practices like friendship and building a life outside of ministry to help mitigate the danger.
Rachel Hughes on Developing a Kingdom Mindset Through Church Planting, The Call to the Local Church and the Broader Church, and Women and Men Leading in Partnership for the Sake of the Kingdom
This week on The Pastorate, Rachel Hughes—Pastor of Gas Street Church in Birmingham, England—joins us for a conversation on pastoral ministry.
Rachel shares about the experience of planting Gas Street Church, the ongoing cycle of raising and sending new leaders, and how church planting can disrupt comfort zones, keep churches mission-focused, and foster a kingdom mindset. She further explores managing her roles as a church leader and a mother of five, navigating the complexities of parenting, pastoring, and fostering a local church community while also contributing to the broader church.
Adam Browett on Cultivating a Heart for the Neighbourhood as a Downtown Church, Moving from Captivation to Inspiration, and Navigating Change As A Family
This week in the inaugural episode of The Pastorate Adam Browett, Pastor of Calvary Temple in Winnipeg, Manitoba, joins us on the podcast for a conversation on pastoral ministry.
Adam shares what he has been learning, as a naturally gifted speaker, about continuing to develop his craft of preaching, journey discerning transition–taking on the role of Lead Pastor in a historic church and how he’s guided his family in the midst of the move, and leading an inner city church to embrace and celebrate the neighbourhood they find themselves in.
Introducing The Pastorate: Jason Ballard on the Future of the Canadian Church Leaders Network
This week, Jason Ballard, host of the Canadian Church Leaders Podcast and Executive Director of the Canadian Church Leaders Network (CCLN) sits down with Chris Price to discuss the future of CCLN and the adoption of a new name for both the organization and the podcast: The Pastorate.
Jason reflects on the rationale behind the naming of The Pastorate and the organization’s renewed focus on serving pastors, the current state of Canadian church leadership, how The Pastorate is serving to strengthen Canadian pastors through content, cohorts, and gatherings.
Father James Mallon on His Return to Local Church Ministry, Embracing the Cost of Renewal, and Turning Our Churches Outwards
This week, Father James Mallon, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in beautiful Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, joins us on the podcast to share his heart for evangelism and his passion for parish renewal.
Father James reflects on his journey back to local church ministry after a season in parachurch and diocesan roles, re-experiencing the cost of renewal in a parish setting, tending to the inevitable wounds of pastoral ministry, the Holy Spirit as both the gathering and sending force of the Church.
Dan Cochrane on His Call to the Pastorate, Growing and Adapting Alongside The Church, and Preaching the Living Word
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 from his predecessors, how to manage church growth and learning to grow alongside the church he pastors, and that the foundation of preaching is the confidence we have that the Word of God is alive and well today.
Rich Villodas on The Three Phases of Genuine Relationships, Navigating Expectations Put On Pastors, and The Narrow Path
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 like and what it 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.
Daniel Im on Pastoring In Times of Deep Loss, Becoming the Pastor of a 100+ Year Old Church, and The Four Types of People In Your Church
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 and his new book, The Discipleship Opportunity: Leading a Great-Commission Church in a Post-Everything World.