The work of renewal in a church is slow, costly, and long-term. It requires pastors who consistently say, “I can’t do this alone,” and who return to the feet of Jesus, the One making all things new. 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 …

There has to be more. Exodus 6:6-7 // Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will kno…

There has to be more! 2 Peter 1:4 // He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. Promise: an offer with a guaranteed result. Hebrews 6:17 (MSG) // When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a …

How did Access grow? ✅ Kids & Students Love It ✅ Worship is so good ✅ People are friendly ✅ The church is so generous ✅ Preacher is just breathtaking Somebody invited you. John 4:27-35 // Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” The…

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 insig…

Evangelism – Sharing good news Remembering is the start of sharing Exodus 12:26-27 // And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ you shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people b…

The Power of Connection There are no perfect parents. Have you ever: Rolled your eyes at your children Told a little white lie to your children, like “We’ll see!” Lost a child at Disney World Lost your mind at one your children’s sporting events and had to go sit in your car Tried to teach a child a math concept, but instead threw the math book acr…

Hurt Boring A Family Unity John 17:20-23 // “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that t…

Proverbs 24:3 // It takes wisdom to have a good family, and it takes understanding to make it strong. Four Unchanging Rules for Families Mark 10:13-16 // People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little childre…

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…

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 Danie…

Proverbs 24:3 // It takes wisdom to have a good family, and it takes understanding to make it strong. The Jury’s Still Out Authoritarian Permissive Biblical Luke 2:52 // And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Wisdom. Teach them to fear God. Proverbs 9:10 // The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge…

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: Sus…

Healing Do you believe that God still heals? Confessionist Group Cessationist Group Can Will James 5:13-16 // Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the pray…

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 Yo…

The Competent & Wealthy James 4:13-16 // Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it…

The Tongue We would use God’s wisdom to govern the words spoken from the tongue. BIBLE FORD KISS THE Luke 6:45 // For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Proverbs 4:23 // Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Matthew 15:11 (NLT) // “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the …

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 Rhyt…

“I’m kind of a genius.” James 1:19-22 // My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word plante…

Grow the church. Grow you. Who is the author? James Camel Knees Who is the audience? Jewish Christians What is the purpose? Encouragement What is the central message? Faith in Action Truths of Trouble Trouble comes to everyone Trouble can be unpredictable Trouble hurts Rejoice in Trouble James 1:1-2 // James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus …

Philippians 2:15-16 // …Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian. G.K. Chesterton Joy vs Happiness Joy makes a follower of Jesus uncommon. How do I Live With Uncommon Joy? Joy’s Importance Psalm 51:12-13 // “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And u…

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 o…

Uncommon Worship What do I do with my worry? 2 Chronicles 1:1-4, 15 // After that, the Moabites, Ammonites and some Meunites went to war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some people came and told him, “A huge army is coming from Edom to fight against you. They have come across the Dead Sea. They are already in Hazezon Tamar.” Hazezon Tamar is also called En …

Philippians 2:15, 16 (NIV) // So that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. John 13:35 (NIV) // By…

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…

Philippians 2:15-16 // Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. How do I live with uncommon generosity? For not From God is GENEROUS. Generosity is the heart of God. John 3:16 // For God so loved the world that He GAVE… Romans 8:32 // Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us …

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 p…

Genesis 37:5 // Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. Genesis 37:17b-20 // So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him…

We are a Spirit-Empowered church Acts 1:4-5, 8 // On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 8 But you will receive powe…

Heaven Up there, down here Until Lakeland Looks Like Heaven Matthew 6:10 // Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. KINGDOM: A country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen Matthew 6:10 (KJV) // Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. KINGDOM: Wherever the will of a king is carried out Mar…

DTR Wedding ring of Christianity Joshua 24:15 // But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Revelation 3:15-1…

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 conversatio…

Luke 5:12-16 // While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14…

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…

Matthew 8:1 // Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Jesus was led by the Spirit, not the crowds. Mark 4:36 // Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. Are you following Jesus? Salvation happens when we put our faith in Jesus. Real life change happens w…

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…

You Us Future Us Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) // Where there is no vision, the people perish. Hebrew: châzôwn (khaw-zone’): A dream, revelation or vision for life Psalm 126:1-2 // When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Acts 2:17 // “In the last days, …