The Pastorate Podcast Joyce Rees on Building a Life Not Just a Ministry, Pursuing Calling Amidst Pushback & the Kingdom’s Measurement of Success
What does it look like to build a life of ministry rooted in authenticity, not performance?
In this episode, Jason Ballard sits down with Joyce Rees—pastor, teacher, and longtime leader in the Canadian Church—for a deeply personal conversation about formation, calling, and faithfulness over the long haul. From youth ministry to the Downtown Eastside to leading a local church in Calgary, Joyce shares how God has shaped her convictions and kept her grounded.
Key Takeaways:
Why we can’t copy and paste someone else’s call
What kids need most when growing up in a pastor’s home
How to disciple through presence, not performance
The power of being hidden in ministry
What it means to become a servant—not just a leader
We hope this episode encourages you to keep following Jesus, wherever He’s called you.
Biography
Joyce Rees has pastored for thirty years. In addition, she is a sought-after speaker for diverse parts of the Church as an exceptional communicator, known especially for her teaching on justice. Joyce was the founding director of Jacob's Well, an intentional Christian community in Vancouver's downtown eastside – the poorest postal code in Canada. During her decade living and working there she also planted the Strathcona Vineyard Church. Since 2014 she has served as co-lead pastor of Epic Vineyard Church in Calgary, and also works bi-vocationally for Vineyard Canada as their Resource Coordinator since 2019. Joyce loves adventuring with her husband and two sons, as well as complex cooking, reading pretty much everything, and many diverse artistic pursuits.
Sponsors
We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and give towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.
Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their Bible Course here.
Guest Notes
- Epic Vineyard Church
- Jacob’s Well
- Stephen’s Society
- A Burning in my Bones by Winn Collier
- Hemorrhaging Faith Study
Show Notes