The Pastorate Podcast Joshua Butler on Creative Mission In Your City, the Power of Listening, and How Trial Formed His Pastoral Heart
What does it look like to pastor faithfully in a post-Christian world?
This week, Jason sits down with Joshua Butler—pastor of Redemption Tempe in Arizona and author of The Skeletons in God’s Closet—for a conversation about ministry, mission, and what happens when your calling is shaped by suffering. Josh shares stories from his years in Portland, where he learned to love a city through creative outreach, journey with young adults asking big questions, and lead with conviction in the midst of cultural change.
They also talk about Josh’s health crisis in 2020, when doctors feared he would go blind. In the midst of uncertainty, God was doing something deeper—refining his sense of calling and deepening his love for the church.
In this episode:
What it means to be missional in a post-Christian city
How to walk with people through doubt and deconstruction
Writing through hard questions about hell, judgement, and grace
How crisis can clarify our calling as pastors
Biography
Joshua currently serves as lead pastor of Redemption Tempe, a thriving church near Arizona State University, one of the largest colleges in the country. Prior to 2018, he served as an outreach pastor for fifteen years in Portland (OR) at Imago Dei Community.
Partners
Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their Bible Course here.
We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and givetowards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.
Guest Notes
Show Notes