The Pastorate Podcast Aaron White on the Common Pitfalls in Efforts to Serve the Poor, Why Prayer Must Come Before Acts of Justice & the Power of Partnerships
Aaron White has spent decades embedded in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver—one of Canada’s most misunderstood neighbourhoods. In this episode, he joins Jason Ballard to share what he’s learned about presence, prayer, and what it really means to be the Church in your city.
Aaron serves with 24-7 Prayer Canada, Westminster Theological Centre, and Jacob’s Well, and his life challenges common assumptions about mission and ministry. He invites pastors and churches to rethink how they approach their neighbourhoods—not as outsiders bringing Jesus in, but as co-labourers discovering Jesus already at work.
Key Takeaways:
Why Jesus is already present in places we think we’re bringing Him to
How churches can faithfully serve their neighbourhoods without pride or superiority
The vital connection between prayer, justice, and community transformation
Why the opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety—but connection
How pastors can move from isolation to deep, sustaining relationships
Whether you serve in an urban, suburban, or rural context, this conversation will inspire you to embrace a deeper call to prayer, presence, and pastoral health.
Biography
Aaron White is the National Director of 24-7 Prayer Canada. He has been a pastor, missioner, justice worker and prayer instigator in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver for the past 16 years, where he lives with his wife and four children in a community home. He is the co-author of Revolution and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Kingdom of God; co-creator of The Creative Way Down discipleship resource; and author of the upcoming book Recovering: From Brokenness and Addiction to Blessedness and Community.
Partners
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.
Show Notes