The Pastorate Podcast Darren Rouanzoin on Entering the Digital Desert, the Risk of Becoming a Disembodied Influencer, and Having a Vision Bigger Than Your Church
Darren Rouanzoin shares the story of building Garden Church in Long Beach and why true spiritual leadership starts with hiddenness, not hype. In this conversation with Jason, Darren reflects on moving from skepticism to encountering the power of the Spirit—and how that encounter shaped a church vision not just for Sundays, but for the whole city.
He unpacks lessons from mentorship, the importance of spiritual formation, and how to resist the cultural pull toward platform-driven leadership. Darren also shares about stepping into a "digital desert" in 2019, choosing intimacy with Jesus over online visibility.
Key Takeaways:
How spiritual formation shapes what we build around us
Building a church from a vision for the city, not just a congregation
Why mentorship and spiritual rhythms matter for sustainable leadership
Stepping away from digital noise to pursue deeper intimacy with Jesus
This episode is a needed reminder for leaders to root themselves in presence, humility, and the power of the Spirit.
Partners
This episode was brought to you by International Justice Mission. Learn more at www.ijm.ca/cclp.
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