The Pastorate Podcast

Drew Hyun shares his journey of leaving comfort and control to plant a family of churches in New York City. From his early years at New Life Fellowship to launching Hope Church NYC, Drew opens up about the identity struggles, risks, and faith it took to follow God’s call into the unknown.He unpacks the distinct vision behind their network of churches, the values that hold them together, and why unity requires humility and open hands.Key Takeaways:Discerning calling beyond fear and egoHow emotional health shapes long-term leadershipWhat makes a true church “family” across denominationsThe role of humility and releasing control in building unityA powerful episode for leaders navigating transition, community, and God’s call to courageous obedience.PartnersWe 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 NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Charles Price reflects on decades of ministry, preaching, and following God’s call with humility and faith. In this conversation with Jason Ballard, Charles shares stories from his early days preaching across England, his journey into pastoral leadership, and the convictions that have shaped his life and ministry.He offers practical wisdom for young preachers, encouragement for discerning God’s call, and insight into how the Church can thrive—even in times of challenge.Key Takeaways:How to discern calling through open doors and inner convictionPreaching in a way that leaves people dependent on GodWhy personal connection matters more than speaking to a crowdEncouragement for young pastors to minister from a full heartThis episode is full of humour, clarity, and grace from a leader who’s spent a lifetime serving the Church well.PartnersWe 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 NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Ben and Emma Narayanan share the story of planting Avant Life Church in Canada—rooted in faith, marked by loss, and shaped by community. In this conversation with Jason, they reflect on moving from Australia with a small team, launching a church amid personal grief, and learning to lead with humility and hope.They unpack the values that shape their church culture and what it means to steward both people and buildings with intentional care.Key Takeaways:Trusting God through uncertainty and immigration challengesLeading a church while navigating personal griefHow to shape culture through shared values (Helpful, Humble, Hopeful, His)Stewarding buildings and people as a young, multiplying churchThis episode is a powerful reminder that God meets us in the tension of joy and sorrow—and builds His Church through it all.Pastors Ben and Emma Narayanan are the Lead Pastors of Avant Life Church. As leaders, both Ps Ben and Ps Emma are passionate about sharing the message of Christ through boldness, innovation and creativity. After hearing the clear call from God, they moved to North Vancouver Canada with their three amazing children Levi, Alice and Eden from Canberra, Australia to pioneer Avant Life Church. Their hearts for people, leadership development and community engagement has helped establish Avant Life Church as a thriving, relevant and transformational Christ-centred community.PartnersWe 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 NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Brooke Ligertwood and Darrell Johnson explore the heart of worship, the nature of calling, and what must remain central in a changing Church. Recorded during a Worship Central Canada webinar, this conversation moves through theology, personal experience, and cultural shifts in how we gather and worship.They reflect on worship as participation in the unseen, the pressure worship leaders face, and the importance of holding on to what’s essential—while letting go of what no longer serves.Key Takeaways:Worship as joining the ongoing, unseen worship of heavenHow calling is deeper than style or platformWhat churches and leaders must not lose in modern worshipHonest reflections on the beauty and challenge of changeA thoughtful and inspiring episode for worship leaders, pastors, and anyone discerning what faithful worship looks like today.PartnersWe 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 NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Sam Picken shares the story of planting C3 Church Toronto and building a church shaped by invitation, innovation, and intentional discipleship. Originally from Australia, Sam talks with Jason about discerning the call to Toronto, starting with one conversation in a coffee shop that sparked a church community.He also unpacks how their team responded to the challenges of COVID-19 with creative solutions—like developing an online food bank platform—and how small, service-based gatherings opened new doors for mission and leadership development.Key Takeaways:How a culture of invitation can shape an entire churchDiscerning calling through open conversations and prayerInnovating during crisis with a heart for the cityEmpowering leaders through relational, small-scale gatheringsThis episode is full of hope and practical wisdom for leaders reaching their cities with faith and creativity.BiographySam and his wife Jess are the Lead Pastors of C3 Church Toronto, Canada. They relocated from Australia in 2008 to follow God's call to ministry in Canada, and in 2012 planted C3 Toronto. C3 Toronto's main purpose as a church is to connect people to God. The church is known for its strong community and outward focus on mission through 'Love Toronto'. Sam and Jess reside in the west end of Toronto with their three kids. They lead their church with a strong emphasis on discipleship and developing leaders, and nothing is a higher priority to Sam than seeing souls won for Christ.PartnersThis episode was sponsored by Compassion Canada. Learn more about the work of Compassion at ccln.ca/compassion.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 Notes⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Father Justin Huang joins guest host Matt Menzel for a heartfelt conversation about calling, confession, and abiding with Jesus in ministry. As a Catholic priest serving in Vancouver, Father Justin shares his journey into the priesthood, his encounter with God’s mercy through confession, and the years of wrestling that led to full surrender.Despite theological differences, Matt and Father Justin explore what unity in Christ can look like through friendship, shared practices, and a mutual desire to lead people deeper into God’s love.Key Takeaways:The power of confession as a path to experiencing graceWrestling with calling and choosing obedience over comfortThe value of spiritual disciplines, retreats, and sabbaticalsHow friendship across traditions reflects the heart of the KingdomA moving conversation that invites leaders into deeper intimacy with Jesus and a greater love for His Church.BiographiesMatt Menzel is the Lead Pastor of Westside Church in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. He and his wife Melissa are passionate about calling and equipping Jesus' people to 'Make Him Known' through the ordinary, Spirit-empowered rhythms of following Jesus in everyday life. They're thrilled and beyond blessed to be part of what Jesus' Spirit is doing in the city.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 NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Jono Zantingh shares the story of planting Evolve Church in Edmonton and the emotional, spiritual, and practical lessons learned along the way. In this conversation with Jason, Jono reflects on the tension of grieving what was left behind while stepping into God’s vision for something new.He unpacks the importance of living on mission in your neighbourhood, building margin for local relationships, and how networks like ARC and Next Level have supported his pastoral journey. Jono also opens up about the inner work of self-awareness and leading from a place of honesty and health.Key Takeaways:Holding space for both grief and excitement in new seasonsHow to live with intentionality as both a pastor and a neighbourWhy margin matters for sustainable missionThe power of community, coaching, and growing in self-awarenessA heartfelt and practical episode for leaders navigating transition and longing to lead with depth and purpose.BiographyJono Zantingh is a Canadian Pastor, Church Planter and Worship Leader.  He has been married to Nicole for 20 years.  Together, they have 3 children; Julia, Riley and Kaleb. In 2018, Jono & Nicole moved to Edmonton, AB from Winnipeg, MB to plant Evolve Church in South Edmonton with their ARC Canada Family. In 2020, Jono began serving as a coach to other church planters in Canada through the ARC. He is passionate about the local church and seeing others grow in their surrender of learning to trust and follow Jesus.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 NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

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 usBuilding a church from a vision for the city, not just a congregationWhy mentorship and spiritual rhythms matter for sustainable leadershipStepping away from digital noise to pursue deeper intimacy with JesusThis episode is a needed reminder for leaders to root themselves in presence, humility, and the power of the Spirit.PartnersThis episode was brought to you by International Justice Mission. Learn more at www.ijm.ca/cclp.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.⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Anne Miranda shares her journey of healing, leadership, and stepping into ministry later in life. In this conversation with Jason, Anne reflects on growing up as a first-generation Canadian, navigating trauma, and how her faith came alive in her late teens—eventually leading her from government work into full-time church leadership at 35.She unpacks what it means to lead with empathy, how to empower young adults to serve with clarity and purpose, and why the Church must become a safe place for honest conversations and long-term discipleship.Key Takeaways:Healing from past trauma while stepping into leadershipEmpowering young adults with clear roles and accountabilitySupporting non-traditional pathways into church ministryCreating space for safety, honesty, and long-term growth in the ChurchA vulnerable and wisdom-filled conversation for leaders longing to raise up healthy teams and create space for transformation.BiographyAnne is currently the Pastor of Women’s Ministries at Village Church in British Columbia. In her love to develop women in leadership roles, she co-founded Leverage, a ministry that equips leaders with practical resources, inspired by the Word of God, and connect with like-minded "leaders of leaders". Anne is involved as a board member of Ally Global, an organization that focuses on empowering women and children who have been rescued from human trafficking.Born and raised in a Lebanese heritage, Anne understands the challenges and beauty of being a first-generation Canadian. Her personal background includes developing Crime Prevention Programs for youth under the Attorney General’s Office in British Columbia and as an educator, teaching high school Spanish and English Literature. She lives in Surrey, British Columbia with her husband Carlos and their children Nathaniel and Hannah, and her Mom.PartnersWe 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 NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

In this conversation with Jason, Father Simon reflects on serving at Saint Benedict Parish in Halifax and leading a team through the shift from “maintenance to mission.”They explore the changing dynamics of leadership as congregations grow, the power of community among clergy, and the vital need to raise up Missionary Disciples in a post-Christian Canada.Key Takeaways:Moving from pastoral care to leading other leadersWhy parish renewal requires intentional discipleship and missionLiving in community to avoid loneliness in ministryHow the Church can respond to the end of cultural Christianity in CanadaA rich, cross-tradition conversation for pastors and leaders longing to see the Church in Canada thrive with vision and resilience.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 NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠