The Pastorate Podcast

Julie and Damian Bassett share their story of planting a church in Toronto, growing as leaders, and learning to lead together in marriage and ministry. In this conversation with Jason, they reflect on moving from Australia to Canada, starting small, and faithfully investing in people long before momentum arrived.They also unpack what it means to lead from their strengths, build healthy rhythms as a couple, and how their work with Compassion has shaped their passion for justice and local church mission.Key Takeaways:Planting a church with faithfulness, not flashGrowing as leaders while embracing your unique wiringBuilding intentional rhythms in marriage and ministryPartnering with Compassion to serve both physical and spiritual needsA warm, honest episode for leaders navigating long-term faithfulness and the joy of leading side by side.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

Miles Toulmin shares his journey of church planting in Kuala Lumpur, leading with generosity, and trusting God in every season of leadership. In this conversation with Jason, Miles reflects on planting Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang (HTBB) out of Holy Trinity Brompton and leading in a predominantly Muslim context.He unpacks how Alpha, prayer, and sacrificial leadership have shaped their ministry, and why releasing leaders—even when it’s costly—makes room for God to move in powerful ways.Key Takeaways:Church planting in a culturally complex and religiously restricted contextWhy being a resourcing church means giving your best awayThe power of prayer and Alpha in evangelism and discipleshipHow to carry leadership responsibility with peace and joyAn encouraging episode for leaders learning to trust God deeply while building communities of impact and generosity.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

Charles Price, Darrell Johnson, and Laurel Buckingham share wisdom from decades of ministry to encourage leaders navigating pressure and fatigue. Hosted by Shaila Visser, this conversation is full of honest reflections and practical guidance for pastors seeking to stay faithful in hard seasons.Together, they offer spiritual and practical rhythms that sustain leaders—reminding us to abide in Christ, return to our “why,” and trust God’s pace.Key Takeaways:What seasoned leaders would tell their younger selves in difficult seasonsThe importance of abiding and spiritual renewalRediscovering your calling and leading with patienceHow to stay grounded under the demands of ministryAn honest, hope-filled episode for pastors feeling the weight of this season—and longing to lead from a place of rest 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

Mark Buchanan shares his journey from unbelief to awe-filled faith, offering wisdom on what sustains the pastoral heart over the long haul. In this conversation with Jason, Mark reflects on how Scripture first awakened him to the reality of God—and how he continues to keep that wonder alive today.They explore how grief has shaped his leadership, what young pastors need at their foundation, and how to hold conviction while embracing our inevitable imperfections.Key Takeaways:How Scripture can awaken awe and transform a lifeThe role of grief in forming pastoral empathySpiritual practices for sustaining wonder and convictionEncouragement for leading faithfully, even when you fall shortA wise and deeply human conversation for pastors longing to lead with depth, humility, and a sustained sense of wonder.PartnersOn Tuesday, February 9th, Compassion is inviting Canadian pastors to an hour with Compassion International’s President and CEO, Jimmy Melado, to hear about how COVID has affected the global church and how Compassion is working hard to stand with local churches around the world.If you’re curious about what Compassion is about and what it could look like for your church to partner with them, you can learn more and register for the hour with Jimmy Melado 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

Phil Cann shares the story behind the “Quest” video series, his journey to faith, and the importance of local, relational ministry. In this conversation with Jason, Phil reflects on how Quest helped shape youth ministry in Canada and how it ultimately inspired the Youth Alpha Film Series.They discuss the beauty and challenge of ministering in Canada’s diverse cultural landscape, the importance of contextualizing the Gospel, and why pastors must remain deeply connected to the people they serve.Key Takeaways:The legacy of Quest and its impact on youth ministryPhil’s journey of surrender and calling to preachHow to lead in Canada’s culturally diverse ChurchWhy pastors must be rooted in community and presenceA thoughtful and encouraging episode for leaders passionate about raising up the next generation and building the Church through presence and faithfulness.BiographyPhil Cann is the transitional pastor of Pemberton Community Church in British Columbia. He moved to Canada from the UK over 20 years ago and has spent time across the whole country preaching to youth groups and churches about Jesus and the Bible. He loves God, his wife, and his family. Phil’s passionate about trying to make a 4000-year-old Eastern book make sense in our modern-day world.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

Tim Mackie shares how wrestling with the Bible’s complexities led him deeper into the story of Jesus—and inspired the global impact of BibleProject. In this conversation with Jason, Tim opens up about his early doubts, the uncomfortable parts of Scripture, and why the Bible is more a place of dialogue than tidy answers.They explore how BibleProject was born out of a desire to make the Bible accessible, beautiful, and true to its design: a unified story that leads to Jesus.Key Takeaways:Tim’s journey through doubt, complexity, and rediscovery of ScriptureWhy the Bible invites us into dialogue and transformationThe story and vision behind BibleProjectHow to approach the Bible with honesty, curiosity, and hopeAn insightful episode for anyone longing to engage Scripture with depth and discover Jesus at the centre of it all.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 ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Darrell Johnson offers wisdom and encouragement for pastors feeling worn out, sharing rhythms of rest, emotional honesty, and clarity in preaching. In this conversation with Jason, Darrell reflects on his own experience with ministry fatigue and how he continues to find renewal after decades of service.They explore the lies leaders often believe, how to process emotions in a spiritually healthy way, and what biblical books might guide preaching in a complex season.Key Takeaways:Darrell’s rhythms for rediscovering rest and visionA framework for processing your emotions and hearing from GodPreaching advice for pastors in uncertain timesEncouragement for leaders carrying deep wearinessA grounded and grace-filled episode for pastors longing for rest, renewal, and a deeper connection to the heart of God.BiographyDarrell Johnson has been preaching Jesus Christ and His Gospel for over 50 years. He has served a number of Presbyterian congregations in California, Union Church of Manila in the Philippines, and the historic First Baptist Church in the heart of Vancouver, Canada. He has taught preaching for Fuller Theological Seminary, Carey Theological College in Vancouver, and Regent College in Vancouver. He has authored eight books, including The Glory of Preaching and Discipleship on the Edge: An Expository Journey Through Revelation.He is currently serving as Scholar-in-Residence for The Way Church and Canadian Church Leaders Network, and still serves Regent College part-time as Teaching Fellow.He and his wife Sharon have been married 49 years. Together they have raised four children adopted from four different countries of the world, and now enjoy loving 11 active grandchildren!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 ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

This episode features the most powerful moments and insights from Season 2—curated to encourage and equip you for the year ahead. From navigating church leadership during COVID to reimagining ministry in a post-Christian culture, these conversations are packed with wisdom and Spirit-led inspiration.Hear from leaders like Josh Kelsey, Darrell Johnson, Miles McPherson, Jon Tyson, and more as they share hard-won lessons, creative strategies, and timeless encouragement for pastors today.Key Takeaways:Practical tools for small groups, outreach, and leadershipEncouragement for pastors feeling stretched or discouragedBold vision for raising up the next generation of leadersA reminder that God is still building His Church in this momentA hope-filled compilation to help you start the year with fresh clarity, courage, and conviction.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

Jason sits down with four Canadian authors—Aaron White, Alastair Sterne, Andy Steiger, and Brett Ullman—to explore their latest books and the ministries behind them. Each conversation highlights timely issues like addiction and recovery, spiritual formation, apologetics, and parenting in today’s cultural moment.From Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to Canadian family life, these leaders are offering wisdom and resources for followers of Jesus navigating a complex world.Key Takeaways:Aaron White on addiction, pain, and the presence of God (Recovering)Alastair Sterne on spiritual rhythms and identity (Rhythms for Life)Andy Steiger on dehumanization and cultural clarity (Reclaimed)Brett Ullman on parenting with depth and discipleshipA rich episode filled with insight, encouragement, and practical tools for life and ministry.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

Jason sits down with Tammy Giffen—lead pastor and church planter—to explore her journey of coming to faith through Alpha and the call that led her into pastoral ministry. This conversation unpacks themes of vision, obedience, leadership, and planting a church with a heart for those far from God.From discerning God’s voice to navigating leadership as a woman in ministry, Tammy offers wisdom and encouragement for pastors and leaders seeking to lead with faithfulness in today’s world.Key Takeaways:Tammy’s story of encountering Jesus through AlphaThe vision and faith required to plant a churchLeading others by first leading yourselfObedience over debate in the women-in-ministry conversationA rich episode filled with grace, honesty, and practical insights for life and ministry.Partners This episode was brought to you by Compassion. The mission of Compassion is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. And they’re doing exactly that in 25 different countries. Now, here is what is unique about Compassion—100% of their work is done in partnership with local churches. In fact, for many of the communities Compassion serves, they don’t know a large international NGO—they simply know the people of the local church who serve the most vulnerable in their community. Compassion’s heart for the local church extends here, to Canada, too. They are experts at equipping the Canadian church for mission in ways that are tailored to each church’s unique context. We want to encourage you to begin a transformative missions partnership with 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 Notes Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠