The Pastorate Podcast

Every pastor and leader will face moments when their soul drifts, and the passion that once fueled their ministry starts to wane. How do we stay rooted in Christ and keep our ministry healthy over the long haul?This week, Mark Buchanan joins us to share insights from his decades of ministry experience. Mark opens up about how he’s navigated the challenges of soul drift, the importance of growing deep in faith rather than seeking quick success, and how gospel-shaped storytelling can transform our spiritual lives.Mark discusses: The struggle of pastoring others without losing yourself How to recognize and recover from spiritual drift The role of creativity and imagination in enriching our faith Why cultivating a deep, hidden life with God is essential for lasting ministryWe hope this conversation encourages you to remain faithful, deepen your relationship with God, and continue to serve with joy and conviction.Biography Mark Buchanan is an author, professor of theology, and a former pastor. With a passion for spiritual formation, he has dedicated his life to helping others grow deeper in their faith. His books include God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul and The Rest of God. Mark lives in Calgary, Alberta, where he teaches at Ambrose UniversityPartnersWe 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.Download a free PDF on Improving Your Giving Statements from Generis or get in touch with Jon Wright from their team ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Guest Notes ⁠New Story Community⁠ ⁠Mark Buchanan Website⁠ ⁠Ambrose University⁠ ⁠The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan⁠ ⁠God Walk by Mark Buchanan⁠ ⁠Spiritual Rhythm by Mark Buchanan⁠Show Notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Every pastor and leader will face moments when their soul drifts, and the passion that once fueled their ministry starts to wane. How do we stay rooted in Christ and keep our ministry healthy over the long haul?This week, Mark Buchanan joins us to share insights from his decades of ministry experience. Mark opens up about how he’s navigated the challenges of soul drift, the importance of growing deep in faith rather than seeking quick success, and how gospel-shaped storytelling can transform our spiritual lives.Mark discusses: The struggle of pastoring others without losing yourself How to recognize and recover from spiritual drift The role of creativity and imagination in enriching our faith Why cultivating a deep, hidden life with God is essential for lasting ministryWe hope this conversation encourages you to remain faithful, deepen your relationship with God, and continue to serve with joy and conviction.Biography Mark Buchanan is an author, professor of theology, and a former pastor. With a passion for spiritual formation, he has dedicated his life to helping others grow deeper in their faith. His books include God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul and The Rest of God. Mark lives in Calgary, Alberta, where he teaches at Ambrose UniversityPartners: 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.Download a free PDF on Improving Your Giving Statements from Generis or get in touch with Jon Wright from their team ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Guest Notes ⁠New Story Community⁠ ⁠Mark Buchanan Website⁠ ⁠Ambrose University⁠ ⁠The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan⁠ ⁠God Walk by Mark Buchanan⁠ ⁠Spiritual Rhythm by Mark Buchanan⁠Show Notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

This week, Tammy Giffen, Lead Pastor of Groundswell Church in Truro, Nova Scotia, joins us to share insights from her unique journey in ministry. Tammy’s story is one of faithfulness, passion, and resilience as she planted Groundswell in 2018 and continues to lead through times of growth and change.Tammy shares about: Contextualizing ministry to serve your neighborhood Navigating the emotional challenges when people leave Building a church culture that helps people meet Jesus The power of discovering the beauty of Jesus in both personal and communal ministryWe hope this conversation encourages you to stay faithful and adaptable as you lead in your own ministry context.BiographyTammy Giffen is the Lead Pastor of Groundswell Church, a multi-site church in Central Nova Scotia. She planted the church in 2018 with a vision to create a space where un-churched people would love to attend. Tammy came to know Jesus as an adult through Alpha and is passionate about breaking down barriers to church. She is married to Peter and has three children: Taylor, Wesley, and Mya.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.Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bible Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Guest Notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Groundswell Church⁠ ⁠One ConferenceShow Notes ⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

How do we lead well through transition and keep evangelism at the heart of our ministry?This week, Nicky Gumbel joins us to share wisdom from his journey as the pioneer of the Alpha Course and former Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in London. After nearly two decades in senior leadership, Nicky opens up about transitioning leadership, empowering new leaders, and staying passionate about sharing the gospel.Nicky discusses: The challenges and rewards of leadership transitions How to trust and support the next generation of church leaders A bold vision for global evangelism by 2033 Why succession planning is vital for a thriving churchWe hope this conversation encourages you to lead with faith, wisdom, and generosity, embracing both change and continuity in your ministry.BiographyNicky Gumbel is the pioneer of Alpha, an introduction to the Christian faith that has reached millions worldwide. He served as Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) for nearly 20 years and has written several bestselling books, including Questions of Life and The Jesus Lifestyle. He is also the creator of the Bible in One Year app, a daily scripture reading resource used by people around the world.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and give toward seeding a hope-filled future for the Church.Guest Notes Alpha Course Bible in One Year App HTB ChurchShow Notes The Pastorate Website YouTube Instagram

How the Early Church Can Shape Our Faith TodayEvery pastor and church leader is navigating the challenge of making disciples in an increasingly post-Christian world. How can we learn from the early church’s resilience and faithfulness?In this episode, Jerry Sittser, professor emeritus at Whitworth University and author of Resilient Faith, joins Jason Ballard to explore the lessons of early Christianity. Jerry unpacks how the first Christians navigated a pagan culture, why discipleship—not cultural Christianity—defines true faith, and how the church can embrace a deeper, more resilient approach to following Jesus. He also shares deeply personal reflections on grief and loss, not as something to avoid, but as something to carry redemptively.Jerry shares about:How early Christian practices can shape discipleship todayThe challenges and opportunities of a post-Christendom worldWhy the church needs to embrace a new catechumenateLearning to carry grief and loss with hopeWe hope this conversation encourages you as you lead and disciple others in this ever-changing world.BiographyJerry Sittser is a professor emeritus of theology and senior fellow at Whitworth University, specializing in Christian spirituality, church history, and religion in public life. He has written nine books, including A Grace Disguised, The Will of God as a Way of Life, and Resilient Faith: How the Early Christian “Third Way” Changed the World. Now retired, he spends much of his time investing in young pastors and enjoying time with his 11 grandchildren.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their Bible Course.Guest NotesA Grace Disguised Revised and Expanded: How the Soul Grows through LossResilient Faith: How the Early Christian "Third Way" Changed the WorldWater From a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern MissionariesShow NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Leading Through Change: Navigating Transitions in Church LeadershipChange is inevitable in both personal growth and church leadership—but how can leaders navigate transition seasons while fostering healthy growth and embracing the next generation?In this episode, Jonathan Smith, a seasoned church leader with 30 years of experience, joins Jason Ballard to share his leadership journey—from planting a church at 23 to guiding an established congregation through change. With wisdom, innovation, and a heart for the Church in Canada, Jonathan unpacks how to lead with vision, listen well, and create space for new generations to step into leadership.Jonathan shares about:How to lead through seasons of transition with wisdom and clarityThe importance of intergenerational leadership and learning from mentorsPractical insights on fostering innovation in church leadershipCreating healthy team dynamics and empowering the next generationWe hope this conversation equips and encourages you as you lead in times of change.BiographyJonathan has over 30 years of leadership and pastoral experience - leading churches in Halifax, Montreal and Toronto. He has been a church planter, Lead Pastor and thought leader in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Jonathan is married to Shelly and has three young children. His ministry has been marked by innovative strategies and an emphasis on team development and change management.Partners We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and give towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bible Course⁠⁠⁠.Guest Notes⁠⁠One ChurchShow Notes: Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

How can church leaders cultivate discipleship as a way of life rather than just another program? What does it take to lead with humility, wisdom, and a deep trust in God’s work in people’s lives?In this episode, Jeff Vanderstelt, Executive Director of Saturate and founding leader of the Soma Family of Churches, joins Jason Ballard to explore the heart of discipleship and gospel fluency. Jeff shares his journey of mentoring leaders, navigating criticism, and leading with an open hand. He also reflects on his personal experience leading through brokenness and the lasting impact of Dallas Willard’s final unanswered question.Key Takeaways:Why discipleship must go beyond programs and into everyday lifeHow to lead with open hands and trust God in the processThe role of humility and healing in leadershipPractical ways to equip people for mission in their daily livesWe hope this conversation challenges and encourages you as you seek to make disciples and lead with wisdom in a rapidly changing world.BiographyAs the Executive Director of Saturate and founding leader of the Soma Family of Churches, Jeff Vanderstelt gets to spend his days doing what he loves – mentoring leaders and equipping the Church in the gospel and missional living. Additionally, Jeff is on the leadership team of Saturate the Sound, a local church collective focused on gospel saturation in the Puget Sound. Jeff has authored Saturate, Gospel Fluency, and Making Space.Partners: We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Download a free PDF on Improving Your Giving Statements from Generis or get in touch with Jon Wright from their team ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Guest Notes⁠One Eighty: A Return to Disciple Making⁠⁠Saturate⁠⁠Soma Churches⁠Youth Pastors Summit | East:⁠⁠ DISCOUNT CODE: Register today with CYPS20OFF for a total of $50 off the regular registration rate.Show Notes⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Staying rooted in one place for 25 years of ministry is no small thing. For Angel and Durwin Gray, it’s been a journey of joy, faithfulness, and learning to trust God in every season. But how do pastors remain grounded through doubt, imposter syndrome, and the delicate balance of ministry and family?Angel and Durwin serve as co-lead pastors at Hillside Church and have been faithfully shepherding their community for over two decades. In this heartfelt conversation, they sit down with Jason Ballard to reflect on calling, longevity, and the sacred invitation to disciple their own children while leading a church. Their story is filled with wisdom, honesty, and a contagious joy that reflects the hope of Christ in tangible ways.In today’s episode, you’ll hear about:The beauty and cost of staying rooted in one community for 25 yearsHow they’ve wrestled with doubt and imposter syndrome while pastoringWhy parenting has become their most significant expression of discipleshipWhat it means to live and lead with joy, authenticity, and hopeAngel and Durwin lead with warmth, sincerity, and a deep love for people—we hope their story encourages you in your own journey of faith and leadership.BiographyDurwin and Angel were university sweethearts and have been married now for 31 years. They have two young adult sons, Caleb and Noah, and they help make the Gray household a little on the loud side. The Gray’s are a pretty tight-knit family who tend to love films, road trips, and the band Coldplay. Thirty plus years ago, Angel and Durwin got involved in church planting, and helped plant the church Durwin now pastors, called Hillside Community Church in Coquitlam. Angel runs her own accounting business and has a passion for mentoring, teaching, and prayer. SponsorsWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠give⁠⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Guest Notes:- Hillside Church- Youth Pastors Summit | East:⁠ DISCOUNT CODE: Register today with CYPS20OFF for a total of $50 off the regular registration rate.Show Notes:- ⁠Website⁠⁠- ⁠⁠Blog and Episode Write Up⁠⁠- ⁠Youtube⁠⁠- ⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Spiritual formation is more than a concept—it’s a lived invitation for pastors and leaders to abide deeply in Jesus and lead others into life with God. What does that look like in the context of the local church?In this episode, we share a special message from Elita Friesen, recorded at our one-day conference in collaboration with Practicing The Way. Joined by voices like John Mark Comer, Ken Shigematsu, and Tyler Staton, this gathering brought pastors and leaders from across North America into a shared exploration of spiritual formation as the foundation of ministry.Elita’s closing message is a timely reminder: formation doesn’t begin with strategy, but with intimacy. As you step into a new season of leadership, may this conversation renew your vision to lead from a place of rest and connection with Christ.In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about:How spiritual formation can be rooted in the rhythms of the local churchThe importance of leading from a place of deep connection with JesusA renewed invitation to abide, even in the busyness of ministryWe pray this message invites you to slow down, listen deeply, and lead with a soul at rest in Christ.BiographyElita Friesen is a writer and Bible teacher and has served in various ministry capacities for the last 10 years. She currently serves on the teaching and pastoral team at The Way Church, a church with locations in both Vancouver and North Vancouver. Elita feels uniquely called to encourage this generation not only toward biblical literacy, but also toward a deep love of Jesus through the study of Scripture. She is the author of several books including The Whole Church. Elita and her husband, Ryan, live in the lower mainland of BC with their four children.SponsorsWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Show Notes⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

What does it look like to follow Jesus with a wholehearted yes—through every twist, turn, and transition of life and leadership?In this episode, Jason sits down with Darren Herbold, President of The Alliance Canada, to unpack the journey of a leader shaped by diverse experiences in pastoral ministry, the business world, and the mission field. Darren shares honestly about what it means to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, cultivate curiosity toward others, and lead at the speed of love.He reflects on the seasons that have shaped him most—those marked by clarity and those filled with questions—and reminds us that faithfulness in every chapter is where deep formation often happens.In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about:Listening to the Spirit and saying yes in unexpected placesHow curiosity can transform relationships and leadershipThe “speed of love” and why it matters in a fast-paced worldWhat it means to remain faithful in seasons that feel hidden, hard, or holyWe hope this conversation encourages you to walk with Jesus with openness, courage, and trust—wherever He may lead.BiographyDarren has served The Alliance Canada for over 15 years. Darren served as pastoral staff for seven years at Beulah Alliance. In 2014, Darren, and his wife, Naomi, were sent as international workers to Thailand where they served for over eight years. In 2015, Darren and Naomi were appointed as Team Leaders, and then in 2019, as Regional Developers, providing leadership and oversight to the region. Darren Herbold also served on the Board of Directors for the past four years. Darren also has significant experience in the area of entrepreneurial business, founding and directing an international charitable organization, For Freedom International, focused on anti-trafficking, community development, and Gospel multiplication efforts in southeast Asia. In July 2022, The Alliance Canada appointed Rev. Darren Herbold to serve as President of The Alliance Canada. SponsorsWe 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.Download a free PDF on Improving Your Giving Statements from Generis or get in touch with Jon Wright from their team ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.Guest NotesThe Alliance Canada For Freedom International Show Notes⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

What does it mean to hold conviction and compassion together in a world that often demands one or the other?In this episode, Jason sits down with Evan Wickham, church planter and worship leader at Park Hill Church in San Diego, to explore what he calls “Compassionate and Courageous Orthodoxy.” Evan shares his personal journey of deconstructing and reconstructing his faith, the role of community in that process, and how leaders can foster spaces where hard questions and historic truths can coexist.In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about:Rebuilding faith with honesty, hope, and communityThe heart behind “Compassionate and Courageous Orthodoxy”How curiosity can strengthen—not threaten—our convictionsLeading with grace, courage, and clarity in a divided worldWe hope this episode encourages you to lead with both conviction and compassion, wherever God has placed you.Biography Evan Wickham is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker, and lead pastor of Park Hill Church in San Diego, CA, which he co-founded in 2017 with Sandy, his wife of 23 years (and their five kids). In addition to teaching and curating worship experiences in various communities, he has released four albums of worship songs in order to resource the broader body of Christ. He holds an MDiv from Western Seminary in Portland, OR and helped launch Searock Sessions, a cohort and growing community for hundreds of leaders seeking renewal in the Western church.SponsorsWe 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.Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bible Course⁠⁠⁠.Guest NotesPark Hill ChurchShow Notes:Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠