The Pastorate Podcast

What does it look like to lead—and finish—with integrity in pastoral ministry?In this episode, Ross Hastings joins Jason Ballard and guest interviewer Chris Price to explore how pastors can pursue holiness, navigate ethical decisions, and be transformed into the likeness of Christ. Ross shares from his own pastoral journey, including how personal suffering shaped his calling and how beholding Jesus is central to lifelong formation.Key Takeaways:Why many pastors struggle to finish well—and how to stay the courseA framework for ethical decision-making grounded in union with ChristRoss’s story of personal depression and pastoral growthThe centrality of beholding Christ for lasting transformationBiographyRoss Hastings, a Zimbabwean Scot, holds PhDs in organometallic chemistry and theology. His teaching interests include Trinitarian theology, pastoral theology, theology and spirituality of mission, ethics, and the interface between science and theology. Ross's most recent work is Theological Ethics: The Church's Integrity in Contemporary Context. Ross lost his first wife Sharon to cancer in 2008 after 27 years of marriage. In 2011 he married Tammy Carrillo, who also lost her husband to cancer in 2008. Together they have five children. He enjoys sport—especially rugby, cricket, soccer, tennis, squash and flyfishing—as well as a wide variety of music.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.Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their Bible Course here.Guest NotesPastoral Ethics by Ross HastingsEchoes of Coinherence by Ross Hastings Regent College Show Notes⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

What does it look like to lead effective, Spirit-empowered youth ministry in today’s world?In this episode, we take you inside the final day of the Canadian Youth Pastor Summit, where over 100 youth leaders gathered to be equipped and encouraged. Mariah Smith and Jaden Neufeld unpack key themes and share highlights from leaders like Jarin Oda, Lisette Fraser, Sid Koop, and more.Key Takeaways:Leading vulnerably in front of studentsPartnering with parents in youth discipleshipNavigating emerging gender identity conversationsThe power of long-term faithfulness in youth ministryBest practices for spiritual formation in the next generationSponsorsWe 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 Generis for supporting this episode. To get in touch with them, email our friend Jon at jon.wright@generis.comGuest NotesYouth Worker CommunityThe Coalition: Youth Ministry Leadership Show Notes⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the Canadian Youth Pastor Summit with Mariah Smith and Jaden Neufeld. You’ll hear from voices like Hakeem Bradley, Lisette Fraser, Sid Koop, and Jason Ballard as they explore how to disciple Gen Z, deepen Bible engagement, and respond to the real challenges youth pastors are facing today.Key Takeaways:How to connect with what Gen Z truly cares aboutDeepening Bible engagement in youth ministriesIdentifying key audiences to prioritize in youth discipleshipThe top challenges youth pastors are navigating in this seasonA clear invitation from Jesus to lead with boldness and careSponsorsWe 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 NotesYouth Worker CommunityThe Coalition: Youth Ministry Leadership Bible ProjectShow Notes⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Can a church change the reputation of a town?In this episode, Jason Ballard sits down with Nathan Westlake, lead pastor of Prairie Alliance Church, to talk about long-haul leadership, Indigenous reconciliation, and what happens when a church dreams boldly and prays specifically. From a heartbreaking ministry rejection to owning a plane to serve fly-in communities, Nathan shares the surprising ways God moves when leaders are willing to follow Him anywhere.Key Takeaways:How prayer-fueled vision can transform a townLeading through ministry disappointment with humilityBuilding deep trust and partnership with Indigenous communitiesWhy the church owns a plane—and how it’s being used for reconciliationA rural, sustainable vision for gospel expansion across CanadaBiographyNathan is married to Tamara, and they have four children. Nathan is Lead Pastor of Prairie Alliance Church in Portage La Prairie, providing overarching leadership over their sites. Nathan is passionate about helping PAC live out four key prayers and pursuing reconciliation with local Indigenous communities. You can usually find him riding bikes, deep-diving into sports fantasy leagues, and eating food that has been sitting in the fridge for far too long.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.Help solve the global food crisis by giving gifts of Compassion today or get in touch with the team at Compassion. Guest NotesPrairie Alliance Church Upside Down Kingdom by Nathan WeselakeShow Notes⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

What does it look like to build a life of ministry rooted in authenticity, not performance?In this episode, Jason Ballard sits down with Joyce Rees—pastor, teacher, and longtime leader in the Canadian Church—for a deeply personal conversation about formation, calling, and faithfulness over the long haul. From youth ministry to the Downtown Eastside to leading a local church in Calgary, Joyce shares how God has shaped her convictions and kept her grounded.Key Takeaways:Why we can’t copy and paste someone else’s callWhat kids need most when growing up in a pastor’s homeHow to disciple through presence, not performanceThe power of being hidden in ministryWhat it means to become a servant—not just a leaderWe hope this episode encourages you to keep following Jesus, wherever He’s called you.BiographyJoyce Rees has pastored for thirty years. In addition, she is a sought-after speaker for diverse parts of the Church as an exceptional communicator, known especially for her teaching on justice. Joyce was the founding director of Jacob's Well, an intentional Christian community in Vancouver's downtown eastside – the poorest postal code in Canada. During her decade living and working there she also planted the Strathcona Vineyard Church. Since 2014 she has served as co-lead pastor of Epic Vineyard Church in Calgary, and also works bi-vocationally for Vineyard Canada as their Resource Coordinator since 2019. Joyce loves adventuring with her husband and two sons, as well as complex cooking, reading pretty much everything, and many diverse artistic pursuits. 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.Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their Bible Course here.Guest NotesEpic Vineyard ChurchJacob’s WellStephen’s SocietyA Burning in my Bones by Winn CollierHemorrhaging Faith StudyShow Notes⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

What does it really mean to be a pastor?In this special live episode, Jason Ballard sits down with longtime pastor and teacher Darrell Johnson to unpack the identity of a pastor and what it means to faithfully shepherd God’s people in a changing world. With over 50 years of ministry experience, Darrell shares timeless reflections on the heart of a pastor, how to navigate hurt in leadership, and the unchanging truths that still ground ministry today.Key Takeaways:A biblical picture of the pastor as shepherdHow to process ministry hurt and avoid bitternessRhythms for prioritizing family while leading a churchBuilding biblical literacy in a post-Christian worldEncouragement for the next generation of pastorsBiographyDarrell W. 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 a pastor at The Way Church and Canadian Church Leaders Network. He and his wife Sharon have been married over 50 years. Together they have raised four children adopted from four different countries of the world, and now enjoy loving 11 active grandchildren!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.Thanks to Compassion Canada for sponsoring today’s episode. You can learn more about partnering with them as a church here.Guest NotesShepherds After My Own Heart: Pastoral Traditions and Leadership in The Bible by Timothy S. LaniakTexts on Shepherding: Ezekiel 34, Psalm 23Darrell’s Website The Darrell Johnson Podcast Follow Darrell on Instagram Darrell’s YouTube ChannelShow Notes⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

Mike Voll is a pastor, bodybuilder, and leader whose story is marked by deep faithfulness and profound loss. In this episode, Mike sits down with Jason to talk about his nearly 20 years of ministry at North Pointe Community Church in Edmonton. Together they unpack the church’s 100+ year legacy, what it means to lead through change, and why Mike has a passion for seeing rural churches across Alberta revitalized.Mike also vulnerably shares about the tragic death of his first wife and how walking through grief has transformed the way he pastors, preaches, and walks with people in pain. This conversation is raw, hope-filled, and deeply encouraging for leaders navigating both personal and ministry challenges.Key Takeaways:Why the local church—urban or rural—still matters deeply in CanadaHow to lead a historic congregation through change without losing its identityThe power of long-haul leadership rooted in community, history, and missionHow grief and suffering can deepen a pastor’s empathy and shape their preachingWhat it looks like for a larger church to support and revitalize smaller churchesWhether you're in a small-town church or leading in a city, this episode is filled with hard-won wisdom and fresh vision for the future of the Church in Canada.BiographyMike lives with his wife Melissa, and children Aubri and Zane in Edmonton, Alberta. He is the Lead Pastor at North Pointe Community Church and an Adjunct Faculty member at Vanguard College in Edmonton, where he teaches the Intermediate Pastoral Practicum class. Michael’s passion in life is to communicate for change in everyday living through sharing his story and creative teaching of Bible principles. He is a speaker, teacher and writer on issues of faith, leadership and family. In his downtime Michael likes to be the tickle monster to his kids, read spy novels, lift weights and grill up a mean rib eye steak.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.Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their Bible Course here.Guest NotesNorth Pointe Community ChurchSideswiped: Three Keys to a Fresh Start after Suffering a Broken HeartShow Notes⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

While most teens were planning their next adventure, Katia Adams was dreaming about planting churches. Raised in a family instrumental in launching the Iranian Church, Katia’s life and ministry have spanned continents—from Iran to England, and now Boston, where she co-leads The Table Boston.In this episode, Katia and Jason unpack her story and how it’s shaped her theology, her passion for equipping the Church, and her heart for the supernatural. This is a conversation about legacy, leadership, and trusting God with every season.Key Takeaways:What it means to build on the spiritual legacy of your familyHow Katia’s experience in Iran and England shaped her approach to the ChurchWhy the Church needs both rooted theology and openness to the supernaturalHow to faithfully pastor in a highly secular, post-Christian cultureEncouragement for young leaders who feel called to ministry early in lifeThis episode is a beautiful reminder that the call to lead is rarely linear, but always worth it.BiographyKatia is Senior Pastor of The Table Boston Church and Director of Frequentsee. Katia teaches on theological courses, church conferences and leadership events internationally. In addition to being a preacher, pastor, she is also a medical doctor, wife to Julian, mother to two busy children and the author of Equal.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.Thanks to Generis for supporting this episode. To get in touch with them, email our friend Jon at jon.wright@generis.comGuest NotesThe Table BostonFrequentseeShow Notes⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Faithfulness isn’t flashy—but it’s powerful. In a time when pastoral burnout and public failures seem to dominate the headlines, what does it look like to finish well?This week on the podcast, Jason Ballard sits down with Darrell & Sharon Johnson, Helen Burns, Murray Coughlan, and Jeremiah Niengor for part two of our special mini-series on pastoral faithfulness.Together, they share about:What has sustained them through decades of ministryThe quiet strength found in loving the Church over the long haulHow to keep your heart soft toward Jesus in every seasonWhether you’re early in ministry or decades in, we hope this episode encourages you to keep going—anchored in love, steadied by grace, and faithful to the end.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.Show NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

What does it take to stay faithful in ministry for the long haul?In this episode, Jason Ballard sits down with Darrell & Sharon Johnson, Helen Burns, Murray Coughlan, and Jeremiah Niengor to begin a special mini-series on pastoral faithfulness. These leaders—each with decades of experience—share honest reflections on the joys and challenges of ministry, and what has sustained them through it all.They talk about:Cultivating a deep love for Jesus and His ChurchNavigating seasons of disappointment, transition, and growthThe quiet power of longevity in leadershipThis conversation is a hopeful invitation to hold fast, lead with integrity, and trust that faithfulness still matters.PartnersThanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their Bible Course here.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