The Pastorate Podcast

Here's a quick update on an upcoming episode we're excited to release, and a bit about what this fall will look like on the podcast. Take a listen. 

What does it look like to lead with humility, pray with persistence, and stay faithful in a time of shaking?In this episode, Pete Greig—founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement—joins Jason Ballard for an honest and hope-filled conversation about leadership, transition, and the surprising beginnings of a global prayer movement. Pete reflects on what it means to release control, remain rooted in the local church, and respond to the Spirit’s work in this cultural moment.They talk about:The bewildering origins of 24-7 PrayerWhy global movements must stay anchored in the local churchNavigating leadership transition with grace and maturityThe Spirit’s invitation to personal holiness and renewalThis is a deeply pastoral conversation for leaders longing to lead with both conviction and tenderness in the days ahead.BiographyPete is a best-selling author, pastor and bewildered instigator of the 24-7 Prayer movement which has reached more than half the nations on earth. He is also the Senior Pastor of Emmaus Rd, Guildford, England, an Ambassador for the NGO Tearfund, and teaches at St Mellitus Theological College in London. For 7 years Pete served with the senior leadership team at HTB and Alpha International. Pete’s publications include ‘Red Moon Rising‘, ‘God on Mute‘, ‘The Prayer Course’, and ‘Dirty Glory’.  He loves art galleries, live music and knocking down walls.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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Guest Notes24/7 Prayer Prayer CourseUnanswered Prayer Course The Vision Red Moon Rising God On Mute Show Notes⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

We want to see Sunder Krishnan's story repeated over and over in Canada. Sunder represents a faithful demographic of church leaders who have finished well in ministry, now taking up the mantle of mentoring the next generation of pastors in our nation with visible delight and joy. With over 35 years of pastoral ministry in his rearview, Sunder has a lot to say. Through this conversation, we know you will be drawn to consider your postures as you lead, the life you’re living before your church and what it might mean for you to be found faithful. We hope you enjoy this episode with Sunder Krishnan. Bio | Sunder was born in India and grew up in the capital city of New Delhi. He is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology and received his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and worked with Atomic Energy of Canada. He became a pastor in 1980, retiring in 2016. Sunder and his wife, Shyamala, have been married since 1971. They have two grown children, Vijay and Sheila, and six grandchildren. Thanks to Compassion Canada for sponsoring today’s episode. You can learn more about partnering with them as a church here. Give today to CCLN and help seed a hopeful future for the Church in Canada. Show Notes: Darrell Johnson's Preaching Course Youth For Christ Power to Change Sunder's Books Get Connected! Blog & Episode write-up Website Join our Mailing List!  Subscribe on YouTube Follow on Instagram  Share a Canadian Church Story

What does it look like to pastor faithfully in a post-Christian world?This week, Jason sits down with Joshua Butler—pastor of Redemption Tempe in Arizona and author of The Skeletons in God’s Closet—for a conversation about ministry, mission, and what happens when your calling is shaped by suffering. Josh shares stories from his years in Portland, where he learned to love a city through creative outreach, journey with young adults asking big questions, and lead with conviction in the midst of cultural change.They also talk about Josh’s health crisis in 2020, when doctors feared he would go blind. In the midst of uncertainty, God was doing something deeper—refining his sense of calling and deepening his love for the church.In this episode:What it means to be missional in a post-Christian cityHow to walk with people through doubt and deconstructionWriting through hard questions about hell, judgement, and graceHow crisis can clarify our calling as pastorsBiographyJoshua currently serves as lead pastor of Redemption Tempe, a thriving church near Arizona State University, one of the largest colleges in the country. Prior to 2018, he served as an outreach pastor for fifteen years in Portland (OR) at Imago Dei Community.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.Guest NotesJosh Butler Website & BooksRedemption TempeShow NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

What does it mean to stay amazed by Jesus after decades in ministry?This week, Jason sits down with Simon Ponsonby—Pastor of Theology at St. Aldates Church in Oxford—for a conversation that weaves together history, personal calling, and deep theological reflection. From walking through Oxford’s sacred sites to recounting his journey from butcher to preacher, Simon brings a pastoral warmth and prophetic edge that invites leaders to long for more of God.They talk about what it means to finish well, how holiness and the fear of the Lord are needed in the church today, and why revival often begins when the church is on its back foot. Whether you’re early in your ministry or decades in, this episode will renew your hope and stir your affections for Jesus.In this episode:Learning to love the Lord through holiness—not performanceThe fear of the Lord vs. fear of man in pastoral leadershipWhy we lose our awe for Jesus—and how to get it backWhat church history teaches us about revival todayHow one prophetic moment changed Simon’s life foreverBiographyA fourth generation preacher, Simon Ponsonby came to personal faith in his late teens. He worked as a butcher, then became an evangelist and church planter, before preparing for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol, where he gained his BA & MLitt in Theology. He is an international author, speaker and theologian, now based at St Aldates, Oxford, UK where he is Pastor of Theology. He has written several books on practical theology and doctrine. Simon is married to Tiffany, and they have two grown sons.PartnersThanks to Compassion Canada for sponsoring today’s episode. You can learn more about partnering with them as a church 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.Guest NotesSt. Aldates ChurchAmazed By Jesus BookShow Notes⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

In today’s episode, we share some highlights from our time in England with our Church Leaders Incubator. This cohort of 17 young, senior leaders in Canada got to connect with pastors and church teams over a 5 day trip as part of their 2 year journey in the program. Hear some of their reflections from the sessions and how it impacted them at a personal level.  Give today to CCLN and help seed a hopeful future for the Church in Canada. Get Connected! Blog & Episode write-up Website Join our Mailing List!  Subscribe on YouTube Follow on Instagram  Share a Canadian Church Story

What does it look like to lead with spiritual authority in a cultural moment obsessed with visibility and self-expression?This week, Jason is joined by Mark Sayers—pastor of Red Church in Melbourne and host of the Rebuilders podcast—for a powerful conversation about identity, calling, and the hidden pathways to kingdom influence. Mark unpacks the allure of self-actualization, the danger of “soft power” in leadership, and how true spiritual authority is formed in obscurity. Drawing from years of cultural analysis and pastoral ministry, Mark offers wisdom for pastors longing to lead with depth and integrity in an age of distraction. In this episode:Why self-actualization can become a form of idolatryThe countercultural nature of spiritual authorityHow hiddenness forms us for leadershipThe priestly pattern of sacrifice and serviceNavigating influence and responsibility as a church leaderBiographyMark Sayers is a cultural commentator, writer, and speaker. He is passionate about spiritual renewal and the future of the church. Mark is the author of a number of books, including Disappearing Church, Facing Leviathan, and Reappearing Church. Mark is the senior leader of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia. He is also one of the hosts of the Rebuilders podcast. Mark lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his wife, Trudi, his daughter, Grace, and twin boys, Hudson and Billy.SponsorsThanks to Compassion Canada for sponsoring today’s episode. You can learn more about partnering with them as a church 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.Guest NotesMark Sayers: Non Anxious Presence BookRed ChurchIntercessor - Rees HowellsShow NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Darren Rouanzoin on Consecrated Leadership, Covenant Community & Risky ObedienceDarren Rouanzoin, founding pastor of Garden Church in Long Beach, California, joins our Incubator cohort to share his story and the convictions shaping his leadership today. From a radical encounter with Jesus in college to planting a church in a city marked by deep need, Darren reflects on what it means to build a church around presence, mission, and obedience.In this heartfelt conversation, Darren unpacks why the church needs consecrated leaders—those living holy, humble, healthy lives—and how Garden Church is cultivating a leadership culture rooted in character over charisma. He also explores the call to covenant community, the tension of leading through crisis, and what it means to follow the Spirit in faith that costs something.Whether you’re discerning a fresh step of obedience or navigating leadership fatigue, Darren’s story offers clarity, conviction, and hope for pastors in every context.Key Takeaways:What defines a Spirit-filled church in today’s contextHow personal holiness shapes healthy leadershipBuilding covenantal, mission-minded communitiesDarren’s vision for the next generation of anointed leadersBiographyDarren Rouanzoin lives in Long Beach, California, with his wife Alex and their two boys, Ezra and Amos.  Darren is the founding pastor of Garden Church, a community in the heart of one of the most diverse cities in the US. He is passionate about leading people to know and experience the extravagant generosity of God and the abundant life Jesus brings here and now.SponsorsThanks 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church..Guest NotesGarden ChurchDarren’s WebsiteShow Notes⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

How do we lead with vocational clarity in a culture where the Church’s purpose feels increasingly unclear?This week, Jason sits down with Dr. Gordon Smith—President of Ambrose University and author of numerous books on calling and ecclesiology—for a timely conversation about pastoral leadership in a secular age. Gordon shares his personal journey from missions to theological education and reflects on the importance of helping pastors and churches rediscover the meaning of vocation—not just for ministry, but for everyday life.Together, they explore how churches can become communities where electricians, teachers, engineers, and parents are equipped to live out their calling as participants in God’s Kingdom. As cultural tides shift, Gordon offers a compelling case for returning to foundational ecclesiology and leading with theological depth and pastoral courage.In this episode:Why every follower of Jesus has a sacred callingHelping churches see vocation beyond the pulpitThe Church’s role in a secularizing CanadaWhy teaching ecclesiology is more urgent than everEncouragement for pastors in times of cultural shiftThis is a rich, thoughtful episode for anyone discerning how to lead the Church into the next season with clarity, purpose, and hope.BiographyGordon T. Smith (PhD, Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University) is the president of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Alberta, where he also serves as professor of systematic and spiritual theology. He is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and a teaching fellow at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the author of many books, including Institutional Intelligence, Courage and Calling, Called to Be Saints, and Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal.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 NotesGordon Smith websiteAmbrose University Gordon Smith’s books Parker Palmer - The Courage to TeachAlec Hill - Just BusinessShow NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Glenn Packiam—pastor, author, and president of Denver Seminary—joins Jason to reflect on his journey through moral failure in leadership, traumatic loss, and the emotional toll of ministry. They unpack the story behind his latest book, The Resilient Pastor, and explore what it means to lead with integrity in a rapidly shifting culture.Together, they discuss how to process pain as pastors, reimagine credibility in leadership, and stay rooted in calling amidst uncertainty. Glenn also shares insights from Barna’s research and how church leaders can navigate the emotional and cultural challenges of our moment with courage and hope.Key Takeaways:Why credibility is never the goal—but a byproduct of Christlike leadershipProcessing collective grief, betrayal, and trauma in ministryReclaiming vocation and spiritual formation in pastoral lifeThe generational wrestle with rootedness and resilienceA hopeful vision for a collaborative, global, historic ChurchWe hope this conversation strengthens your resolve and reminds you that you’re not alone in the calling.BiographyGlenn Packiam (Doctor of Theology and Ministry, Durham University) is associate senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, and lead pastor of one of its eight congregations, New Life Downtown. A Senior Fellow at Barna Group, a visiting fellow at St. John’s College at Durham University, and an adjunct professor at Denver Seminary, Glenn is the author of several books, including The Resilient Pastor, Blessed Broken Given, and Worship and the World to Come.He is also an ordained priest with the Anglican Church of North America, speaks regularly at conferences, and has appeared on numerous podcasts and radio shows. Glenn and his wife, Holly, live in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains 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.Guest NotesThe Resilient Pastor - Glenn Packiam's book New Life ChurchGlenn’s WebsiteSoul Sanctuary Church StoryShow NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠