Episode 69 | Jason is joined by Shaila Visser, National Director of Alpha Canada in this week’s episode to discuss their time together at Alpha, what she is learning about evangelism, and how she has learned to invest in young leaders. About | Shaila Visser is the National Director of Alpha Canada and the Global Senior Vice-President for Alpha International. She is the Executive Producer of both The Alpha Youth Film Series (2013) and The Alpha Film Series (2016), and currently holds positions on the Board of the Damascus Road Foundation and on the Board of Regent College-an International Graduate School in Vancouver. Connected Generation Report Shaila's Website Alpha Blog | https://ccln.ca/episodes Website | www.ccln.ca

Canadian Church Leader's Podcast

Shaila Visser on What to Consider When Revitalizing an Organization, Providing Coverage to Young Leaders, and Rediscovering Evangelism in Her Life

Bonus Episode | Danielle shares passionately with Jason in this week’s episode about how the church can step into our cultural moment with humility and courage. It’s not easy to be a church leader right now. Increasingly, people view the church as detrimental to society and harmful to individuals. As pastors, we can respond with defensiveness and aggression, or we can take a path of reflection and refinement to see how God might want to shape us. About | Danielle Strickland’s aggressive compassion has served people firsthand in countries all over the world. From establishing justice departments and church plants, to launching global anti-trafficking initiatives, to creating new initiatives to mobilize people towards transformational spiritual life. Danielle trains, advocates, and inspires people to live differently through initiatives like: Amplify Peace, Brave Global, Infinitum, and Women’s Speaker Collective. Links from the show: World Vision Chosen Initiative Connected Generation Report IMBY Homes Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes Website | www.ccln.ca

Danielle Strickland on Hospitality as Counter-Formation, the Beauty of Story, and How We Can Better Repent & Lament

Episode 68 | David Kinnaman from Barna and Mark Sayers of Red Church to explore what some of the latest data and church trends might mean for the future of the church and pastoring. Barna in 2019 and 2021 did a significant research project called the Connected Generation where they interviewed 18-35 year olds on areas of church engagement, mental health, and global concerns. In this episode, they specifically explore the Canadian data and what it might reveal about the shifting trends in young christians and non christians. Something Mark emphasizes is that although many of the trends can seem discouraging, we have seen them coming; the pandemic just acted as a portal to jump us ahead faster. For example, many of the people who have left the church during the pandemic were already considering it anyways. So where does that leave us? Well, both David and Mark have hope. What remains is a faithful remnant who have chosen to stay and who are hungrier than ever for the things of God. About | David Kinnaman is the author of the bestselling books Faith For Exiles, Good Faith, You Lost Me and unChristian. He is president of Barna Group, a leading research and communications company that works with churches, nonprofits, and businesses ranging from film studios to financial services. Since 1995, David has directed interviews with more than two million individuals and overseen thousands of U.S. and global research studies. He lives in California with his three children. Mark Sayers is the senior leader of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia. He is passionate about spiritual renewal and the future of the church. Mark is the author of a number of books including Strange Days and Reappearing Church.  Mark lives in Melbourne with his wife, Trudi, his daughter, Grace, and twin boys, Hudson and Billy. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode68 Website | www.ccln.ca

David Kinnaman & Mark Sayers: Where God Might Want To Take Us Next

Episode 67 | Kara Powell is a veteran of researching young people and bringing practical ministry ideas to pastors and leaders in churches. Jason sat down with Kara to hear some of the latest research being released in her new book 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager.  They begin by highlighting why this all matters and what is at stake when we talk about discipling kids and youth in our communities. Kara highlights both the ways churches can impact the lives of young people positively, but also how young people can help transform churches. Going off research from past projects as well, Kara shares about what churches reaching young people are doing well and how pastors of kids and youth ministries are best discipling their people to follow Jesus.  Jason also explores with Kara the ways parents are the primary way of discipling young people and what it means for pastors to partner with them. They talk about ideas and tactics that have been effective at encouraging parents and building relational trust with parents that pastors can look to implement. About | Dr. Kara E. Powell is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary. The mission of FYI is to equip diverse leaders and parents so faithful young people can change our world. Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women to Watch”, Kara completed her PhD in Practical Theology from Fuller Seminary with a focus on Pastoral Role Expectations in 2000, an MDiv from Bethel Theological Seminary in 1994, and a BA degree with Honors from Stanford University in 1991. In addition to her roles at Fuller Seminary, Kara serves as a Youth and Family Strategist for Orange, and volunteers in student ministries at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena. She is the author or co-author of 3 Big Questions that Change Every Teenager (releasing August 2021), Faith in an Anxious World, Growing With, 18 Plus, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Sticky Faith Curriculum, Can I Ask That?, Deep Justice Journeys, Essential Leadership, Deep Justice in a Broken World, Deep Ministry in a Shallow World, and the Good Sex Youth Ministry Curriculum. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode67 Website | www.ccln.ca

Kara Powell on the Questions the Next Generation Wrestles With That Every Pastor Should Consider

Episode 66 | In this week’s episode, Jason had the opportunity to connect with Keith Taylor in the final week of his 30-year tenure at Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton. In their conversation, Keith reflects back on 42 years of ministry and the ways he saw God move in different ways, in different seasons. He also shares about the unique history of Beulah, born out of a missionary-style movement to Western Canada in the early 1900s, and speaks to young pastors about what can help them serve faithfully for decades to come.  As Keith finished his time as the Lead Pastor of Beulah, it was also the beginning of a new era of leadership for the church. Almost five years ago, the journey began as the elders board and Keith started to look towards what would be next and how they might begin preparing for the search and evaluation process. Looking ahead, Keith says he isn’t done just yet! Although his time at Beulah is over, he is excited by the ways God might lead him to new assignments and ways to serve others still. He plans to spend time with younger pastors and to invest in the next generation of leaders who face a challenging Canadian landscape ahead. He has great faith though, knowing that if pastors continue to rely on God’s power, He will ultimately continue to build His Church across our country. About | Keith Taylor served for 30 years as Lead Pastor of Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton, recently passing on that role in Spring of 2021. Previously, Keith was lead pastor for 11 years at the Alliance Church in Vernon, BC. He is a passionate preacher, leader, and champion of people and enjoys continuing to be a part of Beulah after his retirement. He has been married to his childhood sweetheart, Jacquie, for 45 years. They have three married children and 6 awesome grandkids. Keith has served on the Ambrose University Board, Alpha Canada Board and numerous other denominational boards. He also has a passion for motorcycles and sailing. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode66  Website | www.ccln.ca

Keith Taylor on 42 Years of Pastoral Ministry: How He Finished Well, Kept His Heart Tender, and Experienced God’s Missional Imagination.

Bonus Episode | This week we feature a special bonus conversation between Jason and the Executive Director of International Justice Mission Canada, Anu George Canjanathoppil. Throughout the interview, she shares her own story and upbringing that led her to pursue a role advocating for justice. She also speaks to the work of IJM, their vision for a slave-free future, and how pastors might partner with them to join the fight. Anu is a gifted and passionate leader who God has uniquely positioned to work towards to abolition of slavery. About | Anu George Canjanathoppil became the Executive Director of International Justice Mission (IJM) Canada in September, 2019. Anu has 9 years of leadership experience with IJM. In Delhi, India, she served as the Director of Operations and the Director of National Interventions, and in Chennai, India, she served as the Director of Legal. During her time with IJM, Anu worked extensively to impact the justice system by collaborating with state and local governments in India. Anu oversaw the training of more than 17,000 police, government officials, and NGOs on the rescue and rehabilitation of individuals trapped in slavery and bringing criminals to justice. As a result of Anu’s leadership, 8,500 individuals have been rescued from forced labour slavery. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/anu-george-canjanathoppil Website | www.ccln.ca

Anu George Canjanathoppil on the Church's Role in Ending the Slavery of 40 Million People in Our Lifetime

Episode 65 | Aaron White, a local ministry leader in the Vancouver area with positions at 24-7 Prayer Canada, Westminster Theological Centre, and Jacob’s Well. He shares about choosing to live in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and how although many people see the area as dangerous or rundown, he finds great beauty and community within it. He talks about how many people can come to the area, hoping to share Jesus with those on the streets, but are often surprised to learn that Jesus is already there.  Jason picks up on that theme, asking about what it means for churches and Christians to not come in with a prideful spirit, but to still find ways to effectively minister to the needs of their city. Aaron encourages him that if the church is the church in its own neighbourhood, that actually blesses the wider society. Not every church needs to be in the same area or trying to serve the same people, but through the fabric of the local church in a city, all kinds of needs can be met. When talking about serving the poor and working to bring compassion and justice to our cities, Aaron insists that prayer must be the first step. It’s through ministering to Jesus in prayer that we learn to care for and minister to those He loves.  About | Aaron White is the National Director of 24-7 Prayer Canada. He has been a pastor, missioner, justice worker and prayer instigator in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver for the past 16 years, where he lives with his wife and four children in a community home. He is the co-author of Revolution and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Kingdom of God; co-creator of The Creative Way Down discipleship resource; and author of the upcoming book Recovering: From Brokenness and Addiction to Blessedness and Community. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode65 Website | www.ccln.ca

Aaron White on the Common Pitfalls in Efforts to Serve the Poor, Why Prayer Must Come Before Acts of Justice & the Power of Partnerships

Episode 64 | Ho-Ming Tsui of Richmond Hill Christian Community Church in Toronto, Ontario joins Jason for his second conversation on the podcast. Between this interview and the previous one with Ho-Ming, multiple anti-racism movements have arisen and resonated with millions across the globe. In particular, the Stop Asian Hate movement triggered by the Atlanta shootings in March, have acutely affected Ho-Ming and the Chinese community that he pastors.  Ho-Ming with great honesty processes the many tensions he felt as he considered how to thoughtfully respond to this movement. Thousands of pastors worldwide felt the pressure to release some sort of statement or response in the wake of the shootings. Ho-Ming shares how he wanted to provide more than a statement for his congregation, but a space for them to reflect, grieve and pray together. He describes the incredible fruit of that decision.  About | Ho-Ming is the Lead Pastor of Richmond Hill Christian Community Church, a multi-generational, multi-lingual church just outside of Toronto. He completed his undergraduate degree at Queen’s University, and went onto graduate studies at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston. Ho-Ming speaks frequently at conferences in Toronto and has traveled to Asia, Europe and Africa to teach as well. He is an avid guitarist and loves all things sci-fi. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Katie, they have three children. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode64 Website | www.ccln.ca

Ho-Ming Tsui on How Ethnic Churches Evolve and Why the Gospel Must Be Central in Conversations on Justice & Mercy

Episode 63 | Jon Thompson joins Jason this week for a unique conversation about calling in pastoral ministry. Based on a talk from a 2018 church leaders gathering, Jon shares what he believes is the foundation for long term, effective church leadership. Jon’s own journey led him to question what biblical calling looked like. Experiencing a sense of supernatural leading and divine intervention in his twenties, he came to believe pastors without that “moment” might not be called. However, after stepping back to evaluate the scriptures, he came to see four biblical models for calling that he called: 1) “I have no choice”, 2) gift-based, 3) family-based, and 4) community affirmed. Based on biblical figures, Jon shares with Jason how most pastors experience one or a combination of these before or in their early years of ministry. Jason presses Jon on common objections or hesitations people might raise from seeing the idea of calling misused in church circles historically.  About | Jon Thompson serves as the Senior Pastor at Sanctus Church (formerly C4 Church), just outside of  Toronto, Canada.  He has been on staff for more than 20 years. Sanctus is a regional church with a community of over 3,000 people that gather in multiple locations in the Greater Toronto area. Under Jon’s leadership, Sanctus is characterized by dynamic Biblical teaching, vibrant community groups, compelling media and powerful times in worship.  Jon has a Masters of Theological Studies from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto and a Doctorate of Missiology from Fuller Seminary, California.  Jon is husband to his wife Joanna and Father to three kids - Hannah, Emma and Noah. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode63 Website | www.ccln.ca

Jon Thompson on Discovering, Embracing, and Sustaining Your Pastoral Calling

Episode 62 | Kevin Myers, Founding Pastor of 12 Stone Church in Georgia, is interviewed this week by Brent Ingersoll of Kings Church in Atlantic Canada. As a veteran leader of one of the largest churches in America, Kevin has an acute understanding of the challenges of senior leadership and the many seasons a leader might walk through. The two of them discuss themes such as what precedes renewals, what we can learn today from the prophet Elijah and how the Church needs to return back to the ABC's of ministry in the Kingdom.  About | Kevin Myers has been married for nearly forty years and has four children and two grandchildren. Kevin is the senior pastor of 12Stone Church, one of the largest churches in the United States. A gifted communicator, influential leader, and strategic thinker, Kevin planted the church in 1987 and has grown it to eight campuses. Kevin mentors pastors and church planters, speaks at churches and businesses around the country, and serves on the General Board of the Wesleyan Church as well as the Wesleyan Investment Foundation (WIF), a nonprofit corporation that assists churches with capital needs. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode62 Website | www.ccln.ca

Kevin Myers on the Decline Before Revivals, Going Back to the Basics & Lessons For Today From the Prophet Elijah

Episode 61 | Vijay Krishnan, Pastor of The Well Church in Toronto, joins Jason this week for a discussion on what the church might look like coming out of the pandemic, his personal ministry journey, and the development challenges pastors are facing these days.  Vijay’s journey into ministry was not a straight path, but instead included multiple years working in marketing for a large food retail brand before stepping into the lead pastor role of the church plant he was a part of. The tension he experienced of loving and giving his all to the church plant, but then heading to work on Mondays struggling to find motivation, eventually pushed him to make the change. The church had struggled a bit since inception, however Vijay felt a strong sense of calling to stay and build into the community.  About Vijay Krishnan is the Lead Pastor of The Well, one church with 3 congregations in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Vijay began his career working in the Toronto business community for 10 years doing CPG and Retail marketing. During that time, he helped launch The Well and in 2009 transitioned into the Lead Pastor role. Vijay is passionate about seeing the unchurched, de-churched and post-everything people of the GTA come to know and love Jesus. Vijay, his wife Jenn and their three boys are thrilled to be in ministry in the local church. Vijay’s other passions include playing sports with his kids, listening to loud music, reading crime novels and snowboarding the mountain-less terrain of Ontario. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode61 Website | www.ccln.ca

Vijay Krishnan on Interior Work In An Exterior World, Questioning What We Accelerate, and Innovation with Intention

Episode 60 | John Mark Comer joins Jason for the second time on our podcast to share his reflections and learnings from this past year and what his future looks like as he transitions out of his pastoral role at Bridgetown.  They start off reviewing the ways this past year has caused trauma, hurt, fatigue and division in the church and what the pastoral task is in the midst of this. In the last few years, John Mark highlights how he has felt a distinct shift in people’s expectations of him and the increased criticisms pastors are receiving. No longer is enough nuance, a relaxed presentation, and deep cultural analysis and study enough to avoid attacks being hurled at teachers and churches. In light of this, pastors need a deeper conviction than ever on what Jesus has called them to, not just what people want from them; John Mark sees this as primarily centering around a sort of spiritual director and shepherd for people.  Jason asks what the role is of the church amidst these cultural conversations. John Mark unpacks the idea of the church as an alternative society, not meant to shape all of culture itself, but rather to give an alternative culture where people experience the kingdom of heaven on earth. Part of this calling for pastors to form these communities is to suffer on behalf of their people, or as John Mark defines it, pastoring is vicarious suffering. To do this, our inner peace must be based on the truth’s of Jesus and not our outer surroundings. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode60 Website | www.ccln.ca

John Mark Comer on the Role of a Pastor Amidst Today’s Expectations, the Church as an Alternative Society, and Cultivating Peace Despite Circumstances

Episode 59 | John and Helen Burns joined Jason to share about their life, ministry, and the wisdom they have learned as spouses and parents after 35 years in ministry together. Anne Miranda, Women’s Pastor at Village Church, also joined the conversation as she was impacted in special ways by their ministry years ago. She shared the story of coming back to church as a teenager and experiencing healing one night as John preached at Victory Christian Centre (later renamed to Relate Church).  John and Helen talk about their time at Relate Church as lead pastors and their recent transition to become the founding and teaching pastors as they turned the reins over to new leadership. Throughout their 35 years at Relate, they have learned the importance of fighting bitterness and journeying with the right people around you. One of their unique giftings as a couple has been to connect with and care for younger people, no matter what the age gap is. John muses that he is basically a teenager, but in all seriousness, loves to learn from and empower young people to find their giftings in the local church. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode59 Website | www.ccln.ca

John & Helen Burns on Transitioning Before It’s Too Late, Why Young People Want a Trusted Voice, and How to Be Intentional With Your Family

Episode 58 | Jason had the privilege of sitting down on this week’s episode with Pastor Drew Hyun who oversees a family of churches called Hope Church NYC. Drew is a kind and committed leader to the mission of God and shares vulnerably about his life, faith, and leadership with us. Drew worked at New Life Church under Pete Scazzero for many years before eventually realizing the need to resign to pursue what God was beginning to form in his heart. The transition was difficult though as not everyone understood why he would leave when he and Rich Villodas were in line to step in after Pete. He shared about these moments of reflection and how he came to realize his only reasons for staying were really about ego and fear. If he left this well-known church, he would be a nobody. If he quit, he would be left without a job in one of the most expensive global cities. Neither of these he realized, were a good reason for staying though, so he left and began to pursue what God might have next. Jason ends the conversation by talking about unity and what it takes in their format and in general for pastors and churches to experience it. Drew says it’s really about releasing control and having humility as it might mean laying down personal preferences or even allowing people you invest in to go do their own thing without becoming bitter. Hope Church NYC is an exciting example of a church working to connect and serve their city. We hope you are encouraged by this conversation with Drew Hyun. “We need anything to get us to die to our own egos, getting us to be more willing to build a great city rather than build a great church.” -Drew Hyun This episode was made possible by Compassion Canada. Learn about how you can partner with them in their mission to release children from poverty at ccln.ca/compassion. Blog | www.ccln.ca/episodes/episode58 Website | www.ccln.ca

Drew Hyun on Leading a Family of Churches, Dealing With Your Ego As a Pastor & the Cost of Unity

The Canadian Church Leader's Podcast is designed to help Canadian church leaders reach people. Hosted by Carey Nieuwhof, the podcast is by Canadians, for Canadians, focused on ministry in the post-modern, post-Christian nation of Canada. (But naturally, because we're Canadians, anyone can listen.)

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Canadian Church Leader's Podcast

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