Chris Dias on Discerning a Call to Ministry, Raising up Pastors, and the Cost of Being a Sending Church
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In today’s episode, Jason sits down with Chris Dias of Hope Bible Church in Oakville, Ontario to discuss Chris’ journey from the corporate world into vocational ministry. Chris reflects on Hope Bible Church’s unique co-lead model, grounded in long-term friendship and clear “highest and best use” roles, and shares honestly about the joy and struggle of being a church committed to equipping and sending out ministers and church planters. Along the way, he highlights the importance of prayerful discernment and the courageous work of calling and forming leaders for the good of the local church.
Chris and Jason explore:
The story of Hope Bible Church and what God has done in the past 20 years,
Chris’ journey from bank executive and church elder to full-time vocational ministry, and what that discernment looked like over time,
Why Hope Bible Church shifted from a senior pastor model to a co-lead model, and the ingredients that make it work,
The burden of Matthew 9:38, praying earnestly for labourers, and how leadership development requires both prayer and courageous invitation,
The worthwhile cost of being a sending church: money, bandwidth, change, and the grief of releasing friends,
A framework for multiplication: conviction, culture, constructs, and why the Church needs all three.
Chris offers a grounded, hope-filled vision for pastors who feel the weight of leadership shortages, who long to develop future leaders with depth, and who want to build churches that both grow and send. If you’re trying to steward what God is doing without drifting into self-reliance, may this conversation renew your dependence on Jesus, expand your imagination for multiplication, and strengthen your courage to call leaders forward.
Chris Dias
Chris Dias serves as a Co-Lead Pastor at Hope Bible Church Oakville, an elder-led church with a 20-year story marked by discipleship, generosity, and church planting. After years of serving as an elder while working in the corporate world, Chris sensed a growing call into vocational ministry and joined the staff two years ago.
At Hope, Chris provides organizational leadership and staff oversight while his co-lead pastor focuses primarily on preaching and vision. Chris is passionate about developing leaders, cultivating a culture of prayerful dependence, and building churches that are willing to release their people for the sake of gospel expansion. He is married with three children.
Show Notes
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