Dustin Funk on the Importance of Camp Ministry, Local Church Renewal, and Annual Rhythms of Rest
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In this episode, Jason sits down with Dustin Funk, Lead Pastor of Oasis Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dustin shares his journey from encountering God at summer camp as a teenager, to stepping into leadership at a small Italian-speaking church, to guiding that same church through a remarkable season of cultural transition and growth.
Dustin reflects on the lessons he’s learned over 27 years in pastoral ministry, how to lead through change, how to apologize well, and how to stay grounded in the faithful work of local church leadership. He talks candidly about what it was like to preach through an interpreter in an ethnic church context, how his church embraced a portable season before building a permanent home, and how he has come to embrace annual rhythms of rest.
In This Episode:
How a camp experience shaped Dustin’s call to ministry,
Preaching in a language he didn’t speak,
The transformation of Oasis Church from an ethnic congregation to a multi-generational community,
The highs and lows of 12 years as a portable church,
Why he takes a study break every year,
How the gospel offers something the world is hungry for.
Dustin Funk
Dustin Funk is the Lead Pastor of Oasis Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Serving the same church for over 25 years, Dustin has led Oasis through a remarkable journey—from a small Italian-speaking congregation to a vibrant, multi-generational community. Under his leadership, Oasis transitioned from a portable church meeting in a school gym to a thriving, multi-generational community now gathering in a permanent facility in southwest Winnipeg. Known for his relational leadership, gospel-centered preaching, and heart for the next generation, Dustin is passionate about building a church that’s both deeply rooted and welcoming to those exploring faith. Dustin lives in Winnipeg with his wife Lauren and their two sons, Lincoln and Lane.
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