Laura Liira on God-Given Dreams and the Time They Take to Mature, Developing Women in Pastoral Ministry, and a Year in the Emerging Leaders Lab
On today's episode Jordan sits down with Laura Liira, campus pastor of Coastline Church West Shore on Vancouver Island and participant in the 2025-2026 class of The Emerging Leaders Lab. Laura was born in Victoria into a nominal Catholic home, and was reintroduced to Christinaity though her teenage years. During a gap year in London England, she encountered Jesus in a new way and committed to serve him for the rest of her life. Laura’s story is one marked by saying yes to whatever service opportunity was in front of her. She talks honestly about God-given dreams and the time they take to mature, and the journey from church intern to Campus Pastor.
Glenn Packiam, Carey Nieuwhof, Helen Burns and More from the Emerging Leaders Lab on Friendship, Calling, and Finishing Well
This summer, we're taking you inside the two pastoral formation cohorts at the heart of The Pastorate: the Emerging Leaders Lab and the Lead Pastor Fellowship. Over four episodes, we're sharing the best teaching from this past year’s Lab and Fellowship and sitting down with participants from both programs to hear what an intentional season of formation actually does in the life of a pastor. This is the first episode of our four part series, replaying some of the best moments from last year’s Emerging Leaders Lab.
Mark Clark on Preaching to the Skeptic and the Saint, Planting Village Church, and Leading Through Burnout
In today's conversation, Jason sits down with Mark Clark, the pastor who planted Village Church in British Columbia, and now the Global Senior Pastor at Bayside Church in California. Mark’s story includes an atheist upbringing in Ontario, a late-teen conversion, a dream of becoming an academic at Oxford, and a call to plant a church in one of the most secular corners of North America. What began with sixteen people in his living room grew into one of the fastest-growing churches in Canada, and Mark reflects with both gratitude and candor on the road that took him there.
Ben Johnson on Stewarding a 97-Year Old Church, Fathering Young Leaders, and Vision for the Church in Calgary
In today's episode, Ben Johnson joins Jason for a conversation on pastoral stewardship, generational legacy, and what it looks like to lead a nearly century-old church into its next chapter. Ben is the Lead Pastor of First Assembly Calgary, a Pentecostal church planted 97 years ago that has helped birth many other Pentecostal congregations across both Calgary and western Canada. Together they trace the story of First Assembly, the 35-year-old Tehillah Mondays gathering, and the heart that First Assembly has for worship, prayer, and the next generation.
Jeremy Norton on Life in Canada’s North, Pastoring Small Churches, and What the Church Offers the Digital World
In today’s conversation, Jason sits down with Jeremy Norton, lead pastor of Mountainview Church in Whitehorse, Yukon. Jeremy’s story is one of patience and faithful presence in a part of Canada that many people have never seen firsthand. From southern Ontario to Alaska, Alberta, and eventually the Yukon, Jeremy reflects on the road that led him to serve Canada’s north and the deep sense of calling that kept drawing him there.
Finu Iype on Evangelism in the Canadian Context, Being Shaped Through Suffering, and Believing God for National Transformation
In today’s episode Jason sits down with Finu Iype, Co-Senior Pastor of Village Church in Surrey, British Columbia, to trace his story from an Indian family line marked by conversion and adoption into the family of God, to his early years preaching in small towns across Ontario, to eventually stepping into senior leadership at Village Church in Surrey. Along the way, Finu shares what he’s learned about evangelism, the cost of calling, and the ways God builds His church beyond the influence of any one leader.
Phil Reinders on a Shared Rule of Life, Recovering Ancient Paths, and Being a Missionary to Canada
In today’s episode, Father Justin Huang invites us into his journey of faith, vocation, and pastoral ministry. From a teenage conversion to a long and costly discernment of priesthood, Father Justin reflects on the ways that God leads us through surrender, suffering, and trust into deeper freedom and joy.
Father Justin Huang on Vocational Discernment, the Personal Cost of Ministry, and a Life Anchored in God’s Love
In today’s episode, Father Justin Huang invites us into his journey of faith, vocation, and pastoral ministry. From a teenage conversion to a long and costly discernment of priesthood, Father Justin reflects on the ways that God leads us through surrender, suffering, and trust into deeper freedom and joy.
Chris Dias on Discerning a Call to Ministry, Raising up Pastors, and the Cost of Being a Sending Church
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.
Jason Ballard on Hope for the Church in Canada, Serving Pastors as a Pastor, and the Importance of Pastoral Friendship
Five years into planting The Way Church in Vancouver and five years into The Pastorate, Jason steps into the guest chair to reflect on what he’s seeing in the Canadian church and what gives him real hope for pastors today. In this role-reversal episode, Jordan interviews Jason about his life as a local pastor, the story behind The Pastorate, and why he still wants to serve pastors as a practitioner, not a commentator.
Nestor Abdon on Multicultural Ministry in Canada, Welcoming Newcomers, and Second-Generation Immigrants as Cultural Bridges
In this conversation, Nestor traces his journey from growing up in the Philippines to arriving in Canada in 2010, pastoring within a Filipino church, serving at a refugee centre, and eventually leading newcomers and diaspora ministries at large churches in the Toronto area. His life and ministry have been shaped by the conviction that migration is not just a social reality but a biblical lens, that God is gathering the nations in Canadian cities, and that welcoming newcomers is central to the church’s participation in the gospel today.
Darrell Johnson on Preaching Advent: Six Frameworks to Borrow, and His New Book Awaken Wonder
In today’s episode, Darrell Johnson opens his journal and his toolkit, sharing how a hard year has softened his pastoral heart and how a simple morning liturgy that includes journaling, reading Scripture, and listing notes of gratitude have helped refresh his soul. Darrell invites us into his new book, an Advent reader titled Awaken Wonder, and shares six practical frameworks for preaching through Advent that he invites pastors to glean from and borrow. Darrell helps us imagine Advent preaching that’s both bold and deeply formative.
Junie Josue on Empowering a Young, Multicultural Church, Hearing God’s Call from Manila to Winnipeg, and Carrying a Vision to Plant 100 Churches Across Canada
On today’s episode of The Pastorate we welcome Junie Josue, pastor of International Worship Center, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. From a three-day fast in Manila to planting a multi-ethnic church in central Canada, Junie shares a Spirit-led story of obedience, discipleship, and multiplication. The conversation traces the discernment journey that brought Junie and his wife, Fatima, to Canada in 1999, the cell-church structure that fuels IWC’s inter-provincal growth, and a vision to plant 100 churches across the nation. Junie also opens up about the inner life of a pastor, moving from performance to presence, and letting God heal old wounds.
Shaila Visser with the Lead Pastors Fellowship: Reaching Gen Alpha, the Future of Alpha Canada, and Canada’s Unique Spiritual Moment
Today’s episode features a conversation between Tammy Giffen, Lead Pastor of Groundswell Church in Turo Nova Scotia and Shaila Visser, National Director of Alpha Canada and Senior Vice President at Alpha International. It’s a recording of a conversation that took place live in front of our Lead Pastor Fellowship cohort, two weeks ago when they were gathered together in Vancouver for a city meetup. Over the course of that week together, the cohort, made up of 15 pastors from across Canada, spent time learning from local pastors and leaders, touring local churches, and enjoying quality time together. This conversation between Tammy and Shaila was one of the sessions of the week that was designed to help encourage our cohort members and sharpen their pastoral imagination, specifically around the themes of evangelism, prayer, and ministry to Gen Alpha and Gen Z.
Ryan Johnson on Healing from Brokenness, Leading through Pain, and Building a Community of Worship and Hope
In this conversation, Jason and Ryan explore the messy beginnings of Church Untitled, how a community born out of hurt became a place of dependence and hope. They talk about the call to consecration that shaped their early days, and how worship has become the defining posture of their community, creating space for healing and shepherding the soul of the city.
Dom Ruso on Church Planting in Quebec, Pastoring in a Post-Christian Age, and Making the Bible Make Sense in a Secular World
In this conversation, Jason and Dom explore Dom’s honest wrestle with returning to Quebec, and the slow ways God confirmed the call to plant a church there and why it’s not enough to “tell” people what the Bible says, but to invite them into its story, and how plot points of Scripture resonate with modern longings for justice, meaning, and identity.
Howard Jolly on Reconciliation in the Canadian Church, the Courage to Face Our Shared Story, and How His Father’s Transformation Led Him to Jesus
In this conversation, Howard Jolly shares how he came to faith through the remarkable transformation of his father’s life, why reconciliation is essential for the whole body of Christ, and how facing our shared history with courage can lead to healing and hope. Drawing on decades of pastoral leadership, he reflects on the God‑given dignity of every person, the unique call for First Peoples to reach First Peoples, and his vision for a renewed Church in Canada.
Lissa Wray Beal on Why Pastors Need the Old Testament, Faithfully Preaching Trauma Texts, and the Role of Seminary in a Changing Church
In this conversation, Old Testament scholar and Anglican priest Dr. Lissa Wray Beal offers a thoughtful and deeply encouraging guide for engaging the harder parts of Scripture. Drawing from her current writing on the book of Jeremiah and her years of pastoral ministry and academic scholarship, Lissa makes the case that these ancient texts are essential for helping congregations find language in time of suffering and struggle.
Matthew Price on Learning to Love the Suburbs, Leading Post-Burnout, and Church Revitalization
In this episode we welcome Matthew Price, Lead Pastor of North Langley Community Church, for a deeply personal conversation about pastoral ministry. Matthew opens up about his unexpected journey into preaching, the powerful influence of mentors like Darrell Johnson, and how a vision from God reshaped his love for suburban ministry.
Shaila Visser from Alpha on Leading for Longevity and A New Moment for Evangelism in Canada
Every leader faces moments when vision dims and passion wavers. How do we sustain a long-term vision for ministry while leading with joy and conviction? In this episode, Shaila Visser, National Director of Alpha Canada, joins Jason Ballard to share insights from her extensive leadership experience. She reflects on 14 years of ministry, the shifting spiritual landscape in Canada, and the personal rhythms that sustain evangelistic passion.