Jon Guerra on How Music Forms Us, Pastoring Artists, and How Art Works Like a Parable
Today on The Pastorate Jason is joined by Jon Guerra, singer-songwriter and self-proclaimed creator of Monday morning prayer music. Jon is the voice behind albums like Keeper of Days, Ordinary Ways, and most recently JESUS. Jason and Jon discuss the formative power of music, why art can reach the heart in ways a list of facts can't, and how beauty can put us in contact with the living Christ. In the back half of the conversation, Jon opens up the story behind JESUS, an album that began as a personal effort to be reacquainted with the person of Christ through slow, repeated reading of the Gospels. He and Jason talk about wanting the whole Jesus, the one who both consoles and the one who confronts, rather than a pacified or personalized version of him. They close with Jon's creative process, how he protects joy in his work, and how pastors can better see and partner with the artists in their churches.
Tish Harrison Warren on Her Accidental Church Plant, What Grows in Weary Lands, and Numbing Out, Flaming Out, or Going Deep
In this conversation, Jason sits down with Tish Harrison Warren, Anglican priest, former New York Times columnist, and author of What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience. Tish opens a window into her life in Austin, Texas and she shares about how she and her husband accidentally planted a church after inheriting a grieving group of parishioners. Jason and Tish talk about her years writing on faith for The New York Times, and the strange work of context switching between public discourse and the pulpit.
Ed Stetzer on Not Wasting His Suffering, What Happened to the Quiet Revival, and Staying Bullish on Church Planting
Jason talks with Ed Stetzer, Dean of Talbot School of Theology at Biola University and Teaching Pastor at Mariners Church, about ministering through a disorienting cultural moment while navigating his own health crisis. Ed opens up about being six weeks out from major spinal surgery for a rare condition, and what it means to trust God's providence without knowing how much mobility he'll regain. The conversation traces his path from planting a church at 21 in inner-city Buffalo with no theological training, to pastoring a Chinese church's English-language service, to the PhD in missiology that came out of it, and into Talbot Embedded, his cohort-based model for training pastors inside local churches in cities like Chicago, Nashville, and Honolulu. The second half covers church planting, preaching, and small churches, including why Ed still believes in planting, why he preaches for free at churches under 100 people, and how his approach to preaching has shifted toward more depth and a willingness to tackle controversial topics directly. It's a strong episode for pastors in hard seasons, anyone tracking the future of theological education, and leaders wrestling with what's ahead for small rural churches in Canada.
Drew Hyun and Jerry Sittser from the Lead Pastor Fellowship on the Dissonance Between Your Private and Public Life and Ministering to Those in Grief
Today’s episode is part three of our summer series exploring our pastoral formation cohorts here at The Pastorate. This episode features Drew Hyun and Dr. Jerry Sittser, profiling their time spent with last year’s cohort of The Lead Pastor Fellowship.
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.
Heath Hardesty on How Imagination Shapes the Way We See the World, the Disintegration of Our Present Age, and His Book All Things Together
On today's episode we welcome Heath Hardesty, Lead Pastor of Valley Community Church in Pleasanton, California, and author of All Things Together: How Apprenticeship to Jesus Is the Way of Flourishing in a Fragmented World. Heath's journey into pastoral ministry began as a plumber's apprentice and eventually grew into an apprenticeship of a different kind, one where he learned to follow the call of Jesus and eventually to shepherd a local church.
Jay Kim on Ministry in the Age of AI, Pastoring in Silicon Valley, and Offering a Non-Anxious Presence in a Digital World
In today’s episode, Jay Kim joins Jason for a conversation on pastoral ministry, spiritual formation, and what it means to follow Jesus faithfully in a world shaped by speed, distraction, and rapidly changing technology. Jay reflects on how digital culture is reshaping our imaginations, our communities, and even our understanding of what it means to be human.
N.T. Wright on Reading Scripture with Wonder, God’s Homecoming, and Champagne for Breakfast
In this conversation, Jason Ballard sits down with N.T. Wright, New Testament scholar, Anglican minister, and longtime teacher, to talk about the grand story of Scripture, the vocation of the scholar-pastor, and the unique hope that sustains weary leaders.
This is a rich conversation for pastors, preachers, seminary students, and anyone longing to love Scripture more deeply, live more faithfully in the story of God, and find inspiration in the midst of ministry’s daily rhythms.
Cass Langton on Church Planting Post-Hillsong, Beauty as Witness, and Pastoring Creatives
In this conversation, Jason Ballard sits down with Cass Langton, pastor, worship leader, and longtime creative leader, to talk about church planting, healing after ministry transition, and why creativity and beauty matter deeply in the life of the church.
Cass reflects on the surprising journey that led her and her family from 26 years at Hillsong into planting The Local Church in Sydney. She shares honestly about the slow and painful work of healing after ministry transition, the importance of resisting reactionary leadership, and the grace of learning to recognize God’s presence in the quiet, ordinary moments of life.
Dr. Henry Cloud on the Pastor’s Inner Life, Leading Without Losing Your Soul, and Learning How to Discern
Today on the podcast, Jason is joined by Dr. Henry Cloud. Henry is a clinical psychologist, leadership consultant, and bestselling author whose work has helped shape the leadership of countless pastors and ministry leaders over the past several decades. Many will know him through books like Boundaries, Integrity, and Necessary Endings, where he brings together insights from psychology, relationships, and leadership to help people grow in health and effectiveness.
John Ortberg on How Pastoring Forms the Pastor, Why Many Churches Struggle with Discipleship, and Arranging Your Life for Joy and Contentment
John Ortberg is a pastor, author, and spiritual formation teacher known for helping people experience life with God in their everyday lives. In today’s conversation, John shares his journey into pastoral ministry, the unexpected role that decision-making played in discovering his calling, and how God uses the work of pastoring to shape the soul of the pastor. John shares the heart of the gospel as life with God in the present, not just the future, and he discusses how to form people into that reality through clear pathways of discipleship, honest self-examination, and practices that lead to transformation.
Derrick Miller on Co-Vocational Calling, Merging with a 100-Year-Old Church, and Leading Through Change
In today’s episode, Derrick Miller invites us into the story of Makers Church in San Diego and the co-vocational calling that’s shaped his life as both pastor and firefighter. Derrick shares how a surprising “church marriage” with a 100-year-old congregation, neighborhood change, and a multi-million-dollar building renovation have forced him and his team to slow down, listen carefully to the Spirit, and rethink what sustainable leadership actually looks like. Along the way, he offers a lived picture of priesthood-of-all-believers, where every follower of Jesus is sent into their workplace, street, and city as a full participant in God’s mission.
Pete Hughes with the Lead Pastors Fellowship: Pastoral Courage, Revival, and Leading in the Power of the Spirit
We’re pulling back the curtain on our Lead Pastors Fellowship and inviting you into a conversation that Pete Hughes, pastor of KXC London, had with our cohort participants during one of their monthly Zoom sessions. We’re sharing it here because it speaks directly into the cultural moment we find ourselves in, and because applications for the next round of the Lead Pastors Fellowship open next month.
Chrishan Jeyaratnam from Hillsong East Coast on Leading Through Grief & Transformation
Seasons of transition and uncertainty can test a leader’s resilience and calling. How do we guide a church through grief, rebuild trust, and embrace transformation with integrity?
In this episode, Chrishan Jeyaratnam, Lead Pastor of Hillsong East Coast, joins Jason Ballard to share his journey of pastoring through deep change. He reflects on leading a church in the aftermath of crisis, navigating distrust in leadership, and the personal and communal transformation necessary for renewal. Chrishan also unpacks the unique identity of a local church and how drawing from the broader body of Christ can bring strength and restoration.
Tyler Staton & Pete Hughes on Contending for the Renewal of Your City & Cultivating Deep Rhythms of Prayer
Prayer isn’t just something we do—it’s the foundation for renewal in our lives, churches, and cities. But how do we cultivate deep rhythms of prayer and sustain a vision for God’s kingdom breaking in where we live?
In this episode, Tyler Staton and Pete Hughes share how personal and corporate prayer fuels transformation. They explore the power of storytelling in shaping a culture of contending, the importance of interceding for our cities, and the rhythms that sustain long-term ministry. Their wisdom will inspire you to seek God’s presence in fresh and powerful ways.
John Mark Comer on Spiritual Formation for Today’s World, Recovery After Sundays, and Practices for Deep Friendship
Our guest today is John Mark Comer, founder of Practicing the Way and a leader passionate about spiritual formation and pastoral health. John Mark has spent over two decades navigating the challenges of pastoring in a rapidly changing cultural landscape, all while deeply investing in the spiritual growth of his congregation and the global Church.
In this conversation, John Mark reflects on the evolving role of pastors, the importance of maintaining a long-term vision for ministry, and how the practice of spiritual formation is helping congregations engage more deeply with God. He also shares practical insights on balancing work and rest, cultivating deep friendships, and leading with integrity in the face of cultural opposition. Filled with wisdom, vulnerability, and a heart for pastoral longevity, this episode offers encouragement for those in ministry today.
Nicky Gumbel on His Succession at HTB, a Vision to Train 10,000 Pastors, and the Significance of April 17, 2033
Our guest today is Nicky Gumbel, pioneer of the Alpha Course and former Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in London. After nearly two decades in senior leadership, Nicky shares his experience of navigating leadership transitions, empowering new leaders, and ensuring a healthy succession process in ministry.
In this conversation, Nicky reflects on the importance of trusting the next generation, embracing change without resistance, and equipping pastors from diverse backgrounds through initiatives like the Caleb and Peter Streams. He also casts a bold vision for global evangelism, aiming to see the gospel reach 99.6% of the world’s population by 2033.
His insights offer encouragement for leaders in seasons of transition, reminding us that passing the baton well and staying passionate about evangelism are essential for the future of the Church.
Jerry Sittser On the Early Church “Third Way”, Re-introducing a Christian Imagination, and Navigating Grief through a Redemptive Lens
How do we form resilient followers of Jesus in a culture where faith is no longer assumed?
In this episode, Jerry Sittser, professor emeritus at Whitworth University and author of Resilient Faith, joins Jason Ballard to explore how the early church thrived in a post-Christian world. He unpacks the lessons we can learn from the first Christians, the importance of discipleship over cultural Christianity, and how pastors can cultivate a church culture that shapes whole-life disciples. Jerry also shares personal reflections on grief, loss, and carrying both pain and joy with hope.
Jeff Vanderstelt on The Dealing With Criticism, Navigating Toxic Church Culture, The Crisis of Discipleship, and Dallas Willard’s Last Unanswered Question
How can discipleship become a way of life rather than just another church program?
In this episode, Jeff Vanderstelt, Executive Director of Saturate and founding leader of the Soma Family of Churches, joins Jason Ballard to explore what it means to lead with gospel fluency and mission in everyday life. Jeff shares his journey of mentoring leaders, navigating criticism, and learning to lead with open hands. He also reflects on his experience guiding a fractured church through healing and the profound impact of Dallas Willard’s final unanswered question.