The Pastorate Podcast

The Pastorate
  • 4.9 (22)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semimonthly

The Pastorate Podcast hosts thoughtful conversations with guests who are passionate about the Canadian church. Here to serve Canadian pastors, we dive into topics that speak to the heart, soul, and vision of the pastorate, all the while sharing stories from guests who minister in diverse church contexts.

  1. Mark Clark on Preaching to the Skeptic and the Saint, Planting Village Church, and Leading Through Burnout

    1d ago

    Mark Clark on Preaching to the Skeptic and the Saint, Planting Village Church, and Leading Through Burnout

    Show Notes The Pastorate ConferenceGive to our $30,000 June Match CampaignMark Clark’s WebsiteVillage Church WebsiteBayside Church WebsiteThe Mark Clark PodcastThe Problem of Life by Mark ClarkThe Pastorate's City MeetupsThe Pastorate Pastors RetreatEpisode Description 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. Jason and Mark talk about the patience that shaped their early ministry years, waiting for the right time, the right people, and the right season to plant churches. Mark opens up his convictions around preaching, describing how he learned to speak to the skeptic and the lifelong believer in the same room, and why he refuses to choose between reaching the lost and discipling the found. He's also honest about the cost of leading through rapid growth, including the burnout seasons that left him preaching dizzy and gripping the pulpit to stay upright. The conversation also turns to what it meant to leave the church he founded and entrust it to leaders he loves, and the insecurity that keeps many leaders from transitioning. Drawing on Zechariah 10, he candidly describes his calling as making warhorses out of sheep, a vision he holds with both conviction and a winsome humility In this episode you'll hear: How an atheist kid from Ontario became a church planter in one of Canada's most secular cities,Why patience, the right time, people, and season, mattered more than urgency in the plant,How to preach to the skeptic and the lifelong believer in the same room,What the burnout seasons cost Mark, and the team decision that reshaped his preaching,Why he left the church he founded, and what it's been like to watch it flourish under new leadership,How Zechariah 10 reframed his calling around raising and releasing the next generation of leaders.Partners Would you consider giving to our summer match campaign? Every donation in June will be matched by a generous donor up to $30,000.Generis has created a Pastorate-exclusive Generosity Cohort. Over one year, eight pastors leading churches with annual budgets under $1 million will journey together, coached by Jon Wright, who will help develop a customized generosity plan for their church. Because it’s cohort-based and designed for Canadian pastors, it offers a more affordable option than 1on1 coaching. This cohort launches in July 2026 and is limited to eight pastors. If this sounds like it could serve you and your church, you can reach out to Jon Wright here.

    1h 2m
  2. Heath Hardesty on How Imagination Shapes the Way We See the World, the Disintegration of Our Present Age, and His Book All Things Together.

    Jun 1

    Heath Hardesty on How Imagination Shapes the Way We See the World, the Disintegration of Our Present Age, and His Book All Things Together.

    Show Notes Give to our $30,000 Match CampaignContact Josh from The Pastorate to Give on Behalf of Your ChurchContact Jon Wright from GenerisEnter to Win 1 of 5 copies of All Things TogetherHeath’s WebsiteBuy All Things TogetherEpisode Description 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. This conversation traces Heath's story, from studying literature and theology, playing in bands, and apprenticing under his plumber father, before a moment of encounter through the Scripture stirred his heart toward a life in the pastorate. Jason and Heath explore Heath’s book All Things Together which offers a vision of Christian apprenticeship built on union, abiding, obeying, and imaging and they discuss why imagination shapes the way we inhabit the world, the role of story in a fragmented age, and what it means to re-inhabit reality in the way of Jesus. In this episode you'll hear: Heath's journey from a plumber's truck and a music career to the pastorate, How a moment under a sink, holding an orange-painted wrench like his father, became his inspiration for All Things Together, Why apprenticeship to Jesus is the essence of being human, not an optional "side quest" for mature Christians,What disintegration looks like in our culture and in our souls, and why our age acts as an amplifier of fragmentation,The role of story and imagination in helping people re-inhabit reality in the way of Jesus,Why "technique" and efficiency are at odds with being stewards of the mysteries of God,How the greatest gift a pastor brings to a congregation may simply be the person they are becoming.For every pastor learning the slow craft of shepherding, this conversation offers a frame for the work, and a reminder that you, too, are an apprentice. May it encourage you wherever you're serving.

    56 min
  3. Ben Johnson on Stewarding a 97-Year Old Church, Fathering Young Leaders, and Vision for the Church in Calgary

    May 18

    Ben Johnson on Stewarding a 97-Year Old Church, Fathering Young Leaders, and Vision for the Church in Calgary

    Show Notes: First Assembly ChurchTehillah WorshipThe Pastorate's City MeetupsEpisode Notes: 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.  Jason and Ben also explore the joy and weight of fathering young leaders, the family legacy that traces Ben's grandfather's salvation back to First Assembly's downtown building decades ago, and the formative season of revival at Christian Life Assembly in 1998. The conversation closes with Ben sharing First Assembly’s Vision 100, a stewardship-shaped initiative to double the impact of First Assembly in the next 100 years. Ben and Jason explore: The history and identity of First Assembly Calgary as a "mothering” and “fathering" church that has planted or helped plant many other Pentecostal churches in the city,The 35-year story of Tehillah Mondays and how a single worship gathering has continued to serve generation after generation in Calgary,What Ben learned by sitting with the saints of the church to discern God's specific purpose for a local congregation, and the role an eldership's fasting and prayer played in his transition,Why First Assembly is next-generation focused, and how that shapes worship, budgets, staffing, and Sunday gatherings without losing the honor due to senior saints,The cradle-to-college discipleship pathway, the Tehillah Schools for teenagers and adults, and how this has become the "farm team" for nearly all of First Assembly's staff,What young staff and leaders actually need from a lead pastor,First Assembly’s Vision 100 and stewarding the church toward its 100-year anniversary with a strategy to reach, revitalize, and reproduce in Calgary.Partners Contact John Wright at Generis for help cultivating a culture of generosity in your church.We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠give⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

    59 min
  4. Jeremy Norton on Life in Canada’s North, Pastoring Small Churches, and What the Church Offers the Digital World

    May 4

    Jeremy Norton on Life in Canada’s North, Pastoring Small Churches, and What the Church Offers the Digital World

    Show Notes Mountainview ChurchJeremy’s WebsiteNorthern Roads by Jeremy NortonThe Yukon BoysJeremy’s InstagramThe Pastorate’s City MeetupsEpisode Description 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. Jason and Jeremy talk about the realities of pastoral ministry in Canada’s smaller and more remote contexts. Jeremy shares what it has meant to pastor in a place marked by cultural diversity, geographic isolation, and deep spiritual need, and how those realities have shaped his approach to leadership, preaching, and life in the church. He also reflects on the unique burdens many pastors carry in smaller churches and under-resourced communities, along with the creativity, resilience, and dependence on God those settings can draw out. The conversation also explores the ways Jeremy’s life in the North has shaped him personally. Through hunting, fishing, and subsistence living Jeremy is uniquely attuned to God’s provision through creation and he shares about what it means to receive life with dependence and gratitude. Jason and Jeremy reflect on how life close to the land can deepen faith, and why a more grounded, embodied way of living may have something important to offer in an age marked by distraction and disembodiment. In this episode you’ll hear: Jeremy’s journey to Whitehorse and his call to pastoral ministry in the Yukon,What ministry in a smaller, remote, and diverse context can teach us about pastoring,Why Jeremy carries a burden for under-resourced pastors and smaller churches across Canada,How hunting, fishing, and subsistence living have shaped his faith and spirituality,What faithful leadership can look like outside the world of scale, platform, and visibility,Why embodied Christian community may matter even more in an increasingly digital world.Partners Special thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this episode possible. We invite you to explore their ⁠Bible Course⁠ to help your church grow in Scripture engagement. We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠give⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

    48 min
  5. Jay Kim on Ministry in the Age of AI, Pastoring in Silicon Valley, and Offering a Non-Anxious Presence in a Digital World

    Apr 20

    Jay Kim on Ministry in the Age of AI, Pastoring in Silicon Valley, and Offering a Non-Anxious Presence in a Digital World

    Show Notes Analog Church Book GiveawayThe Pastorate’s City Meetups⁠Andy Crouch Conversation on Practicing the Way⁠Jay Kim’s websiteWestGate ChurchAnalog Church by Jay Kim Analog Christian by Jay KimListen, Listen, Speak by Jay Kim Episode Details 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. Jay also speaks candidly about the personal cost of pastoral leadership. He shares the pain and formation that came through difficult ministry seasons, the relational complexity of stepping into senior leadership, and the grief that often accompanies pastoral vocation. Together, Jason and Jay discuss how pastors can resist the extremes of fear and uncritical acceptance of technological change, and instead offer their communities a grounded, human, Christ-centered vision of life together. Jay and Jason explore: Jay’s story of pastoral ministry, from teaching pastor to senior leadership, and the formative hardship of his years serving in Santa Cruz,What it was like returning to WestGate as lead pastor, and the joy, grief, and relational complexity that can come with stepping into a new role,Why pastors need honest friendships outside their immediate ministry context, especially when leadership feels isolating or painful,How Silicon Valley has sharpened Jay’s thinking about discipleship, formation, and the deeper questions being raised by technology and AI,Asking “what does it mean to be truly human, and how does Jesus show us the answer?” How pastors can respond to technological change without either fear or naïve optimism, and instead embody a slow, careful, non-anxious presence for their people,The opportunity for the local church to become a deeply human, countercultural community in an increasingly artificial and polished world,Why, in an age obsessed with scale, polish, and efficiency, one of the most powerful gifts pastors can offer is simple, flawed, embodied personhood. Partners Contact John Wright at Generis for help cultivating a culture of generosity in your church.We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠give⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

    1h 5m
  6. N.T. Wright on Reading Scripture with Wonder, God’s Homecoming, and Champagne for Breakfast

    Apr 6

    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. Tom reflects on his early sense of call, his lifelong commitment to holding together pastoral ministry and academic theology, and the deep joy of returning to Scripture over decades without losing wonder. He speaks candidly about the disorientation that can come through serious theological study, and offers wise, pastoral insight for those walking alongside students and pastors in seasons of theological questioning. Jason and Tom also explore the central burden behind Tom’s recent book God’s Homecoming. They discuss why the biblical story is not ultimately about leaving earth for heaven, but about God coming to dwell with His people and renew all things. From Romans 8 to the Psalms, from the Sermon on the Mount to the road to Emmaus, Tom helps reframe the Christian hope as resurrection, new creation, and the healing of the world under the reign of the risen Christ. Jason and Tom discuss: Tom’s early sense of call and the path that led him into both parish ministry and academic theology,Why the work of pastor and scholar belong together,How deep study of Scripture can lead not to cynicism, but to renewed wonder,How pastors can lovingly walk with people through seasons of theological disorientation,Why learning to preach the whole story of Scripture matters so deeply,The central vision behind God’s Homecoming and the Bible’s theme of God dwelling with His people,The Psalms as a lifelong school of prayer,Why Eastertide should be marked by joy, celebration, and embodied hope,and a final word of encouragement for discouraged pastors.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.  Links & Resources N.T. Wright OnlineGod’s HomecomingSurprised by HopePartners Special thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this episode possible. We invite you to explore their ⁠Bible Course⁠ to help your church grow in Scripture engagement.We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠give⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

    56 min
  7. Cass Langton on Church Planting Post-Hillsong, Beauty as Witness, and Pastoring Creatives

    Mar 23

    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. Jason and Cass also explore the unique calling of creatives in the church. Together, they discuss how pastors can better understand, value, and disciple creatives, why beauty is a primary matter in the Kingdom of God, and how the church can become a place where artists, musicians, writers, and makers are spiritually and creatively nurtured.  This is a rich conversation for pastors, church planters, worship leaders, and anyone longing to see the church become more beautiful, imaginative, and alive to the presence of God. Jason and Cass discuss: Cass’s journey from Hillsong to planting The Local Church Sydney,How healing, rest, and recalibration shaped the season before launching something new,Learning to see the “miracles in the mundane” in pastoral ministry,The role of beauty and creativity in the mission of God,How churches can cultivate and pastor creatives well,Why creatives need community, formation, and care, not just opportunities to serve,Practical ways pastors can bless and release artists in their churches.Show Notes The Local Church SydneyThe Hopeful RhinoInstagramPartners We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠give⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church. Contact John Wright at Generis for help cultivating a culture of generosity in your church.

    56 min
  8. Dr. Henry Cloud on the Pastor’s Inner Life, Leading Without Losing Your Soul, and Learning How to Discern

    Mar 9

    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. In this conversation, Henry reflects on his unlikely path from pursuing a career in golf to studying theology, psychology, and eventually working with leaders across both ministry and organizational contexts. Along the way, he developed a deep care and concern for pastors, those who carry enormous responsibility while often receiving very little care themselves. Together, Henry and Jason explore the pressures of pastoral leadership and the unique challenges faced by pastors. Henry shares insights from decades of working with leaders, offering a framework for leadership that moves beyond personality or charisma and toward a set of functions that can be learned and practiced over time. Together, Henry and Jason discuss: Why pastors often find themselves pouring out for others with very few places to be cared for themselves,Why leadership is not merely instinct or gifting, but a craft that must be learned and practiced,The importance of humility and discernment in navigating complex leadership decisions,Why pastors must pursue healing and self-awareness as part of their leadership formation,And the crucial role of trusted relationships outside the ministry system for growth and accountability.Throughout the conversation, Henry speaks with deep respect for pastors. His encouragement is both honest and hopeful: sustainable leadership requires humility, intentional support, and a commitment to becoming whole as we lead others. Show Notes ⁠Dr. Henry Cloud WebsiteBooks by Dr. Henry CloudBoundaries.me – Dr. Cloud’s platform for personal growth, mental health, and relationshipsCity MeetupsThe Emerging Leaders LabPartners Special thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this episode possible. We invite you to explore their ⁠Bible Course⁠ to help your church grow in Scripture engagement. The work of strengthening pastors across Canada is only possible because of generous partners like you. As we look to the future, would you consider joining us in prayer, sharing this episode, or ⁠making a gift to invest in a vibrant, Jesus-centered church in every community⁠?

    1h 6m
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4.9
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

The Pastorate Podcast hosts thoughtful conversations with guests who are passionate about the Canadian church. Here to serve Canadian pastors, we dive into topics that speak to the heart, soul, and vision of the pastorate, all the while sharing stories from guests who minister in diverse church contexts.

Information

  • Creator
    The Pastorate
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    178
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Pastorate
  • Show Website
    The Pastorate Podcast

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