Guest host David Guretzki speaks with Dom Ruso, who leads a church called The180 in Laval, Que., that he helped to plant in 2016. Ruso was born and raised in Montreal, holds a PhD in historical theology and has also worked pastoring young adults. The180 church is an interdenominational church under the umbrella of The Alliance Canada. Ruso has a new book coming in September called The Bible in a Shifting Secular Age (Cascade, 2025). https://wipfandstock.com/9781666784909/the-bible-for-a-shifting-secular-age/ https://theoneeighty.ca/ourstory https://www.dashhouse.com/pastor-planter-interview-domenic-ruso/ https://www.eteq.ca/d8/en/node/235 https://biblesociety.ca/scriptureuntangled/podcast-episode-7-domenic-ruso/

Jesse Nickel of Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C., published a compelling book last year about how Jesus' ministry and presentation of the Kingdom of God contrast with human understandings of power (A Revolutionary Jesus: Violence and Peacemaking in the Kingdom of God, Fortress Press, 2024). He talks with host Bill Fledderus about the challenge we face to understand shalom is at the heart of Jesus’ teachings and life. His book is A Revolutionary Jesus: Violence and Peacemaking in the Kingdom of God (Fortress Press, 2024). His page at Columbia Bible College https://columbiabc.edu/instructor/jesse-nickel/ Instagram: @jesse_p_nickel Facebook: @Jesse Nickel

Host Karen Stiller moderates a discussion among church specialists EFC President David Guretzki, Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre director Dorothy Pang and Dr. Lee Beach from McMaster Divinity College. The episode also features a Q&A session that took place as part of the event held at Evangel Temple, in October 2024.

​Lennett J. Anderson is pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Hammonds Plains, N.S., and the newly appointed lecturer in leadership and racial justice at Acadia Divinity College. He spoke with Faith Today’s Karen Stiller about how the Church can step more fully into being antiracist and regain its prophetic voice.

​​Alastair Sterne has written a book for all of us who might struggle with the typical "one size fits all" ideas around spiritual disciplines. http://alastairsterne.com/ http://www.FaithToday.ca/

​​Author, Crandall University professor and Faith Today columnist John G. Stackhouse Jr. joins Faith Today editors Bill Fledderus and Karen Stiller in conversation about his latest book, and what he thinks the Canadian Church should be focussing in in the next while (among a lot of other great topics). Visit John's site and read his blog: http://www.johnstackhouse.com Read about John's latest book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/can-i-believe-9780190922856?cc=ca&lang=en& Check out John's Faith Today column, Christ & Culture in Canada: https://www.faithtoday.ca/Articles/ChristAndCultureInCanada

​Are Christians really so intolerant? Dr. Sam Reimer is a sociology professor at Crandall University in Moncton and researches political tolerance in Canada. He shares insights (and then some really good advice) on the topic of religion and tolerance in Canada. Here's a video of Sam Reimer speaking at Crandall on this topic: https://www.crandallu.ca/2020/03/26/dr-sam-reimer-speaks-on-tolerance-in-canada-at-public-lecture/ Sam refers to a previous podcast on a similar topic, and here it is: https://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/Resources/Podcasts/The-State-of-Religion-in-Canada.

The stresses of Covid-19 continue to weigh on Christian leaders. Watch this EFC webinar to see a great time of learning and discussion on how church and ministry leaders are faring. Our guests include Margaret Clarke of Briercrest Seminary; Tim Day of Waybase.com; and Dan Godard of Victory Church, Moose Jaw, Sask. Recorded from webinar on December 2rd, 2020.

​We asked Journey Canada why they are concerned with conversion therapy bans like Bill C-6.

​We’re all in a bit of a Covid slump right now. I’m Karen Stiller and In this podcast I spoke with Tim Day Director of Way Base Network, online platform that enables individuals and Christian organizations to find each other and partner together, and serves the Church in Canada And Rick Himestra, director of research for the EFC. Waybase did some research on the Impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Christian Charities which you can find at https://notes.waybase.com/surveys/covid19_final_results_en.pdf We chat about some of the results but really have a from the heart conversation about church and covid and the simple ways we can stay connected right now.

​​Jennifer Lau is the new executive director of CBM (Canadian Baptist Ministries), a 150-year-old Canadian mission organization. She spoke with Faith Today’s Karen Stiller about her calling, the weight of words, and what it means to go and learn.

​​Writer and activist Joel Gordon shares his personal awakening and experiences with racism in Canada in this tender and powerful Faith Today piece. You can read this piece online here: https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/2020-Sep-Oct/RACISM-From-the-ground-up. Subscribe to Faith Today, Canada's Christian magazine, for free here: https://www.faithtoday.ca/Subscribe.

​Jen Pollock Michel, author and host of the Englewood Review of Books podcast, joins us to explore lament, how to listen and speak well to each other and other wonderful things. Visit Jen's page here: https://www.jenpollockmichel.com Listen to this great podcast on books and reading: https://englewoodreview.org/podcast/ Read Jen's Faith Today article here: https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/2016-Nov-Dec/Teach-Us-to-Want-An-Invitation-to-Holy-Desire

John Longhurst has written a faith column for the Winnipeg Free Press for 20 years, and a book of his selected columns was recently published by Canadian Mennonite University Press. The title: Can Robots Love God and Be Saved? A Journalist Reports About Faith.

​Drew Dyck's latest book Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science will help you be better at a whole bunch of things, including spiritual disciplines. He takes us inside his research and most recent book in this interview. Visit Drew's website to learn more about this book and his work: https://www.drewdyck.com.

​The popular author of the evangelism classic Out of the Saltshaker has released a new book on evangelism today, Stay Salt

Ilana Reimer and Katie Pezzutto, the creative forces behind Love is Moving Magazine, share their vision and writing and editing lives with Faith Today editors Bill Fledderus and Karen Stiller. There is mention of man-eating mermaids. Show Links: https://loveismoving.ca/ https://www.klpezzutto.ca/ https://www.ilanareimer.com/

Gary Stagg, executive director of Open Doors Canada, offers a glimpse into what life is like for the Church under persecution and the precious gift of standing together. ​

Our popular Faith Today columnist CAROLYN ARENDS shares an intensely personal journey in this piece, about grieving the loss of her mother. Show Notes: Visit Carolyn Arends website here: https://carolynarends.com Get more and subscribe to Faith Today magazine at: https://www.faithtoday.ca/subscribe

Bill Strom, Professor of Communications at Trinity Western University, has released a study called "Weathering Well: Relational Resilience During the Covid-19 Lockdown." You will want to exercise more and watch screens less (unless it's church we're talking about) after hearing this interview.

Hope in Crisis - Episode 4 Brian C. Stiller, Global Ambassador The World Evangelical Alliance https://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/Communications/Dispatches-from-Brian-Stiller

David Guretzki, resident theologian and VP of the EFC, dives deep into the troubled waters of medical assisted dying in Canada after confronting it face-on in his wife's shared hospital room. Show notes: You can read the original May 2020 text version of this article at https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/2020-May-Jun/Behind-The-Curtain-Of-Assisted-Dying

In this Faith Today article writer Matthew Civico helps us reflect on the costs and and benefits of the massively popular social media tool. Show notes: You can also read the original text version of this article from our Nov. 2019 issue at https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/2019-Nov-Dec/Faith-and-Facebook-Maturing-our-Christian-discern Read more of Matt Civico's articles at http://mattcivico.com/

Writer Patricia Paddey explores some ancient spiritual practices and how she gently ushered them into her daily life and faith practice. Show notes: Here is the book that impacted Patricia so deeply. https://www.amazon.ca/Author-Practicing-Searching-People-Practices/dp/B00IBOMB04/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=practicing+our+faith+a+way+of+life&qid=1591282715&sr=8-2 Patricia also blogs about topics like this on her own site: https://patriciapaddey.com Read the original text version of this Sept. 2019 article at https://digital.faithtoday.ca/faithtoday/09102019/?articleId=1521020

Angie Peters is the president and CEO of Yonge Street Mission and author of the new book Just Act: We Are the Solution to Poverty. The book is an inspirational guide for people, businesses and community organizations concerned about poverty but feeling hopeless about their ability to make any meaningful difference. Peters shows us all where to begin. Her own personal story reflects her main proposition: “Poverty ended for my family in one generation because of the intervention of ordinary people who cared.” The book answers major questions about poverty, defines the problem, presents inspirational true stories, informs about effective initiatives, and addresses barriers to success. It provides insights deeply rooted in the lived experience of poverty and from system-wide collaborative work with leaders across all industries. Finally, it delivers a set of practical steps that individuals, community organizations, and businesses can develop as a measurable one-year personal or corporate action plan to leverage their unique skills and resources to impact poverty, changing lives in ways that will ripple throughout generations. Details and ordering: https://castlequaybooks.com/products/just-act Bio: https://www.ysm.ca/leadership/angie-peters/

Kevin Makins is founding pastor of Eucharist Church in Hamilton and author of the recently released book "Why Would Anyone go to Church? A Young Community's Quest to Reclaim Church for Good." Find Kevin's book at: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/why-would-anyone-go-to-church/399220

Writer Dave Jeffery takes us inside his journey of praying for a personal miracle of healing, and finding grace instead. Show notes: Faith Today magazine is now free. You can read articles like this all the time. Sign up at www.faithtoday.ca

Neil Cudney, director of organizational and spiritual life and administration with Christian Horizons, speaks to us about hospitality and how this strange time of isolation we are all living through can help us understand better what life can be like for people living with disabilities. Show notes: Find out more about Christian Horizons here: https://www.christian-horizons.org

Writer Mark Buchanan sees things differently when he walks. This Faith Today piece takes readers inside the wonderful world of spiritual walking. Show Notes: Mark Buchanan has a new book out on this topic called God Speed. Check it out on Mark's site: http://markbuchanan.net/books/

MAID and the Disabled. Kory Earle of People's First Canada offers a moving testimony about his life and his feelings about extending medical assistance in dying to the disabled.

David Guretzki considers what the Canadian Church can learn from the style of ministry typically practiced by chaplains. Show Notes: You can read all of David Guretzki's columns by subscribing to Faith Today magazine. And we've made it easier than ever to do that. www.faithtoday.ca

Hope in Crisis #3 Brian C. Stiller, Global Ambassador The World Evangelical Alliance https://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/Communications/Dispatches-from-Brian-Stiller

What does youth ministry look like during COVID-19? Sid Koop helps us tackle the big questions of doing things very differently in this strange time. Show notes: Find out more about Truth Matters https://www.cywc.ca/truthmatters/

Carolyn, author, speaker, songwriter and director of education for Renovare, speaks to us about her work and the beautiful freedom of spiritual disciplines. Show notes: Visit Renovare at https://renovare.org Carolyn Arend's website is https://carolynarends.com Carolyn mentions Richard Foster's well known book Celebration of Discipline: https://renovare.org/books/celebration-of-discipline You can read some of Carolyn's Faith Today columns here: https://www.faithtoday.ca/Articles/GoWithGod

A series from Brian Stiller, Global Ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance.

Have you ever felt like connecting with God was difficult? Our guest Julie Lane-Gay explains how simple praying with the Book of Common Prayer can be. She shares stories from her own personal journey with prayer and faith, as well as tips for getting started with the Book of Common Prayer for all Evangelicals. As a bonus conversation, hosts Karen Stiller and Sammy Kyereme talk with Lane-Gay about another part of her work- writing obituaries for others. You can read more insights from Lane-Gay’s latest book, The Riches of Your Grace: Living in the Book of Common Prayer(2024). Julie Lane-Gay is a writer and editor in Vancouver, BC. Her work has appeared in a range of publications including Reader's Digest, Fine Gardening, Faith Today, Anglican Planet, and The Englewood Review of Books. She teaches occasional courses at Regent College and en, dits the college's journal, . She lives with her husband, Craig, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is active in her local Anglican church. To read Julie’s work with Fine Gardening: https://www.finegardening.com/author/julie-lane-gay “The Riches of Your Grace” book: https://www.amazon.ca/Riches-Your-Grace-Living-Common/dp/1514008165

David Guretzki considers the role of conscience in the life of the Christian, and what that has to do with Canada today. Show Notes: Check out Faith Today magazine at www.faithtoday.ca David mentions Karl Barth in this podcast, here is his book about Barth: https://www.amazon.ca/Explorers-Guide-Barth-David-Guretzki/dp/0830851372 David mentions conscience rights in Canada. Here is some information on the EFC's work in this area: https://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/conscience

Stephen Doucet Campbell, a psychotherapist with Shalem Mental Health Network, offers us comfort, tips and hope in this COVID-19 interview. https://shalemnetwork.org/ About The EFC Podcast - http://www.theEFC.ca/podcasts We’ve been releasing audio recordings since June 1, 2017 to help Canadians sort through pressing issues and topics like spiritual growth and health, other religions, religious freedom, vocation, and tough questions of faith and living in contemporary society. The EFC Podcast often features interviews, articles from Faith Today magazine, and dispatches from Brian Stiller, global ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance. Listen at the Faith Today website http://www.faithtoday.ca/Audio-Video/Podcasts Subscribe at: - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpNioTLvm4rrXo3h5pQHzw_lKywX0rpT6 - SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/theefc - Google Play https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Iamrqbjegmyl32szqylb3hvkc2i - Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-efc-podcast-audio/id1159393718?mt=2 - RSS (Feedburner) https://feeds.feedburner.com/theefcpodcast

The author and speaker shares her heart for preaching, helping other women become better communicators, and her new book written to help heal relationships between men and women. Show notes: Visit Danielle's website. https://www.daniellestrickland.com Watch the Urbana sermon Karen mentions in the interview: https://urbana.org/video/danielle-strickland Find out about the Women's Speaker Collective Danielle mentions: https://www.womenspeakerscollective.com

Lorna Dueck is a leader in Christian journalism in Canada, has announced her retirement from a groundbreaking and hugely successful career. In this interview, she shares some career highlights, advice to younger storytellers, and her thoughts as she moves into this new chapter of life and being.

We speak with Travis Blackmore of Lionhearts and Tim Huff of Youth Unlimited about how they pivoted and responded creatively to COVID-19 in their communities.

David Wells, general superintendent of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, offers some deep encouragement about the great good that can happen during this time, while acknowledging the lament of this COVID-19 situation.

A series from Brian Stiller, Global Ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance.

Preston Pouteaux is an author, beekeeper and pastor of Lake Ridge Community Church in Chestermere Alberta. He shares deep encouragement for the Canadian churches finding their feet in this strange and difficult time.

Three pastors: Paul Ranson of St. John the Evangelist in Fredericton, Kent Priebe of Centre Street Church, Calgary, and Kerry Kronberg of Sunnyside Wesleyan in Ottawa share their church's response to the COVID-19 crisis.

What is spiritual direction? Spiritual Director Cathy McMulkin explains the heart of this ancient practice.

A new kind of evangelism Have you ever felt intimidated to share your faith with a co-worker, a friend, loved one or neighbour? Judy Paulsen, professor of evangelism at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto helps us deal with those fears in her sit-down with Hosts Karen Stiller and Sammy Kyereme. Paulsen focuses on Biblical conversion stories as a guide and reflects on how sharing stories of God’s work in us encourages relationship with Christ for others. You’ll hear the gentle reminder that evangelism is for all today and can be a respectful and relationally grounded process, not an aggressive sales pitch for new converts. Judy has also released a new book entitled, “A New and Ancient Evangelism,” Rediscovering the ways God calls and sends. Wycliffe College biography: https://www.wycliffecollege.ca/users/judy-paulsen Amazon link to Judy's new book: https://www.amazon.ca/New-Ancient-Evangelism-Rediscovering-Calls/dp/1540967069

A therapist offers tips on mental and spiritual health in a challenging time.

Hand sanitizer at every door, tweaked communion services and no more hugs or handshakes. COVID 19 is impacting church life. Dr. Ted Fenske, physican and professor in Edmonton, Robert Dubroy, Director of Communications of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and Merle Doherty, Rapid Response Team Manager for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, speak to us about how to protect ourselves, our churches and still love our neighbours as ourselves during a time of alarm. Show notes: Health Canada has issued these guidelines that might help churches: Community-based measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/public-health-measures-mitigate-covid-19.html) and Risk-informed decision making for mass gatherings during COVID-19 global outbreak (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/mass-gatherings-risk-assesment.html)

Allison Alley is the new, fourth president of Compassion Canada. In this interview, we explore the role of the local church in development work, our own spiritual poverty even when we are materially rich, and so much more.