The Pastorate Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

The work of renewal in a church is slow, costly, and long-term. It requires pastors who consistently say, “I can’t do this alone,” and who return to the feet of Jesus, the One making all things new.

This week, Father James Mallon, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in beautiful Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, joins us on the podcast to share his heart for evangelism and his passion for parish renewal.

Father James reflects on:

• His journey back to local church ministry after a season in parachurch and diocesan roles
• Re-experiencing the cost of renewal in a parish setting
• Tending to the inevitable wounds of pastoral ministry
• The Holy Spirit as both the gathering and sending force of the Church

We hope you find joy and comfort in knowing that pastoral ministry is a shared journey, as brothers and sisters across Canada collectively pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.”

Bio | Father James Mallon is pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and founder of the Divine Renovation Ministry.

The message of Divine Renovation has resonated in the hearts of tens of thousands of pastors and lay leaders throughout the world. It has inspired and motivated them to act and seek help in transforming their own faith community. To answer their needs, the Divine Renovation Ministry was created. Fr James continues to serve the Divine Renovation Ministry with a portion of his time.

Born in Scotland, Father James and his family moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1982. After studying at Christ the King Seminary in British Columbia and St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto, Father James was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1997.

He currently resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In addition to his ministry, Father James loves soccer, movies, photography, dogs, everything Apple and good Single Malt Scotch.

Give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to CCLN and help seed a hopeful future for the Church in Canada.

Partners: 

Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bible Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Guest:

• Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
• ⁠Divine Renovation
• Divine Renovation Book
• Thriving Faith

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As pastors we want to run the race well and finish more in love with Jesus and with His church than when we started. Pastors that have been both fruitful and faithful set a beautiful example for what longevity in ministry can look like.

This week Dan Cochrane, Pastor of CrossRoads Church in Red Deer, Alberta, joins us on the podcast to share insights from over 45 years of experience as a Pastor. With 27 of those years being spent at CrossRoads Church alone.

Dan shares about:

• His story and the path he took to discovering his call to the Pastorate
• His experience inheriting a legacy of faithfulness
• Managing church growth and learning to grow alongside the church he is pastoring
• The gift it is to be able to preach the Living Word of God

Today we're praying that you would hear the invitation to joy and delight in the Holy Spirit as you hear the passion and energy Dan carries for the church in Canada.

Bio | Dan Cochrane has been the Senior Pastor of CrossRoads Church since July 1, 1997. Prior to CrossRoads, he pastored in North Vancouver for 18 years. He has been married to his wife, Ginny since June 1977 and they have three adult children: Rick (Jenn), Christina, and Ryan (Janine). Their lives have also been blessed with six grandchildren. The vision of CrossRoads Church is: "To give everyone in Central Alberta an opportunity to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and by following Him together impact the world with compassion and hope." Dan is passionate about theology and studying scriptures. His focus is to teach the Bible and to lead the church forward in accomplishing the vision God has given. He also delights in developing young leaders and watching them grow.

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.

Partners: 

Download a free PDF on Improving Your Giving Statements from Generis or get in touch with Jon Wright from their team ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes

Guest

• CrossRoads Church

The Pastorate

• Website⁠
• ⁠Blog and Episode Write Up⁠
• ⁠Youtube⁠
• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠Share a Canadian Church Story

Every pastor and leader will face moments when their soul drifts, and the passion that once fueled their ministry starts to wane. How do we stay rooted in Christ and keep our ministry healthy over the long haul?

This week, Mark Buchanan joins us to share insights from his decades of ministry experience. Mark opens up about how he’s navigated the challenges of soul drift, the importance of growing deep in faith rather than seeking quick success, and how gospel-shaped storytelling can transform our spiritual lives.

Mark discusses:

• The struggle of pastoring others without losing yourself

• How to recognize and recover from spiritual drift

• The role of creativity and imagination in enriching our faith

• Why cultivating a deep, hidden life with God is essential for lasting ministry

We hope this conversation encourages you to remain faithful, deepen your relationship with God, and continue to serve with joy and conviction.

Biography 

Mark Buchanan is an author, professor of theology, and a former pastor. With a passion for spiritual formation, he has dedicated his life to helping others grow deeper in their faith. His books include God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul and The Rest of God. Mark lives in Calgary, Alberta, where he teaches at Ambrose University

Partners

We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

Download a free PDF on Improving Your Giving Statements from Generis or get in touch with Jon Wright from their team ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Guest Notes

• ⁠New Story Community⁠

• ⁠Mark Buchanan Website⁠

• ⁠Ambrose University⁠

• ⁠The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan⁠

• ⁠God Walk by Mark Buchanan⁠

• ⁠Spiritual Rhythm by Mark Buchanan⁠

Show Notes

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Every pastor and leader will face moments when their soul drifts, and the passion that once fueled their ministry starts to wane. How do we stay rooted in Christ and keep our ministry healthy over the long haul?

  This week, Mark Buchanan joins us to share insights from his decades of ministry experience. Mark opens up about how he’s navigated the challenges of soul drift, the importance of growing deep in faith rather than seeking quick success, and how gospel-shaped storytelling can transform our spiritual lives.

  Mark discusses:

  • The struggle of pastoring others without losing yourself

  • How to recognize and recover from spiritual drift

  • The role of creativity and imagination in enriching our faith

  • Why cultivating a deep, hidden life with God is essential for lasting ministry

  We hope this conversation encourages you to remain faithful, deepen your relationship with God, and continue to serve with joy and conviction.

  Biography 

  Mark Buchanan is an author, professor of theology, and a former pastor. With a passion for spiritual formation, he has dedicated his life to helping others grow deeper in their faith. His books include God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul and The Rest of God. Mark lives in Calgary, Alberta, where he teaches at Ambrose University

  Partners: 

  We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

  Download a free PDF on Improving Your Giving Statements from Generis or get in touch with Jon Wright from their team ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

  Guest Notes

  • ⁠New Story Community⁠

  • ⁠Mark Buchanan Website⁠

  • ⁠Ambrose University⁠

  • ⁠The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan⁠

  • ⁠God Walk by Mark Buchanan⁠

  • ⁠Spiritual Rhythm by Mark Buchanan⁠

  Show Notes

  • ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  • Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠

  • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Darrell Johnson offers wisdom and encouragement for pastors feeling worn out, sharing rhythms of rest, emotional honesty, and clarity in preaching. In this conversation with Jason, Darrell reflects on his own experience with ministry fatigue and how he continues to find renewal after decades of service.

They explore the lies leaders often believe, how to process emotions in a spiritually healthy way, and what biblical books might guide preaching in a complex season.

Key Takeaways:

• Darrell’s rhythms for rediscovering rest and vision

• A framework for processing your emotions and hearing from God

• Preaching advice for pastors in uncertain times

• Encouragement for leaders carrying deep weariness

A grounded and grace-filled episode for pastors longing for rest, renewal, and a deeper connection to the heart of God.

Biography

Darrell Johnson has been preaching Jesus Christ and His Gospel for over 50 years. He has served a number of Presbyterian congregations in California, Union Church of Manila in the Philippines, and the historic First Baptist Church in the heart of Vancouver, Canada. He has taught preaching for Fuller Theological Seminary, Carey Theological College in Vancouver, and Regent College in Vancouver. He has authored eight books, including The Glory of Preaching and Discipleship on the Edge: An Expository Journey Through Revelation.

He is currently serving as Scholar-in-Residence for The Way Church and Canadian Church Leaders Network, and still serves Regent College part-time as Teaching Fellow.

He and his wife Sharon have been married 49 years. Together they have raised four children adopted from four different countries of the world, and now enjoy loving 11 active grandchildren!

Partners

We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

Show Notes

• ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

This episode features the most powerful moments and insights from Season 2—curated to encourage and equip you for the year ahead. From navigating church leadership during COVID to reimagining ministry in a post-Christian culture, these conversations are packed with wisdom and Spirit-led inspiration.

Hear from leaders like Josh Kelsey, Darrell Johnson, Miles McPherson, Jon Tyson, and more as they share hard-won lessons, creative strategies, and timeless encouragement for pastors today.

Key Takeaways:

• Practical tools for small groups, outreach, and leadership

• Encouragement for pastors feeling stretched or discouraged

• Bold vision for raising up the next generation of leaders

• A reminder that God is still building His Church in this moment

A hope-filled compilation to help you start the year with fresh clarity, courage, and conviction.

Partners

We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

Show Notes

• Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Jason sits down with four Canadian authors—Aaron White, Alastair Sterne, Andy Steiger, and Brett Ullman—to explore their latest books and the ministries behind them. Each conversation highlights timely issues like addiction and recovery, spiritual formation, apologetics, and parenting in today’s cultural moment.

From Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to Canadian family life, these leaders are offering wisdom and resources for followers of Jesus navigating a complex world.

Key Takeaways:

• Aaron White on addiction, pain, and the presence of God (Recovering)

• Alastair Sterne on spiritual rhythms and identity (Rhythms for Life)

• Andy Steiger on dehumanization and cultural clarity (Reclaimed)

• Brett Ullman on parenting with depth and discipleship

A rich episode filled with insight, encouragement, and practical tools for life and ministry.

Partners

We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

Show Notes

• Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Jason sits down with Tammy Giffen—lead pastor and church planter—to explore her journey of coming to faith through Alpha and the call that led her into pastoral ministry. This conversation unpacks themes of vision, obedience, leadership, and planting a church with a heart for those far from God.

From discerning God’s voice to navigating leadership as a woman in ministry, Tammy offers wisdom and encouragement for pastors and leaders seeking to lead with faithfulness in today’s world.

Key Takeaways:

• Tammy’s story of encountering Jesus through Alpha

• The vision and faith required to plant a church

• Leading others by first leading yourself

• Obedience over debate in the women-in-ministry conversation

A rich episode filled with grace, honesty, and practical insights for life and ministry.

Partners

This episode was brought to you by Compassion. The mission of Compassion is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. And they’re doing exactly that in 25 different countries. Now, here is what is unique about Compassion—100% of their work is done in partnership with local churches. In fact, for many of the communities Compassion serves, they don’t know a large international NGO—they simply know the people of the local church who serve the most vulnerable in their community. Compassion’s heart for the local church extends here, to Canada, too. They are experts at equipping the Canadian church for mission in ways that are tailored to each church’s unique context. We want to encourage you to begin a transformative missions partnership with Compassion.

We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

Show Notes

• Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Jason hosts a compelling conversation between Catholic leader Father James Mallon and evangelical pastor Jon Tyson—moderated by Shaila Visser of Alpha Canada. Originally recorded as a webinar, this episode brings together two influential voices to explore the future of the Church and the joy of learning across traditions.

Together, they discuss church renewal, next-generation leadership, and the spiritual practices that sustain ministry over the long haul.

Key Takeaways:

• James Mallon on the power of spiritual disciplines and joyful leadership

• Jon Tyson on team dynamics and deep accountability

• Practical advice both would give their younger selves

• A model for unity across denominational lines

A rich episode filled with wisdom, candour, and cross-tradition encouragement for leaders today.

Biographies

Father James Mallon is pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and founder of the Divine Renovation Ministry. Father James is also the author of the best selling book Divine Renovation: From A Maintenance To A Missional Parish, an engaging guide for parishes seeking to cultivate vibrant and dynamic faith communities centred on missionary discipleship.

Jon Tyson is a Pastor and Church Planter in New York City. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the United States twenty years ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. He is the author of Sacred Roots, A Creative Minority, and The Burden is Light and his newest book Beautiful Resistance.

We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

• Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Brent Ingersoll interviews Al Gordon, lead pastor of Hackney Church in East London, about planting a church with a bold vision to reach the 99% who don’t attend. This conversation dives into creativity, proximity, and the power of hope in urban ministry.

From hosting concerts and brewing beer to serving the poor and praying bold prayers, Al offers a fresh perspective on church renewal and what it means to follow Jesus in a radically present and practical way.

Key Takeaways:

• Al Gordon on planting Hackney Church and reaching the 99%

• Creativity and community as vehicles for hope

• A prophetic call to prioritize God’s presence and serve the poor

• Embracing audacious faith over limiting realism

A vibrant, inspiring conversation for any leader dreaming of something more.

Biography

Al Gordon leads Hackney Church, a thriving church on a mission to bring hope to the heart of East London. He is married to Olivia, an architect, and they have three children. Al is a trustee of Alpha International and Charity: water.

Partners

We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

Show Notes

• Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠Instagram⁠

Jason interviews Matt Tapley in a powerful conversation full of leadership insight and practical wisdom. Aimed at young and emerging leaders, this episode explores what it means to lead well when you’re not the one casting the vision or making the final call.

Matt brings clarity, conviction, and humour as he unpacks lessons from Scripture, Canadian revival history, and his own leadership journey.

Key Takeaways:

• Matt Tapley on leading from the second chair

• Why buy-in matters more than brilliant ideas

• Leadership lessons from the life of David

• Raising up the next generation with courage and humility

A bold, insightful episode for leaders learning to lead with influence before authority.

Biography

Matt Tapley has been a part of the Senior Leadership at Lakemount Worship Centre since 2003, and the Lead Pastor since 2008.  He serves the Church by developing leaders in a culture of dependence on the Spirit with full devotion to the unchanging Word of God.  Matt is an insightful preacher, gifted worship leader and a valuable contributor to various leadership environments.  Matt’s commitment to the Manifest Presence of God and the healing gifts of the Holy Spirit are a catalyst for stirring renewed hunger for God.

Partners

We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

Show Notes

• ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠