​​Do you feel sluggish in your spiritual life? Wonder if you're growing or stalled? Author and pastor Darryl Dash shares good news and good habits in this interview with Karen Stiller. His insights into identifying a "good church" is worth the listen alone.

Darryl's new book is 8 Habits for Growth: A Simple Guide to Becoming More Like Christ. https://gospelforlife.com/8habits/

Darryl Dash on the habits that can help us grow

Why does the Christian life always seem to involve suffering? How is Jesus present in our sorrow and confusion? And...we also talk about adorable lambs. Ann Voskamp is a New York Times bestselling author who lives and writes on a working farm in Ontario. Her latest book is WayMaker: Finding the Way to the Life You’ve Always Dreamed of(Thomas Nelson, 2022). 

Visit Ann's site here: https://annvoskamp.com

Ann Voskamp on the ancient path of suffering

All Things Reconciled: South Africa - The Power of Prayer in South Africa - Series 3 - Episode 1

​Arthur Boers, an Ontario professor and pastor, reflects on coming of age in 1960s and 1970s Canada in a Dutch Calvinist immigrant family scarred by the Nazi occupation and outbursts of violence passed from father to son. His journey included leaving the Reformed tradition in which he was raised for the peace-oriented Mennonite tradition and now worshipping in a liturgical Anglican tradition. On the podcast we talk about the benefits of being curious about how our upbringings shaped us, particularly our faith and our idea of gender roles.

Arthur Boers is an Anglican priest and author of several award-winning books, including:
- The Way Is Made by Walking: A Pilgrimage Along the Camino de Santiago
- Living into Focus: Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions
- Servants and Fools: A Biblical Theology of Leadership. 

He holds a DMin from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and an MFA from Seattle Pacific University. He has also pastored in urban, suburban, rural and inner-city settings in Ontario and the Midwest and taught at several seminaries.

https://www.arthurboers.com/

​https://www.eerdmans.com/Products/8246/shattered.aspx

Making sense of an immigrant Christian upbringing - Ep 215

How do we navigate deep disappointment and grief, and keep our faith intact? Does God send tragedy our way to help us grow? Author Philip Yancey engages in conversation with Karen Stiller about holding onto God and others in our hardest moments. 

Philip Yancey visited Canada recently on a speaking tour for Effect Hope, a charity that addresses neglected tropical diseases like leprosy. He is well suited for this work, as a beloved author fearlessly tackling big topics in his bestselling books, like Disappointment with God, Where is God When it Hurts?, and What's so Amazing About Grace, and an extremely transparent memoir Where the Light Fell.

https://philipyancey.com

https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/undone?variant=40229394579543

Finding Light in the Darkness with Philip Yancey - Ep. 218

Are you a book lover? Has Christian literature shaped your spiritual life? Jeff Crosby is an author himself, and president and CEO of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. He came to the ECPA from his position as publisher at IVP and brought with him years of experience within the Christian publishing industry.
Jeff speaks to Karen Stiller from the vantage point of an expansive view of the issues facing Christian publishing today, but also as author of the newly released book, The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of our Heart, with other books lined up in the near future about music and about the role of spiritual reading in our lives. 

More about The Language of the Soul: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506480541/The-Language-of-the-Soul

Learn about the ECPA: https://www.ecpa.org

The Longing of our Soul...and our longing for books - Ep. 220

What does it mean for the church to truly welcome and include people who live with disabilities? How do we all grow stronger when everyone feels at home and valued? Faith Today's Ilana Reimer, also editor of Love is Moving magazine, interviews Janet Noel-Annable, CEO of Karis Disability Services (formerly Christian Horizons).
Find out more about Karis: https://christianhorizons.org

What true inclusion looks like - Ep. 221

"What if singleness is a life to be lived, and not a problem to be solved?" writes Karissa Sovdi, in a recent Faith Today article exploring singleness in the Church. In this podcast Karissa, an author, counsellor and facilitator from Victoria, B.C., is joined by Calgary's Barry Danylak, executive director of SEE Global, a ministry that equips the Church on issues related to singleness, and author of several books on singleness. 

Karissa, Barry and Karen Stiller have a wide-ranging conversation about singleness and sexuality -- and discuss opinions on what singles can offer to the traditional family model, and how our spiritual families are so much healthier when everyone is seen, heard and valued.

Read the Faith Today article "A Biblical Perspective on Singleness" by Barry N. Danylak at https://digital.faithtoday.ca/faithtoday/library/item/11122023/4146320/

Read the Faith Today article "A Theology of Singleness That Isn't Looking for its Cure" by Karissa Sovdi at https://digital.faithtoday.ca/faithtoday/library/item/11122023/4146321/

Find out about SEE Global here: https://seeglobal.net

A video version of this conversation is available at https://faithtoday.ca/Audio-Video/TV/Single-in-the-Church-A-discussion-for-everyone

Single in the Church? A discussion for everyone - Ep. 222

We've heard about third party investigators into church, seminary or ministry organization abuse scandals, and now we get to hear directly from two investigators about what happens during an investigation, how they carry out their work, and why they feel called to do it. 

Bob Stenhouse is CEO of Veritas Solutions who brings years of policing experience to his role leading Veritas, which conducts approximately 200 workplace and human rights investigations each year. They also train companies on how to prevent abuse and respond well when it does occur. 

Randal Rauser is Director of Faith Based Organization Investigations with Veritas, and has been an associate investigator with Veritas Solutions since 2019. He is an author and systematic and analytic theologian who has served as a seminary professor. 

Stenhouse and Rauser wrote the MarchApril cover story for Faith Today magazine "Disabusing the Church." 

Veritas Solutions: https://veritassolutions.net

Randal Rauser's website: https://randalrauser.com

Veritas mission statement: "Our mission statement is our name: Veritas Solutions. We believe that the solutions to the issues faced by our corporate clients will be mitigated on the foundation of truth. Our promise to our clients–We seek the truth and speak the truth–and that makes all the difference."

Inside investigations into spiritual abuse - Ep 224

The Chosen has been watched 600 million times across various apps, has 10 million social media followers, and calls itself the most successful crowdfunded TV series of all time. Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson write the series together with creator/director Dallas Jenkins. The fourth of seven planned seasons debuted in theatres in Februrary 2024 (see trailer at www.youtube.com/watch?v=wisX-CEjoxc), and will soon be available on streaming platforms including its own (angel.com/watch/the-chosen).

Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson chat with host Bill Fledderus about the creative process, the challenges of crafting such a groundbreaking series and the importance of diverse storytelling. This episode is our first audio- and video-recorded in Faith Today's new Scarborough studio.

A video version of this conversation is also available at http://www.faithtoday.ca/Audio-Video/TV/A-chat-with-the-writers-of-the-Jesus-drama-The-Ch

A chat with the writers of the Jesus drama "The Chosen" - Ep. 225

How do pastors keep their hearts and souls healthy? That sounds like a huge topic, but with theologian Ross Hastings leading the way, we kind of did it. Hastings wrote Pastoral Ethics: Moral Formation as Life in the Trinity. We dive into that and then just keep going. If you wonder what pastors really need and how they can nurture it, you will find Ross' insights both challenging and beautiful. 

Read about Ross Hastings, including a book list: https://www.regent-college.edu/faculty/full-time/ross-hastings

The heart and soul of a pastor - Ep 226

Brenton Diaz is a trauma therapist in Ontario who works with people who have trauma history including coming from communities where there has been genocide. 

He serves as the coordinator of the Newcomers' Health and Well-being Program at a charitable community health organization north of Toronto. He teaches on trauma at Tyndale University in Toronto and abroad including Lithuania, Ukraine, Kenya and Malawi, and Ethiopia. He also teaches in the social work departments at two Toronto-area universities.

He and his wife Christy volunteer with The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, consulting and teaching in Kenya, Rwanda, Dominican Republic, Malawi, Lithuania, Georgia & Ukraine.

Free, self-directed course online (seven videos and discussion questions called Trauma-Friendly Church http://www.theefc.ca/trauma-friendly

Edited and condensed text from this interview in the May/Jun 2024 issue of Faith Today https://digital.faithtoday.ca/faithtoday/library/item/05062024/4188068/

Brent Diaz personal website
https://karibudiaz.wordpress.com/

How do we love our neighbour when they've survived trauma - Ep. 227

Welcome to a quiet and gentle conversation about mental health. Vivette Henry, PhD is a clinical counsellor/psychotherapist who also teaches psychology at Tyndale University in Toronto. She walks us through how to stay in touch with our own wellness, people in the Bible who struggled and what helps us all keep on keeping on.

How is your mental health? - Ep. 228

Israel Gimba is an Ottawa evangelist and pastor. He talks with guest host Sammy Kyereme about the heart of the ministry Dunamis Army, how Ignite Saturdays are facilitated, and strategy on how to bring together a united gathering for young Christians.

Dunamis Army is behind the worship band Dunamis District and the JON Festival (Jesus of Nazareth), a new annual Christian music festival based in Ottawa. The festival drew thousands together to worship Jesus at its launch October 15, 2023.

Connect with Gimba or find out more at dunamisdistrict.com.

On Instagram:
Dunamis Army @dunamisarmy
Dunamis District @dunamisdistrict
JON festival @jonfestival

Watch a video of this conversation at http://www.faithtoday.ca/Audio-Video/TV/Gathering-young-Christians-with-Israel-Gimba

Gathering young Christians with Israel Gimba - Ep. 229

Are you predisposed to grumpiness? Does joy feel like an elusive dream? B.C.-based author Alastair Sterne leads us through a contemplation of joy that is theological and practical. As it turns out, gratitude journals work! So does thoughtfully pursuing moments of joy in our daily lives and paying attention. Sterne has a book releasing in October 2024 called Longing for Joy: An Invitation into the Goodness and Beauty of Life, but today you get a sneak peak at some of what joy that book might bring. 
Sterne also wrote our magazine's May/June cover essay, available in French and English at https://FaithToday.ca/The-kiss-of-joy.
Follow Alastair Sterne's work here: https://www.ordinarymatters.org/about

Longing for joy with author Alastair Sterne - Ep 230

In addition to being a senior editor at Faith Today, Karen Stiller of Ottawa is an author of several books including Holiness Here: Searching for God in the Ordinary Events of Everyday Life (NavPress, 2024). She talks with her Faith Today coworker Bill Fledderus about holiness in ordinary life, how all believers are holy even if we don't feel that way, grouchy hospitality and slow beauty.
Author website: https://karenstiller.com/
NavPress: https://www.navpress.com/p/holiness-here/9781641587457
Amazon.ca: https://amzn.to/3VobeBt

Holiness is for all of us, says new book by Karen Stiller - Ep 231

Does your church look like the neighbourhood where you live? Hosts Karen Stiller and Sammy Kyereme speak with Dorothy Pang, Director of the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre, about intercultural competency among Canadian churches/faith organizations. How do we better interact with people of different stories, ethnicities and backgrounds?  What are the emerging realities for church goers in urban city centres and the worship experiences of second and third generation Canadians?   

Dorothy Pang brings 25 years of experience in law, business, and executive leadership to the TIM Centre team. She is passionate about creating collaborative environments where diverse teams can thrive and organizational health is optimized. Pang holds a Certificate in Intercultural Studies from UBC and is a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (ID) and a certified facilitator of the Intercultural Conflict Styles (ICS) assessment. Dorothy is a dynamic facilitator and public speaker. 

For 10 years, Dorothy was an executive leader in a large intercultural church in northeast Toronto. She is passionate about helping churches embrace the Rev 7:9 church – a place where all are wholly seen, accepted, and understood. 
 
For more information about the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre, visit https://www.tyndale.ca/tim

Intercultural Competency in Canadian Churches - Ep 233

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 new kind of evangelism - Ep 234

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

Book of Common Prayer and writing obituaries - Ep 235

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/

What we can do about poverty in Canada - Ep 236

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.

Faith in the world of journalism and media - Ep 237

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.

What Will a Healthy and Vibrant Canadian Church Look like in Ten Years? - Ep. 238

How do we make big life changes? How  is our purpose bigger than our job? Michael Messenger has travelled the world doing very good work, leading one of Canada's largest Christian charities. Messenger is now moving onto new things and a new season. He invites us into his process of discernment and reflection about making significant life changes. Messenger speaks openly with host Karen Stiller about making big changes and hearing God's call on our lives in different seasons.

Michael Messenger of World Vision on good work and big life changes - Ep. 239

Workaholism in pastors is a form of spiritual dysfunction. It's also deeply rooted in the life and work of pastors and the expectations of many churches. 

Dysfunction in the Name of Jesus: Confronting the Idol of Pastoral Workaholism is a new book, edited by James Ellis III, releasing early in 2025. Ellis is an author, seminary professor and a pastor, who has served in Canada and the US, in various churches and chaplaincy roles. 

In this conversation with Karen Stiller and Sammy Kyreme, Ellis unpacks the roots of workaholism and how pastors and churches can work together to keep everyone healthier. 

Visit James' website: https://www.jamesellis3.com

When Pastors Work too Much - Ep. 240

The hosts of the Faith Today Podcast -- Karen Stiller and Bill Fledderus -- sit together to reflect on their personal highlights of hosting the podcast and preparing Faith Today magazine editorials over the years.

Journalism serving the Church: Reflecting on the past 12 years at Faith Today - Ep. 241

Christie Thomas is an author, parent and children’s ministry leader in Alberta (littleshootsdeeproots.com). Her latest book Little Habits, Big Faith: How Simple Practices Help Your Family Grow in Jesus was published by NavPress in 2024. She chatted with Bill Fledderus about how parents can help plant seeds of faith and help them grow in our children.

Little Habits, Big Faith (https://www.navpress.com/p/little-habits-big-faith/9781641587679, https://amzn.to/4hhp0OU)
Her new podcast has the same name as her website Little Shoots, Deep Roots. 
She’s also on YouTube as BedtimeDevoMama


Helping kids grow in faith at home through little habits - Ep 242

Politics and Faith: An interview with Preston Manning

Kevin John White won the 2018 Best New Canadian Manuscript Contest, held by The Word Guild, a Christian community of writers, editors, speakers, publishers, booksellers, and librarians. His book will be published by Castle Quay, a Canadian Christian publisher.

Kevin’s book is a memoir that details his years on the street and on the road, and his battle with addiction and the mercy he experienced in recovery.

Dancing on a Razor:  How writing and community helped an author heal

Researchers Rick Hiemstra of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Sam Reimer of Crandall University unpack the (sometimes surprising) results of a 2019 survey of religiosity in Canada. Things might not be what you think they are....

The State of Religion in Canada

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.

Canadian Churches and COVID-19: Three Churches Respond

The Faith Today Podcast-Conversation inspired by Canada's Christian magazine.  The podcast features interviews with Canadian Christians as they sort through the pressing issues of the day and topics like spiritual growth and health, other religions, religious freedom, vocation, and tough questions of faith and living in contemporary society.

The Faith Today Podcast

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