The Faith Today Podcast

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

Lisa Pak serves at Finishing the Task, a Great Commission initiative led by Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Church. Her title at that “network of networks” is director of partnerships in Asia, for young leaders and women. She talked with guest host David Guretzki about diaspora communities and engaging younger generations with the gospel. Previous to her current position, she has pastored across South Korea, Singapore and Canada and been a regional director for the Canadian Bible Society. A second-generation Korean-Canadian and Toronto native, she is ordained by the Korean Association of Independent Churches and Missions. https://finishingthetask.com/about/ https://missionexus.org/lisa-pak-keynote-at-missio-nexus-conference/ https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-task-set-before-us-breaking-barriers-building-bridges-in-global-missions-with-lisa-pak https://gospelmobilization.org/podcast/2023/9/25/the-mobilizers-role-in-finishing-the-task-with-lisa-pak

Greg Needham of Salmon Arm, B.C., and Lauralynn Mercer of Ontario are educators leading the Canadian Christian Education Movement, a project of the global education ministry Teach Beyond (cemovement.ca). They spoke with host Bill Fledderus about Christ-centred education options in Canada and new ways to help them grow.

Guest host David Guretzki chats with Sarah Han about how church members can think about the church being intercultural and missional. Dr. Han is assistant professor of pastoral ministry at Tyndale University. She considers herself to be "third culture" Canadian-Korean-Chinese and her formative theology was shaped on the mission field abroad. She has diverse experience in the Canadian public and private sectors, including immigrant churches. Her research focuses on an intercultural, intergenerational, missional ecclesiology for Canada. https://www.tyndale.ca/faculty/sarah-han

Many Canadians are feeling burdened by global economic and political turmoil. Jennifer Bowen of Shalem Mental Health Network chats with host Bill Fledderus about how such stress can impact mental health, relationships and faith communities. She offers suggestions informed by psychology and Christian faith for coping and cultivating peace, resilience and hope in uncertain times.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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/

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

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

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

Join the hosts of the Faith Today Podcast as they reflect on some of their favourite moments from season seven. Features Karen Stiller, Bill Fledderus and podcast manager Sammy Kyereme.

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

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

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