Shows
The Changes Ahead PodcastWould we be missed? A church elder’s reflections on capacity, community and the questions that keep us honest, with Nathan NelsonWe sit down with a church elder wrestling with big questions: How do we manage our capacity as churches and as individuals? Would our churches be missed if they disappeared? And how do we stay curious in a culture that values certainty? It’s a thoughtful, honest conversation about presence, purpose, and the quiet power of asking open-ended questions. Whether you’re leading, limping, or somewhere in between, this episode invites reflection on why we do what we do—and who would notice if we stopped.2025-06-2649 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastThe problem of accidental Zionism and how to know you have it, with Lauren Domigan and Philip ChurchWe are joined by the co-hosts of the popular Baptist NZ podcast ‘Biblical insights: The gospel and the land of the Bible’, who unpack their own journeys exploring the topic of Zionism. They discuss how a particular theological line of thinking and way of interpreting the Bible results in the justification of human suffering. In this challenging and personal conversation, they invite us to think beyond what might have been understood from the past to find God who “is on the side of suffering humanity.”2025-05-2957 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastPlace-based institutions and the future of the church, with Taylor MarstonHow can the experience of place-based institutions such as Sister Cities and Rotary Clubs inform where the church is at in 2025? Taylor shares from his research and offers some challenging insights and questions for us as the church.2025-04-2449 min
Down to Earth Conversations107. Cathy & Steven - Faithfully Questioning, Listening, and the Changes AheadCathy Marston and Steven Goulstone, the hosts of the Changes Ahead Podcast, a Baptist New Zealand podcast hosting conversations that discuss the changes the church needs to think about if it is to have a meaningful presence in the future. We talk about the unheard voices of our church communities, the desire to be faithful by keeping things the same, when perhaps faithfulness demands change, hearing people's stories rather than discussing theology abstractly, and why the church might be worth changing to save. If you like this conversation then make sure you check out the...2025-03-3158 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastThe art of disagreeing well, with Hazel DunnTreating people with respect and without judgment when we disagree might be one of the hardest things to do, especially in our increasingly polarised world, society and church. Using personal stories and giving practical tips, in this episode, Hazel guides us in the art of disagreeing well.2025-03-2641 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastFaith, creative arts and the power of authentic identity, with Bethany MillerWelcome to Season 4! We're starting with a compelling conversation with Bethany, who shares her journey of embracing authenticity in Wellington’s creative arts scene. She unpacks the dynamics of expressing her faith and identity as both a performer and a follower of Jesus.2025-02-2038 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastSeason 3 Finale, with Special GuestsAs we close out 2024, we’ve got a couple of special guests commenting on what stood from the last year or so of episodes. Have a bit of fun with this AI review of The Changes Ahead Podcast! See you in 2025.2024-12-1923 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastThe power of young voices: Shaping our future, with Sarah Finlay RobinsonWith the reality of less and less children and young people in our churches, perhaps it is time to listen to those who work directly with these generations – along with those generations themselves. Sarah is a Youth Development Worker calling the church to respect, uphold and value the voices and participation of children and young people as the church of today.2024-10-3146 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastMentoring youth and embracing faith that’s not comfortable, with Sean MarstonIn this episode Sean, Cathy’s husband and Steven’s long-term mentor, shares from his decades of working with young people the importance of being present in people’s lives in order to speak into them before challenging followers of Jesus to embrace a faith that is not going to leave us comfortable and safe.2024-09-2648 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastFlourishing in leadership and healing, with Anashuya FletcherAnashuya shares her experiences of leadership and miraculous healing and how she has been and is being formed by both spaces. Ana invites us to think about what the future of the church might look like and where we are looking for its leaders. She shares the questions and wrestles that being ill and experiencing healing have raised.2024-08-3047 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastWe need to change: Abuse in faith-based care, with Jaimee van GemerdenWith the recent release of Whanaketia – Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light, the final report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care, we reflect with Jaimee on its implications, why it is so important to engage with this as churches and the desperate need for change in our spaces to do everything in our power to ensure abuse is no longer something anyone experiences in our spaces.2024-08-0852 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastFlourishing and mutuality in relationships, with Dr Christa and Matt McKirlandWhat does mutual flourishing look like within relationships, and why is this an important change that is needed in our church narratives? Hear the story of two people figuring it out and seeing each other thrive as they seek the best ways for each other to live into and out of their gifts.2024-07-2500 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastThey are our youth – responding to youth homelessness, with Aaron HendryWhy do so many young people in New Zealand experience homelessness, and why should the church be interested in being a part of the solution? Aaron Hendry has some ideas backed up by over a decade of working in this space. He is a youth development worker, writer, podcaster, and advocate for social justice who has a challenge for those of us with ears and hearts to hear.2024-06-2747 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastFlourishing at the margins, with Paul FletcherSometimes, it can be hard to see what the Spirit is up to in the church, but for Paul Fletcher, who spends most of his time beyond the walls of the church he leads with people who are on the margins of society, the activity of the Spirit is far more evident. We can learn a lot from those experiences if we are courageous. Paul’s work also involves selling Common Good Coffee; it’s three times as good as regular coffee, a business that, simply by us drinking a great cup of coffee, supports people in some of the most...2024-05-3044 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastSlavery, a modern day issue with Sarah Scott WebbWithout stopping to think, it could be easy to assume that slavery is a thing of the past, but in this conversation with Sarah, we will find out just how prevalent it is and why the church should get involved in working to eradicate slavery from the world. Welcome back to season 3 of The Changes Ahead Podcast!2024-04-2951 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastReflecting on the year with the Wilberforce 'Faith and Belief' study, with Cathy and StevenWe've reached the end of another season, and to wrap it up, Cathy and Steven reflect on The Changes Ahead that we've heard this year and are trying in our church spaces through the lens of the recently released Wilberforce 'Faith and Belief' study. Thanks for being on the journey with us for another year!2023-12-0731 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastWhat if I can’t change the world? Faith, parenting, business and church, with Nat MilneWhen expectations don’t match reality, what is going to get us through? For Nat, a small business owner and mother of two, the values that underpin why she started her business sustained her in the professional and personal space she was in. As Nat shares her story, we get glimpses into how faith, parenting, business and church intersect to drive her forward and could speak to some of the changes ahead necessary for the church.2023-11-1654 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastFaith informed voting, with Brook WarnerWhy are you voting the way you are going to this week? How does faith inform the way you vote? Answering these questions can be tricky, but we reckon they're important ones to try. Since it’s election week, we thought we’d have a chat about what this means for us with Brook, someone who is passionate about engaging positively and faithfully in the political process.2023-10-1100 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastFaith in a post-Christian world, with Arunan NobleAs someone with interests in the sciences, alongside studying law, Arunan helps us wrestle with what faith looks like in the post-Christian world he is living in. While holding a deep commitment to the benefits of the church to society, he challenges us to recognise our status and position in order to live up to the potential we have.2023-09-2142 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastThe life long journey of healing from harm, with Mary-AnneIn this raw and vulnerable conversation, social worker Mary-Anne shares her story of experiencing abuse, the journey of healing she is on, and the place of deep relationships in faith communities in that healing. TW: conversations relating to child sexual abuse, rape, suicide and domestic violence.2023-09-0745 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastFaith and the integration of body and mind, with Sarah BeislyAfter experiencing PTSD, Sarah explored her own trauma story and, from that experience, offers amazing insights for us as followers of Jesus into how we can better support people on the spectrum of mental wellness and what the posture of the church and those of us who make it up should be towards each other as we all seek to integrate our bodies, minds and faith journey.2023-08-2444 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastA family shares their experience of listening, loving, and understanding, with Deb and AlanWith courage and vulnerability, Deb and Alan invite us to listen to their story of navigating the complexity of unexpected news from one of their children. Prioritising love and safety, they share their journey of deep listening which leads them to a more profound understanding of how to love (or understanding new ways to love) their child who is transgender. [We acknowledge the diversity of thought within the church, in particular on topics of gender and sexuality.]2023-08-1046 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastDo we really need to talk about porn? Yes! With Jo RobertsonJo is back to help us navigate conversations around porn, a topic that is too often ignored in church spaces. How do we have healthy conversations and give space to ask questions and figure out how to respond.2023-07-2754 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastThe death of a child and the place of lament and sorrow in faith, with Andrew BollenWith grace, vulnerability, and honesty, Andrew shares the story of the death of his son. Hear how people around him responded, and about how his search for, and understanding of God changed. Together we reflect on something of the place of lament in our church spaces, and wonder how they might be transformed with more raw honesty. This is a raw episode, and so we encourage our listeners to take care of themselves as they sit with the story of someone else’s deep pain.2023-06-2959 min
Down to Earth Conversations73. The Changes Ahead Podcast Takes Over - Creativity, Justice, and the KingdomCathy and Steven of The Changes Ahead take over the episode putting me in the hot seat. This interview originally appeared on The Changes Ahead podcast back in March. We talk about creativity, being right, being just, and the shifting of our faith as we grow.
If you enjoy this check out the many other fantastic conversations on The Changes Ahead - here's how they describe the heart of their podcast:
"It is no secret that the church in the West is in decline and there seems to have been unending talk about the church needing to change. Despite this, the n...2023-06-2545 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastLove for neighbour leads to sustainable living, with Chloe VosWhat does our response to the climate crisis require of us as individuals and faith communities? How does this response relate to loving our neighbours? In this episode, we hear from Chloe about her passion for sustainable living and how her discipleship impacts her study, future, church engagement and activism in the community.2023-06-1437 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastA youth pastor’s experience of serving Rainbow Youth, with Zach BartleyWe’re invited to listen in to one youth pastor’s experience of serving and working alongside Rainbow Youth at youth group. How has this work changed him? How has it impacted him? We acknowledge that this is a sensitive topic for the church today, and are happy to engage with anyone who would like to discuss the topic or episode.2023-06-0135 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastFeminism is good for everyone, with Jaimee van GemerdenWhat lenses do we bring to reading scripture? What are we missing by not considering the lenses different people bring to it? Jaimee offers us crucial insights into what a feminist lens offers the church today, including reflecting on the objectification of women that happens all too frequently in our church spaces. Jaimee’s reflections truly show us that feminism is good for everyone!2023-05-1852 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastDeconstruction as an act of love, with Kenneth FleckThe word deconstruction within Christian circles can often have negative connotations. Kenneth encourages us, out of his story of living abroad in some really challenging contexts as well as his work in Spiritual Direction, to reconsider the way we think of the deconstruction process and find the love of God in the midst of it.2023-05-0434 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastEscaping religious fundamentalism, with Lindy JacombIn this episode, we listen to Lindy’s story of leaving a high-demand religious context. We get to hear what that process was like; the trauma experienced both inside the high-demand space and the trauma of leaving. If we let it, the story can also hold a mirror up to our practices to identify any red flags. We also hear the hope of healing the Christian community can bring.2023-04-1947 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastSexual well-being, with Jo RobertsonWhat does healthy sexuality look like? What are some of the challenges for people in faith-based contexts in this area? How can we celebrate the good that is our bodies? These are just some of the questions we explore in this frank and really important conversation with Sex Therapist, Jo Robertson.2023-04-0649 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastCreativity, Justice and the Kingdom, with Andy DicksonWe’re joined by fellow podcast host Andy Dickson from ‘Down to Earth Conversations’, who gives us an incredible vision for the simplicity of bringing a little bit of heaven down to earth by focusing on people first, embracing creativity, and always working towards what is just.2023-03-2341 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastWomen and holy discontent, with Grace DoakTo acknowledge International Women’s Day, in a vulnerable and inspiring conversation, Grace talks about her journey following holy discontent into places of leadership and invites us to reflect on the way women are treated in the church, offering suggestions for the way forward.2023-03-0937 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastCommunal politics and meaningful connections, with Jess McKnightWe start this new season hearing from Jess about her experience with politics as a Youth MP and how that impacts her view of faith and church alongside the vital importance of meaningful representation and relationships so that all might thrive within faith communities.2023-02-2340 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastWhat have we heard? With Cathy and StevenIn our final episode of the year, Cathy and Steven reflect on what they’ve heard and what The Changes Ahead might be.2022-11-3033 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastDo we love enough to listen? With Jody Kilpatrick and Andrew BollenAs we begin to wrap up the first season of this podcast, we hear from two pastors who have listened to every previous episode. Together they highlight one of the themes that has been clear throughout all of the earlier conversations: of taking the time, and having a posture to listen to voices which bring challenge and critique.2022-11-1838 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastWhy did nobody tell me this? With Sacha OlsonWhat is it like to be exposed to new and vastly different ways of thinking to what you are used to? When we realise that there is always more than one way at looking at an issue, a question or truth, how do we reconcile that with our previously held perspectives. In this episode we hear from recent Carey Baptist College Pastoral Leadership graduate, Sacha Olson, about what her journey in these spaces has been like.2022-11-0138 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastMedia and Faith with Justin LatifIn recent times there has been some tension between the media and Christian faith. In this episode we talk to an award-winning journalist about how their faith intersects with their work in journalism, and explore together what the church can learn from those who are working in the media.2022-10-1937 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastClimate change and the church with Brook WarnerHow can science and faith co-exist? How can science inform our faith? With the concerning implications of climate change for now and future generations, and if care for the planet is something humans are responsible for, where is the church in those efforts? We speak with Brook about his journey of expansion and his passion for working to reduce the impacts of Climate Change.2022-10-0541 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastWhat voices are informing us? With Halee and Rui PengIn this episode, we speak to Halee and Rui, an entrepreneurial couple who are seeking to serve their community through sustainable business, alongside learning from people who are often not heard from in church that offer different and new insights into who God is.2022-09-2231 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastQuestions are OK, right? with Sarah BuckwellIn this episode we talk to Sarah about what it’s like to join a church without having grown up in one and the inevitable questions that come up in that process. Can we say, we’ll try to be like Jesus, instead of promising we definitely will be? What about how the church has contributed to the shame that some adolescents feel, and what can we do about it?2022-09-0731 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastWho are we aspiring to be? with Jaimee van GemerdenIn light of the release of the Pathfinding report on the ARISE church, and Jaimee’s own reflections on its implications for the wider church, we unpack with Jaimee what it might look like if we were to take the 92 recommendations seriously. We’re invited to turn the spotlight on ourselves and consider our part to play as we wrestle with what the church is and who we are aspiring to be in Aotearoa today.2022-08-2442 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastEducation or formation? with Caleb HauruaAre we just downloading information into people, or is it about journeying together to be formed in Christlikeness? In this episode Caleb reflects on his experience from his time pastoring and in his present role lecturing on the function of discipleship and how both church and theological institutions can either help or hinder that process. How too does the monocultural structure of the Western church contribute to a more ideological rather than character formation focus?2022-08-1042 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastIs this it? With NicoleAs someone who loves Jesus and is following the Spirit’s call to a different way of living, Nicole wonders if church as we know it is really it? Is church really what we get from the radical life of Jesus? She helps us imagine what could be and invites us to step into the unknown future ahead of us, without being weighed down by the pressures of the past.2022-07-2744 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastWhat’s this all about? With Cathy and StevenIn this first episode of The Changes Ahead Podcast, your hosts, Cathy and Steven chat together about why this podcast exists, and reflect on their hopes for what Changes Ahead there are for the church.2022-07-2026 minThe Changes Ahead PodcastThe Changes Ahead Podcast IntroductionIt is no secret that the church in the West is in decline and there seems to have been unending talk about the church needing to change. Despite this, the number of sustainable alternatives or even smaller changes to what most would be familiar with as church is tragically low. This podcast is capturing thoughts of people who can see the Changes Ahead of us. Together we’ll be challenged, provoked even, by the views of people who are thinking about how the church might thrive going forward. So we invite you to join co-hosts Cathy Marston and Steven Goulstone as w...2022-05-3001 min