Shows
Canadian Church Planting PodcastSt. John's NFLD Daughter Church - Talking with Matt LaheyOn Episode 28, I interviewed Steve Bray about planting in St. John's and starting a church planting network to reach Newfoundland and Labrador and today on the show is Matt Lahey who has planted a church in St. John's as part of Mile One Mission. We cover how Matt got to Newfoundland, the spiritual history of his part of the city, why they renamed their church and much more. A very insightful episode to understand church planting on the East Coast of Canada.If you'd like to get in touch with Matt or Route 10 Community Church, please go...2025-06-2637 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastA site that is becoming a plant - Talking with Kevin DejongeKevin took an unusual path to church planting and pastoral ministry and we talk about how he ended up as the pastor and planter for Grace Village Church. And we cover the method by which Grace Village is being planted, slowly transitioning from a site of Grace Valley Church to something more independent. We also cover how they got a building so quickly and how larger city churches should think about small towns nearby.If you'd like to get in touch with Kevin or Grace Village Church, go to https://www.gracevillagechurch.ca/If you'd...2025-05-2243 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastThe Last Church in Town - A conversation with Aaron JohnsonAaron and Ben get into all things related to small town church planting - how Aaron got interested in Hensall, why we shouldn't neglect small town planting, how they managed to meet in the last church in town and much more.If you'd like to get in touch with Aaron or Cornerstone Church, you can find them online: https://www.cornerstonehensall.ca/If you'd like to get in touch with the Grace Network, visit them here: https://www.gracenetwork.caIf you'd like to contact Ben or the podcast, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail...2025-04-2840 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastBook Report: Church Planting During the Birth of CanadaWe don't often think of Presbyterians as aggressive church planters, but at the dawn of Canada, while the railroad was being built, James Robertson helped the Presbyterian Church plant and build churches across Canada at an unbelievable rate. I tell his story based on his biography.If you'd like to purchase the biography, you can find reprints on Amazon. If you'd like to get in touch with the Grace Network, you can find them online at gracenetwork.caIf you'd like to get in touch with Ben or the podcast, please email canadianchurchplanting@g...2025-03-1728 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastA Neighbourhood Church in Vancouver - Marlon BrownWe get into everything related to Awake Church during this episode: how Marlon got to Vancouver, why he chose the name (and why he would choose a different name next time), what Vancouver is like, why he likes being part of Calvary Chapel and much more.If you want to find out more about Awake Church or Marlon Brown, you can visit them at awakevancouver.ca.If you want to know more about the Grace Network, visit them at gracenetwork.ca.If you want to get in touch with Ben or the podcast...2025-02-1732 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastOil Country Church Planting - All Nations Church in Fort MacMurrayIf you've wondered what planting in a classic Canadian small city / large town is like, this is the episode for you. We cover what Fort Mac is really like, what they've learned about ministry there, why their church grew quickly, how they've reached out to First Nations tribes in the area, what lies ahead for the church and much more.If you'd like to get in touch with Rick, Eric or All Nations Church, you can find them online at https://www.allnationschurch.co/If you'd like to know more about the Grace Network, you...2025-02-0249 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastPlanted by five denominations in a small town - A Conversation with Mike KleinhuisIn this conversation we get into lots of different aspects of Mike and the Centre Community Church's story - why he moved from Hamilton to Lindsay, how the local ministerial decided to plant a church, what the south end of Lindsay is like, how the Centre operates, how they stay focused on their mission and much more.If you'd like to get in touch with Mike or the Centre Community Church, please visit https://thecentre.church/ (great url!)If you'd like to get in touch with the Grace Network, please visit gracenetwork.ca...2024-10-2938 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastPlanting in the Most Underrated City in Canada - A Conversation with Mark RoslundMark Roslund wears hoodies and hats, writes music and has planted a church in the middle of what he calls "the most underrated city in Canada." We get into his story on this podcast. Why he and his wife Roberta moved to Winnipeg, why he left a secure youth pastor job to plant, why he preaches in a hoodie, why ARC has been a wonderful theological home for them, why they started recording music and much more.If you'd like to find out more about Rose Church, please visit rosechurch.ca.If you'd like to h...2024-10-1541 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastThe Church that started in a Convenience Store - An interview with the pastors of Pony ChurchPony Church is one of the more unique church plants I've come across. A strong focus on evangelism, a strange (but beautiful) beginning to their story, completing seminary and planting a church, planting a church while young, how older churches can plant daughter churches very different from themselves and much more. A really interesting story.This episode is brought to you by the Grace Network. If you want to find out more about the Grace Network, go to gracenetwork.caTo get in touch with Pony Church, please visit ponychurch.com.To get...2024-09-1639 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastPlanting a Multi-Site Campus - A conversation with Kevin SchularI've been interested in multi-site churches for a while, particularly as they relate to church planting. Along with the Meeting House, Village Church has been one of the more aggressive churches in Canada at pursuing a multi-site vision. So I interviewed Kevin Schular who planted a site of the Village Church thousands of km's away from where Village Church started. We talked about the history of Village Church, the difference between planting a church and starting an evangelistic ministry, the advantages to being a site instead of a stand-alone plant, how the Village Church is faring now that Mark...2024-08-1244 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastWhat it feels like to plant a church in the West - A Conversation with Stefan PaasI read Stefan's book a year or so ago and was immediately struck by how well he captured what it "feels" like to plant a church in Canada. He talks about mission, slow evangelism, feeling like a cultural outsider, facing the apathy of the public, a different vision of what church looks like, linguistic minefields in church planting, new ecclesiological structures that may be needed, how we reckon with a loss of cultural power and much more. The book and this interview are so helpful in reframing what church planting and mission should look and feel like in Canada.2024-07-1750 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastAn American Called to Canada (during COVID!) - A Conversation with Jeremy DagerJeremy co-planted Port City Church in Halifax about two years ago with Chad MacDonald. Though he has Canadian roots, Jeremy spent years working for Summit Church and Mercy Hill Church helping them plant churches throughout North America and the world. In this interview we talk about all that he learned at Summit and Mercy Hill, why he felt called to Canada, why he planted in Halifax and specifically Bedford, what the name Port City means, some encouraging stories from the first few years and much more. If you want to get in touch with Jeremy or Port Ci...2024-07-0242 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastWhat are all the wrong things we think about church planting - A Conversation with a SociologistIn this episode we cover all kinds of things Joel has written on that relate to church planting: why 'nones' and 'dones' vary across Canada, how this impacts church attendance, why and how evangelism still is effective in Canada, how much effective evangelism actually leads to church growth, why moving to plant a church isn't a great idea (sociologically speaking), how much of your church really is new to the faith and much more.The three articles referenced in our conversation are the following:https://secularismandnonreligion.org/articles/10.5334/snr.126https://5c6ae412-7...2024-06-0352 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastHalf Baked Church Planting IdeasI (Ben) have been hanging around the church planting world for almost 15 years as an intern, church planter and church planting coach. During that time, I've had some ideas. Ideas about where to find more church planters, how to get more experienced pastors into church planting, how to grow quickly at the beginning.During this episode, I pitch six different ideas to my friend Franky Garcia and he rates each idea out of 10 and tells me what he likes and dislikes about it. I hope this episode gives some fresh inspiration when it comes to church planting.2024-05-1427 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastPlanting Churches on the Eastern Edge of Canada - A conversation with Steve BraySteve and Ben have a wide ranging conversation about Steve's life growing up in Newfoundland, why he went into pastoral ministry, what he learned on PEI, why he moved back to Newfoundland and how he he has founded and built Mile One Mission. We then dig into Mile One Mission (and why it isn't called Kilometre One Mission) and Steve's vision for churches and church planting in Newfoundland and Labrador. To find out more about Steve Bray and Mile One Mission, please go to mileonemission.ca.To find out more about the Grace Network, please go...2024-04-2446 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastA Retired Bishop Plants a Church - An interview with Ron FerrisIn this episode we cover a lot of ground: Why Ron planted a church in retirement (and how his wife felt about this idea), how Anglicans go about church planting, what Ron is doing now with Anglican explorers and we get into some of the specifics of different projects and opportunities that are taking place all over Canada. If you'd like to get in touch with Ron or Anglican explorers, you can find them at https://www.anglicanexplorers.ca/If you want to get in touch with the Grace Network, please visit gracenetwork.ca2024-04-0937 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastBook Report: 9 Church Planting Lessons from a Messy MiddleMessy Middle is about the middle of a venture. Starting and finishing is fun, but what about the hard parts in the middle? That is what Messy Middle is all about. Hear Ben talk about not celebrating fake wins, how to process uncertainty, the kind of person you should hire first, how to become a church planting expert, the first "mile" of a person's experience with your church and much more.If you have thoughts about this book or if you have a book you think Ben should report on, send an email to canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.2024-03-2536 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastWhat is happening in Quebec? Church planting then and now with Patrice NagantIf you've been looking for a low and high level view on what is happening with Church Planting in Quebec, you're going to love this episode. Patrice is brimming with stories about what God has done and is doing in Quebec. We hear about his early church plant in Terrebonne, QC, what it is like to be a Protestant Christian in Quebec, what he is seeing in terms of a church planting movement, some stories of how God is at work and much more. Great insights, deep experience, genuine heart for the Lord and some delightful English as...2024-03-1346 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastChurch Planting after 10 years at the Mother Church - An interview with Jeremy GrahamWe go through a lot of Jeremy's journey into church planting: why they chose the name, what East Vancouver/Burnaby is like, how youth ministry prepared him for church planting, how King's Cross is the same and different from St. John's, why he planted with staff, and much more. If you want to get in touch with Jeremy or King's Cross, you can find them at https://kingscrossvancouver.church/If you want to get in touch with Ben or the podcast, you can email canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.If you want to find out mo...2024-02-2748 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastMarried to a Church Planter - An interview with two church planting spousesIn this episode we talk about the state of both of their church plants and how they are involved while also handling other responsibilities of work and home life. We talk about how they got interested in church planting, how they handle disagreements with their spouses over church decisions, what most Christians don't understand about church planting families, what they like and don't like about being married to a church planter, and much more. If you want to get in touch with Christine or Church of the Messiah West, you can find them here: https://messiahwest.ca/...2024-02-1348 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastCo-vocational Church Planting in a Mountain Town - A Conversation with Craig RobinsonCraig Robinson has a fascinating story. He felt called to plant a church in a mountain town and in 2018, he moved to Canmore to do just that. But Craig and his wife and a few friends spent a year working and living in Canmore to better understand its people and rhythms before starting a church. To this day, he still works part time for his tile setting company while pastoring the Cairn. In this episode we talk about how he prepared for planting, why he chose Canmore, what life in a mountain town is like, being a co-vocational pastor, w...2024-01-2945 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastPlanting a very local church - A Conversation with Matt NaismithIn this episode we talk about why Matt planted Church of the Ward in Guelph ON with all of the pros and cons of a very local church. We talk about moving into needy neighbourhoods and how that affects the family of the church planter. We also talk about why Matt decided to merge his church with another church plant and later, why he decided to move on from that church. This is an honest, frank conversation about the twists and turns of church planting and the decisions you never thought you'd have to make. If you'd l...2023-12-2952 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastPlanting in Huntsville, reaching the spiritually hungry - A Conversation with Jeremy McClungJeremy tried to plant a church in his 20's which didn't work. But he took the lessons he learned to Huntsville, ON where he planted and pastored a church for more than a decade. Along the way he pioneered some new evangelistic approaches and also helped his denomination develop a healthy church planting ecosystem. We also talk about how Jeremy's church plant went about finding a building. There are lots of practical lessons from Jeremy in this episode.If you'd like to get in touch with Jeremy, you can find him here: https://www.wycliffecollege.ca/users...2023-12-1244 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastThe Great Dechurching - Book Summary and CommentaryThis episode is different. It's just Ben giving a summary and his thoughts on the book "The Great DeChurching." No interview, no discussion, just straight content. If you liked this episode, please let us know. We have a few other books that we are considering for episodes like this, so if you found it helpful, please shoot us an email at canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com to let us know.To find out more about the Grace Network you can visit gracenetwork.ca.To get in touch with Ben or the podcast, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.2023-11-2138 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastTraining in a City, Planting in a Small Town - A Conversation with Nathan KapetynNathan Kapetyn is the pastor and church planter of Baden Central Church. You can find our more and get in touch with Nathan at https://badencentral.ca/.If you'd like to get in touch with Ben or the podcast, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com
2023-10-3040 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastSmall town, northern Ontario church planting - A conversation with Russell DegraafIn this episode we cover where Manitouwadge is, what it is like, who lives there and why you should think about living in a small town. We talk about the need for pastors in small towns and the spiritual climate of these places and why Russell started Boreal Baptist Church.If you'd like to get in touch with Russell or Boreal Baptist Church, you can find them at https://www.borealbaptistchurch.ca/.If you'd like to get in touch with the Grace Network, you can find them at https://www.gracenetwork.ca/.If...2023-10-1741 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastPlanting on the Prairies - A conversation with Blair AllenIn this episode we get into how Blair arrived in Regina, starting a church in his living room, surviving COVID, planting a second and third site, merging those sites and how to build a church-planting church. This episode is sponsored by the Grace Network, a Canadian Church planting network. To find out more about them, please visit gracenetwork.caIf you'd like to get in touch with Blair or Compass Regina, please visit compassregina.com.To get in touch with Ben or the podcast, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com
2023-10-0444 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastWhat is it like to be a lay person in a church plant? A conversation with Matt WillsWhat does it feel like to be a lay person in a church plant? Matt Wills shares his experiences from being part of two church plants. He talks about serving in all kinds of roles, what it is like to watch a church grow and change, what he wishes church planters and pastors knew about their people, whether or not he wants to volunteer in areas of strength or need and much more. If you want to get in touch with Ben or the podcast, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.Matt doesn't do much social m...2023-09-1841 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastThe problems with creativity and innovation - an interview with Andrew RootDr. Andrew Root is an author, speaker and teacher at Luther Seminary in St. Paul MN. He wrote a book called "The Church After Innovation" which has a number of implications for those interested in church planting. In this interview we explore a number of his ideas including: Where did our ideas about innovation come from? How did mission and innovation get equated? What should we be watching for when the church focuses on entrepreneurship and creativity? Why do we look for 'unique' churches? This episode is a bit different, but I think you'll enjoy it....2023-09-0439 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastA New Church on PEI - An Interview with Colton CarrickIn this episode we cover how Colton ended up in Charlottetown, what the spiritual climate of PEI is like, the history of Anglicanism on the east coast, what his logo means (spoiler: he didn't make it), how the tourist season changes church life in Charlottetown and much more. To find out more about Redemption Church or get in touch with Colton, you can visit https://www.redemptionpei.org/To find out more about the Grace Network, you can go to www.gracenetwork.caTo get in touch with Ben, suggest guests/topics for t...2023-08-2136 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastAll about Daughter Churches - with Phil and FrankyIn this episode we cover how long they have lived in their respective communities, how long they spent at the mother church, what size of core group they are working with, what their schedules currently look like, when they hope to start public worship services and much more.To get in touch with Franky, you can find him at https://www.gracegatineau.ca/To get in touch with Phil, you can contact him at missiontostoneycreek@gmail.com.To get in touch with the Grace Network, please go to gracenetwork.caTo...2023-07-1740 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastPlanting a French Church in Montreal - A Conversation with Brad MorriceWe cover lots of ground including:how an anglophone ended up in Montreal and why he decided to work in Frenchhow campus ministry prepared him for church plantingsome challenging stories of church planting and how they were treated in the citysome of the biggest challenges with planting in French and much more.If you'd like to find Brad, you can get in touch through their website: https://www.egliseduplateau.com/If you'd like to get in touch with Ben or the podcast, you can email us at canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.
2023-06-2653 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastHow an 80 year old church is planting churches - A conversation with Allan SelfWe have a wide ranging conversation, covering:Allan's background and experiences that prepared him to lead an older, established churchhow the church was invigorated by foreign missionshow Bethel planted a church in the village of Glencoethe role of sites in church plantingwhat Bethel is dreaming about for the future and much more...To get in touch with Allan and Bethel, you can find them online here: https://bethelstrathroy.com/To get in touch with Ben or the podcast, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.
2023-05-2943 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastHow to plant a church in the Yukon - A conversation with Harrison KwokHarrison Kwok is a church planter and pastor at Northern Collective in Whitehorse, Yk. We talk about why he chose his church name, specific Yukon struggles in church planting, why they started a seminary and what they've learned about ministering to First Nations. If you are unfamiliar with Canada's north, this episode will be really helpful in understanding what has happened and what needs to happen in the future.To get in touch with Harrison, you can find him at northerncollective.church.To get in touch with the podcast or Ben, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail...2023-05-0931 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastNow and Then: Church Planting in Canada over the last 40 yearsIf you want to get in touch with Ben, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.If you want to find out more about Stephen Elliott, you can find his email, books and more at https://www.kingswood.edu/staff/stephen-d-elliott-d-min
2023-04-2444 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastBeauty, Unusual Names and Metro Vancouver - A Conversation with Alastair SterneWe cover all kinds of ground, from the name of St. Peter's Fireside, the intentional focus on beauty in their church plant and how Alastair got to Vancouver in the first place. We also talk about what happened to St. Peter's during COVID and the toll it took on Canadian churches. Finally, we talk a little bit about the Anglican Network in Canada (ANIC) and how they think about church planting.If you want to get in touch with Alastair, you can find him at https://alastairsterne.com/If you are looking for St. Peter's...2023-04-1145 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastWhat changes are coming to the Canadian Church (and how will it affect church planting)? We discuss church planting with immigrants, the slow disintegration of Protestant denominations (except some Baptists!), why Canadian charitable giving is so terrible, the future of church plant funding, some inside baseball about the demographics of the PCA and much more.The first study referenced from Waybase is sadly no longer available online. The second article about donation data can be found here: https://thehub.ca/2022-12-20/two-decades-of-donation-data-shows-canadians-are-more-scrooge-like-than-ever/The third study about denomination demographic data can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FpkS9E37itnwxPM9s_x01Oyk2CBvVRBY/view?us...2023-03-2757 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastOn planting daughter churches - A conversation with Ian WildeboerIf you want to get in touch with Ian or Mercy Christian Church, you can find them at https://mercychurch.ca/.If you want to get in touch with Ben, you can email the podcast at canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.This podcast is sponsored by the Grace Network, a church planting network in Canada for Canadians. You can learn more about their work at gracenetwork.ca.Thanks to Nathan Michel for production help.
2023-03-1350 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastHow to help a denomination embrace church planting - A Conversation with Jared SiebertIf you'd like to get ahold of Jared or find out more about the New Leaf Church Planting Network, please visit them at their website: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/If you'd like to learn more about the Grace Network, you can visit their website: www.gracenetwork.caIf you want to get in touch with Ben and the Canadian Church Planting Podcast, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.
2023-02-2753 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastShould all church planters be 40 or older? An interview with Paul VandenbrinkPaul Vandenbrink is a church planter and pastor in Dundas ON. You can find his church at https://gracevalleychurch.ca/. Paul also has his own podcast: https://gracevalleychurch.ca/podcasts/the-clearer-thinking-podcastIf you'd like to get in touch with the Canadian Church Planting Podcast, please email canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com
2023-02-1351 minCanadian Church Planting PodcastHow to plant a church in Halifax during COVIDThe Canadian Church Planting Podcast is sponsored by the Grace Network. the Grace Network is a Canadian church planting network committed to planting, re-planting, renewing and multiplying churches in Canada. Read more at gracenetwork.ca.If you have questions for Ben, guests you'd like to see on the see on the show, wing recommendations in various Canadian cities, please email us at canadianchurchplanting@gmail.com.Thanks to Nathan Michel for production help.
2023-02-0135 min