Episode #70 – Brian Siewert – Thou shalt love the rural church

Brian Siewert is the pastor of a small rural church in Onoway, Alberta. He works with a rural church hub collective in Western Canada. His own experiences gives a personal touch to the love of the rural church.

Rural church ministry and family faith development.0:00

Small church significance and rural ministry.4:39

The strengths and challenges of rural churches in Canada.8:59

Resource challenges in rural churches.14:00

Challenges facing rural churches and pastors.19:04

The challenges and solutions for rural church leaders.24:45

Episode #69 – Darryl Dash – Coming Back to Small

• The tendency to overlook the gospel’s impact on daily life. 0:15

• The relevance of the gospel in a secular society. 5:32

• The role of the church in a changing society. 10:28

• Small churches, relationships, and proclaiming the gospel. 14:35

• Church growth and ministry challenges in Canada. 18:16

• Small church ministry and humility. 22:43

Episode #68 – Andy Bannister – Rethinking church – a UK Perspective

Small churches, Jesus, and community outreach in the UK. (0:08)

Small churches in the UK and Canada, with a focus on spiritual openness and hunger. (2:28)

Rethinking church structures and meeting in non-traditional spaces. (7:48)

Non-traditional church spaces and evangelism strategies. (13:30)

Revitalizing small churches with aging congregations. (16:13)

The importance of prayer and discipleship in Christian movements. (20:51)

Encouraging risk-taking in small church ministry. (25:58)

Episode #67 – Sam Reimer – Small Churches Caught in the Current

Sam Reimer has just completed a research book called – Caught in the Current: British and Canadian evangelicals in an age of self-spirituality. Reimer speaks to self-discovery and identity in a changing society – with the locus of authority changing from external to internal (religion of the heart). Included is a discussion on the place of denominations in Canada, the turn towards Holy Spirit direction, and the inner voice of the heart taking the place of the external voice of God.

Episode #59 – Taylor Croissant – Can Canadian Denominations Survive?

Taylor Croissant serves as United Church minister in Lethbridge, Alberta. He has been concerned that denominations in Canada need to take a hard look at how they work – and if they work!

• Introducing Taylor Croissant. (0:00)
• In the final year of my studies, we had an exchange program with our sister college in South Korea. (3:17)
• Two Hills was the best place for him to work. (5:06)
• The impact of the pandemic on the United Church of Christ’s governance structure. (9:26)
• What would a full organic union look like? (11:57)
• How much authority does the church give to governing bodies? (15:33)
• How do you see a federation and groups that are outside the federation but nevertheless contributing to the federation? How would you see that working? (17:49)
• The issue that separates people within Canada is LGBTQ. (22:24)
• Worship style is going to be another thing that separates people out in Korea. (24:08)