Baptist Bridges

Are today’s youth and young adults just the "future of the church" or vital leaders for today? How can churches empower youth and young adults to lead meaningfully? In this episode of Baptist Bridges, Leanne Friesen is joined by Alvin Lau, CBOQ's Youth Ministries Associate, and Tejay Morley, a young leader from North Burlington Baptist Church, to explore how mentorship and trust can transform the next generation of church leaders.

Alvin shares insights on breaking stereotypes about Gen Z and Gen Alpha and creating meaningful leadership opportunities, while Tejay tells his inspiring story of turning a bold idea into a thriving youth-led ministry project.

Discover practical ways your church can invest in and equip young people to make a lasting impact. Don’t miss this engaging conversation!

Notes:

CBOQ Youth Website

Micro Grants

Avalanche and Blizzard youth retreats

Camp Kwasind Leaders In Training (L.I.T.)

Young Leaders Collective

RightNow Media CBOQ offer

Bible in 30 Minutes Play that Tejay directed

Connect with us:

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboq⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboqcommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠baptist.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits:

Host: Leanne Friesen

Guests: Alvin Lau and Tejay Morley

Recorded by: Josh Del Rosario & Kristina Gummatova

Edited by: Kristina Gummatova

In this episode of Baptist Bridges, Kevin Loten joins the conversation to explore the complexities of preaching in politically charged times. We discuss the challenges of addressing sensitive topics from the pulpit, maintaining the balance between spiritual guidance and political engagement, and respecting the diversity of opinions within congregations.

Whether you're a pastor, church leader, or someone interested in the intersection of faith and politics, this episode offers valuable insights for fostering unity in the midst of division.

Connect with us:

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboq⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboqcommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠baptist.ca⁠⁠⁠

Credits:

Host: Leanne Friesen

Guest: Kevin Loten

Recorded by: Josh Del Rosario & Kristina Gummatova

Edited by: Josh Del Rosario

Whether you’re a parent, pastor, or anyone passionate about growing faith in families, this episode is packed with inspiration, wisdom, and actionable steps that will empower you to take your spiritual journey beyond Sunday school.

In our first episode of Baptist Bridges for 2025, Faith Beyond Sunday School, Tanya Yuen sits down with two experts in family discipleship, Christie Thomas and Ken Foo, as they dive into the real challenges families face when it comes to spiritual growth at home. From time constraints to feeling overwhelmed and kids’ disinterest, these challenges are familiar to so many. But you will learn that small, intentional steps can make a big difference!

Christie shares practical, easy-to-implement ideas that any family can use to incorporate faith throughout the week. Plus, she talks about her new book, Little Habits, Big Faith, and why simple practices can lead to deep, lasting spiritual growth in your family. Ken also discusses the crucial role of churches in supporting parents and reshaping ministries to help families thrive.

Whether you’re a parent, pastor, or anyone passionate about growing faith in families, this episode is packed with inspiration, wisdom, and actionable steps that will empower you to take your spiritual journey beyond Sunday school.

Listen now to discover how you can help your family grow in faith with simple, everyday habits that make a big impact.

Notes:

• Little Shoots, Deep Roots: Christie Thomas' ministry that empowers parents to nurture their children's faith.

• Christie Thomas' most recent book: Little Habits, Big Faith: How Simple Practices Help Your Family Grow in Jesus

• Toronto Children's Ministry Conference

Connect with us:

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboq⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboqcommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Website: ⁠⁠baptist.ca⁠⁠

Credits:

Host: Tanya Yuen

Guests: Christie Thomas and Ken Foo

Recorded by: Josh Del Rosario & Kristina Gummatova

Edited by: Kristina Gummatova

In today's bonus episode, our guest is Sharlene MacLennan, a registered social worker and practicing therapist who specializes in mental health and addiction. Sharlene shares insights on self-care strategies for ministry leaders and discusses her work supporting clergy, non-profit workers, and others in high-demand roles. Drawing from her professional expertise and personal experiences as a pastor's kid, Sharlene offers valuable advice on navigating the Christmas season with resilience and grace.

We encourage you to take time for yourself - prioritize mental health and seek support when needed during this season of giving and reflection.

Resources:

Our website provides some Mental Health Resources that may be of interest to you.

Advent playlist - may these melodies remind you of God’s faithfulness and fill your heart with expectation as we prepare for the joy of Christmas. Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Connect with us:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboq⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboqcommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠baptist.ca⁠

Credits:

Host: Leanne Friesen

Guest: Sharlene MacLennan

Recorded by: Josh Del Rosario & Kristina Gummatova

Edited by: Kristina Gummatova

A message from our guest, Jeremy Ng:

To the unnamed grievers.

Although there is so much more about grief, both individual and corporate, that we could have talked about, the one thing I wished I had brought more attention to was unnamed grief. The grief that is not socially acceptable. The grief that is not allowed to be talked about openly. The grief that we don’t believe is real. Maybe, like I mentioned on the podcast, that it’s children who grieve, and people think they are simply too young to grieve, that they don’t understand what’s going on. It could be expectant parents who experience a miscarriage.  It could be a death by a suicide. Sometimes, it’s just a really complicated relationship with that person, where it feels like they aren’t allowed to grieve. For so many reasons, grief can become unnamed, disenfranchised, it can be ignored, and the person is never seen, leaving them feeling further isolated and alone.

Our learning includes being aware that grief can happen in all sorts of unexpected ways.  Our response to grief is not based on whether we judge it to be valid or not, but by the experience of the griever going through it.  Our invitation begins with simply being present, seeing people in their grief, and walking alongside them.

Notes:

In this podcast, Jeremy mentioned specifically about children’s grief and wanted to highlight the importance of children being included in the grieving process.  Here are a few resources that he has found helpful in his work with the younger population:

Children and Youth Grief Network

Canadian Virtual Hospice

Dougy Centre

Addition Resource: Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things After Death and Loss - a book written by our Executive Minister, Leanne Friesen.

Blue Christmas Service -  a service to make space for your grief at Christmas.

Connect with us:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboq⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@cboqcommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠baptist.ca⁠

Credits:

Host: Leanne Friesen

Guests: Tracey Bagley and Jeremy Ng

Recorded by: Josh Del Rosario & Kristina Gummatova

Edited by: Josh Del Rosario

Today’s conversation takes us into the world of small churches, where our guests describe the distinctive rhythms and responsibilities of leading a smaller congregation. They talk about what church studies and conferences that usually focus on bigger churches often miss about small church life, as well as the multi-hat roles pastors often play and the hands-on tasks unique to small congregations. The discussion highlights the beauty of small church ministry, the depth of relationships, and the lessons new ministers need to embrace in order to thrive.

Notes:

Contact ⁠Tanya Yuen⁠

Learn more about Small Church Connections

On Naming "Small Churches": A few days after recording this episode, a number of our female clergy gathered for a Female Clergy Retreat. While introducing themselves, one of our pastors of a church of 20 or so congregants described her church as a "Boutique Church."

Here is a description of a "boutique" store: "Boutiques are specialty shops that sell limited types of products. A large retail chain may offer clothing, makeup, hair products, and possibly even food all in one place. Boutiques operate in small spaces, so they must be more selective when ordering inventory." A boutique hotel is described as: "Small-capacity hotels that provide more personalized service than typical hotels." The women at our retreat loved this way to describe our small churches - focussing on the unique benefits and blessings of a small church. Ruth was eager to share this new term as part of our podcast!

Connect with us:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@cboq⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@cboqcommunity⁠⁠⁠

Website: baptist.ca

Credits:

Host: Leanne Friesen

Guests: Ruth Bartlett, Ron Johnston, Michel Belzile

Recorded by: Josh Del Rosario & Kristina Gummatova

Edited by: Josh Del Rosario

Earlier this season, we started by exploring the topic of pastoral shortages in CBOQ. We named that we have seen more churches struggling to find pastors in a season of great pastoral transition. In this particular podcast, we also discussed one of the exciting ways that we are seeing God move among us in the midst of this. We are seeing more and more pastors join our family who have come to us from other countries, and are now eager to serve in their new home in Canada.

Connect with us:

Instagram: ⁠⁠@cboq⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠@cboqcommunity⁠⁠

Website: ⁠baptist.ca⁠

Credits:

Host: Leanne Friesen

Guests: Kwasi Boakye, Dennis Johnson, Gabriel Araba

Recorded & Edited by: Josh Del Rosario

In today's episode, Leanne Friesen, Elden Faulkner, and Leaslie Makins explore how the pandemic has reshaped both the Church and their personal roles. They discuss the adjustments they’ve had to make and emphasize the significance of adapting to these new realities. The conversation also sheds light on the diverse experiences of churches and their ability to evolve and thrive despite challenges.

Connect with us:

Instagram: ⁠@cboq⁠

Facebook: ⁠@cboqcommunity⁠

Website: ⁠baptist.ca⁠

Credits:

Host: Leanne Friesen

Guests: Elden Faulkner, Leaslie Makins

Recorded by: Josh Del Rosario

Edited by: Kristina Gummatova

Today's podcast discusses the challenges of finding pastors for churches in the CBOQ and across Canada, including a shortage of pastors, pastors looking at different ministry avenues, and churches struggling to afford full-time pastors. Leanne Friesen, Cid Latty and David Williams, provide insights into the changing landscape of pastoral ministry, such as the need to rethink traditional expectations and models of pastoral leadership, and the importance of empowering the broader church community to engage in ministry. The conversation highlights the complex factors contributing to the "pastoral crisis," including stress, isolation, low salaries, and toxic church cultures.

Notes:

Barna Group Article

Connect with us:

Instagram: @cboq

Facebook: @cboqcommunity

Website: ⁠baptist.ca⁠

Credits:

Host: Leanne Friesen

Guests: Cid Latty, David Williams

Edited by: Josh Del Rosario