Church in the North

When politics shift, how should the church react? Rob and David Guretzki discuss the recently passed Bill C-9 repealing the 'Good Faith Defence' and what this means for Canadian ministries. They also discuss the future of North American seminaries, David's recent sabbatical, and other recent political developments. David Guretzki is the President and CEO for The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. 

This week on the Pre-show, Geoff, Rob, and Chris kick off with a discussion on National Candy Day, and how the shift in online dating apps might mark a shift in Gen Z values.

See the Justice Minister’s statement on Bill C-9 here: https://x.com/SeanFraserMP/status/1998484724482756970

Check out David's speech about seminaries here: https://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/Communications/Articles/October-2026/Church,-society,-seminary

For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected]. 

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How do we help declining churches turn around? In this episode, Gary and Rob discuss Church Vitalization Canada’s revitalization framework. They also talk about Gary’s experience as a lead pastor and district leader. Gary Taitinger is the Executive Director of Church Vitalization Canada.

In the pre-show, Rob and Chris interview each other and uncover their views about internships, the academy, and the local church. 

For more on Church Vitalization Canada, see their website: churchvitalization.ca

For more information about the podcast, visit churchinthenorth.ca

For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected]. 

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How can pastors and business leaders work together to build the kingdom? Jonathan and Rob discuss the blurry lines between the marketplace and church ministry. They also discuss Lewis’s work spurring businessmen into ministry and his personal life rhythms as a marketplace minister. Jonathan Lewis is the president of Eastport Financial and founder of Fathers for Fathers.

This week on the Pre-show, Geoff, Rob, and Chris kick off the discussion on the intersection between the church and the marketplace.

Check out Spark Conference here: sparkconference.org

Buy Jonathan’s book here: https://www.amazon.ca/More-Than-Money.../dp/1949550524

Buy Gospel Patrons book here: https://www.amazon.ca/Gospel-Patrons-John.../dp/1496115473

For more information about the podcast, visit churchinthenorth.ca

For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected]. 

If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

In the face of suffering and heartbreak, how does a pastor stay true to her calling? In this episode, Niki Williams shares her deeply moving and redemptive story of leading through a tumultuous season for her and her church. Rob and Niki also discuss the success of Bloom’s participation with Life Church’s ‘InStep' program and some big next steps for her church. Niki Williams is the Lead Pastor at Bloom Church in Regina, SK.

To contact Niki, visit bloomchurch.tv

In the pre-show, Rob, Geoff, and Chris talk about staying energized and organized in ministry seasons that feel so busy.

For more information about the podcast, visit churchinthenorth.ca

For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected]. 

If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

What does prison ministry look like from the other side of the bars? In this episode of CITN, Emerson Mendoza shares his journey from inmate to pastor and leader of a prison ministry. Emerson also shares with Rob about his upbringing in Nicaragua during the civil war and his church ministry in the Lower Mainland today. Emerson Mendoza is the Associate Pastor at Village Church in Surrey, BC.

Contact Emerson Mendoza at thisisvillagechurch.com/contact/contact-staff

In the pre-show, Rob, Geoff, and Chris talk about the implications of recent AI developments and the church transition from summer to fall.

For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. 

For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected].

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In an age of disruption, should we reconsider our ministry models or missional frameworks?  In this episode of CITN, Rob talks with Dr. Raphael Anzenberger about his work in Quebec with denominational revitalization, church planting, and missional enterprise. They also discuss the significance of innovation, the inevitability of disruption, and lessons gleaned from mission in Europe. Raphael is the Executive Minister of the French Baptist Union in Canada, Executive Director of the Quebec Network of Evangelicals, and Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at Columbia International University. 

To learn more about Raphael, visit https://anzenberger.net/. 

In the pre-show, Rob, Geoff, and Chris reminisce about the past season of CITN. They share behind-the-scenes moments and some personal reflections.  

For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca.  

For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected].  

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Raphael has provided several book recommendations, some of which were mentioned in the podcast: 
Rendle, Gil. Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.
Paas, Stefan. Pilgrims and Priests: Christian Mission in a Post-Christian Society. London: SCM Press, 2019.
Johansen, Bob. The New Leadership Literacies: Thriving in a Future of Extreme Disruption and Distributed Everything. Oakland, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2017.
Webb, Amy. The Signals Are Talking: Why Today’s Fringe Is Tomorrow’s Mainstream. New York: PublicAffairs, 2016.
Hassan, Zaid. The Social Labs Revolution: A New Approach to Solving Our Most Complex Challenges. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2014.

How might ministry leaders anticipate the future to shape today's church?  In this episode of CITN, Rob talks with Joel Murphy about his work with the Futuring Hub and how we might faithfully imagine the future. They also discuss AI, cultural shifts, and the future of ministry formation.  Joel is the Director of Futures Research and Director of the Andrew D. McRae Centre for Christian Faith and Culture with Acadia Divinity College. To learn more about his work, visit https://futuringhub.ca/.  

In the pre-show, Rob, Geoff, and Chris talk about events they never could have predicted and predictions that have been overhyped or underestimated. 

For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. 

For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected].  

If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

What do Canadians really think about evangelism?  In this episode of CITN, Rob talks with Bill Hogg about a recent study conducted by Message Canada and Alpha Canada in partnership with Angus Reid. They discuss several early findings from the research and take a deep dive into their implications.  They also discuss the upcoming "Renewing Evangelism Conference" in Kelowna on June 2-4. Bill is the President of Message Canada.

This October, the full results of the landmark Sharing Jesus study will be released. Register for the WEBINAR on October 15 @ from 10 am to 11 am PDT. You can register at: https://alphacanada.org/events/sharing-jesus/

To contact Bill or learn more about Message Canada, visit https://www.messagecanada.org. 

In the pre-show Rob, Geoff, and Chris talk about their emotional hangups about evangelism and some of the challenges of evangelism in our current cultural moment.  

For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. 
For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected]. 
If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

Leadership is hard, but it's even harder in hard times.  In this episode of CITN, Rob talks with Tim Coles about how he has led from a place of suffering while leading an historic, national youth organization. They also discuss Youth For Christ's legacy and its impact on Canada's youth. Tim is the National Director of Youth for Christ Canada. 

To contact Tim or learn more about YFC, visit https://yfc.ca/about/our-team/?filter-department=lead-team.  

In the pre-show, Rob, Geoff, and Chris discuss new findings on the quiet revival in the UK and the religious resurgence in Canada. 

For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca.  

For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected].  

If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.

What can't we ignore when designing a church discipleship pathway? In this episode of CITN, Rob talks with Daniel Im about discipleship frameworks and how leaders can be more intentional in their discipleship practices. They also discuss multi-site church, personal development, continuing education, and the discipline of writing. Daniel is the Lead Pastor at Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton, AB.

To contact Daniel or learn more about his church, visit https://beulah.ca/.  

To order a copy of his book, visit https://a.co/d/07JrBbUf. 

In the pre-show Rob, Geoff & Chris talk about discipleship, spring snowstorms, and the road to YQ.  

For more information about the podcast, visit www.churchinthenorth.ca. 

For questions or inquiries, please email us at [email protected]. 

If you like what you hear, please share this podcast with others, give us a review, or leave a comment.