Raising the Conversation

Welcome to "Raising the Conversation", a podcast brought to you by The MacRae Centre for Christian Faith & Culture at Acadia Divinity College.

In Season 6, host Joel Murphy (Director) facilitates conversations surrounding our upcoming "Future of Innovation" focus. This effort will include a Field Guide (releasing April 27, 2026) and an online Discovery Series Event happening May 4 (https://events.zoom.us/ev/AkHl-Gy00CYV2qXWySZa-uxuv1Yvs1ftsffXBr-7fVPgkImneZSD~AnQy8zkmgCz0pz2CHsZnpNX6AmoNL08aE26NI_8sZQrOmrioLqtkNOKkOQ).

This episode's guest is Val Lieske. Val is a Calgary-based playwright who is also the founder and Executive Artistic Director of Fire Exit Theatre. She has a BA in Theatre & Speech from Trinity Guild (UK) and worked for ten years with Alberta Playwrights’ Network. Select plays include; Duty to Warn, Bruised Not Broken, Absence, Sunny Side Up and her solo show, Past Tense. Val is interested in stories that create conversation and explore the idea that there just might be a God.

Welcome to "Raising the Conversation", a podcast brought to you by The MacRae Centre for Christian Faith & Culture at Acadia Divinity College.

In Season 6, host Joel Murphy (Director) facilitates conversations surrounding our upcoming "Future of Innovation" focus. This effort will include a Field Guide (releasing April 27, 2026) and an online Discovery Series Event happening May 4 (https://events.zoom.us/ev/AkHl-Gy00CY....

This episode's guest is Andy Smits. Andy got involved with Power to Change - Students while a student first at Algonquin College, and then at Carleton University in Ottawa. Along with his wife Loni, he joined staff with Power to Change in 2003 and was sent to Montreal to be part of the team that launched the campus ministry in that city.

After spending 17 focusing on reaching English and French students in Quebec with the gospel, Andy is now the National Director of Power to Change - Students. He is also the Executive Director of Next Generation and Future Trends.

Welcome to "Raising the Conversation", a podcast brought to you by The MacRae Centre for Christian Faith & Culture at Acadia Divinity College.

In Season 6, host Joel Murphy (Director) facilitates conversations surrounding our upcoming "Future of Innovation" focus. This effort will include a Field Guide (releasing April 27, 2026) and an online Discovery Series Event happening May 4 (https://events.zoom.us/ev/AkHl-Gy00CY....

This episode's guest is Rev. Dr. Sarah Han. Dr. Han is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Tyndale University and brings practical ministry experience as an ordained minister and theological expertise as an academic. Dr. Han considers herself to be "third culture" Canadian-Korean-Chinese and her formative theology was shaped on the mission field abroad. She has provided leadership in the Canadian immigrant church context for over a decade and has diverse experience in the Canadian public and private sectors. Dr. Han's vocational commitment and theological passion are to critically observe and reflect on how ecclesiology shapes and informs missiology and her research focuses on an intercultural, intergenerational, missional ecclesiology for Canada.

Welcome to "Raising the Conversation", a podcast brought to you by The MacRae Centre for Christian Faith & Culture at Acadia Divinity College.

In Season 6, host Joel Murphy (Director) facilitates conversations surrounding our upcoming "Future of Innovation" focus. This effort will include a Field Guide (releasing April 27, 2026) and an online Discovery Series Event happening May 4 (https://events.zoom.us/ev/AkHl-Gy00CYV2qXWySZa-uxuv1Yvs1ftsffXBr-7fVPgkImneZSD~AnQy8zkmgCz0pz2CHsZnpNX6AmoNL08aE26NI_8sZQrOmrioLqtkNOKkOQ).

This episode's guest is Alana Walker Carpenter. As Founder & CEO of Intriciti and the Canadian Centre for the Integration of Faith & Business, Alana has redefined what it means to lead, what success looks like, and the gift that love, compassion, and empathy can bring inside and outside the boardroom. Ms. Walker Carpenter holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario (King’s College) and a Post-Graduate Degree in Human Resources Management from Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Raising the Conversation Podcast continues with Season 5, brought to you by The MacRae Centre and The Futuring Hub at Acadia Divinity College.

In this episode, host Joel Murphy (The Futuring Hub) has a conversation with Rev. Dr. Harry Gardner. Dr. Gardner serves as National Convenor for Canadian Baptist Partners, also as President Emeritus at Acadia Divinity College. Harry has a rich history of leadership as a pastor, Executive Minister of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada, and Vice President of the Baptist World Alliance.

Raising the Conversation Podcast continues with Season 5, brought to you by The MacRae Centre and The Futuring Hub at Acadia Divinity College.

In this episode, host Joel Murphy has a conversation with Scott Shelton, lead pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, MD.

Raising the Conversation Podcast continues with Season 5, brought to you by The MacRae Centre and The Futuring Hub at Acadia Divinity College.

In this episode, host Joel Murphy (The Futuring Hub) has a conversation with Ryan Marthinsen, lead pastor at Priory Park Baptist Church in Guelph, ON.

Ryan began his ministry with Priory in May 2023. His pastoral calling is to build intergenerational churches where children, youth, adults, and seniors together are spiritually formed and empowered to serve the Kingdom of God. Ryan lives in Guelph with his wife, Diana, and his two amazing kids.

Ryan takes a rational and scientific approach to many things, which led him to originally pursue a career in computer science. This has helped him be a good dialogue partner with people who struggle with the reality of Jesus. However, his pursuit of his own authentic faith has helped him connect with God beyond the rational, and he has spent the last several years exploring contemplative approaches to faith, especially from Ignatian spirituality.

Raising the Conversation Podcast continues with Season 5, brought to you by The MacRae Centre and The Futuring Hub at Acadia Divinity College.

In this episode, host Joel Murphy (The Futuring Hub) has a conversation with Dr. Jesse Zink. Jesse is principal of Montreal Diocesan Theological College and canon theologian in the Diocese of Montreal. In those roles, he teaches at McGill University and in the Montreal School of Theology consortium, while also relating broadly to churches in Canada and the United States. His latest book, Faithful, Hopeful, Creative: 15 Theses for Christian Witness in a Crisis-Shaped World was published in fall 2024. Learn more about this and his other books by visiting www.jessezink.com

Season 5 of "Raising the Conversation" is here - a podcast brought to you by The MacRae Centre and The Futuring Hub at Acadia Divinity College.

IIn this episode, host Joel Murphy (The Futuring Hub) has a conversation with Jennifer Lau. Jennifer began her tenure as Executive Director of Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) in 2020. She has served with CBM since 2002 in various capacities, primarily providing strategic direction for all of CBM’s partnerships and initiatives in North America. Prior to becoming the Executive Director, she served as the Associate Executive Director where she was responsible for overseeing the organization’s operations. She also created CBM’s Mosaic Magazine and served as its Managing Editor for over a decade. In addition to her work with CBM, Jennifer served as a Vice-President of the Baptist World Alliance from 2020-2025.

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Season 5 of "Raising the Conversation" is here - a podcast brought to you by The MacRae Centre and The Futuring Hub at Acadia Divinity College.

In this episode, host Joel Murphy welcomes Dean Brenton. Dean has served as President of Impactus since 2021. With over 26 years of pastoral and denominational leadership, he has contributed to national, provincial, and parachurch organizations, as well as global and local missional initiatives. He holds a Master of Theological Studies and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Acadia Divinity College.

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