In this episode of Scripture Untangled, CBS Ambassador Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling sits down with theologian and educator Dr. Justin Stratis, Vice Principal and Academic Dean at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. Together, they explore how reading Scripture shapes our understanding of God, prayer, hope, Christian witness, and life in a changing culture. 

In this episode, Justin and Andrew discuss: 

• What it means to say that God is love and why that understanding begins with Jesus Christ. 
• How Christians can remain faithful to Jesus while living in a society filled with many beliefs. 
• Why Christians should be known for serving and loving their neighbours rather than winning arguments. 
• How Scripture gives hope in a world filled with fear and uncertainty, and how prayer reminds us that God is still in control. 

Read the transcript: biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s14-ep2

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I was raised in a Christian home in New Jersey, my parents having converted to evangelical Protestantism from Greek Orthodoxy a couple of years before I was born. I made my own commitment to Christ as a teenager and began serving in several churches as a musician, a path that would lead me to complete a degree in music before turning to theology as I contemplated a calling to full time vocational ministry.  

In 2003, my wife Melissa and I moved to Chicago where I attended seminary and she continued her work in communications/marketing. In seminary, a journey that had begun as preparation for further church work led me to systematic theology as a calling in its own right, and after taking two degrees, we made the decision to head to Scotland so I could study with John Webster for a research degree in dogmatics. In Scotland, I learned a great deal from John about what it is to be a ‘doctor of the church,’ not merely as an academic career, but more so as an ecclesial office to which one is accountable. In light of this, and after having been confirmed Anglican in the Scottish Episcopal Church, our next move was to Bristol, England, where I took up my first post as Tutor in Christian Doctrine at Trinity College training ordinands for vocational ministry in the Church of England. 

I served at Trinity College Bristol for nine years teaching some brilliant students, working alongside excellent colleagues, and directing the college’s doctoral programme in partnership with the University of Aberdeen. I had intended to stay there indefinitely, but when the opportunity arose to make a move to Wycliffe College in 2021, it was clear that providence was leading me once again to make an unexpected change.  

What excites me the most about Wycliffe, alongside its clear and historic commitment to doing theology in service of the church and her mission in the world, is the college’s vision to ground ministerial education in the theological interpretation of Scripture. I truly believe that the more emerging ministers and theologians learn to place the Bible at the centre of their ministries and earnestly desire to hear and proclaim the Word of God in its pages, the more the church’s witness will distinguish itself in the world as an effective testimony to the living God. I am looking forward to many years of service here, and especially to spending time learning, worshipping, and praying with students and colleagues.  

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This conversation touches on one of the most urgent humanitarian issues of our time: world hunger. In this episode of Scripture Untangled, Lorna Dueck sits down with Andy Harrington, Executive Director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, to explore what the Bible says about caring for the hungry, pursuing justice, and responding to human suffering with compassion.

In this episode, Andy and Lorna discuss:

• Why world hunger is growing and how the Bible calls us to respond.
• The growing global hunger crisis in Sudan and how this challenges us to consider what God's heart for the poor means for how we live today.
• How personal loss deepened Andy’s compassion for the hungry, and his calling to serve others.
• How Matthew 25 challenges and helps us to actually see the hungry and view them differently.

Read the transcript: biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s14-ep1 

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Andy Harrington is a leading Canadian voice in the fight against global hunger. As the Executive Director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, he leads a powerful ecumenical coalition of 15 church-based agencies representing nearly 30 denominations, working together to end food insecurity. With over 30 years of frontline leadership, ranging from refugee support in war-torn Bosnia and Croatia to tsunami relief in Sri Lanka, Andy brings a rare blend of boots-on-the-ground experience and high-level strategic vision.   

Andy has spent his career at the intersection of faith and global service, including nearly a decade as CEO of The Wellspring Foundation. His expertise in the broader sector is reflected in his three-year term as co-chair of the Humanitarian Coalition (concluding May 2026), a partnership of Canada’s leading aid agencies. This professional breadth, combined with a Master’s in Missiology and Culture, makes Andy a uniquely qualified expert on how the Canadian Church can partner effectively to serve a broken world. 

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In this episode of Scripture Untangled, Pastor TJ Syroteuk, Lead Pastor of Rexdale Alliance Church in Toronto, joins Lorna Dueck to discuss why the Bible is more than a collection of books and that it is one unified story pointing to Jesus. Learn how holiness means being set apart, why Biblical festivals still matter today, and how God's story can reshape your own.

In this episode, TJ and Lorna discuss:

• Why sometimes we as Christians can misunderstand holiness, and how Scripture defines it less as perfection and more as being distinct and set apart for God's purposes.
• TJ’s passion for helping people see the Bible as one interconnected story of God's redemption.
• What modern Christians can learn from Passover, First Fruits, and the Feast of Weeks.
• How viewing the Bible as one unified story helps believers find their place in God's story of redemption, sheds new light on Jesus' teachings, unlocks deeper meaning in Scripture, and redefines holiness.

Read the transcript: https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep15 

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TJ Syroteuk was born in Humboldt, raised on a farm in Manitoba, and spent several years in the United States completing a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Studies and a Master’s degree in Counseling. During his years in university and ministry training, he served in a wide variety of church contexts, including children’s, youth, young adult, worship, and speaking ministries.

Before entering full-time pastoral ministry, TJ worked in a variety of fields including sales, the trades, the grocery industry, and financial services as a licensed advisor. He later moved to Calgary, where he served as Director of Discipleship at Bearspaw Christian School, became a regular camp and conference speaker, and worked as a chaplain for junior and university hockey teams.

In 2020, during the global pandemic, TJ and his family moved to Toronto, where he now serves as Lead Pastor of Rexdale Alliance Church.

TJ is passionate about helping people engage the Bible in ways that are thoughtful, accessible, and relevant to everyday life. Although relatively new to Toronto, he has been a lifelong fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Blue Jays, which means he is no stranger to disappointment.

When he is not preaching or teaching, TJ enjoys reading, exploring new neighbourhoods in the city, people-watching, cooking outdoors (especially grilling, barbequing, smoking meat, and live-fire cooking), and spending time with his wife Joanna and their two sons, Dominic and Mylo.

https://rexdalealliance.ca/

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In this episode, Dr. Mark Glanville, Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership at St. Andrew's Hall,  joins CBS Ambassador Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling to explore the tenderness of Jesus, the future of the church in Canada, and why people may be more open to the Bible than we think. Discover how beauty, belonging, and Biblical faithfulness can help Christians share the Gospel in a changing culture.

In this episode, Mark and Andrew discuss:

• What it means to follow Jesus faithfully in a post-Christian culture and why the future of the church may be brighter than we think.
• The embodiment of Jesus' tenderness, beauty, and compassion in Christian communities.
• How creativity, improvisation, and beauty can help Christians communicate the Gospel in fresh ways.
• Why aren't many people looking for a preacher's opinion even when they're hungry to understand what the Bible is saying.
• A hopeful vision for Christian mission in Canada, rooted in the grace of God, the beauty of Scripture, and the tenderness of Jesus.

Read the transcript: https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep14 

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Dr Mark Glanville works as the Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He is an Old Testament scholar, and has written five books, including Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul, and Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Communities. Mark has published articles in top tire biblical studies journals such as CBQ, JSOT, and JBL. His vocational goal is to research, teach, write, speak, and play music to nourish Christian leaders to creatively reimagine what the church can be and do in post-Christian societies, with the Bible in our hands. Mark is also a professional jazz pianist, active on the Vancouver jazz scene. Mark’s podcast is Blue Note Theology— “The only podcast in the world hosted from the grand piano!”  

His personal website is: markglanville.org   

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In this episode of Scripture Untangled, veteran journalist Lorna Dueck sits down with Rev. Dr. Sabrina Jordan, lead pastor of Wesley Chapel in Toronto, to explore the intersection of faith, caregiving, resilience, and rest. As both a pastor and caregiver to her aging parents, including her mother living with Parkinson’s disease, Sabrina knows firsthand what it feels like to carry heavy responsibilities while trying to remain faithful to God’s calling. She shares how Psalm 23, daily prayer, and a deeper understanding of God as the Good Shepherd have transformed the way she approaches ministry, caregiving, exhaustion, and the pressure to perform.

In this episode, Sabrina and Lorna discuss: 

• How she's learning to replace striving with faithfulness and discover God's invitation to rest as she cares for aging parents, leads a congregation, and navigates the demands of life. 
• The challenge of caring for her mother with Parkinson's disease while serving as a pastor, and how God's presence sustains her through seasons of exhaustion and uncertainty. 
• Psalm 23, and how the Good Shepherd leads weary souls to still waters, offering practical wisdom for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of life, caregiving, or ministry. 
• The invitation to rediscover the beauty of quiet faithfulness, learning that God never asks us to carry burdens we were never meant to bear alone. 

Read the transcript: https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep13

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Rev. Dr. Sabrina Jordan has served as Lead Pastor of Wesley Chapel Free Methodist Church in Toronto since 2007. She is passionate about walking alongside people at every stage of their faith journey, helping them encounter God in meaningful, life-shaping ways. Sabrina believes the church is called to be a true community of belonging—where people are known, loved, and invited into deeper relationship with Christ and with one another. She is especially committed to investing in the next generation, with a particular heart for new immigrant students who need someone to truly see, support, and care for them as they grow in faith and find their place. 

Sabrina lives in Pickering with her husband, Terry, where they also lovingly care for her parents. Their home is shared with their sweet dachshund, Harley. 

https://www.wcfmto.com/ 

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
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• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
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In this episode of Scripture Untangled, veteran journalist Lorna Dueck sits down with Ray Pennings, Executive Vice President and Co-founder of Cardus, to explore one of Canada's most challenging moral conversations, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). Drawing from Scripture, Christian social thought, and decades of public policy engagement, Ray unpacks how faith shapes our understanding of human dignity, suffering, autonomy, community, and hope. 

In this episode, Ray and Lorna discuss: 

• What happens when a nation redefines suffering, dignity, and death and how Canada's MAID debate reveals deeper questions about human worth, community, and hope. 
• How Christians often wrestle with compassion, autonomy, and end-of-life decisions and how the Bible provides us with a deep, spiritual perspective on suffering, care, and human flourishing. 
• What role Christians can play in Canada's most challenging moral debates and the lessons Ray learned from 25 years of engaging policymakers through Cardus. 
• How we can navigate suffering without losing hope and a deeply Biblical perspective on death, dignity, and trusting God even in our final days. 

Read the transcript: https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep12 

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Ray Pennings is the co-founder and Executive Vice-President of Cardus, a leading Canadian think tank. His work focuses on the public dimensions of faith, especially as it informs the work of the full range of social institutions and their contribution to public life. He authors a popular weekly newsletter, Cardus Insights, written to provide engaged citizens with resources for faith, leadership, and public life.  

In addition to his own punditry, Ray leads a team of social entrepreneurs at Cardus who are thinking through challenges such as overcoming social isolation, cultivating public virtue, and enhancing freedom in diverse contexts, contributing to the conversation with research and data reports, public commentary, and facilitated events.  

Ray holds a Master's Degree in Theology from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He has been a life-long member of the Free Reformed denomination, where he served as an elder, clerk of Synod, and as a licensed exhorter. He and his wife Kathy are based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 

https://www.cardus.ca/   

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In this episode of Scripture Untangled, Dr. Kristen Deede Johnson, Principal of Wycliffe College, joins CBS Ambassador Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling for a rich and personal conversation about faith, formation, and what it really means to follow Jesus today. Kristen offers a hopeful perspective on the future of the Church, highlighting signs of renewal, particularly among younger generations seeking truth, meaning, and community. 

In this episode, Kristen and Andrew discuss: 

• What it means to be formed in Christ, moving beyond surface-level faith into a vision of discipleship that shapes every part of our lives. 
• How some Christians put pressure on themselves to perform for God, and how a deeper understanding of the Trinity reveals that God, not us, is the primary One at work in the world. 
• How culture quietly shapes our beliefs, identity, and expectations, often influencing our faith more than we realize. 
• A hopeful perspective on the future of the Church, highlighting signs of renewal, particularly among younger generations seeking truth, meaning, and community. 

Read the transcript: biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep11 

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Dr Kristen Deede Johnson is the eleventh Principal of Wycliffe College. She comes to Wycliffe College from Western Theological Seminary, an evangelical and ecumenical seminary in Holland, Michigan, where she was Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs as well as G.W. and Edna Haworth Professor of Educational Ministries and Leadership. 

After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia (BA in Political and Social Thought with a minor in Religious Studies) she pursued graduate studies at St. Mary's College, University of St. Andrews, in St. Andrews, Scotland, where she earned a PhD in Theology. 

As an administrative leader in theological education, Dr Johnson has significant experience in such areas as strategic planning, developing and implementing academic and external programs in ways that serve the mission of the seminary and the needs of the Church, and establishing centres and recruiting faculty to enhance the reputation and impact of the institution. 

She is widely published by both popular and academic publishers and a sought-after thought leader on radio and podcasts. Her first book, Theology, Political Theory, and Pluralism: Beyond Tolerance and Difference, was published by Cambridge University Press in the Cambridge Studies in Christian Doctrine series. In 2017 a book she co-authored, The Justice Calling: Where Passion Meets Perseverance (Brazos Press), was awarded Book of the Year from Christianity Today in the Politics and Public Life Category.  

https://www.wycliffecollege.ca/users/kristen-deede-johnson

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
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What if you heard the Bible in your heart language? In this powerful episode, Harvey Satewas Gabriel shares the extraordinary story of how God began calling him decades before he even began translating the Bible into Mohawk with veteran journalist Lorna Dueck. Joined by his granddaughter Samantha, the conversation starts off as a story of translation and then transforms into a powerful testimony of faith, resilience, and generational legacy. 

In this episode, Harvey, Samantha, and Lorna discuss: 

• What it looks like when God plants a calling in your life decades before you’re ready to say yes. 
• How powerful it is to hear God’s Word in the language that shaped your heart and home. 
• What happens when an ordinary life becomes part of an extraordinary calling, without training, status, or recognition? 
• When ancient language and modern technology come together to bring Scripture to a new generation 
• Whether it's ever too late to step into God's purpose for your life 
• Whether your greatest calling could still be ahead 

Read the transcript: biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep10  

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Canadian Bible Society: https://biblesociety.ca/
Read Mohawk Bible Online: https://www.my-bible.ca/bible/MHK/GEN.1

*To read the Mohawk Bible side-by-side with another language, simply sign up for a free MyBible account.

Purchase Mohawk Bible: https://biblescanada.com/products/mohawk-bible-flx-bd
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Harvey Satewas Gabriel, now 86 years old, was born at home, and raised In Kanesatake by his fluent speaking Mohawk parents Gladys and Bernard Gabriel. Together they raised their children using Mohawk everyday and created a strong foundation and cultural expression for their children to carry through life.  Harvey taught himself how to read and write Mohawk through his great grandfather's translation of the 4 gospels, and would read scripture on the local Kanesatake radio station for 10 years, and the Elders loved his program.     

Working 47 years in Montreal for the same company would work evenings translating the Bible, and retired in 2005 at 65 years old.  His work did not stop there; he continued translating The 58 books of the Bible into Mohawk, with greater intensity and completed it.  His work also included translating the deuterocanonical books of the Bible as well, and 2 Mohawk dictionaries.    

Harvey credits as the catalyst for his most important works Gladys' strong will to raise her family strictly in Mohawk, a chance preachers' message, and his strong faith. 

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Samantha Pepin is a Mohawk woman from Kanesatà:ke, Quebec, whose work is rooted in storytelling, community, and cultural preservation. She is the founder of Life in Full Bloom Photography, where she specializes in capturing meaningful moments and preserving memories through photography. 

Passionate about documenting the stories of people, families, and communities, Samantha believes that storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to honour those who came before us and inspire future generations. Her work often reflects her deep appreciation for family, history, language, and Indigenous culture.  

As the granddaughter of Elder Satewas and a descendant of Joseph Swan (Sose Onensakenrat), Samantha has a personal connection to the story of the first complete Mohawk Bible. She is honoured to help share the history behind this remarkable achievement and the generations of dedication that made it possible.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
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What happens when success, leadership, and discipline still leave you searching for something more? In this episode of Scripture Untangled, former NHL captain and Stanley Cup champion Ryan Walter shares his remarkable journey with veteran journalist Lorna Dueck. Ryan shares the powerful story of how fear on a flight led him to open the Bible and encounter Jesus in a life-changing way. 

In this episode, Ryan and Lorna discuss: 

• Ryan’s early life, shaped by strong values and disciplined practice and how it prepared him not just for a career in the NHL, but for a life of leadership and character. 
• How resilience and deepened dependence on God developed through adversity, especially after a devastating knee injury that happened early on in his life. 
• How daily time with Scripture transformed his life and marriage, offering a glimpse into the steady, lifelong discipline that continues to shape his faith today. 
• A call for the Church: to return to the core of the Gospel by loving God deeply, loving others, and extending grace in every relationship. 

Read the transcript:  https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep9  

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Ryan Walter played more than 1000 games over 15 seasons in the National Hockey League. Drafted second overall by the Washington Capitals, Ryan was named the youngest NHL captain in his second of 4 seasons, played 9 seasons and won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens, and returned to his hometown to play his last 2 seasons for the Vancouver Canucks. He was named Team Canada Captain in the World Junior Tournament, was selected to play in the NHL All-Star game and for Team Canada in 3 World Championships, became a Vice-President of the National Hockey League Players Association, and was honoured as NHL Man of the Year. Ryan has been inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame, the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame, named to the 30 all-time Washington Capitals’ Dream team, the top 50 all-time BCHL players, the top 125 WHL players of all time, and the top 100 Montreal Canadiens in 100 years.  

Ryan has a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership/Business. He is the author of 6 books and an expert contributor to magazines, newspapers, radio, and television. Ryan serves as a Director of the Spartan Foundation, and is a member of the Seton Hall University Buccino Leadership Institute Advisory Council, and is the recipient of the TEC Canada Speaker of the Year Award for 2015 and 2024.  

Ryan won a Gold Medal as Head Coach of Canada's National Women's Hockey Team, was Assistant Coach of the Vancouver Canucks, co-founder, and president of two start-up companies, a TV and radio hockey analyst, a hockey adviser and actor for both television and movies, the creator of a board game, and the President of a professional hockey team. Ryan continues to inspire leaders, teams, businesses, and organizations across North America and beyond, to become their very best. 

www.ryanwalter.com/

Books - www.ryanwalter.com/shop  

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In this episode of Scripture Untangled, the Right Reverend Dr. Kimberly Heath, Moderator of the United Church of Canada, joins CBS Ambassador Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling for a rich and honest conversation about calling, transformation, and what the church needs right now. Kimberly shares the unexpected moment that changed the course of her life, how Scripture has shaped her journey, and why real transformation often happens through small steps - aware, repair, renew.

In this episode, Kimberly and Andrew discuss: 

• How God often speaks a calling into our lives through the voice of another person. 
• How Scripture anchors us in seasons of uncertainty and guides us toward purpose. 
• Spiritual transformation that happens through awareness, action, and renewal. 
• The life of faith and how it is strengthened through daily prayer and intentional habits. 

Read the transcript:  https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep8  

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The Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly A. Heath is the 45th Moderator of The United Church of Canada. She was born in Lusaka, Zambia, where her parents taught school, but grew up in small towns and cities in Canada.  

After studying history at McGill University, she earned her Master of Divinity at Emmanuel College, before being ordained in 1999. Her Doctorate in Ministry studies focused on preaching, particularly where it can effect transformation, within and in the world, through small steps and minor shifts. She began her nearly three decades of active ministry with the people of Claresholm-Stavely Pastoral Charge in rural southern Alberta. Since 2007, she has served the people of Wall Street United Church in eastern Ontario. 

Her active ministry has led her to working within the wider church, chairing Pastoral Relations in Foothills Presbytery, serving as President of Bay of Quinte Conference, and working on the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council Transition Commission. She also inspires and nurtures church leaders’ faith through clergy retreats, workshops and preaching conferences. 

She lives in Brockville, Ontario, with her husband and youngest of her four children ranging in age from 15 to 27 years and Salty the dog. She is bilingual and enjoys reading, sailing, and open-water swimming. 

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