Sidewalk Skyline Podcast

On today’s episode, we are getting off the sidewalk and more into the skyline. Dallas Derksen serves with Mission Aviation Fellowship at Prairie Aviation Training Centre in Three Hills, Alberta.

A critical shortfall of new pilots, highlighted by Statistics Canada and global aviation authorities, threatens to ground as many as half of all available flights in Canada within the next decade.

Today I am having a conversation with Sam, a pastor in Scarborough, chaplain at a Mental Health Forensic Unit and averaging three trips per year planting churches in India since 2019. In our conversation we talk about being a worldwide Christian and having ministry in three lanes.

The Gate Church is an Alliance Church in Niagara Falls, Ontario. I’m here with two of their staff. Lead pastor Mark Royall and executive pastor David Gagne. The Gate Church has the unique distinction of owning a former school building with 120,000 s.f., and has become a hub for several different organizations, businesses, residences and ministries to operate.

I’ve known Dave Gagne for 35 years or so and am not surprised that he and his wife Isabel would end up in a ministry like this. When I was a youth pastor in Exeter, Dave & Isabel had a storefront church called Belongers Church. They were ahead of their time with some of the ways that they pastored and conducted ministry. They came with a background in graphic arts. Isabel was a hometown girl in Exeter, just like my wife Marsha. Dave, you and I captured our brides away and took them off to engage in urban and community-based ministry.

This is my first time meeting Mark Royall, so welcome guys.

Sidewalk Skyline Podcast Season 6, Episode 20 www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com The Red Frog mission is to provide a positive peer presence in alcohol-fueled environments where young people gather; educate young people on safe partying behaviours; and promote alcohol-free and/or diversionary activities that engage young people in these environments. On today’s interview, I chat with Andy Gourley, Aussie founder of Red Frogs.

Jessica Sanchez is a filmmaker and musician based in Calgary, Alberta, with a profound passion for the arts and artist community in Canada, and the intersection of the arts and faith. With creativity and artistry at the core of everything that she does, she has consistently yearned to express and explore the human experience and faith through her work.

Maury Blair’s historical account as given by himself at Our City Windsor 2025. The retelling of the childhood trauma and the intervention of God’s grace.

On today’s episode, I have four guests that were contributors to a book entitled, “Dysfunction In The Name Of Jesus – Confronting The Idol Of Pastoral Workaholism”. As one who has pastored for all of my adult life and grew up in a pastor’s home, I can speak to the value of such a book and the need to guard the pastoral heart from the world that glorifies busyness. Featuring Kevin Rogers interviewing James Ellis III, Karen Stiller, David Dack and Micah Lang.

After 33 years of pastoral ministry, Ted Leck has begun a new venture leading a new  organization known as The Chaplains Platoon. This follows years of serving part-time as a police chaplain and fire chaplain in Toronto and later Huntsville.

Ted’s organization offers chaplaincy support to every first responder in Ontario. This includes on-call 24/7 support, station visits, leading psychological first aid & debriefs, and when needed, helping first responders find further professional support after a critical incident.

It’s usually me interviewing someone else or bringing the content of others here to inspire and inform. On this episode, it’s my turn to speak. This was my session recorded at Our City Windsor 2025.

Empire is the human tradition of conquerors and ideologues wanting to build a world in their image. It’s the ninety-foot selfie of Nebuchadnezzar and the pinch of incense in worship of Caesar.

The nation of Israel was not satisfied to be led by a priesthood and wanted to have a king like the other nations surrounding them. Empire is about power and defense. It is the belief that what’s best for us should be enforced on the other nations.

Even churches can fall prey to empire building and miss out on the true intentions of God.

Shalom on the other hand, is the governmental structure of the Kingdom of God. It is the world as God intends it and is established with the love and power of God bringing about peace on earth. Shalom is dependent on the King of Kings and will not be fully realized until he returns. Somehow, we are to live as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven while giving the Caesar what he is due.

The team at Leamington Community Help Centre run an active mission for street-affiliated people. Part of this work includes addiction recovery services. At the Our City Windsor 2025 conference a group of recovered addicts shared their insights of ministry to this vulnerable population.

Robert Sandwith is the Manager of Recovery Care. Greg Poloz is the men’s recovery care coordinator. Mary Fehr is the women’s recovery care coordinator. Jason Kacsur is a recent success story of a person supported.