The Leadership Journey Podcast

Simon Guillebaud is the founder and international director of Great Lakes Outreach - an umbrella organisation for a range of ministries and enterprises in the nation of Burundi. The ministry website describes Simon as an ‘author, speaker, social entrepreneur, family man, cyclist and charity founder’.

Simon spent two decades in Burundi from the late nineties and while he now lives in the UK, he overseas the work there and travels there several times each year.

In our conversation we talk about his remarkable family heritage and his call to go to Burundi. He shares some background on the country and some of how he has seen God at work. He also talks about his hopes and concerns for the future.

Simon is the host of the Inspired podcast and is the author of several books, including Choose Life: 365 Readings for Radical Disciples, and More than Conquerors: a Call to Radical Discipleship. You can find out more about the work of Great Lakes Outreach by visiting their website.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com

Tony Horsfall is a prolific author and he has recently added what he calls a ‘spiritual autobiography’ to his list of publications. Tony was a guest on the podcast five years ago and he returns this month to discuss his new book - Footsteps of Faith - which is available from various outlets, including the publisher, BRF.

Tony has spoken at events in Northern Ireland on several occasions in recent years and we are hosting a Northern Ireland book launch when Footsteps of Faith will be available for purchase and I will be chatting to Tony about his life and the book. The event takes place on September 23rd at the T3 conference centre in Lisburn. Tickets are available from Eventbrite (follow the link).

You can listen to Tony’s previous appearance on the podcast here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com

‘Keswick at Portstewart’ is a week-long Bible-teaching convention held each year on the north coast of Northern Ireland. It’s been running since 1914 and is the oldest daughter convention of the Keswick (in Cumbria) Convention that began in 1975.

This year’s convention featured teaching from Jonathan Thomas, Mark Meynell, and Clive Bowsher. It also included a lunchtime event when I had the opportunity to chat with the three speakers about life and ministry.

“I was in such a hurry to get into positions, to get into... I was quite ambitious and stuff, but actually the Lord’s pace is right. Trust him, and his timing will be perfect.”

Mark Meynell

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com

Matt MacDiarmid and his wife, Lou, lead Hope Church in Wigston, near Leicester. A few week ago Matt published ‘Ten Things I Wish I’d Known before Leading a Church.’ The book is published by Instant Apostle and you can find links to various outlets where you can order a copy and also read a sample.

It’s an insightful and accessible book in which Matt discusses some of the blessings he has discovered as a church leader (he can still play cricket!) and some of the battles. Then ten chapters cover such issues as priority and time management, equipping the church, handling tech, developing a meaningful prayer life, and dealing with your biggest problem - yourself!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com

Alex Afriyie has recently begun his year as President of the Baptist Union in GB. He’s been pastor of a church in Acton for some three decades and has served as moderator of London Baptists. His theme for the year is drawn from Ephesians 4: ‘Walking Worthy.

It was great to catch up with him for this episode of the podcast, when he talked about his early years and coming to faith as a young Londoner who turned up in a Baptist church with some of his friends.

One of the questions we spent some time on was how he has stayed fresh in serving God over an extended time. Anyone wanting to learn how to sustain ministry over the long haul will be encouraged as Alex unpacks some of his key spiritual priorities and practices - lifelines for both ministry and marriage.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com

The guest on this episode of the podcast is Gilbert Lennox. Gilbert has already been a guest on the podcast on a couple of occasions (on both occasions we recorded in front of an actual audience) and this time he joins me to talk about his new book, God Speaking: How to read the Bible to get to know God.

Our conversation begins with a little biography (for more on that you could listen to our 2019 conversation), noting the influence of his parents and of his mentor, Professor David Gooding, on Gilbert’s own relationship with the Bible.

We then talk about engaging with the Bible and explore some the ideas that are developed further in the book.

The book will be available in various outlets such as Cedar and Circle or The Bookwell in Northern Ireland, online from Eden Books and in some of the upcoming summer conferences.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com

Peter Rae has recently retired (at least semi-retired) from three decades at the Nazarene Theological College in Manchester, including fifteen years as Academic Dean/VP Academic. I have worked with him in facilitating an MA leadership module over the past few years and on this episode of the podcast we chatted about his story.

Our conversation ranged from the early years, growing up in a family whose story is intertwined with that of NTC, through his journey into the world of theology and academia. We talked about an old motto of NTC (‘scholarship on fire’) and what it means to hold a commitment to careful study and a commitment to ministry together. We touched a little on the phase of life where we both find ourselves (Peter is a few weeks older than me), with some advice for people approaching retirement, and as ever, we finished with something Peter would tell his 20-year-old self.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com

I’m keeping this first episode of the year in the family - my guest is Pauline, my wife of 41 years (you can work out whether that is her age or the length of time we have been married).

We’re going to chat a bit about her story and we are going to spend time talking about an exciting writing project that sees the light of day over the course of the year. Pauline has been writing a series of short books that are intended to provide material for folk who wish to spend a bit of time on retreat. The first is due this month and the others will follow as the year unfolds.

If you are living in Northern Ireland we hope that the books will be available in some local Christian bookshops, but there are also plans to make them available to folks from around the world via online ordering. You can follow Pauline’s Substack and other social media to keep up to date with news of the books as well as retreats and other events where she will be speaking.

For more information on the wellbeing programme Pauline mentioned, you can visit the Renew Wellbeing website.

You can read Pauline’s article - Twelve Tips for Pastors’ Wives - on her Substack.

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribing to my Substack will also you to keep up to date with future podcast episodes.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com

Pastor and author Sam Allberry, is currently Associate Pastor in Immanuel Church in Nashville, having moved to the US from England. He is author of several books, including Is God Anti-Gay? and Seven Myths about Singleness. His writing also includes a couple of short commentaries on parts of the New Testament.

In our conversation we discuss Sam's early years, growing up in a non-church family in Kent, coming to faith as a teenager. We talk about his progression into ordained Church of England ministry and his eventual move to Immanuel Church in Nashville. Sam also talks about his friendship with the late Tim Keller and  - as you'd expect - what he would say to his 20-year old self, including this:

'Jesus is even better than you think he is!'

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com

Gavin Calver and Phil Knox from the Evangelical Alliance have both been on the podcast previously but on this episode they are talking about a new book they have written together and which has just been launched. It's 'Good News People: Hopeful Evangelicals yesterday, today and tomorrow' and it's a positive manifesto for the 21st Century Evangelical Church in the UK (with application to other parts of the world).

As we mention in the conversation, there is a suite of resources to go with the book - a great idea for small groups to work on together and the Evangelical Alliance website will allow you to find out more about the Alliance and give you the option to join as a personal member if you wish to support the work.

If you are in Northern Ireland, Phil will be at the T3 centre on October 16: he will be with his colleague, Rachel Heffer, and they will be talking about the results of the Talking Jesus research.

For more from Phil, you can check out his book 'The Best of Friends' and 'Unleashed' is the book written by Gavin and his wife, Anne.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsalanwilson.substack.com