Listen to the first episode with Pastor Will:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/walk-talks/id1626316493?i=1000680260001

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5aM0N7d3zDu0uCh8HUySb0?si=c8WJ-A1UQhKLSzcWSJxlNw

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In this week’s Friday Focus, we sit down with Pastor Will Esayenko, a faithful shepherd serving in the small mountain town of Hinton, Alberta. Though his congregation is modest in size, his commitment to the Lord and to gospel ministry is anything but small.

Our conversation centers on two key themes. First, Pastor Will shares creative and effective ways his church is reaching their community—strategies that build relationships and open doors for the gospel without compromising biblical doctrine. From simple acts of service to intentional community presence, he demonstrates how a church can be both missional and theologically anchored.

Second, we take a sober look at the decline of spiritual-mindedness in Canada, shaped by an increasingly lax cultural posture toward faith. Pastor Will speaks candidly about the challenges this creates for pastors and congregations who desire to remain steadfast in truth.

Finally, he issues a heartfelt and urgent call: Canada needs more pastors. The fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few—not only in Canada, but also across the United States. Pastor Will encourages men to prayerfully consider the pastoral ministry and to step courageously into the work of shepherding God’s people.

This is a rich and needed conversation about faithfulness, outreach, cultural discernment, and the ongoing need for biblically grounded leaders. Tune in and be encouraged.

In this week’s episode, Micah Herbster welcomes us from Edson, Alberta, Canada, as we arrive at the halfway point of Psalm 119—the eleventh stanza in this remarkable 22-stanza chapter. Joining Micah is guest Scott Bratt as together they explore verses 81–88, a section many have called the “midnight of the Psalm.”

This stanza plunges into the depths of despair using words like fainteth, fail, digged pits, persecuted, and almost consumed. Yet even in this darkness, glimmers of hope shine. With help from the insights of Charles Spurgeon and cross-references throughout Scripture, Micah and Scott walk verse by verse through the psalmist’s cries—his fainting soul, longing eyes, the strange image of a “bottle in the smoke,” and his urgent questions for God.

Though the psalmist nears total destruction, he refuses to abandon God’s precepts. And in the final verse of this stanza, he pleads for renewed life—a request that becomes a springboard for the hope and restoration that follow later in the Psalm.

This “cliff-hanger” moment leaves us longing for what comes next, and we invite you to join us when Walk Talks returns in 2026. In the meantime, revisit earlier episodes to follow the unfolding journey of Psalm 119.

Scott closes today’s episode by praying the psalm, giving voice to both the struggle and the steadfast hope found in God’s Word.

In today's Friday Focus episode, Malachi Herbster sits down with Evangelist David Corn to discuss avenues of gospel ministry. David Corn shares his burden for his own ministry on his website:

1. My burden is to preach the gospel to unreached people and see them get saved! My heart is broken about people on their way to hell, and I want to spend my life leading as many people to Christ as possible! Romans 15:20 reads, “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.” The public schools are a special heartbeat of mine because so many young people do not know about Christ!

2. My burden is to see people added to the church like in Acts 2. Acts 2:41 reads, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Verse 47 reads, “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” We pray that God uses us to see people join Bible-believing, fundamental, independent, local New Testament Baptist churches!

3. My burden is to see believers become soul-winners. Matthew 28:18-20 is still in the Bible, reading, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” If believers are not trying to win souls, then they are out of God’s will!

4. My burden is to see believers learn to live the Spirit-filled life. I am still learning this myself, but what God has taught me so far is life-changing! We need to learn how to depend on Christ, grow in faith, and look to God to work in our lives! John 15:4 reads, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

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*Burden taken from Evangelist David Corn's website

In this episode, Micah sits down with Mike Herbster to explore Psalm 119:73–80—a stanza that anchors us in God’s faithful work even in seasons of affliction. Together, they reflect on how the psalmist recognizes God as his Maker, seeks understanding in His commandments, and finds hope in His Word when trials press in.

This conversation highlights a powerful truth: God’s judgments are right, and His afflictions are faithful. His merciful kindness becomes our comfort, His tender mercies sustain our life, and His statutes steady our hearts. As the psalmist prays for a sound heart, the episode urges believers to cling to God’s Word so that they, too, may stand unashamed and strengthened through every trial.

Join us as we meditate on this portion of Psalm 119 and consider how God uses difficulty to deepen our dependence on Him and shape us into faithful followers of His testimonies.

Happy Thanksgiving! As we gather with family and pause from the pace of life, this day holds special weight for Christians—not just as a national tradition, but as a spiritual discipline. Gratitude is more than a feeling; it’s a response offered to a Person. And Psalm 100 reminds us exactly who deserves that thanks.

In this Thanksgiving episode of Walk Talks, we walk through Psalm 100:4–5 and its call to “Give thanks to Him.” We explore how this psalm draws our eyes away from ourselves and toward the character of God—His exceeding goodness, His everlasting kindness, and His enduring faithfulness. These are the anchors of our thanksgiving, not only today but every day.

Join us as we enter His courts with praise and rehearse the goodness, mercy, and faithfulness of the Lord to every generation.

In this week’s episode of The Word Within, Micah Herbster and Micah Gillespie continue their journey through the ninth stanza of Psalm 119, reflecting deeply on the theme of God’s goodness—even in affliction. Building on last week’s discussion about the Lord’s corrective kindness, they now explore how God can use even the opposition of the wicked to prod His people back toward Himself.

Walking verse-by-verse through Psalm 119:69–72, the conversation uncovers the Psalmist’s experience with slander, the hardened hearts of the proud, and the striking contrast of the believer’s unwavering obedience and delight in God’s law. Together, the Micahs consider how affliction can be received as a gracious gift—teaching us God’s statutes, shaping us into Christlikeness, and proving that God’s Word is more valuable than “thousands of gold and silver.”

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, this episode calls us to recognize the often-unexpected ways God works for our good, even through difficulty. Join us as we embrace the goodness of God—especially in the afflictions that lead us closer to Him.

In this special Friday Focus episode of the Walk Talks Podcast, Emily Herbster and Emaley Gillespie sit down with Carolyn Sykora to trace the gracious, steady hand of God through her journey of faith and ministry. From her Wisconsin roots and early salvation to her formative years studying voice and cross-cultural ministry at Bob Jones University, Carolyn shares how the Lord cultivated in her a heart for missions and prepared her for the unexpected paths ahead.

Carolyn also reflects on her years in overseas ministry, the surprising way God redirected her steps toward Southland in 2019, and the unmistakable ways He confirmed His leading at each turn. With warmth and humility, she recounts how serving on summer staff opened the door to a full-time role where she now helps keep Southland’s ministry running smoothly behind the scenes. Listeners will be encouraged by Carolyn’s testimony of patient obedience, God’s sovereign timing, and the joy of following Him wherever He leads.

In this week’s Walk Talk, Micah Herbster sits down with Michael McIntyre to explore the ninth stanza of Psalm 119—and the surprising goodness of God in His correction. While the psalmist celebrates God’s “good dealings,” “good discernment,” and “good doings,” this conversation lingers where the text itself leads: on the goodness of God in the discipline of His own.

Like lost sheep who need the shepherd’s staff, we often need the Lord’s prodding, redirecting, and even painful correction. Psalm 119:65–68 shows that affliction itself can be a mercy—God’s best work to bring wandering hearts back to His Word. Together Micah and Michael trace the repeated theme of God’s goodness and remind us that in a season of thanksgiving, we praise not only the gifts God gives, but the God who gives Himself through His wise, purposeful discipline.

If God is good—and He is—then everything He uses to shape His children is good too. Join us for a conversation that encourages humble gratitude, renewed trust, and a fresh confidence in the Shepherd who lovingly brings His people home.

In this episode, Micah Gillespie explores what it means to cultivate musical taste—not just consume music. He unpacks how intentional listening shapes our discernment, deepens our appreciation for artistry, and ultimately enriches both personal worship and everyday life. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or simply someone who wants to enjoy music more thoughtfully, this conversation will help you tune your ears—and your heart—to what truly matters.

In this episode of The Word Within, Malachi Herbster continues our Walk Talks journey through Psalm 119, exploring the “Distinct Delights” of a life centered on God’s Word. In verses 57–64, the psalmist declares, “Thou art my portion, O Lord,” revealing the joy of belonging fully to the Lord and finding satisfaction in His statutes. From Radical Constraint to Righteous Companionship, this passage uncovers what sets the believer’s joy apart from the world’s fleeting pleasures—a joy rooted in obedience, gratitude, and fellowship with those who fear God.

Discover how devotion brings both discipline and delight as Malachi unpacks six key marks of a heart fully satisfied in the Lord, showing that the life anchored in Scripture is not one of mere duty, but of distinct and lasting delight.