The Faith Today Podcast

Among the conversations we've had this year, which were the most urgent, mind-changing or practical? Podcast coordinator Sammy Kyereme and host Bill Fledderus reflect on what has stuck with them. This short episode is a great way to find which of the past 15 episodes would suit you best. Here's our list with those available on video noted by (TV). Most urgent episodes: Both related to the Canadian...

Andy Harrington is the executive director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and their agencies working together to end global hunger. He describes the challenging state of global aid work, government funding and how Canadians can respond.

Jason Ballard of Vancouver is the director and founder of The Pastorate (formerly Canadian Church Leaders Network), an organization that comes alongside pastors in Canada to strengthen their heart, skill and vision to equip them for a lifetime of faithful, vibrant ministry. The Pastorate produces a podcast (many episodes are interviews with Canadian pastors) and facilitates year-long groups for em...

Mark Peterkins is executive director of One Way Ministries in Ottawa. He speaks with host Bill Fledderus about Pray Ottawa, Love Ottawa, the Big Give, networks for workplace and pastoral leaders and other efforts to spur on gospel action in their region and beyond. https://onewayministries.ca/about/our-team/ https://thebiggive.ca/ https://onewayministries.ca/love-ottawa/ https://onewayministries.c...

Patty Bowman Kingsley of Ajax, Ont., is an artist who uses her painting and public speaking to encourage community transformation. She talks with host Bill Fledderus about: Why creativity matters to God How art can be a prophetic and practical tool for transformation Mobilizing creativity for the common good in schools, churches, and public spaces Listen to hear stories and strategies and spiritua...

Adam Kline is director of intercultural missions at the Free Methodist Church in Canada. Jonathan Maracle is a Mohawk musician from Tyendinaga, not far from Kline's home in Belleville, Ont. They reflect with host Bill Fledderus about how our ethnic background can influence church practices and theology. Maracle's music career launched at an important event called Sacred Assembly back in 1995, and...

Floyd Brobbel leads Voice of the Martyrs Canada and has worked with the ministry for more than two decades. He joins host David Guretzki to discuss the current mission and purpose of VOMC and ongoing ways to support Christians worldwide who are being persecuted for their faith. He also shares about his book, “Trouble on the Way: Persecution in the Christian Life,” which received the Debra Fieguth...

Molly Thomas is the host and producer of Big [If True], a weekly show launched in November 2024 on TVO that tackles misinformation, disinformation, conspiracies, hoaxes and scams. She talks with host Bill Fledderus about how Christians can be taken in by fake news, how to protect ourselves and more.

How can Christians benefit from Indigenous transformational approaches to relationship, compared to Western transactional approaches? Dan Collado of in Napanee, Ont., is Indigenous Peoples coordinator for Mission Canada (The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) and director of Aboriginal Bible Academy, which provides remote education across Canada. He chats with host David Guretzki about the importan...

Global aid is not just charity, but a shared responsibility and strategic investment rooted in the biblical call to stewardship, compassion, and justice, says Laura Solberg, executive director of Kentro Christian Network, the national hub representing 70 Christian relief and development organizations across Canada. She chats from Vancouver with host Bill Fledderus in Hamilton. https://kentronetwor...

Keith Dow is a theologian who focuses on care and community, as he does in his book "Formed Together: Mystery, Narrative, and Virtue in Christian Caregiving" (Baylor, 2021) and in his work with Karis Disability Services. He talks with host David Guretzki about Christian perspectives on disability, the ethics of care and issues like MAiD and euthanasia.

Guest host David Guretzki chats with Shoaib Ebadi about reaching and supporting migrants with the gospel. Since 2010 Shoaib Ebadi and his wife have, from Canada, been running an evangelical TV program called Secret of Life, which is broadcast in Afghanistan where he grew up as a Muslim. Ebadi directs Square One World Media, an organization producing Christian content in Russian, Arabic, Low German...

Rick Hiemstra is a former Wesleyan pastor who now directs the EFC's Centre for Research on Church and Faith. He and host David Guretzki reflect on increasing concerns over upcoming pastor retirements and the shrinking numbers of future pastors. They consider issues around training, educational structures, public reputation around pastoral careers, and the need for Christian communities to be more...

Glenn Smith is the director of the graduate program in practical theology at McGill University. He recently published Christians in the City of Montréal, a book that documents the roots of Christianity in Montréal while focusing on the present experience of Christians among its 4.3 million residents. He speaks with guest host David Guretzki about the Indigenous roots of Montréal, the 1960s "Quiet...

Guest host David Guretzki speaks with Dom Ruso, who leads a church called The180 in Laval, Que., that he helped to plant in 2016. Ruso was born and raised in Montreal, holds a PhD in historical theology and has also worked pastoring young adults. The180 church is an interdenominational church under the umbrella of The Alliance Canada. Ruso has a new book coming in September called The Bible in a S...

Jesse Nickel of Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C., published a compelling book last year about how Jesus' ministry and presentation of the Kingdom of God contrast with human understandings of power (A Revolutionary Jesus: Violence and Peacemaking in the Kingdom of God, Fortress Press, 2024). He talks with host Bill Fledderus about the challenge we face to understand shalom is at the heart...

Lisa Pak serves at Finishing the Task, a Great Commission initiative led by Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Church. Her title at that “network of networks” is director of partnerships in Asia, for young leaders and women. She talked with guest host David Guretzki about diaspora communities and engaging younger generations with the gospel. Previous to her current position, she has pastored acros...

Greg Needham of Salmon Arm, B.C., and Lauralynn Mercer of Ontario are educators leading the Canadian Christian Education Movement, a project of the global education ministry Teach Beyond (cemovement.ca). They spoke with host Bill Fledderus about Christ-centred education options in Canada and new ways to help them grow.

Guest host David Guretzki chats with Sarah Han about how church members can think about the church being intercultural and missional. Dr. Han is assistant professor of pastoral ministry at Tyndale University. She considers herself to be "third culture" Canadian-Korean-Chinese and her formative theology was shaped on the mission field abroad. She has diverse experience in the Canadian public and pr...

Many Canadians are feeling burdened by global economic and political turmoil. Jennifer Bowen of Shalem Mental Health Network chats with host Bill Fledderus about how such stress can impact mental health, relationships and faith communities. She offers suggestions informed by psychology and Christian faith for coping and cultivating peace, resilience and hope in uncertain times.

Christie Thomas is an author, parent and children’s ministry leader in Alberta (littleshootsdeeproots.com). Her latest book Little Habits, Big Faith: How Simple Practices Help Your Family Grow in Jesus was published by NavPress in 2024. She chatted with Bill Fledderus about how parents can help plant seeds of faith and help them grow in our children. Little Habits, Big Faith (https://www.navpress....

The hosts of the Faith Today Podcast -- Karen Stiller and Bill Fledderus -- sit together to reflect on their personal highlights of hosting the podcast and preparing Faith Today magazine editorials over the years.

Workaholism in pastors is a form of spiritual dysfunction. It's also deeply rooted in the life and work of pastors and the expectations of many churches. Dysfunction in the Name of Jesus: Confronting the Idol of Pastoral Workaholism is a new book, edited by James Ellis III, releasing early in 2025. Ellis is an author, seminary professor and a pastor, who has served in Canada and the US, in various...

How do we make big life changes? How is our purpose bigger than our job? Michael Messenger has travelled the world doing very good work, leading one of Canada's largest Christian charities. Messenger is now moving onto new things and a new season. He invites us into his process of discernment and reflection about making significant life changes. Messenger speaks openly with host Karen Stiller abou...

Host Karen Stiller moderates a discussion among church specialists EFC President David Guretzki, Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre director Dorothy Pang and Dr. Lee Beach from McMaster Divinity College. The episode also features a Q&A session that took place as part of the event held at Evangel Temple, in October 2024.