The Healthy Christian Leader

In this episode of the Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Harry Gardner sits down with longtime pastor and leader Larry Levy , lead pastor of Halifax Metro Vineyard , for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation on spiritual formation, leadership, and legacy. With nearly three decades of pastoral leadership, Larry reflects on his current season of transition as he prepares to hand off lead...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl sits down with Dr. Harry Gardner—pastor, former denominational leader, and longtime president of Acadia Divinity College—to explore the spiritual practices that have sustained him over 50 years of ministry. Harry shares how prayer, reflective journaling, worship, forgiveness, and intentionally noticing God’s activity (“I Spy God”)...

In this rich and heartfelt episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl sits down with Dr. Harry Gardner—long-time pastor, denominational leader, former president of Acadia Divinity College, and mentor to leaders across Canada. With over 40 years of ministry experience, Harry shares deeply from his journey of remaining spiritually fresh, emotionally grounded, and committed to God’s c...

Jay Guptill shares insights on recognizing and recovering from burnout in ministry. He discusses practical steps for restoration, the roles of counseling and coaching, and the importance of physical, emotional, and spiritual self-care. This episode also highlights how church boards can support leaders and foster a culture of rest and renewal. Resources & Connections: Made for More Ministries:...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Dwight Habermel sits down with Jay Guptill, a pastor with over 40 years of experience, to explore the importance of preventative care for leaders. They dive into habits and practices that help leaders flourish emotionally, spiritually, and relationally, emphasizing intentionality, self-care, and the foundation of identity in Christ. Jay s...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl sits down with Dr. Danny Smith, longtime pastor of Middleton Baptist Church in Nova Scotia. Together, they explore the joys and challenges of raising children while navigating the demands of ministry. Danny shares candid reflections from over two decades of pastoral leadership and parenting—from finding balance, managing expecta...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl continues his conversation with Dr. Laurel Buckingham, longtime pastor of Moncton Wesleyan Church and founder of the Buckingham Leadership Institute. Now in his eighties, Dr. Buckingham shares his passion for mentoring leaders across denominations and generations, emphasizing the unity that comes from centering on the Lordship of C...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl sits down with Dr. Laurel Buckingham, longtime pastor of Moncton Wesleyan Church in New Brunswick, to reflect on more than four decades of faithful leadership in one community. Laurel shares how a clear vision of kingdom impact, steady spiritual rhythms, and a lifelong commitment to learning kept him rooted and refreshed through se...

Aaron Ministries has the vision to see Healthy Leaders leading Healthy Churches that transform communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Resourcing Pastors and Christian Leaders through the Healthy Christian Leaders Podcast is one way that we strive to do this.  In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, host Dwight Habermehl talks with John Campbell, Director of Development and Technolog...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , host Dwight Habermehl talks with John Campbell from Acadia Divinity College about the world of artificial intelligence and its growing impact on pastoral ministry. John shares how his background in technology and ministry has helped him see AI as both a challenge and a powerful tool for the church. Together, they explore how pastors can use AI for...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Dwight Habermehl welcomes back Rev. Dr. Peter Lohnes , Senior Pastor at Grace Memorial Baptist in Fredericton, to talk about leading with grace during change and uncertainty . Drawing from decades of ministry experience, Peter reflects on what it means to lead with confidence and compassion when facing disruption—whether in the church, wo...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Dwight Habermehl talks with Rev. Dr. Peter Lohnes , Senior Pastor at Grace Memorial Baptist in Fredericton, about how pastors and ministry leaders can navigate healthy transitions. Drawing from nearly four decades in ministry and his doctoral research titled Leading While Leaving , Peter shares wisdom on discerning when it’s time to move...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Rob Laidlaw, pastor and author of Demystifying Deliverance, to explore the challenging and often misunderstood topic of discerning evil spirits. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in freedom ministry, Rob shares practical insights for identifying spiritual strongholds, differentiating between psychological issu...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Rob Laidlaw, author of Demystifying Deliverance, to explore the connection between deliverance and discipleship. Rob explains that deliverance is not just about removing an evil spirit—it’s about addressing the deeper spiritual issues and distrust in God that allow such influences to take hold. They discuss how ido...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl continues the conversation with Pastor and author Rob Laidlaw on the theme of Demystifying Deliverance . Rob shares how his own ministry journey led him into 20 years of learning and experience in helping people find freedom in Christ. Together, Dwight and Rob explore key questions about spiritual bondage and freedom—such as whethe...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl sits down with Pastor and author Rob Laidlaw to talk about his new book Demystifying Deliverance . Rob shares insights from over 20 years of ministry in church planting and helping people find freedom in Christ. Together, they explore what it means to be made in the image of God, how humanity lost its role as God’s representativ...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Pastor Sweis Ubels from Middleton, Nova Scotia. Sweis shares his experiences leading Emmanuel Church, a diverse and “Messy Church” community, where people from all walks of life—ranging in age, background, and abilities—come together. He discusses the challenges and joys of leading compassionate discipleship in a d...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Pastor Sweis Ubels from Middleton, Nova Scotia. Sweis shares his remarkable journey from growing up as a pastor’s kid in the Netherlands, to farming in Alberta, and eventually being called into pastoral ministry. He opens up about his unexpected stage 4 cancer diagnosis, the challenges of leading through suff...

Aaron Ministries has the vision to see Healthy Leaders leading Healthy Churches that transform communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Resourcing Pastors and Christian Leaders through the Healthy Christian Leaders Podcast is one way that we strive to do this.  In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of th...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. Leanne shares her journey from Newfoundland to ministry leadership, the impact of losing her sister to cancer, and how grief has shaped both her life and her new book Grieving Room. Together, they explore what it means for...

In this inspiring episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Dwight Habermehl welcomes Jesiel Falcao — civil engineer, minister of the gospel, and missionary from Brazil to Canada. Jesiel shares his remarkable journey from working alongside his father as a boy in Brazil’s construction industry, to leading large-scale infrastructure projects, and to building congregations in Canada. Drawin...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Jesiel Falcao, a civil engineer from Brazil who followed God’s call to Canada for cross-cultural ministry. Jesiel shares how a vision from his wife sparked years of prayer, ultimately leading their family to Halifax with no connections, little English, and a willingness to serve wherever God opened the do...

In this episode of the Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Dwight Habermehl welcomes returning guest Reid Stairs for an honest conversation about rediscovering the joy of serving God’s people. A self-described “deeply committed introvert,” Reid shares how he moved from struggling to enjoy people to delighting in them after decades of ministry. Together, they explore why leaders can lose their joy...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl sits down with Reid Stairs, a seasoned pastor with over 45 years of ministry experience. Together, they explore the importance of cultivating joy in leadership, how to avoid becoming bitter with age, and practical ways to “waste time with Jesus” to stay refreshed. Reid shares insights on leading from delight rather than duty, fi...

In today's episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Dwight Habermehl sits down with Chris Ivany, lead pastor at The Rock Church, about leading with vision, values, and a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit. Chris shares how The Rock has become a presence-centered church, committed to prayer, generosity, and serving the community. They talk about honouring the past while stepping into new opportun...