The Healthy Christian Leader

In this episode of the Healthy Christian Leader Show , Dwight Habermehl speaks with Dr. John Roddam about learning to be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Roddam shares his journey from growing up in a nominal Anglican background in Nova Scotia to encountering a personal relationship with Jesus during university, which eventually led him into Anglican priesthood and decades of ministr...

Dwight Habermehl speaks with Esther Lysakovsky of Alpha Canada about the quiet but powerful ways God is moving across Canada. Esther shares stories of growing spiritual curiosity—especially among young adults—and how relational, invitation-based faith conversations are helping people encounter Jesus. Together, they explore the challenges of sharing faith in a pre-Christian culture, the fear of rej...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Dwight Habermehl speaks with Esther Lysakovsky of Alpha Canada about the importance of connection and community in today’s digital and disconnected world. Esther shares practical insights on empathy, listening, and intentional relationships, highlighting how spaces like Alpha and The Well foster discovery, healing, and spiritual growth. T...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl speaks with Daria Nardozza, co-founder of City Leaders Collective, about leadership, collaboration, and what God is already doing in our cities. Daria shares how pastors and church leaders can overcome isolation and build meaningful relationships across denominational lines. Drawing from real stories and practical experience, she in...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl sits down with Noreen Smith to explore how God faithfully shapes leaders through every season of life. From business and ministry to family and faith, Noreen shares how surrender, endurance, and listening to God’s voice have guided her leadership journey—and why God never wastes a single chapter of our story. Support the show

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show , Dwight Habermehl sits down with Noreen Smith to talk about leading in business and ministry without losing your identity in Christ. Noreen shares insights from decades of leadership, reflecting on wearing many hats, navigating intense seasons of responsibility, and learning to balance doing for God with being with Him. She describes how God su...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , host Dwight Habermehl continues his conversation with Richard Long , focusing on spiritual renewal and the practices that help leaders stay receptive to the Holy Spirit. Richard reflects on his decades in ministry, his experience of renewal during the 1990s, and the lasting impact of learning to receive daily renewal rather than relying on past enc...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Richard Long for an honest conversation about spiritual dryness, renewal, and staying connected to God as a leader. Richard shares his journey from growing up in a missionary family to years of pastoral ministry, a life-changing renewal experience, and his calling to foster unity in the Body of Christ. Together,...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Dwight Habermehl welcomes Dave Witt from True City for a rich conversation on the rhythms of prayer, rest, and community that sustain leaders over the long haul. Drawing from his experience working with pastors and leaders across multiple denominations in Hamilton , Dave shares practical wisdom on cultivating Sabbath rest, developing a li...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , host Dwight Habermel sits down with Dave Witt , leader of True City , for a thoughtful conversation on healthy leadership within citywide initiatives. Dave shares insights from his experience serving pastors and churches across Hamilton , exploring what it takes to remain grounded, energized, and spiritually healthy while carrying both local church...

In this episode of the Healthy Christian Leader , host Harry Gardner continues his conversation with Larry Levy , lead pastor of the Halifax Metro Vineyard , focusing on resilience in leadership and the life of the church . Larry shares honestly about seasons of challenge, including a time when he “hit a wall” and needed extended rest and support. Together, they explore how resilience is formed th...

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...