The Healthy Christian Leader

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...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Pastor Chris Ivany, lead pastor of Rock Church in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, shares his journey from growing up in the church to stepping into leadership just before the COVID-19 pandemic. He reflects on the church’s rich history, beginning in Beaver Bank, and the early days marked by a powerful move of God. Pastor Chris opens up about the chall...

In this episode of the Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Rachel Habermehl welcomes Dr. Terry Branscombe from Long Island to explore the vital role of clear communication in effective leadership. Drawing from personal experiences in ministry and leadership, Branscombe shares insights on the importance of emotional security, vulnerability, and integrity for leaders. Together, they reflect on bibl...

Rachel Habermehl sits down with Dr. Terry Branscombe, CEO of Inspire FM, to discuss the power of communication in leadership. Terry shares personal stories and insights from his ministry journey, highlighting the importance of clear, intentional communication and aligning actions with words. Drawing inspiration from Jesus’ example as a leader and communicator, they explore how leaders can effectiv...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with long-time friend and ministry leader Larry Levy for a powerful conversation on the importance of fellowship and camaraderie among Christian leaders.  Together, they reflect on the loneliness that often accompanies leadership, particularly in pastoral roles, and the deep need for authentic connection. Larry shares h...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Dwight Habermehl sits down with long-time friend and ministry leader Larry Levy for a powerful conversation about the role of prayer, obedience, and prophetic ministry in a leader’s life. Larry shares his journey from the small coastal communities of Nova Scotia to becoming a leader who has helped shape a culture of intercession and spiritual di...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , Rachel sits down with Dr. Richard MacGillivray to continue their conversation on leadership—this time focusing on team dynamics . They unpack what it means for a team to grow in maturity, how to navigate disagreement in healthy ways, and how conflict, when handled well, can actually strengthen your team. Whether you're leading in ministry,...

In today’s episode, Rachel sits down with Dr. Richard MacGillivray, a retired psychologist with over 40 years of experience in leadership development and mental health. Together, they dive deep into what it truly means to be a healthy and effective leader in today’s complex world. Dr. MacGillivray shares insights on balancing agentic leadership—being decisive and goal-oriented—with communal leader...

In this episode, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Tim Dickau, a well-known pastor and author with a rich history of pioneering church movements and fostering community engagement. Tim shares insights from his decades of ministry experience, focusing on how churches can shift from traditional models to becoming living communities deeply connected to their neighborhoods. Tim discusses the power of in...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show , host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Vancouver-based pastor, educator, and urban ministry leader Tim Dickau for a deep dive into how local churches can become agents of transformation in their neighborhoods. Tim shares his 30-year journey revitalizing Grandview Church by reconnecting it with the surrounding community. What started as a short-t...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , we’re joined by Spencer Conway from The Rock Church in Halifax. Spencer shares insight into the real challenges young leaders face in ministry today—and how developing resilience is key to navigating them. We unpack what resilience truly means, how it connects with spiritual growth and the fruit of the Spirit, and why both grit and emotional awa...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader , we’re diving into a crucial conversation about why so many young people feel disconnected from the church. We talk openly about the cultural shifts of the past decade, the hunger for authenticity, and how the church can respond with grace instead of judgment. This generation isn’t drawn to hype or perfection—they’re looking for something real. In t...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader show, today’s host, Rachel, welcomes Dr. Richard MacGillivray to discuss the pivotal role of leaders in conflict resolution within organizations. Dr. MacGillivray emphasizes that effective leadership requires thinking systemically and prioritizing the collective goals of the organization over personal agendas. He highlights the importance of leade...

Conflict in the workplace is inevitable—but how we handle it can determine the health of an organization. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Richard MacGillivray, a retired psychologist with over 40 years of experience, to explore the deeper dynamics of workplace conflict. Drawing from his background in clinical and community psychology, Dr. MacGillivray shares key insights on the root causes o...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show , we’re joined by Reid Stairs, a seasoned pastor with over forty years of ministry experience. Coming from a legacy of pastors, Reid has been a close friend of the Aaron Ministry Network since its inception. Together, we discuss the vital topic of leadership and identity—emphasizing the importance of grounding our identity in Christ rather than...