Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education.

This episode originally aired February 2026

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What kind of church will exist for our children and grandchildren? In this thoughtful and forward-looking conversation, Jason Ballard reflects on the health of the church in Canada, the growing leadership pipeline crisis, and why long-term faithfulness matters more than short-term urgency. Drawing from his pastoral experience and national leadership work, Jason challenges listeners to think beyond programs and productivity toward formation, partnership, and generational impact.

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Tune In to Discover

✅The current state of the evangelical church in Canada and what gives reason for hope

✅Key challenges facing churches in an increasingly complex cultural moment

✅Why leadership exhaustion and scarcity threaten the future of the church

✅Practical ways churches can empower and develop young leaders

✅How churches and biblical higher education can work together for long-term impact

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Inside the Episode

01:44 – A realistic and hopeful look at the evangelical church in Canada

06:08 – Cultural pressure, distraction, and the challenges facing today’s church

12:05 – The looming leadership pipeline crisis

15:50 – Why the future of church leadership matters personally and deeply\

20:51 – Creating a culture that empowers and releases young leaders

27:35 – Bringing theological education closer to the life of the local church

32:01 – Healing the divide between the church and the academy

38:40 – Leading with a long-term, generational vision of faithfulness

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