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Welcome to For Pastors, a podcast which "champions pastors and their holy calling in an uncertain world".

Today Vic Francis sits down with John and Nancy Ortberg — keynote speakers at next month’s Abide conference in Auckland and two voices who have spent decades at the intersection of faith, leadership and marriage.

John Ortberg is a pastor, speaker, author and one of the most influential voices in Christian spiritual formation over the past three decades. He is best known for helping ordinary Christians connect deep theological truths with everyday life in a way that is both practical and accessible.

Nancy Ortberg is a respected leadership consultant, teacher, speaker and former church executive with extensive experience in both ministry and organisational leadership.

Together, they bring wisdom forged through ministry, seasons of change and a deep commitment to joy. This is a conversation you won't want to miss.

You can connect with John's daily teaching at the Become New website, and get your discount tickets to hear the Ortbergs at the Abide conference in August at the Abide website, keyword FORPASTORS.

Welcome, then, to For Pastors, A Conversation With John and Nancy Ortberg.

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Welcome to For Pastors, a podcast which aims to "champion pastors and their holy calling in an uncertain world".

In this episode, Vic Francis talks with Kiwi poet, musician and contemplative Strahan Coleman on life and faith and illness and family and quiet fire and gazing nakedly on the love of God. And much, much more.

Strahan is a popular speaker who is becoming widely known through his trio of prayer books, which are attracting growing international interest.

To connect with Strahan, check out his Commoners Communion website. (For Pastors can confirm there is no such thing as communistcommunion.com so don't try that!).

Meanwhile, for more information on Vic and Solace, check out our website or search for us on Facebook or Instagram. And if you would like to support this podcast, please become a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/forpastors

Welcome, then, to For Pastors, A Conversation With Strahan Coleman.

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Conspiracy theories. Why are they so prevalent, and are Christians more gullible than most?

And what happens when a conspiracy theory leads towards something worse - radicalisation? Indeed, could the next terrorist come from the pews of your church?

In this episode, Vic Francis asks these questions and more of Maja and Dave Whitaker, pastors and academics from Christchurch who have studied conspiracies and radicalisation and come up with some startling truths.

If you are concerned about extremism, you can access Government advice here or here for the Police crowded places strategy. And for Dave Whitaker’s thesis, click here.

Meanwhile, for more information on Vic and Solace, check out our website or search for us on Facebook or Instagram. And if you would like to support this podcast, please become a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/forpastors

Enjoy the podcast!

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Why are so many scandals rocking Pentecostal churches in New Zealand and Australia? This question, debated in the Alphacrucis Bible college staffroom, led four Pentecostal academics and pastors to investigate, asking what's going on, why is it going on, what should be going on and what can be done about it?

In this episode of For Pastors, Vic Francis interviews the Rev Dr Adam Dodds and Pastor Joshua Newington, two of the report's authors, about their research and their far-reaching insights and conclusions.

You can get in touch with Adam or Joshua via the Alphacrucis website, or use this link if you're interested in the symposium on power in November that they mention.

For more information on Vic and Solace, check out our website or search for us on Facebook or Instagram. And if you would like to support this podcast, please become a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/forpastors

Enjoy the podcast!

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Artificial intelligence. It's all around us.

As pastors, what are the advantages - and the potential disadvantages - with the way we handle AI as we follow our call and lead our churches? Can something non-human yet so captivating help bring us or our people closer to God?

In this episode of For Pastors, Vic Francis interviews Andy Shudall of Eastgate Christian Centre and Rob Stacey of Tauranga Central Baptist about the good, the bad and the ugly of AI.

For further thoughtful processing, Andy suggests this message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8C1pnDrWhg

For more information on Vic and Solace, check out our website or search for us on Facebook or Instagram. And if you would like to support this podcast, please become a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/forpastors

Enjoy the podcast!

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Pastors don't do it for the money. But we do need money to exist. And we understand it's a sacrificial life. But we don't want to disadvantage our families. And we are trusting God. But we also want to be smart, and faithful, with money.

In this episode of For Pastors, Vic interviews Grant Harris of Windsor Park Baptist and Bruce Anderson of DecisionMakers about the delicate subject of Money, Ministry and Me. Enjoy!

Some helpful links you might like to check out:

DecisionMakers (where you can get hold of Bruce): https://www.decisionmakers.co.nz

Windsor Park Baptist (where you can get hold of Grant): https://www.windsorpark.org.nz

KiwiSaver tool: https://kiwisaver.decisionmakers.co.nz

Mindful Money on ethical investing: https://mindfulmoney.nz

Christian Savings: https://www.christiansavings.co.nz/churches-and-charities/ministry-loans

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For over four decades, the Rev Dr Patricia Allan has advocated for the victims of abuse in the church, work which was recognised with the awarding of an ONZM in the New Year's Honours list this year.

Patricia is now 88, and calls herself an unlikely warrior or firebrand. In this podcast, she reflects deeply on her journey of advocacy, what it has cost, and how to ensure churches can be safe spaces.

Speaking Truth to Power may be an uncomfortable episode of For Pastors - but it is an important one.

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Conflict. It’s all around us – on the world stage, in our families and workplaces, often deep within ourselves.

And it’s in our churches – from the volume of the music to centuries-old theological debates.

Yet we hardly ever talk about conflict, and as a result we often do it pretty badly.

In this podcast, Vic Francis talks to the Rev Dr Karen Kemp from Laidlaw College, an expert in conflict, to find out how we can handle it better.

Welcome to Making Friends Out of Conflict.

If you want to know more, check out the Centre for Church Leadership and their range of master classes.