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Mental health is a big deal for our churches, and our pastors, these days.

Rates of serious psychological distress in New Zealand have more than doubled over the past decade. And younger generations are talking about mental health in ways previous generations rarely did.

What's going on? What does it mean for the church? And how do we as pastors look after our own mental health while also caring for the mental health of our congregations?

In this episode, Vic Francis talks with the Rev Silvia Purdie — Presbyterian minister, counsellor, supervisor, author and mental-health educator. Silvia has spent much of her working life inhabiting two worlds that don't always understand each other particularly well: the church and the mental-health profession.

Welcome, then, to Mental health: Are we OK?

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

And to explore more around the mental health field:

Resources with Silvia Purdie:

https://www.conversationscounselling.nz/equip-series.html

https://www.conversationscounselling.nz/seminars.html

https://www.conversationscounselling.nz/solid-ground.html

Books and poems by Silvia Purdie

https://www.conversations.net.nz/books.html

https://www.conversations.net.nz/traumarecovery.html

Network for mental health and the church:

https://www.conversationscounselling.nz/mental-health-ministry-network.html

NZ and international resources for Christian mental health:

https://www.conversationscounselling.nz/mental-health-links.html

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Vic Francis talks to Michael Frost and Cathy Marston, two prominent liberal or progressive pastors about how they see life, faith, scripture and where they fit in the church today.

Michael (In the Shift) and Cathy (Changes Ahead) are both podcasters as well pastors, and have a story that is worth hearing – whether you agree with them or not.

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

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We often talk about growing in faith, but what does that actually mean? Is the faith we have at 50 or 60 supposed to look different from the faith we had at 20? What happens when growth involves not simply learning more, but questioning or even letting go of things we once thought were certain?

And for pastors, how do we navigate our own growing and changing faith alongside that of our congregation?

In this episode, Vic Francis talks with Alan Jamieson — Baptist leader, author, researcher and explorer of spiritual formation, who has spent considerable time thinking about how souls grow, and how faith changes and develops over a lifetime.

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

Meanwhile, here are some links to people referred to in this podcast:

James Fowler

• Faith Development and Pastoral care (1987)
• Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the quest for Meaning (1981)

Janet O. Hagberg & Robert A. Guelich

• The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith (1995)

Alan Jamieson

• A Churchless Faith (2000 Garside Publishing in NZ) Published internationally by SPCK, 2002.

• Called Again (2004 Garside Publishing in NZ). Titled ‘Journeying in Faith' – published internationally by SPCK – 2004. Printed copies available from Alan (email aj@portland.org.nz)

• Five years On (published in NZ April 2006 and internationally by SPCK under the title ‘Church Leaving' –Aug 2006). Printed copies available from Alan (email aj@portland.org.nz)

• Chrysalis: The hidden transformation in the journey of faith (2008 Paternoster).

Enjoy the podcast, everyone.

Vic

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What is a Christian activist? Should Christians be involved in politics, protests and picket lines? If so, which fights should we choose and which should we avoid? And where does the Holy Spirit fit in?

In this episode, Vic Francis talks to Wellington vicars Alison and Martin Robinson, who have been ministering at the margins of society for over three decades alongside refugees, prisoners and the urban poor. And then in more recent years, they have led the replanting and renewal of St David's Church in Naenae.

Martin and Alison are proudly activist, but they're also proudly Holy Spirit.

If you would like to connect with the Robinsons, you can do so through the St David's Naenae website. Or click here for Catch Network Aotearoa or Common Grace Aotearoa.

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

In this episode, we go beyond the intensity of the joys and challenges of local church ministry and lift our eyes to explore the possibilities of churches working together on behalf of the "capital C" Church and of the towns and cities in which they're ministering.

We hope you'll enjoy For Pastors, Heart for a City.

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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!