Traumatic Beginnings
Maury Blair’s historical account as given by himself at Our City Windsor 2025. The retelling of the childhood trauma and the intervention of God’s grace.
Links:
Breakthrough Ministries
Our City Windsor
The Workaholic Pastor (Panel discussion)
On today’s episode, I have four guests that were contributors to a book entitled, “Dysfunction In The Name Of Jesus – Confronting The Idol Of Pastoral Workaholism”. As one who has pastored for all of my adult life and grew up in a pastor’s home, I can speak to the value of such a book and the need to guard the pastoral heart from the world that glorifies busyness.
One of the guests is Karen Stiller, who appeared previously on Sidewalk Skyline Podcast.
Links:
Book – Dysfunction In The Name Of Jesus
https://www.helwys.com/product/dysfunction-in-the-name-of-jesus/
James Ellis III
Karen Stiller interview – Living Holy In Downtown Ottawa
The Chaplain's Platoon (Ted Leck interview)
After 33 years of pastoral ministry, Ted Leck has begun a new venture leading a new organization known as The Chaplains Platoon. This follows years of serving part-time as a police chaplain and fire chaplain in Toronto and later Huntsville.
Ted’s organization offers chaplaincy support to every first responder in Ontario. This includes on-call 24/7 support, station visits, leading psychological first aid & debriefs, and when needed, helping first responders find further professional support after a critical incident.
Link:
Pastor, Police, PTSD - Cory Costyra
https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/pastor-police-ptsd-cory-kostyra
Shalom vs. Empire (Kevin Rogers)
It’s usually me interviewing someone else or bringing the content of others here to inspire and inform. On this episode, it’s my turn to speak. This was my session recorded at Our City Windsor 2025.
Empire is the human tradition of conquerors and ideologues wanting to build a world in their image. It’s the ninety-foot selfie of Nebuchadnezzar and the pinch of incense in worship of Caesar.
The nation of Israel was not satisfied to be led by a priesthood and wanted to have a king like the other nations surrounding them. Empire is about power and defense. It is the belief that what’s best for us should be enforced on the other nations.
Even churches can fall prey to empire building and miss out on the true intentions of God.
Shalom on the other hand, is the governmental structure of the Kingdom of God. It is the world as God intends it and is established with the love and power of God bringing about peace on earth. Shalom is dependent on the King of Kings and will not be fully realized until he returns. Somehow, we are to live as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven while giving the Caesar what he is due.
Links:
Mission Canada Bio:
https://paoc.org/canada/about/staff/lists/mc-staff/urban-coordinator
Our City Windsor
Tools For Recovery In Street Ministry (LCHC team)
The team at Leamington Community Help Centre run an active mission for street-affiliated people. Part of this work includes addiction recovery services. At the Our City Windsor 2025 conference a group of recovered addicts shared their insights of ministry to this vulnerable population.
Robert Sandwith is the Manager of Recovery Care. Greg Poloz is the men’s recovery care coordinator. Mary Fehr is the women’s recovery care coordinator. Jason Kacsur is a recent success story of a person supported.
Leamington Community Support Centre
Disability And Faith 101 (Keith Dow interview)
Keith Dow, PhD, is a Canadian theologian, researcher, and writer exploring the beauty and complexity of human limits, care, and community. He works with Karis Disability Services (formerly Christian Horizons) and serves as a fellow with the Psychology Cross-Training for Theologians program through the University of Birmingham and Martin Luther University College. His research explores theology, disability, and the ethics of care, emphasizing the beauty and limits of human life in community. Keith is the author of Formed Together: Mystery, Narrative, and Virtue in Christian Caregiving (Baylor, 2021) and leads the Images of God research project supported by the John Templeton Foundation.
This session was recorded at Our City Windsor 2025.
Links:
Keith’s website
Karis Disability Services
Brandon Blake - Tear Off The Roof (The Chosen Version)
God's Mosaic Vision (Charles Hermelink)
Charles Hermelink brought this message at the Our City Windsor 2025 conference. In it he looks at how God is at work with the movement of people around the world and especially the relevance for us in Canada.
Charles serves as the New Worker On-boarding and Development Specialist, and Coordinator for Mission Canada’s Cultural Language Groups. His focus is to mobilize new workers and strategically see them positioned to reach newcomers to Canada, refugees, and those with various cultural backgrounds and worldviews.
Links:
Neighbours and Newcomers Network National
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/nnnetworknational
Mission Canada Cultural Ministries
Maury Blair At Our City Windsor 2025
At 87 years of age, Maury continues to be filled with light and hope. From recounting the horrible child abuse he suffered to the overflowing joy of his journey with Jesus, we leaned forward to soak up the wisdom.
Maury continues to have daily conversations with people in his community to tell them about his hope.
Links:
Breakthrough Ministries
Revisiting Child of Woe
More of the Maury Story
Going Big (Richard Magnussen interview)
Today I am having a conversation with Richard Magnussen who last year released his memoir ‘Going Big: Lessons On Success In Business, Life And Faith.’
From the early years growing up in an immigrant family and building a productive life in Kitchener to becoming one of Canada’s big business success stories, Richard was able to remain focused on what was most important. His stories are worth hearing.
Former Member of Parliament Harold Albrecht from Kitchener-Conestoga wrote on the flyleaf, “Richard’s story is one of hard work, incredible perseverance, and deep faith in Jesus. Powerful evidence of the difference that Jesus makes in the life of a family. Great leadership principles based on the wisdom of God’s Word!’
Links:
Book - Going Big: Lessons On Success in Business, Life and Faith
https://www.siretona.com/goingbig
Magnussen Home Furnishings
Creekside Church
The Hope-Filled Streets of Barrie (Kevin Mast interview) (Copy)
Kevin Mast has served as pastor of Hope City Church in Barrie, Ontario for all of its 12 years. It has grown to a family of ministries making a difference for the street-affiliated and marginalized of their city.
Kevin and I reminisce about my visit a few years ago and how urban ministry always involves shifts and upheavals.
Hope Barrie
The Election Episode (Tim Schindel interview)
As we approach Canada’s federal election with political fever running high, I interviewed Tim Schindel to talk about the spiritual realities we hold onto, regardless of how the country votes.
Tim Schindel is a visionary leader and strategic influencer dedicated to equipping and supporting leaders in Canada’s political and business communities. As the Founder and National Director of Leading Influence, he has built a nationwide network providing chaplaincy, mentorship, and faith-based leadership support to elected officials across Canada. Since launching the organization in 2006, Tim has expanded its reach, fostering a culture of integrity, encouragement, and service among political leaders. With nearly 40 years of experience in ministry, leadership development, and executive coaching, Tim is known for his ability to cast vision, build high-impact teams, and drive meaningful change.
Links:
Leading Influence
Previous interview:
Season 2, Episode 18
DEI and Glocal Church (Harold Gutierrez interview)
Diversity, equity and inclusion are all Christian virtues, but they can be disguised as PCIE - Pressured Conformity, Inequity and Exclusion. That can happen easily inside or outside of the Church, but the Church cannot afford to conflate virtue with political pragmatism. The prophetic Church does the quiet work of diversity, equity and inclusion without press releases.
On today’s episode I have a conversation with Harold Gutierrez, who is from Langley BC where he works as the Intercultural and Indigenous Ministries director for the British Columbia and Yukon District of the PAOC. He has pastored in Florida, North Carolina and BC and currently working on a PhD. Today we want to talk about cross cultural communication, discipleship, pluralism and the ways that we can grow in working together across the cultural divides.
Link:
British Columbia and Yukon District of PAOC
Road Home For Prisoners (Peter Ochs interview)
Today I am having a conversation with Peter Ochs and Steve Fox. We are going to have a conversation about Peter’s creative response to helping prisoners get established in a new life.
Peter Ochs is a lifelong faith-driven entrepreneur. His 30-year journey has been dedicated to building prosperous businesses God’s way. Pete’s life mission is to inspire and equip business leaders worldwide to live with a purpose greater than themselves, leveraging their businesses to make a Christ-centered impact on the world. He is author of High Impact LIFE and High Impact Business.
Peter is a friend of a friend. Steve Fox is my friend and a 30-year veteran of the church I pastor in Windsor. Steve was initially invited to join me as a core member for this new church plant that became New Song Church. His six-month trial turned into thirty years where he served in many capacities.
Links:
Enterprise Stewardship
https://www.enterprisestewardship.com/pete-ochs
Peter Ochs Books:
https://www.enterprisestewardship.com/events-and-resources
Kingdom Advisors
The Attention Economy (Rick Hiemstra and Andy Gabruch)
In Elizabeth Oldfield’s book ‘Fully Alive’, she wrote, “For most of the week, my value is in what I produce and what I consume. If I’m not careful my main goal in a day becomes impressive and competent, subtly signalling my status with the things I buy, say and post. Sabbath is the opposite. It is a line in the sand. Today I am just a person, and a person is beyond price. Sabbath is about valuing, fighting for and fiercely guarding rest.” [1]
What are the things that demand our attention and distract us from being fully alive in Christ? My guests on this episode are Rick Hiemstra and Andy Gabruch.
Rick is the director of The Centre For Research On Church And Faith at The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
Andy is the author of Infobesity: How To Be Followers Of Jesus in an Information Overload World.
[1] Elizabeth Oldfield, ‘Fully Alive’ p. 110.
Links:
Rick Hiemstra – Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
https://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/RickHiemstra
Infobesity Book
https://www.infobesity.ca/infobesity-the-book
Andy Gabruch Website
Increase in Bible sales
Igods: How technology shapes our spiritual and social lives
How to Break Up with Your Phone
Sidewalk Skyline Podcast – Season 5, Episode 19
Entrepreneurs In Love (Mike and Lisa Difazio)
Michael Difazio and Lisa Shurrock are two young, successful entrepreneurs in Windsor Ontario. As they fell in love, they did not realize how God would appear in their lives to disrupt business as usual and surprise them with miracles.
Here’s my interview as they share the lessons they’re learning about trusting God with everything.
Links:
Michael Difazio
https://www.michaeldifazio.ca/
Elite Studios
Hope And Light In Cobourg (Leigh-Ann & Thomas Davidson)
After a couple years working in Mission Canada with Street Level Advocacy (Peterborough), Leigh-Ann Davidson felt the call to launch new initiatives in Cobourg, Ontario. Along the way, her biggest supporter (who happened to be her husband Thomas) joined in her efforts in reaching out to the street-affiliated and homeless population in the small city of Cobourg.
Together they are ‘Hope And Light Urban Outreach’ making a difference in a place of intensifying need.
Links:
Mission Canada Profile
https://paoc.org/donate/leighanndavidson
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564632950348
Intensity In Tent City - Sidewalk Skyline Podcast - Season 3, Episode 22
The Nine Lives of Joe Ritchie
Joe Ritchie grew up with a history of trauma and abuse that nearly killed him. At age fifteen he was in a car accident that left him quadriplegic and without hope. After three times of dying and being resuscitated, it would be a vision of Jesus that would change his life trajectory.
Today Joe serves as part of the pastoral team at Windsor’s New Song Church. Listen as he shares transparently about his struggles with addiction and the journey to freedom.
Weaving Hope From The Unraveled Church (Alan Roxburgh interview)
Alan Roxburgh is a pastor, teacher, writer and podcaster with more than thirty years’ experience in church leadership, consulting and seminary education. I first heard of him through my friend Karen Reed who will be co-hosting our conversation today. Karen has been a past guest on the podcast and is very much entrenched in a life of loving her neighbours, a true example of intentional community building.
Links:
Leaving Egypt Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/leaving-egypt-podcast/id1699200527
Alan Roxburgh - Reflections On The Refounding Of God’s People
The Missional Network
Why I Help People Take Drugs (Dr. Meera Grover)
Today, I’m talking with Doctor Meera Grover who works in Calgary, Alberta extensively in the field of addiction medicine.
Working in Vancouver’s notorious downtown eastside to pay for her theological education at Regent College, Meera Grover was faced with questions about whether or not providing people who use drugs with sterile supplies and a place to inject contravened her faith. She knew she wanted to care for people with addiction but did not know how to do so in a way that fit with her own moral code.
She wrestled with these questions over the years and through her transition, from nursing to becoming a fully licensed physician who specializes in addiction medicine.[1]
Meera has written a book entitled “Why I Help People Take Drugs”. In this interview we delve into the often contested practice of harm reduction and the importance of the human connection in addressing addiction issues.
Link:
Dr. Meera Bai Grover
[1] Benjamin Perrin, flyleaf of ‘Why I Help People Take Drugs’
The Shift Every Decade (Bob Gal interview)
Bob Gal has been an iconic figure in my life for 40 years. From my first recollections of his speaking at youth retreats and leading street ministry outreaches, he has been a man that has followed the cloud by day and fire by night.
He and his lifelong sweetheart Karen live in Edmonton, Alberta where he serves as our oldest Mission Canada urban worker at the age of 74. Today I want to hear Bob’s reflections as we review his relationship with Jesus and the nuanced perspective shifts for each decade.
Links:
Mission Canada Profile
https://paoc.org/donate/bobgal
Lovedmonton Chapel
