Preston Pouteaux on Pastoring with a Tender Heart, the Sacred Work of Neighbouring, and the Power of Presence in Pastoral Ministry

In today’s conversation Preston Pouteaux shares what it means to be a tenderhearted pastor in a fast-paced world. Speaking from Chestermere, Alberta, Preston invites us into a vision of pastoring that’s slow, rooted, and profoundly local. From RCMP ride-alongs to keeping bees and loving neighbours, Preston offers a poetic yet practical vision of what it means to love and serve a place and its people. 

In this conversation Preston shares about: 

• How pastoral imagination is formed,

• How curiosity and inquiry is a needed pastoral posture, 

• Riding along with RCMP officers at night as a Chaplain,

• Beekeeping and the theology of pollinators, and 

• Why presence, more than expertise, is a pastor’s most powerful gift.

This episode is for any pastor who is seeking to better understand their context and to serve their people well. You’ll be reminded that gentleness is not weakness, and that being embedded in your local community might be the most courageous thing you can do.

Show Notes

• Preston’s Book: The Bees of Rainbow Falls: Finding Faith, Imagination, and Delight in Your Neighbourhood 
• Lake Ridge Community Church 

Partners

• Contact John Wright at Generis – for help cultivating a culture of generosity in your church.
• We couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠give⁠⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.