The Healthy Christian Leader

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermel sits down with Jay Guptill, a pastor with over 40 years of experience, to explore the importance of preventative care for leaders. They dive into habits and practices that help leaders flourish emotionally, spiritually, and relationally, emphasizing intentionality, self-care, and the foundation of identity in Christ.

Jay shares insights on common barriers lea...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Dr. Danny Smith, longtime pastor of Middleton Baptist Church in Nova Scotia. Together, they explore the joys and challenges of raising children while navigating the demands of ministry. Danny shares candid reflections from over two decades of pastoral leadership and parenting—from finding balance, managing expectations, and handling transitions, to ...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl continues his conversation with Dr. Laurel Buckingham, longtime pastor of Moncton Wesleyan Church and founder of the Buckingham Leadership Institute. Now in his eighties, Dr. Buckingham shares his passion for mentoring leaders across denominations and generations, emphasizing the unity that comes from centering on the Lordship of Christ. He reflects on lessons learne...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Dr. Laurel Buckingham, longtime pastor of Moncton Wesleyan Church in New Brunswick, to reflect on more than four decades of faithful leadership in one community. Laurel shares how a clear vision of kingdom impact, steady spiritual rhythms, and a lifelong commitment to learning kept him rooted and refreshed through seasons of change and challenge. With ...

Aaron Ministries has the vision to see Healthy Leaders leading Healthy Churches that transform communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Resourcing Pastors and Christian Leaders through the Healthy Christian Leaders Podcast is one way that we strive to do this. 

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, host Dwight Habermehl talks with John Campbell, Director of Development and Technology for Education at Acadia ...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, host Dwight Habermehl talks with John Campbell from Acadia Divinity College about the world of artificial intelligence and its growing impact on pastoral ministry. John shares how his background in technology and ministry has helped him see AI as both a challenge and a powerful tool for the church. Together, they explore how pastors can use AI for sermon preparation, research, transl...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl welcomes back Rev. Dr. Peter Lohnes, Senior Pastor at Grace Memorial Baptist in Fredericton, to talk about leading with grace during change and uncertainty. Drawing from decades of ministry experience, Peter reflects on what it means to lead with confidence and compassion when facing disruption—whether in the church, workplace, or personal life. Together, D...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl talks with Rev. Dr. Peter Lohnes, Senior Pastor at Grace Memorial Baptist in Fredericton, about how pastors and ministry leaders can navigate healthy transitions. Drawing from nearly four decades in ministry and his doctoral research titled Leading While Leaving, Peter shares wisdom on discerning when it’s time to move on, processing the emotions of change,...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Rob Laidlaw, pastor and author of Demystifying Deliverance, to explore the challenging and often misunderstood topic of discerning evil spirits. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in freedom ministry, Rob shares practical insights for identifying spiritual strongholds, differentiating between psychological issues and spiritual influence, and add...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Rob Laidlaw, author of Demystifying Deliverance, to explore the connection between deliverance and discipleship. Rob explains that deliverance is not just about removing an evil spirit—it’s about addressing the deeper spiritual issues and distrust in God that allow such influences to take hold. They discuss how idols, lies, and unmet desires can dis...

In this episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl continues the conversation with Pastor and author Rob Laidlaw on the theme of Demystifying Deliverance. Rob shares how his own ministry journey led him into 20 years of learning and experience in helping people find freedom in Christ. Together, Dwight and Rob explore key questions about spiritual bondage and freedom—such as whether a believer can be affected by evil ...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Pastor and author Rob Laidlaw to talk about his new book Demystifying Deliverance. Rob shares insights from over 20 years of ministry in church planting and helping people find freedom in Christ. Together, they explore what it means to be made in the image of God, how humanity lost its role as God’s representative rulers, and how Jesus restores us t...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, Dwight Habermehl sits down with Pastor Sweis Ubels from Middleton, Nova Scotia. Sweis shares his experiences leading Emmanuel Church, a diverse and “Messy Church” community, where people from all walks of life—ranging in age, background, and abilities—come together. He discusses the challenges and joys of leading compassionate discipleship in a diverse setting, fostering authentic...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader, host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Pastor Sweis Ubels from Middleton, Nova Scotia. Sweis shares his remarkable journey from growing up as a pastor’s kid in the Netherlands, to farming in Alberta, and eventually being called into pastoral ministry. He opens up about his unexpected stage 4 cancer diagnosis, the challenges of leading through suffering, and how vulnerability, commun...

Aaron Ministries has the vision to see Healthy Leaders leading Healthy Churches that transform communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Resourcing Pastors and Christian Leaders through the Healthy Christian Leaders Podcast is one way that we strive to do this. 

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of the Canadian Baptists of Ont...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. Leanne shares her journey from Newfoundland to ministry leadership, the impact of losing her sister to cancer, and how grief has shaped both her life and her new book Grieving Room. Together, they explore what it means for pastors to stay spiritually healthy...

In this inspiring episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl welcomes Jesiel Falcao — civil engineer, minister of the gospel, and missionary from Brazil to Canada. Jesiel shares his remarkable journey from working alongside his father as a boy in Brazil’s construction industry, to leading large-scale infrastructure projects, and to building congregations in Canada.

Drawing from decades in both marketplace an...

In today’s episode of The Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl sits down with Jesiel Falcao, a civil engineer from Brazil who followed God’s call to Canada for cross-cultural ministry. Jesiel shares how a vision from his wife sparked years of prayer, ultimately leading their family to Halifax with no connections, little English, and a willingness to serve wherever God opened the door. The conversation explores the c...

In this episode of the Healthy Christian Leader Show, host Dwight Habermehl welcomes returning guest Reid Stairs for an honest conversation about rediscovering the joy of serving God’s people. A self-described “deeply committed introvert,” Reid shares how he moved from struggling to enjoy people to delighting in them after decades of ministry. Together, they explore why leaders can lose their joy, the importance of seeing others th...