Ken Shigematsu on Preaching to Post-Christian Culture, True Success in the Kingdom & the Practice of Meditation
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In this episode Jason speaks with Ken Shigematsu. Their conversation explores Ken’s journey of revitalizing a historic church in the city of Vancouver — a congregation which had suffered from years of pastoral turn-over and decline. Ken describes what it looks like to celebrate the highpoints of the past in a way that paves the way for a vibrant future. More than that, he touches on the church taking a risk in embracing the vulnerable and blessing those who couldn’t pay them back by opening up a shelter and feeding those who were without homes. Through minister endeavors like this the Spirit began to move and slowly draw all types of people into the church.
Ken shares personally about a key mentoring relationship that has radically shaped his ministry over the last 25 years, providing insight on how both younger and older leaders can cultivate mutually-enriching coaching relationships that last for the long-haul.
For those leaders who labour at preaching and teaching with the goal of both edifying believers and speaking to the hearts and minds of non-believers, Ken provides very practical advice. Even as a newer preacher, he describes his practice of cultivating friendships with people who had very different worldviews and perspectives, inviting them to provide critique and feedback for his messages.
The conversation highlights the importance of spiritual practices like meditation and ends with an uplifting definition of true ministry success as living into the heart of God for you and your life. This episode is a must listen for any leader committed to effective ministry that is not a ‘flash in the pan’ but, instead, a long obedience in the same direction which bears lasting fruit in God’s kingdom.
Ken Shigematsu
Ken Shigematsu is the Senior Pastor of Tenth Church in Vancouver, BC, one of the largest and most diverse city-center churches in Canada. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded to Canadians in recognition for their outstanding contribution to the country. Before entering pastoral ministry, he worked for the Sony Corporation in Tokyo. Ken is the author of the award-winning bestsellers ‘God in My Everything’ and ‘Survival Guide for the Soul.’ Ken lives in Vancouver with his wife, Sakiko, and their son, Joey.
“True success isn’t being a part of something big, or being well known, it’s simply doing what’s in God’s heart and mind.”
Ken’s Books
God in My Everything - The phrase “spiritual formation” can conjure up popular images of monks in monasteries. Solitude and a slowed-down pace of life seem only relevant to the recluse. In this book, Ken Shigematsu persuasively argues that this is not the case. Rather, spiritual formation occurs in the day-to-day of normal life. Time with God doesn’t need to be another item on an already overcrowded to-do list. Instead Ken outlines the spiritual practice of keeping a “rule of life”, which acts as a catalyst for a closer relationship with God. The author describes how a personal rule of life can fit into almost any vocation or season of life.
God in My Everything is an accessible and deeply practical book, helping the reader create and implement their own rule of life — all with the aim of cultivating a deeper spirituality in the midst of the frenetic pace of modern life.
Survival Guide for the Soul - Too much of our modern lives are lived on the surface — pursuing success, financial stability and personal prowess — all while neglecting the inner health of our soul. The well-being of our interior world is routinely sacrificed for outward achievement and notoriety. But what if winning the ‘rat-race’, accomplishing our goals and acquiring material possessions is not the key to human flourishing?
In this book, Ken Shigematsu draws on a wide-range of sources, including scripture, church history, psychology and neuroscience. He demonstrates how spiritual practices, engraved in the annals of church history and the life-giving rhythms of countless believers, help orient our lives in such a way that our souls flourish, even in the crucible of our competitive culture. This book is a must read for anyone who longs for a deeper spirituality, and a true definition of greatness and success that is both in-line with, and inspired by, Jesus’ vision of human flourishing.
“Don’t be an empire builder, be a Kingdom seeker.”
YouTube Links
We have also posted some of our favourite sections of this interview on our YouTube Channel - here is one of them:
This episode was brought to you by Alpha Canada.
In the midst of the global pandemic, Alpha has shifted their highly effective evangelistic tool online. Nicky Gumbel, the pioneer of Alpha says that this is “ … the greatest evangelical opportunity of our lifetime.” And it’s true. This crisis has brought about a certain degree of openness to conversations about spirituality, faith & God that wasn’t as present before. Churches all around Canada have used Alpha Online to seize this moment to reach the de-churched and unchurched like never before. If your church is still considering what outreach to your community & neighbours could look like in the coming months, consider running Alpha Online.
Coming Up Next
Banning Liebscher
Banning Liebscher is the founding pastor of Jesus Culture, a ministry of worship, events, and leadership development. Along with his wife, SeaJay, he is also the Lead Pastor of Jesus Culture Sacramento, a church committed to seeing believers encounter God, be empowered as world changers, and engage their city as leaders. Banning is the author of four books, the latest one being, "The Three-Mile Walk: The Courage You Need to Live the Life God Wants for You.” Banning and SeaJay have three children, Ellianna, Raya, and Lake.