Mark Clark Interviews Guy Mason on Starting a Church Planting Movement, Tall Poppy Syndrome in the Church & the Right Way to Deal With Criticism

Feb 15

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For this episode, Mark Clark of Village Church takes a seat in the hosting chair to share a conversation with Guy Mason. Guy is the founding and senior pastor of City on a Hill. What began as a small group Bible study in a corner of Australia has since become a movement of seven churches in four different cities all united around one mission “to know Jesus and make Jesus known.”

After sharing the story of City on a Hill, Mark asks Guy an important question that every church leader needs to sort out in one way or another - How do you lead leaders? Due to the unique nature of the City on a Hill movement, Guy is a trustworthy voice to learn from in the area of stewarding the leaders around you. Guy shares about the importance of looking beyond yourself, and constantly speaking out what you see in those around you. “We need to do the hard work of identifying the gifts of our people,” says Guy. Quoting Jesus, Guy explains that it is always more blessed to give than receive, and that is true of leadership as well. The best leaders do not set themselves up to flourish and fly, but others. They give.

Both Mark and Guy go on to lean into the theme of encouragement - that every leader should freely give it, and humbly receive it. Tall Poppy Syndrome is rampant in the Canadian Church, and the leader today is acutely in need of not criticism born of comparison, but gospel-centred, uplifting words. Each church makes up the Church, and the economy of the Kingdom thrives when the currency of encouragement is freely given.

Mark and Guy close by addressing the ever-important tension of where the pastor finds their identity. When the head wind is strong, and the emailed criticism is stacking up, the righteousness of Christ is the most secure garment for the church leader to wear. Mark lets the listener into the revelation that has been “rocking his world” - the revelation that Jesus applies His love, righteousness and acceptance with joy. It isn’t begrudging submission for the second member of the trinity to apply what we need, for it was in light of “the joy set before Him” that He endured the cross. What a reminder for each of us today.

We hope you enjoy this conversation between Mark Clark and Guy Mason.

“We’re all at our best as leaders when Jesus is most alive in us.”

— Guy Mason

Guy Mason

Guy is the founding and Senior Pastor of City on a Hill, a church that began in 2007 with a small team and a big vision. Today City on a Hill is a movement of many churches that gathers across multiple locations, in different cities and is united around the central mission of knowing Jesus and making Jesus known. Guy is a passionate communicator of the gospel who is committed to engaging culture with the beauty, truth, and relevance of Jesus. Guy graduated with a BA in Public Relations from RMIT University and has a Masters of Divinity from Ridley College. He is the husband to Vanessa and the father to four children. He is an ordained Anglican Minister and member of Acts 29.

Mark Clark

Mark grew up in Toronto and moved to Vancouver in 2004 to attend Regent College, where he received a Master of New Testament Studies. Following over ten years of ministry, Mark, along with his wife Erin and an amazing team of people, planted Village Church in January 2010, which has now grown to a vibrant multi-site church in the Greater Vancouver Area and Calgary. He is passionate about contextualizing the gospel, teaching the Bible, seeing people transformed by Jesus, planting churches, and seeing the gospel advance across Canada. Mark resides in South Surrey with his wife and their three daughters. He is honoured and excited to lead Village Church wherever God calls it to go.