Jono Zantingh on Embracing the Emotions of Transitions, Every Pastor's Wrestle With People Pleasing, and Why Your Church Shouldn’t Get All Your Hospitality
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Jason had the privilege of sitting down with Jono Zantingh this week to hear his story of pastoring in Canada and planting Evolve Church in Edmonton in 2018. Jono lived in both Vancouver and Winnipeg before his wife and three kids made the transition to Edmonton a few years back. The emotions, he shares, of both being excited about the journey, but also grieving the past were challenging to navigate. He says that it was important to feel both, allowing themselves to be sad about leaving friends, family, and their church and also excited for the vision God had given them for Evolve Church.
The call to plant was discerned over a few years where both Jono and his wife, Nicole, sensed God’s leading to a new place. Edmonton was somewhat of a surprise, but they soon had a heart for the city and settled with their family into their new home. Jono talks about how important it has been for them to be intentional with the neighbours, setting up Facebook groups, hosting fires, and embodying a spirit of hospitality. The challenge for many pastors is that they can invest all their energy into hospitality and community with their church, but then be left without the capacity to be good neighbours. Jono has found the importance of not falling into that trap but keeping that margin to live on mission with neighbours.
The conversation also dives into the networks and relationships Jono has through ARC and Next Level which have been instrumental in supporting him as a pastor and allowing him to invest in coaching others as well. He finishes by opening up about what growing in self-awareness has looked like and recognizing the strengths, weakness, lies, and shadows we all carry as leaders.
We were so encouraged to hear about Jono’s story and heart for pastors and hope you will be inspired in your ministry as well. Enjoy this week’s conversation!
“Don’t reserve your best hospitality for the four walls of your digital rooms or physical rooms. Reserve it for your neighbor.”
Jono Zantingh
Jono Zantingh is a Canadian Pastor, Church Planter and Worship Leader. He has been married to Nicole for 20 years. Together, they have 3 children; Julia, Riley and Kaleb. In 2018, Jono & Nicole moved to Edmonton, AB from Winnipeg, MB to plant Evolve Church in South Edmonton with their ARC Canada Family. In 2020, Jono began serving as a coach to other church planters in Canada through the ARC. He is passionate about the local church, and seeing others grow in their surrender of learning to trust and follow Jesus.
Coming Up Next
Matt Menzel & Father Justin Huang
Matt Menzel is the Lead Pastor of Westside Church in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. He and his wife Melissa are passionate about calling and equipping Jesus' people to 'Make Him Known' through the ordinary, Spirit-empowered rhythms of following Jesus in everyday life. They're thrilled and beyond blessed to be part of what Jesus' Spirit is doing in the city.
Fr. Justin grew up in Richmond, British Columbia, the third of three brothers. Though not raised Catholic, he started going to Mass when he was 13. After a powerful experience of God’s love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he felt called to the Holy priesthood at the age of 16. He is the appointed pastor of St. Anthony of Padua, Vancouver.