Matt Menzel Interviews Father Justin Huang on the Joys and Sacrifices of Joining the Priesthood, Communing Deeper With Jesus, and the Power of Confession
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We had the privilege of Matt Menzel guest-hosting this week’s episode for a conversation with his friend Father Justin Huang. Father Justin is the pastor of St. Anthony of Padua in Vancouver and has served at multiple churches in British Columbia, along with spending three years in Rome studying for the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See.
In their conversation, they discuss the reality of not seeing eye to eye on everything and the challenges of working alongside those in the church you disagree with, especially theologically. However, they express their unity in Christ and friendship that makes for meaningful and thoughtful discussion where they can learn from each other every time they connect.
Matt asks Father Justin about his story of faith and how he entered the priesthood. Father Justin describes his encounter with Jesus through the sacrament of reconciliation and how confession drove him to experience God’s love and mercy. After sensing a call to the priesthood, he wrestled for many years, while studying, on whether he truly wanted to serve God this way and to sacrifice the desires and comforts he longed for. Through this journey, he ultimately came to a place of full surrender and obedience to what God was asking of him.
They go on to talk about the importance of confessions and the challenges of it in more evangelical circles. Matt explains the journey his staff team is on at Westside Church to lead their community into more corporate expressions of confession. Father Justin also opens up about the role of retreats, sabbaticals, and solitude as places for deep communion with God. Often as pastors, we can fall into the trap of doing stuff for God, not with Him. To fight against this, Matt and Father Justin share their disciplines and practices that have continually brought them back to abiding with the Father.
We hope this conversation between friends in unique ministry roles will inspire you towards greater love for God’s Church in Canada and how you can walk with Jesus deeper in your leadership.
“The gospel is meant to unite us. It’s meant to be unity and diversity. What would the impact of the church be in this world if we could find a way to love each other in our irreconcilable differences?”
Father Justin Huang & Matt Menzel
Father Justin Huang 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.
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.
Coming Up Next
Sam Picken
Sam Picken and his wife Jess are the Lead Pastors of C3 Church Toronto, Canada. They relocated from Australia in 2008 to follow God's call to ministry in Canada, and in 2012 planted C3 Toronto. C3 Toronto's main purpose as a church is to connect people to God. The church is known for its strong community and outward focus on mission through 'Love Toronto'. Sam and Jess reside in the west end of Toronto with their three kids. They lead their church with a strong emphasis on discipleship and developing leaders, and nothing is a higher priority to Sam than seeing souls won for Christ.