Mike Voll on Revitalizing Churches in Small Towns, the Importance of Submitting to Process & His Journey Through Loss as a Young Pastor

Mike Voll is a pastor, bodybuilder, and leader whose story is marked by deep faithfulness and profound loss. In this episode, Mike sits down with Jason to talk about his nearly 20 years of ministry at North Pointe Community Church in Edmonton. Together they unpack the church’s 100+ year legacy, what it means to lead through change, and why Mike has a passion for seeing rural churches across Alberta revitalized.Mike also vulnerably shares about the tragic death of his first wife and how walking through grief has transformed the way he pastors, preaches, and walks with people in pain. This conversation is raw, hope-filled, and deeply encouraging for leaders navigating both personal and ministry challenges.Key Takeaways:Why the local church—urban or rural—still matters deeply in CanadaHow to lead a historic congregation through change without losing its identityThe power of long-haul leadership rooted in community, history, and missionHow grief and suffering can deepen a pastor’s empathy and shape their preachingWhat it looks like for a larger church to support and revitalize smaller churchesWhether you're in a small-town church or leading in a city, this episode is filled with hard-won wisdom and fresh vision for the future of the Church in Canada.BiographyMike lives with his wife Melissa, and children Aubri and Zane in Edmonton, Alberta. He is the Lead Pastor at North Pointe Community Church and an Adjunct Faculty member at Vanguard College in Edmonton, where he teaches the Intermediate Pastoral Practicum class. Michael’s passion in life is to communicate for change in everyday living through sharing his story and creative teaching of Bible principles. He is a speaker, teacher and writer on issues of faith, leadership and family. In his downtime Michael likes to be the tickle monster to his kids, read spy novels, lift weights and grill up a mean rib eye steak.SponsorsWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their Bible Course here.Guest NotesNorth Pointe Community ChurchSideswiped: Three Keys to a Fresh Start after Suffering a Broken HeartShow Notes⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠