What if the leadership model everyone warns you against…is the very thing God is inviting you into?
In this week’s episode of The Sowers Podcast, I sit down with Derik Fuller and Kirk Giles, Co‑Lead Pastors of Forward Church in Southwestern Ontario, to talk openly about co‑leadership—why they were hesitant, how it almost didn’t happen, and what has made it flourish over the past five years.
Kirk admits his first response was skepticism. Derik admits he didn’t want leadership to rest on his shoulders alone. Together, they share how pride had to be dismantled, trust had to be built, and communication had to become non‑negotiable.
We also explore:
What co‑leadership offers elder teams
Why resilience and formation matter more than strategy
How the Canadian church can prepare people for uncertainty
What gives them genuine hope right now
If you’re a pastor, church planter, elder, or ministry leader, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
To learn more about Derik, Kirk, and Forward Church, please visit: https://forwardchurch.ca/
GUEST BIO
Derik Fuller is one of the Lead Pastors of Forward Church, a multi‑site church with locations in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Paris, Ontario. He’s a husband, a father, a sports nut, and an ordinary guy rescued by an extraordinary Saviour.
Kirk Giles is the Co‑Lead Pastor of Forward Church and former President of Promise Keepers Canada (now Impactus). He and his wife Shannon have been married for over 30 years, have four children, and are brand‑new grandparents. Kirk loves the Blue Jays, discipleship, and developing leaders.
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Listen or Watch Past Episodes
🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/431rXGzRAAWvNqUtB07pvz?si=b46f94bd684a4d2f&nd=1&dlsi=344a2e28fcc14deb
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sowers-podcast/id1700273453
📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@TheSowersPod
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