This week on the Sowers Podcast, Matt sat down with Troy Lydiate — Creative Director at Apologetics Canada, host of The AC Podcast, and a recording artist under the name Scribe Music with four studio albums and a GMA (Covenant Awards) nomination to his name.
Troy's story starts in Kingston, Jamaica, where he was abandoned as a child before being adopted at age two by a Canadian pastor's family in Saskatchewan. Growing up as one of only a couple of Black kids in his elementary school, Troy pieced together his identity from the culture around him — sports, hip-hop, R&B — long before he found it settled in Christ.
A pivotal moment came in his late teens: an unexplainable soccer injury in California ended his athletic ambitions and forced an introspective reckoning with God. What started as journaling turned into poetry, then music, then a call to ministry — eventually leading him to Bible college, a degree in Social Sciences from Providence University, and, six years ago, to Apologetics Canada.
In this conversation, Troy and Matt talk through:
What it actually means to raise adopted and biological children together across racial lines, and why "there's no such thing as a success story in adoption — just faithful parents"
Why "Black culture" isn't monolithic, and how the African diaspora shapes vastly different experiences from Jamaica to Nigeria to the American South
How churches can pursue real diversity in leadership — not tokenism, but intentional discipleship
The history and mission of Apologetics Canada, born out of the new atheist movement and now navigating a culture that's more spiritually open but still deeply non-committal
Why Troy believes the next phase of evangelism isn't just having the conversation — it's leading people to a decision
His closing word for the Canadian church: a call back to reverence, holiness, and beholding God
GUEST BIO
Troy Lydiate is a multifaceted artist, speaker, and Creative Director at Apologetics Canada, where he also serves as host of "The AC Podcast." As a graduate of Providence University with a Bachelor's Degree focused on Social Sciences, Troy has spent much of his professional career working with youth and young adults. Operating under the artistic moniker Scribe Music, Troy has unveiled four studio albums, skillfully utilizing his music as a conduit to convey the gospel message. His music production has garnered him nominations at the GMA (Covenant Awards), complemented by widespread recognition through blog features and regular airplay on Canadian Christian radio.
Beyond his artistic endeavours, Troy is a devoted husband to Jasmine and a doting father to two young children. He has dedicated himself to the growth and vitality of the local church, actively engaging in discipleship, worship team, and church leadership. Embracing a mission to catalyze both cultural and global transformation, Troy's approach is firmly anchored in love, releasing hope by loving God and loving people.
To learn more about Troy and Apologetics Canada, please visit:
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