Scripture Untangled

In this powerful episode of Scripture Untangled, CBS Ambassador Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling sits down with Dr. Lennett Anderson, Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Nova Scotia, Assistant Professor at Acadia Divinity College, and advocate for racial justice, community transformation, and Biblical leadership. Lennett shares his story of growing up in a vibrant, faith-filled church community and how that foundation shaped his passion for discipleship, justice, and servant leadership.   
In this episode, Lennett and Andrew discuss: 
How a strong faith foundation and church community shaped his lifelong calling to ministry and justice. 
Leading a historic Black church that is now beautifully multicultural, united by the Gospel. 
Raising up the next generation, who are hungry for authenticity, revival, and meaningful faith. 
Living with intentionality, courage, and a deep commitment to Biblical justice. 
Read the transcript:  https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep6
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The Reverend Dr. Lennett J. Anderson is a pastor, educator, military chaplain (retired), and community leader whose ministry spans more than two decades of transformative service in church, academy, and society. He has served since 1999 as Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church— “The MEETing Place”—in Nova Scotia, providing visionary leadership to one of the province’s historic African Nova Scotian congregations. Under his leadership, the church has become a hub for spiritual formation, community engagement, and social justice advocacy. 
Dr. Anderson is an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Racial Justice at Acadia Divinity College, where he equips emerging leaders for ministry grounded in equity, reconciliation, and faithful public witness. His teaching and writing explore pastoral leadership, anti-racism, and the role of the church in advancing human dignity. 
He is a retired commissioned officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and served as Unit Chaplain at HMCS Scotian. His military service, combined with his pastoral vocation, reflects a lifelong commitment to servant leadership and the holistic care of people in diverse contexts. 
A respected voice in matters of race relations and community development, Dr. Anderson has advised educational institutions, policing bodies, and civic organizations on equity and inclusion. He has also provided leadership within the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia and contributes to broader denominational and global church networks, including service as State Overseer in Canada for the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. 
Dr. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University and a Master of Divinity from Acadia University. He has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity in recognition of his significant contributions to ministry and community leadership. 
His work has been recognized with numerous honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Platinum Jubilee Community Hero Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Citizenship, and the Canadian Forces Decoration. 
Committed to faith, family, and community, Dr. Anderson shares life and ministry with his wife, Dr. Késa Munroe-Anderson, and their children. His life’s work is marked by a passion for spiritual renewal, justice, and the building of beloved community. 
Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
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What happens when faith meets fear, and grace meets a life that doesn’t feel “in order”? In this episode of Scripture Untangled, seasoned journalist Lorna Dueck sits down with GRAMMY-nominated Canadian jazz artist Laila Biali for a deeply honest conversation about anxiety, community, and the redeeming love of God. 
In this episode, Laila and Lorna discuss: 
Laila's faith journey, including wrestling with relationships and faith, and the powerful experience of being embraced, not rejected, by a church community. 
The Grammy 'God-wink', the hard road behind the album, and the perseverance required to bring it to completion. 
How Laila engages Scripture in a busy season of life, leaning into simple, sustainable rhythms like daily Bible app readings, short devotionals, and guided prayer. 
Key Scriptures that have anchored Laila's life, speaking into themes of beauty, redemption, strength, and fear. 
Motherhood, travel and calling - choosing seasons, community needs, and letting God “veto” decisions. 
Read the transcript: https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep5  
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The church Laila refers to in this interview is not Toronto’s Little Trinity Anglican Church, but New York City's Trinity Baptist Church.

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Multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist and national radio host and 2026 GRAMMY Award nominee Laila Biali has headlined festivals and venues spanning five continents from New York City's Carnegie Hall to Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts and supported international icon Sting. Biali's past four consecutive releases – Wintersongs (2024), Your Requests (2023), Out of Dust (2020), and Laila Biali (2018) – all received JUNO Award nominations, and she won the 2019 JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.  
Wintersongs was also nominated for a 2026 GRAMMY Award alongside heavyweights Elton John & Brandi Carlile, Lady Gaga, Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Hudson and Laufey.  
In 2020 Biali was honoured by SOCAN Music with the Hagood Hardy Award for Excellence in Songwriting following her 2018 win at the Canadian Songwriting Competition for Best Song (Jazz). Biali was the youngest-ever double winner at Canada’s National Jazz Awards, named SOCAN Composer of the Year and Keyboardist of the Year.  
When Biali isn’t on stage she’s busy hosting CBC Music’s national radio show, Saturday Night Jazz. Biali's signature sound transcends genre, making her a favourite among audiences globally. 
https://lailabiali.com/
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Discover spiritual formation for real life in a world that never turns off. In this episode of Scripture Untangled, Rev. Mark Jefferson, Associate Professor at Acadia Divinity College, sits down with CBS Ambassador, Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling to explore how Scripture, worship, and Christian community shape us from the inside out, especially amid digital distraction and AI-driven culture. 
In this episode, Mark and Andrew discuss: 
Being formed before you lead - why worship and community shape future leaders. 
Clarity as a spiritual gift and discerning what to carry and what to shed as your calling narrows. 
The “First Minutes” practice of dedicating the earliest part of the day to God.. 
From curiosity to passion in Scripture, and moving beyond devotional skimming into “digging in.” 
Spiritual formation that begins by actually seeing young people and not just demographic data. 
Starting with the Gospel of Mark, a simple on-ramp to meeting Jesus in Scripture for new readers. 
Read the transcript: https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep4  
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Rev. Mark Andrew Jefferson, Ph.D., is Associate Professor and the John Norris Gladstone Chair of Preaching and Worship at Acadia Divinity College, where he also serves as Dean of the Chapel. An ordained Baptist minister, he is a homiletician and theologian whose work explores Black worship, preaching, embodiment, and the formation of Christian communities amid surveillance, racial capitalism, and digital mediation.  
His scholarship brings Black theology, sound studies, and ecclesial practice into sustained conversation with contemporary questions of technology and power. He has preached and lectured widely across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East.  
His forthcoming book, Rhythm and Algorithm: Preaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, examines Black preaching as a practice of rhythmic resistance and spiritual formation in an algorithmic age. Dr. Jefferson is a member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College and served as Bicentennial Preacher at Virginia Theological Seminary. 
Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
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Watch or listen to Robin Waller, church planter and Lead Pastor of Lift Church, being interviewed by seasoned journalist, Lorna Dueck. In this episode, Robin shares his journey from starting out as a nuclear engineering student to leading a network of churches across nine university campuses in Canada. He shares how simple, relational evangelism is reaching a new generation, and how today’s students are more spiritually open than we might think. He compels everyday Christians, not just pastors, to play a vital role in disciple-making. 
In this episode, Robin and Lorna discuss: 
The story behind launching a church in a university bar and growing into a national campus movement. 
Sustainable church planting and why combining career and ministry is key. 
Church growth at Canadian universities and why simple conversations, not big events, are driving growth.  
How daily Bible reading across an entire church builds deep spiritual formation. 
Why messy, authentic community is sometimes more effective than polished environments. 
Biblical inspiration from Paul and Timothy for modern disciple-making movements. 
Read the transcript: https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep3
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For the past twenty years, Robin Wallar has devoted himself to making disciples on university campuses in Canada, first as a nuclear engineering student and now as a church planter and software developer.  
Together with his wife, Laura, they lead LIFT Church, a collegiate discipleship and church planting movement on seven campuses across Canada. Robin’s passion is to equip every follower of Christ for disciple-making and church planting in co-vocational settings. He shares the values and theology behind co-vocational ministry in his book Everyone Sent and has written a comprehensive discipleship guide called Living Sent, which are used by students and ministries across North America. He also writes on these topics weekly on Substack.  
In addition to leading LIFT Church, Robin leads Engage Spaces, a software company designed to support disciple-making movements.  
He and Laura live in the beautiful city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with their two children. 
https://www.liftchurch.ca/  

Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
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Watch or listen to author and ordained minister Rev. Aaron Miller being interviewed by CBS Ambassador, Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling. In this episode, they discuss faith, calling, worship, and Christian witness in a busy and uncertain world. Drawing on Scripture, lived experience, and his books, Aaron explores why repentance and forgiveness sit at the heart of the gospel, and how worship forms us into a different way of being human.
In this episode, Aaron and Andrew discuss:
Growing up in a clergy household and his early faith formation.
Aaron's call to ministry and how it relates to the calling of Moses.
Aaron’s new book, Weird in the World: Living Towards the World God Wants, which addresses the distinctiveness of Christian life in a secular world.
How Aaron stays spiritually grounded
When ministry starts to feel like too much, what role does Scripture play
Read the transcript: https://biblesociety.ca/transcript-scripture-untangled-s13-ep2 
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Rev. Aaron Miller is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada. He serves University Hill United Church, in Vancouver BC, and is the denominational Campus Minister at the University of British Columbia. He is the author of two books, Witnesses of These Things: Faithfulness Here and Now, and Weird in the World: Living Towards the World God Wants. He is currently pursuing a PhD in New Testament Studies, at the Vancouver School of Theology, in partnership with the University of Pretoria. Aaron lives in Vancouver with his wife Kate, and their teenaged sons.
Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca