#99 - Dustin Boreland on Why the Church is Losing the Culture War & How To Be a Faithful Presence in a Post-Christian World

In this episode of The Sowers Podcast, Matt talks with Dustin Boreland, who currently serves at Springvale Church in Stouffville, Ontario, and is pursuing a Doctorate in Practical Theology at McMaster Divinity College. Dustin shares insights from years of ministry—including church planting in Montreal and fostering 15 teenage boys—on how the church can navigate a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

They discuss:

✅ Why spiritual formation must be stronger than cultural formation

✅ How to live as faithful exiles in a secular age

✅ Practical practices for a “rule of life” in today’s church

Prior to returning to Ontario in 2022, Dustin spent several years in Montreal, where he and his family planted and revitalized churches. Before their time in Montreal, he and his wife Racquel served as foster parents to more than 15 teenage boys while also engaging in church planting. Dustin is deeply passionate about bridging the gap between the Gospel and culture, equipping the local church for mission, and can be found overindulging on hip hop and spicy chicken sandwiches.

To learn more about Dustin, please visit https://springvale.org/.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Journey

03:36 Academic Pursuits and Church Planting

06:21 The State of Christian Education

08:57 Navigating Leadership in a Digital Age

11:38 Engaging the Post-Secular Culture

14:18 Reaching Established Church Members

17:17 The Role of Spiritual Practices

20:02 Creating a Monastic Community

22:31 Conclusion and Future Vision

39:52 NEWCHAPTER