Life Centred: A Conversation With Jason Boucher
The Church has been blessed with many talented pastors and it is my desire to introduce some of them to you. Jason Boucher is the Lead Pastor of Lifecentre in the Ottawa area. Although I have never met Jason, I have heard much about him and I knew I wanted him to be a part of this series.
Could you tell us about your background and how you became a follower of Jesus?
Sheer grace or sheer grace, mixed with my free will. I still oscillate depending on that latest argument 😉
In earnest I became a follower of Jesus in my childhood. Grew up in the faith. It wasn’t until my early twenties that I understood the Gospel and truly surrendered my life to Christ. Before that, due to mix of hurts, immaturity, and misunderstanding I believed that I was both right with God or not based on my spiritual success of resisting temptation and keeping specific spiritual disciplines.
I had quite a powerful transformation experience, in church, when the Gospel penetrated the hurt and confusion of my heart – for that I am eternally grateful.
What made you want to become a pastor and how did your father’s ministry impact that?
I didn’t want to become a pastor – quite the opposite. Yet whether it was going to University or working at Rogers, all sorts of people would consistently come to me for shepherding and leadership. Even when I was most hurt and confused, people would talk to me about spiritual things. I truly believe its a calling, not just a choice.
My father’s ministry still impacts me greatly to this day. He is my hero. My role model for faithfulness through thick and thin. The greatest gift my father gave me was the freedom to be myself since that is exactly who he is – himself.
You are the Lead Pastor of Lifecentre. What has been one your highlights since being there?
The highlight, whether it is kids, students, or adults is still seeing lost people find Jesus, and then grow in their faith. As much as I value a decision, because everything has to start somewhere, my personal highlights are much more about direction that decisions. I love seeing kids overcome fear in Christ where they no longer sleep with a night light. Same goes for students trusting Jesus to heal rather than continue to cut themselves. When people take a step, that changes either their destiny or direction – that is a highlight.
As a church, we don’t ask the people to do what we are unwilling to do. In seven years we have planted a church, merged with another church, and are dreaming about what is next. Growing People With Jesus and Others, taking a risk or two, that is worth all the other stuff.
What is the most important leadership principle that you have learned?
That I am not responsible for my capacity, I am only responsible to steward what God entrusts to me. Parable of the Talents Matthew 25. 1, 3, or 5 God determines capacity, I determine my obedience to steward what He entrusts. Nothing wrong with being a 1 capacity just like you are not better in being a 5 capacity. I think the danger for leaders and churches is when we try to grow to something God never graced us to carry. The greatest leadership principle I have learned isn’t to be yourself, its to gracefully embrace who God has made you to be.
If you could give one piece of advice to a new pastor, what would it be?
Assuming the Gospel is central and all those implications clear, develop relationships with the other pastors in your city. You need them far more than you may realize today. Don’t stick to people just in your tribe. Get to know those different than you, even whose ministry methods you can’t stand. You’ll be surprised how God grows you through that process.
Thank you Jason.
