Michael J. Fast
@michaeljfast.bsky.social
phd men & religiosity | church, cultures, masculinities, mission | contexts: 🇨🇦♾️ 🇵🇭 | acad dean, missions adjunct prof | bgc canada | he/him
michaeljfast.com
michaeljfast.com
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Michael J. Fast
@michaeljfast.bsky.social
· Nov 27
What if we told people that Jesus is the best possible leader? What if we then told them that Jesus’ Kingdom has an unparalleled set of values? What if we then worked at serving them? What if after that we spent time together discovering the truth? That would be a good thing.
I'm always excited about Jesus quoting Isaiah 61 in Luke 4. I love the list of promises on how he's going to impact the world. Only recently have I realized the main controversial take of that day is he applies these actions as including people from places like Sidon & Assyria.
November 16, 2025 at 1:03 AM
I'm always excited about Jesus quoting Isaiah 61 in Luke 4. I love the list of promises on how he's going to impact the world. Only recently have I realized the main controversial take of that day is he applies these actions as including people from places like Sidon & Assyria.
I wept at a novel because genealogy helped me feel my ancestor's stories. Our past isn't dead; it's a story waiting to be heard.
The Stories That Make Us Weep
Our connection to history is mediated through stories. This is the story of how I found my own, discovering that a "blend defying easy definition" in my family's past was the very thing that allowed a work of fiction to move me so deeply, and why hearing your story is just as important.
michaeljfast.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I wept at a novel because genealogy helped me feel my ancestor's stories. Our past isn't dead; it's a story waiting to be heard.
As followers of the way of Jesus, our invitation is not to escape to heaven, but to make heaven a reality wherever we are in the present moment. We’re invited not to escape a broken world for heaven, but to be people who are transforming the present world to be more like it. Benjamin Corey, Unafraid
November 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM
As followers of the way of Jesus, our invitation is not to escape to heaven, but to make heaven a reality wherever we are in the present moment. We’re invited not to escape a broken world for heaven, but to be people who are transforming the present world to be more like it. Benjamin Corey, Unafraid
Saw this meme the other day I remembered I had written on this idea from the Filipino idea of "for the boys."
October 7, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Saw this meme the other day I remembered I had written on this idea from the Filipino idea of "for the boys."
When you pledge allegiance to empire, it spits you out a broken person. When you pledge allegiance to Jesus, he makes you a new person.
October 5, 2025 at 8:22 AM
When you pledge allegiance to empire, it spits you out a broken person. When you pledge allegiance to Jesus, he makes you a new person.
Reposted by Michael J. Fast
An orange shirt is more than a symbol. It's a theological call to action. My reflection on truth, reconciliation, and the gospel. #OrangeShirtDay #TruthAndReconciliation
Orange is more than just a shirt: It’s a call to live the life Jesus wants us to live!
Wearing an orange shirt on Orange Shirt Day transcends mere symbolism; it’s a provocative call to confront uncomfortable truths about our theological and political failures. It challenges us to embrace authenticity in our faith, prioritize reconciliation, and actively combat systemic racism while acknowledging every culture's value. Are you ready to join this crucial journey?
michaeljfast.com
September 30, 2025 at 6:49 AM
An orange shirt is more than a symbol. It's a theological call to action. My reflection on truth, reconciliation, and the gospel. #OrangeShirtDay #TruthAndReconciliation
An orange shirt is more than a symbol. It's a theological call to action. My reflection on truth, reconciliation, and the gospel. #OrangeShirtDay #TruthAndReconciliation
Orange is more than just a shirt: It’s a call to live the life Jesus wants us to live!
Wearing an orange shirt on Orange Shirt Day transcends mere symbolism; it’s a provocative call to confront uncomfortable truths about our theological and political failures. It challenges us to embrace authenticity in our faith, prioritize reconciliation, and actively combat systemic racism while acknowledging every culture's value. Are you ready to join this crucial journey?
michaeljfast.com
September 30, 2025 at 6:49 AM
An orange shirt is more than a symbol. It's a theological call to action. My reflection on truth, reconciliation, and the gospel. #OrangeShirtDay #TruthAndReconciliation
Would that I had learned earlier that testimony stems from lived experience rather than mere academic knowledge.
September 28, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Would that I had learned earlier that testimony stems from lived experience rather than mere academic knowledge.
Exegetical or topical? Doesn't matter. God always meets us through his word regardless of the process we use to approach & present it! I've been a preaching thru James off & on this year. Every time I find myself in the text. Every time the text is significant for community.
September 28, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Exegetical or topical? Doesn't matter. God always meets us through his word regardless of the process we use to approach & present it! I've been a preaching thru James off & on this year. Every time I find myself in the text. Every time the text is significant for community.
Heard an idea from my colleague Renz yesterday while discussing church. He came up with this concept of "Church as a whole." By that he meant the church not as a series of groups of different sectors, genders, age groups but as one. Wow! Mindblown.
September 28, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Heard an idea from my colleague Renz yesterday while discussing church. He came up with this concept of "Church as a whole." By that he meant the church not as a series of groups of different sectors, genders, age groups but as one. Wow! Mindblown.
I thought evil's only end was punishment. I was wrong. The Bible shows a surprising path of infiltration and redemption.
Babylon is Fallen: Is it Destruction… or Transformation?
In our quest for justice, we often overlook God's deeper plan: transformation over destruction. The essence of our mission lies in actively engaging with broken systems, planting hope and goodness in cursed ground, and believing in the redeeming potential of even the most resistant hearts. Let us be instruments of change, fostering restoration instead of waiting for punishment.
michaeljfast.com
September 22, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I thought evil's only end was punishment. I was wrong. The Bible shows a surprising path of infiltration and redemption.
What if “I’m only human” isn't an excuse, but your God-given purpose?
I’m Only Human, After All: A Journey Back to our Authentic Selves
The narrative of humanity as a universal failure must be flipped. Instead of being a curse, being "only human" is our divine purpose. We're not a blight but vital agents of God's plan. Embrace your flawed humanity; it's not a hindrance but your greatest asset in the mission of reconciliation. Live with purpose.
michaeljfast.com
September 7, 2025 at 1:12 PM
What if “I’m only human” isn't an excuse, but your God-given purpose?
God doesn’t have a policy of isolation. God doesn’t have a policy of keeping out those who are bad and keeping in those who are good. Rather, God reaches out to those who are outsiders to bring them in...
September 5, 2025 at 8:11 AM
God doesn’t have a policy of isolation. God doesn’t have a policy of keeping out those who are bad and keeping in those who are good. Rather, God reaches out to those who are outsiders to bring them in...
Ang Kagubatan ay patunay ng Diyos, na ipinapakita sa kalikasan. Mga nilalang nagsasabi ng Kanyang kabutihan. Tungkulin nating ipahayag ang testimoniya sa Kanya, kahit may kasalanan.
Ang Kagubatan: Isang Pagmumunihan Patungkol sa Kalikasan at Kaluwalhatian ng Diyos
Ang Kagubatan ay isang tanyag na patunay ng kaluwalhatian ng Diyos, na pinapakita ang kanyang paglikha sa mga detalye at ingay ng kalikasan. Ang mga hayop, puno, at lawa ay nagkukwento tungkol sa kanyang kabutihan. Bilang bahagi ng nilikha, may tungkulin tayong ipahayag ang ating testimoniya tungkol sa Diyos, kahit na naapektuhan tayo ng kasalanan.
michaeljfast.com
August 13, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Ang Kagubatan ay patunay ng Diyos, na ipinapakita sa kalikasan. Mga nilalang nagsasabi ng Kanyang kabutihan. Tungkulin nating ipahayag ang testimoniya sa Kanya, kahit may kasalanan.
In the Bush’s vibrant beauty, nature’s testimony reveals God’s glory. Each rustling leaf & bird call tells a divine story beyond human judgment. Amidst sin and chaos, the challenge is to engage with creation, amplifying its chorus, or let it fade in silence.
The Bush: A Reflection on Nature and God’s Glory
In the cacophonous beauty of the Bush, nature's vibrant testimony lays bare the glory of God. Each rustling leaf, every bird call, insists on a divine narrative that transcends human judgment. Yet, amidst our sin and societal chaos, the challenge remains: will we engage with creation, amplifying its chorus, or let it fade in silence?
michaeljfast.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:09 AM
In the Bush’s vibrant beauty, nature’s testimony reveals God’s glory. Each rustling leaf & bird call tells a divine story beyond human judgment. Amidst sin and chaos, the challenge is to engage with creation, amplifying its chorus, or let it fade in silence.
Looking forward to this. Christian HEIs -- Let us know what you need to move forward!
SEAsian Christian HEIs. Please fill up the form to help plan the ICHE Manila 2026 conference to advance the cause of Christian scholarship & develop sustainable & integrated models of higher education that reflect biblical faith through learning & service.
forms.gle/y77ie31ctAZK...
forms.gle/y77ie31ctAZK...
ICHE Manila 2026 Conference Information Gathering
We are planning a conference with the International Council for Higher Education to be held in Manila in June 2026. Part of those plans include finding out what our needs are as Philippine and South E...
forms.gle
July 30, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Looking forward to this. Christian HEIs -- Let us know what you need to move forward!
“We don’t bring God to them; our task as people entering the world is to share our experiences with the God they already know.”
From the archives – Bears, Babylon, and Grace: Where God Meets Us in both the Wild and the Civilised
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/24/b...
From the archives – Bears, Babylon, and Grace: Where God Meets Us in both the Wild and the Civilised
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/24/b...
Bears, Babylon, and Grace: Where God Meets Us in both the Wild and the Civilised
Civilization and wilderness coexist, but can churches remain fortresses? History warns against boundaries yet urges connection. Amidst modern distractions, God operates everywhere, transcending our…
michaeljfast.com
July 24, 2025 at 11:27 PM
“We don’t bring God to them; our task as people entering the world is to share our experiences with the God they already know.”
From the archives – Bears, Babylon, and Grace: Where God Meets Us in both the Wild and the Civilised
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/24/b...
From the archives – Bears, Babylon, and Grace: Where God Meets Us in both the Wild and the Civilised
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/24/b...
Remembering the needs of home challenges us to be mission-minded.
“Canada is now a mission field & as Jesus’ followers we need to approach it as such.” — How de Mesa’s Hermeneutics of Appreciation provides a practical way for 🇨🇦 churches to engage society
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/17/f...
“Canada is now a mission field & as Jesus’ followers we need to approach it as such.” — How de Mesa’s Hermeneutics of Appreciation provides a practical way for 🇨🇦 churches to engage society
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/17/f...
Following up on BGCC Celebration 2024: How Jose de Mesa’s Hermeneutics of Appreciation provides a practical way for Canadian churches to engage society
Canada is no longer a Christian stronghold; it’s a mission field, teeming with opportunities to reconnect with faith. As new immigrants, especially Filipinos, infuse life into dying churches, we mu…
michaeljfast.com
July 22, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Remembering the needs of home challenges us to be mission-minded.
“Canada is now a mission field & as Jesus’ followers we need to approach it as such.” — How de Mesa’s Hermeneutics of Appreciation provides a practical way for 🇨🇦 churches to engage society
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/17/f...
“Canada is now a mission field & as Jesus’ followers we need to approach it as such.” — How de Mesa’s Hermeneutics of Appreciation provides a practical way for 🇨🇦 churches to engage society
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/17/f...
Theology should never remain on the page. Whether I’m teaching a seminary class in the Caucasus or preaching to a handful of men in Quezon City, I keep returning to this question: What kind of people does the gospel form?
#TheologicalEducation #GlobalChurch #ChristianLeadership
#TheologicalEducation #GlobalChurch #ChristianLeadership
July 19, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Theology should never remain on the page. Whether I’m teaching a seminary class in the Caucasus or preaching to a handful of men in Quezon City, I keep returning to this question: What kind of people does the gospel form?
#TheologicalEducation #GlobalChurch #ChristianLeadership
#TheologicalEducation #GlobalChurch #ChristianLeadership
As a Pastor, must one of my goals be to bring someone up behind me to take over?
July 2, 2025 at 1:52 AM
As a Pastor, must one of my goals be to bring someone up behind me to take over?
SEAsian Christian HEIs. Please fill up the form to help plan the ICHE Manila 2026 conference to advance the cause of Christian scholarship & develop sustainable & integrated models of higher education that reflect biblical faith through learning & service.
forms.gle/y77ie31ctAZK...
forms.gle/y77ie31ctAZK...
ICHE Manila 2026 Conference Information Gathering
We are planning a conference with the International Council for Higher Education to be held in Manila in June 2026. Part of those plans include finding out what our needs are as Philippine and South E...
forms.gle
July 1, 2025 at 3:11 AM
SEAsian Christian HEIs. Please fill up the form to help plan the ICHE Manila 2026 conference to advance the cause of Christian scholarship & develop sustainable & integrated models of higher education that reflect biblical faith through learning & service.
forms.gle/y77ie31ctAZK...
forms.gle/y77ie31ctAZK...
“Then he will judge disputes between many people and settle arguments between many nations far and wide. They will hammer their swords into plowblades and their spears into pruning shears. Nations will never fight against each other, and they will never train for war again.”
Micah 4:3 GW
Micah 4:3 GW
June 22, 2025 at 6:43 AM
“Then he will judge disputes between many people and settle arguments between many nations far and wide. They will hammer their swords into plowblades and their spears into pruning shears. Nations will never fight against each other, and they will never train for war again.”
Micah 4:3 GW
Micah 4:3 GW
“Sya ang magja-judge sa mga tao, at magdi-decide para sa mga bansang malakas at malayo. Mamartilyuhin nila ang kanilang mga espada para gawing pang-araro, ang mga sibat nila, gagawing pangtagpas ng ani. Hindi na maglalaban-laban ang mga bansa, di na sila magte-training para sa gera.” — MICAH 4:3
June 22, 2025 at 6:42 AM
“Sya ang magja-judge sa mga tao, at magdi-decide para sa mga bansang malakas at malayo. Mamartilyuhin nila ang kanilang mga espada para gawing pang-araro, ang mga sibat nila, gagawing pangtagpas ng ani. Hindi na maglalaban-laban ang mga bansa, di na sila magte-training para sa gera.” — MICAH 4:3
Beneath the lifeless facade of Soviet-era concrete lies a vibrant resistance to conformity. Individuality blossoms as residents personalize their bleak spaces, offering glimpses of life amid uniformity. Is it Georgian faith that infuses hope into this stark landscape & defeats oppression?
The Divine Imprint: How God’s Design Outlasted the Soviet Plan
Beneath the lifeless facade of Soviet-era concrete lies a vibrant resistance to conformity. Individuality blossoms as residents personalize their bleak spaces, offering glimpses of life amid uniformity. Georgian faith infuses hope into this stark landscape. Against the odds, humanity yearns for beauty, diversity, and joy, proving we can never truly be suppressed.
michaeljfast.com
June 15, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Beneath the lifeless facade of Soviet-era concrete lies a vibrant resistance to conformity. Individuality blossoms as residents personalize their bleak spaces, offering glimpses of life amid uniformity. Is it Georgian faith that infuses hope into this stark landscape & defeats oppression?
Civilization & wilderness coexist but can churches remain fortresses? History warns against boundaries yet urges connection. Amidst modern distractions God operates everywhere transcending definitions. Join God's mission, discover grace in chaos & share your journey.
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/24/b...
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/24/b...
Bears, Babylon, and Grace: Where God Meets Us in both the Wild and the Civilised
Civilization and wilderness coexist, but can churches remain fortresses? History warns against boundaries yet urges connection. Amidst modern distractions, God operates everywhere, transcending our…
michaeljfast.com
May 24, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Civilization & wilderness coexist but can churches remain fortresses? History warns against boundaries yet urges connection. Amidst modern distractions God operates everywhere transcending definitions. Join God's mission, discover grace in chaos & share your journey.
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/24/b...
michaeljfast.com/2025/05/24/b...