S8 Episode #16-Courage, Allegiance & Hope with Mark Buchanan

THE ONE WITH Mark Buchanan

This week we are excited to welcome pastor, professor, and best‑selling author, Mark Buchanan to The Collected Podcast! Mark joins Jes for a rich and deeply moving conversation about faith, calling, and courageous discipleship. He shares his own conversion story, the surprising ways God has led him into ministry, and the enduring passions that have shaped his life’s work. They explore the themes behind his new novel What Is Left of the Night, a powerful true story of a French village that sheltered Jewish refugees during World War II, opening the door to reflections on courage, pacifism, and the difference between healthy loyalties and the singular allegiance owed to Christ. Mark also speaks candidly about his work with Indigenous women, the challenge of holding grace and truth together, and the hope that anchors us even in dark times. This warm, thoughtful episode invites listeners to slow down, reflect deeply, and consider how God might be calling them to courageous, wholehearted faithfulness in their own stories.

More About MARK

Mark began his writing career at age twelve, encouraged by his fifth-grade teacher. Now, he is the author of twelve books including What Is Left of the Night, God Walk, The Rest of God, and the David Trilogy and he is a regular contributor to several print and online magazines, including Faith Today and Preaching Today. He is associate professor of pastoral theology at Ambrose University and served as a pastor for over two decades. He and his wife live in Canada.

About His Latest book

[Press Release] When author, pastor, and professor Mark Buchanan (as seen on Life With God, Revelation Wellness, Susie Larson Live, etc.) first encountered the true story of a French pastor who secretly  helped save hundreds of lives during Nazi occupation, he felt something rare when reading about World War II: hope.

Inspired by real life events, the little-known story behind What Is Left of the Night is centered on Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, a tiny village in southern France where ordinary people—driven by conscience and faith—risked everything to resist oppression. What began as a passing discovery more than twenty-five years ago stayed with Buchanan, eventually drawing him back through interviews, travel, and years of research.

Now set for release this March, Buchanan’s first-ever historical fiction novel is inspired by this remarkable setting and weaves together several real-life figures whose paths converge as the Nazi regime’s grip tightens across Europe. A young Jewish girl, Hannah, flees certain death after being forced to leave her mother and sister behind. Her escape leads her to Le Chambon, where Protestant pastor André Trocmé and his formidable wife, Magda, have transformed their quiet village into a clandestine refuge for those marked as “undesirable” by the Reich.

With lyrical prose and historical accuracy, Buchanan brings together the stories of a pastor, a refugee, a spy, and a writer to explore how ideologies colonize the human heart—and how courage, conviction, and moral clarity can resist them. Though some of these figures may never have met in real life, fiction allows their lives and choices to collide in a powerful examination of faith, fear, and humanity under tyranny.

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SHOW NOTES

Mark shared his personal journey to faith, which began when his mother had a radical conversion to Christianity at age 16. Despite his initial skepticism, Mark eventually read the Bible and encountered Jesus in a new way, leading to his own conversion 44 years ago. He and his wife have been together since then and have been involved in ministry. 

Embracing God's Unlikely Callings

Mark shared his journey from a challenging academic experience to becoming a pastor and Christian author, emphasizing how he and his wife embraced open-handedness in following God's plan, which led to unexpected opportunities. 

He highlighted his lack of qualifications for various roles, including seminary professor and working with First Nations women during COVID. 

Mark’s story reminds us that God often chooses the unlikely candidates. He encouraged others facing similar open door opportunities to rely on the theology of God picking the unqualified, citing Jesus' selection of unlikely followers and the story of Moses, who was 80 when called to lead the Israelites.

Enduring Passions and Soulful Reflection

Mark shared about the concept of a persistent inner fire or calling that remains unextinguished despite societal or personal doubts. He shared a personal experience of guiding others to reflect on their enduring passions and emphasized the importance of being open to these calls rather than forcing them. 

He also talked about the challenge of finding stillness and silence in a noisy world, suggesting that soulful reflection can occur in various settings, including nature, to connect more deeply with God.

Deepening Faith Through Ministry

Mark shared his experience with a ministry called New Story Communities, which supports Indigenous women who have faced generational and personal trauma, including substance abuse. He described the challenging yet rewarding journey of living with these women for six months, noting how it deepened his faith and prayer life. 

Mark explained that this ministry has made him more intercessory in his prayers, often resorting to wordless prayers to create space for God's presence and guidance.

Balancing Grace and Truth

Mark and Jes discussed the dual nature of God's love, combining both tenderness and firmness. They explored how Jesus exemplified this balance in his interactions with others, using examples like the woman who washed his feet and the Pharisee Simon. 

Mark emphasized that Jesus was full of both grace and truth, never struggling to find the right approach. They concluded that learning to balance grace and truth in various aspects of life, such as parenting, pastoring, and leading organizations, is essential.

Faith and Courage in World War II

Mark discussed his latest book, What Is Left of the Night, which is based on true events about a small Protestant village in the French Alps during World War II. The village, led by a pastor, became a city of refuge for Jewish people fleeing persecution, without attempting to convert them. 

Mark became fascinated by this story after hearing about it 20 years ago and spent several years researching it, culminating in his decision to write a novel about the community's extraordinary sacrifice.

He shared insights about courage, emphasizing that it is not the absence of fear but taking action against evil. Mark highlighted Trochme's pacifism as a powerful example, showing that resistance does not always require violence, and that passive compliance with evil is unacceptable. 

Mark shared about one particular character in the book, the French Huguenot leader Trachmar, emphasizing the man's profound Christian faith and courage despite his volatile temper. He noted that while the Holy Spirit's role wasn't explicitly explored in the narrative, Trachmar clearly walked in the Spirit's power. 

Mark also shared insights about the distinction between loyalty and allegiance, emphasizing that while multiple loyalties are healthy, allegiance should be reserved for Jesus alone. He concluded by warning against the dangers of ideology, which he contrasted with healthy debate about ideas, and suggested that people return to focusing on ideas rather than ideologies.

NEXT STEPS

Here are a few action steps to help you dip deeper this week!

  1. Reflect on your own “Enduring Fire.” Take 10 quiet minutes this week to ask God what passion or calling He has kept alive in you, even when it has felt unlikely or inconvenient.

  2. Examine your loyalties and allegiance. Journal about the difference between the many healthy loyalties in your life and the singular allegiance you owe to Jesus. Where might those lines need clarity?

  3. Engage with Scripture. Read a Gospel passage where Jesus interacts with someone in need (Luke 7, John 4, or Mark 5 are great places to start) and notice how He holds grace and truth together.

Thank you, as always, for listening! Please remember that everything we do is funded by those who benefit from our ministry. Our ministry a 501(c)3, so your contribution is tax-deductible.

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  • The Collected Podcast is produced by Jes French and edited by Jacob Early. Cover art designed by Ben Biondo.

Most Recent, Podcast Episodes, hope, InspirationJessica BiondorecentComment