The Chief and the Sound: a church planting memoir

What happens when God calls you to plant a church in one of Canada's least religious communities—just as a global pandemic begins?

The Chief and the Sound is Rob Folkenberg's honest and hope-filled memoir of church planting in Squamish, British Columbia. Leaving behind everything familiar, Rob wrestles with loneliness, cultural differences, discouragement, and the challenge of sharing the gospel in a post-Christian society.

Along the way, he learns what it means to:

• Build authentic friendships before programs.

• Live an incarnational faith in everyday life.

• Discover practical approaches to ministry in a skeptical culture.

• Find God's presence through both failure and unexpected joy.

Part personal memoir and part reflection on mission, The Chief and the Sound invites readers behind the scenes of starting a new church community. Through candid stories, hard-earned lessons, and moments of breakthrough and grace, Rob explores what faithful Christian witness can look like in today's Western world.

Whether you're a church planter, pastor, ministry leader, or simply someone longing to follow Jesus more intentionally, this book will encourage you to imagine what faithful discipleship could look like in your own neighborhood.

If you've ever wondered how the gospel still speaks in an increasingly secular culture, The Chief and the Sound offers a compelling story of personal growth, modern mission, and the quiet work of God.

142 pages

Copyright 2026