Tell us a little about growing up, family, hometown, etc.?
I grew up the in a small urban town of Waterford, Ontario, which featured a beautiful countryside, lots of natural parks and recreational opportunities. This urban town, consisting of approximately 3,000 people provided a close knit community passionate about basically two things – hockey and Pumpkinfest.
Hockey was a way of life in this small town. In many ways it was a means in which parents and family members could live vicariously through those they were cheering on. In fact, every winter the town would come out and cheer on the Waterford Wildcats in their quest of being crowned OMHA champions. Although the teams I played on just fell short of OHMA glory, I will never forget the thundering applause and unwavering support of hometown fans who packed-out the arena at home games.
Pumpkinfest is you guessed it a festival celebrating pumpkins, which would fill the farmers fields during the fall season. Not only would their be prizes for the largest pumpkin on display, but the town would feature a parade, carnival rides, food vendors, live music, and a fireworks show that was next to none for 10 years. I was blessed to have experience Pumpkinfest in its prime-time.
Best memory and most awkward memory of high school?
My favourite high school memory that first comes to mind actually involves travelling to Europe to represent Canada and the Waterford Wildcats in friendly hockey competition against European countries national teams. This trip was not only a great hockey experience, but the trip also provided an exposure to European culture. Including taking in historic sights, including one of the holocaust camps, which was a very sobering experience. In all, this hockey trip drastically impacted my worldview and made me become truly patriotic and thankful to live in Canada.
My most awkward memory from high school was being asked by the vice-principal to apologize for chewing two gum-balls that were apparently stolen. Here is the backstory. On a beautiful Thursday September morning at 9:10 in the morning, a fellow grade nine (a.k.a minor niner) was handing out gum balls out of his backpack. Now looking back this encounter should have raised ‘red flags’ right? However what teenager is going to turn down free candy, right? Of course I was not aware that my fellow classmate had indeed stole a large quantity of gum-balls from the school’s gum-ball machine, which directly funded the senior high prom committee. Suffice to say and regardless of my innocence, I was roped into standing up in front of the entire high school, along with 6 others, to apologize for the gum-ball theft. Honestly I was petrified. I guess this was my first time experience of the difficult task of desiring to take “the high road”. In this life-event, I believe the Biblical promise that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble, was fulfilled – in that many senior high students, who had both my parents as teachers in elementary school, did not believe I could have been involved in such a plot to steal from the prom committee. For this reason I was never stuffed into a locker as punishment by the senior high judicial system. You get the picture.
When and how did you first accept Jesus?
On this journey called ‘life’ I continually thank God for His grace and faithfulness in ordering my steps. My faith is continually evolving, along with my desire to be inspired and led by the Holy Spirit.
I was raised in a Christian home, and it was within this environment that I came to know Christ, at the age of five, and decided in my heart and mind to profess Him as my Lord and Saviour (Rom. 10: 9,10).
I thank God that I have known Him from such a young age. Throughout my life, I have had a deep hunger to learn about the mysteries of the kingdom of God, which thankfully Christ has made known to us, and to share the love of God with others (Matt. 13:11; 2 Cor. 2:14-15).
What was church like for you growing up?
I grew up in a fantastic church called Full Gospel Fellowship (now known as Real Life Church). From a young age I was immersed in a vibrant church assembly that worshiped extravagantly and passionately participated in various types and forms of ministry, evangelism, and outreach. In fact, it was at my home church that I learned various instruments and had the opportunity at the age of 9 to play the drums on a Sunday morning worship team. The church featured four worship teams of various blends of music and worship leading styles (i.e., Hillsong, Vineyard, Hosanna). It was in this rich environment of worship, via song where I had the opportunity to lead a youth band/young adult band at the age of 15.
In all, my home church gave myself and many other students various opportunities to engage in ministry within the church and community. I am thankful for the many opportunities to preach, teach, and lead worship in a corporate worship setting. Full Gospel Fellowship was truly an Antioch type of church, which desires to makes disciples and empower them in their ministry calling.
How did you begin working as a pastor?
You could say that I began working in ministry at the age of fifteen when my buddy and I took ownership of running our churches youth ministry program. During this time, we planned and led our own youth services, engaged in evangelizing in my represented high schools, led bible studies, and created events to draw young people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It was during this time of ministry opportunity that I acquired the appetite for pastoral ministry. I am thankful that God used my life to lead classmates and fellow athletes to a Christ-saved life (1 Cor. 9:23). I only wish I did more with the time and opportunity that is presented to every teenager.
At the age of 16, following a powerful church service at my home church, a prophetic word was spoken over my life, it was in that moment of inward conviction and affirmation that I felt the call to pastoral ministry. Then I was baptized by full immersion in water and received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Following the pastoral ‘call’, I have taken the time to train and impart through the various ministry opportunities in Canada and the United States. My twelve-year journey of training and impartation has included two years of intense hands-on ministry and leadership development at Master’s Commission Canada in Kitchener, Waterloo. I also completed a Diploma in Biblical Studies through Emmanuel Bible College and then a Bachelors of Theology in Pastoral Ministry through Vanguard College.
My journey has taught me that in order to be effective in my ministry, not only must the fruit of the Spirit be present and increasing in my life (Gal. 5:22; 2 Pet.1:8), but I must also be a life-long learner. This involves casting vision and embodying it, as well as taking the necessary risks, owning mistakes, and not being afraid of being transparent and asking difficult questions.
What a joy it has been and still is, to reach people with the gospel message and to see people realize their God-given potential and accomplish their dreams.
How did you and Megan meet?
Megan and I met on Father’s day of 2010 at New Life Church, in Milton, Ontario. On that day I happened to handing out shoe-horns to men who had come forward for prayer. Why shoe-horns? I still do not know, but that is besides the point. What matters is that it was during this time of dispensing shoe-horns I happened to look out into the congregation and saw Megan looking all fantastic. Yes, of course two things happen in that moment, fleshly response and spiritual response. The spiritual prevailed where I felt the Lord say to me “Here is your wife”. I of course said “alright Lord. Sounds good to me”.
I immediately sought to track her down to say hello and of course get her number. However, being father’s day and all the place was a zoo. All when I thought I had lost my opportunity to meet Megan face-to-face so that our destiny’s could combine, Megan’s sister, Courtney, approached me and basically said you need to meet my sister; of course this perked my ears and I boldly responded with “I agree, because God told me she is going to be my wife”.
To make a long story short, Courtney fulfilled her role, which she will never let me forget, and a few days later Megan and I went to Niagara Falls where we not only had a great time sightseeing and celebrating my birthday, but I also shared with her what I believed God had told me regarding her being my wife. Suffice to say this news did not shock Megan, in fact it seemed good to her, so much so that she passionately told her parents the news upon our return from Niagara Falls later that evening.
In short, a few months later we were engaged, married within the year and the rest is history.
Favourite hockey player of all time?
Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. Respectfully one cannot compare one generational hockey Phenom to another generational Phenom. Go Pens Go.
Favourite food, movie and tv show?
Pizza, Interstellar, Lost.
Most memorable places you’ve ever visited?
Canterbury Cathedral, White Cliffs of Dover, Paris, Scotland, Holocaust Camps, Washington DC, and Disney World.
Was there someone other than your parents who had a big impact on your faith growing up?
The lead pastor of my home church growing up had an impact on my faith because he gave me tangible opportunities to grow in my faith via ministry serving opportunities (i.e., preaching, teaching, prayer ministry, leading worship). He was big into evangelism and being led by the Holy Spirit to “speak into” people’s lives.
Is there a Bible passage that has particularly meant a lot to you?
There are many biblical passages that mean a lot to me. One that has been heavily impressed on my heart lately is 2 Corinthians 2:14-17:
14 But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. And who is competent for this? 17 For we are not like the many[c] who market God’s message for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God (HCSB).
Paul’s exhortation to believers in Corinth regarding their ministry role reveals a powerful truth and promise that God who spoke and moved, still speaks and moves through his faithful followers. What an amazing, humbling, and invigorating thought that God, through His grace lavished upon us through Jesus Christ, leads us and enables us via His Holy Spirit to be active participants in God’s redemptive story towards humankind.
In all, I am thankful that I have the opportunity to allow the grace and transforming love of God’s in my life lead others to a Christ saved life.
What are you looking forward to as you begin working here at St. G’s?
I am excited to give leadership to the development and growth of a vibrant student ministry at St. George’s Anglican Church. It truly is an honour and opportunity to CREATE opportunities for them to ENCOUNTER the living God, to be TRANSFORMED by His presence, to GROW in faith, and to become a DISCIPLESHIP movement EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit, which is determined to HONOUR God with their life and to passionately LEAD others into a Christ saved life1 (Mt. 28:19-20; 22:37-40; 2 Cor. 2:14-15; 1 Cor. 9:19-23; 2 Cor. 5:16-21; Jn. 15: 1-17; Acts 2:42-28).
In all, it is my continuing desire, through God’s enablement, that I will help see the emerging generation become a visible and dynamic influence in the community, which passionately serves and demonstrates the kingdom of God on earth so that people can experience the love of God and transition into an avid and committed relationship with Jesus Christ (Acts 2:42-43; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 5:22-24; cf. Acts 3:6).
