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 Director of Youth MinistriesMy Life Story
It all started in 1981, because that is when I was born. My parents were working in Duncan, British Columbia (on Vancouver Island) serving full time in ministry at a camp and at a local church. Some people say that they kind of grew up at church, I really did. For the first 10 years of my life my dad worked in different youth ministry roles. So it wasn't a stretch for me as a little kid, looking up to my dad, to want to do what he did, but I was just a kid, who knew what God had in store for me.
At the bright age of 4 on a Sunday night, after being in Sunday school and hearing the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25, I received Christ as my personal Saviour. I can clear as day remember sitting on the edge of my bunk bed, knowing I had sin, and without Jesus I wasn't in a good place to someday stand before God. My childhood looked like most other kids from then on, except for a deep conviction to honour God and at least "try" to honour my parents all the time. Through grade school and high school, I never had a time of "rebellion" or straying from the Lord by God's grace, and to this day still thank God for His hand on my life. I like to say that I wasn't saved FROM a life of sin (meaning he pulled me out of continual, habitual, non repentant sin) but I was saved FROM a life of sin (meaning, God saved, rescued withheld a life of drastic sin from me). I am in no way perfect, ask my parents, but by the grace of God I have been seeking to honour Him with most of my life.
At the end of high school I had kind of "grown up" and didn't think that youth ministry was still the path God had for me. I told myself, "that was just a childhood dream". So I began training for what thought was going to be a future career in the world of snowboarding. By God's grace, He did not allow me to go after my own plan, but brought me low and drew me back to him. God did this by allowing me to blowout my knee (major hyper extension), however as painful and drastic as my training accident was, the doctors said "because you didn't completely tear ligaments, we can't do surgery and you will never be the same." But life didn't stop there. God was at work in my heart. I had just heard a couple sermons that God was using in my life to challenge me to not be selfish, and be willing to do what He wanted me to do. With much prayer with my parents and then girlfriend Lindsay (who I met working at camp and after dating for 5 years would later marry), I reluctantly and on a cane still from my injuries headed to bible school (I had spent the first year after high school at a 1 year outdoor education and Bible school,but this was going to be serious, for a "degree").
I had never really liked school as it was never easy for me or really enjoyable. When I was in high school about to fail a couple classes (because I was focusing too much on snowboarding) my parents pointedme to a verse that would later become my life verse. Colossians 3:23 says "Whatever you do workheartily as for the Lord and not for men." This verse was what got me through school, but I still didn't know what the Lord had for me, was full time ministry in the plan?
I graduated in April of 04 and started framing houses in Milton, 1 because it was good money, 2 I likedworking with my hands (still do every chance I get) and 3 it meant that I didn't have to move back upnorth with my parents but could live closer to Lindsay. Late in the summer of 04 (which was my firstsummer in 7 years that I wasn't at camp full time) I got a phone call about an opportunity to meet SeniorPastor Robbie Symons at a new church plant in Oakville. Well the Lord was mightily at work and byThanksgiving of that fall I was on staff full time.
Since then life has only gotten more amazing; I married Lindsay, I live in my own house, we have an
amazing little boy named Daniel, the church has grown from 2 services to 4, our youth group is 4 times as big as it was when I started, I have seen God transform hundreds of people lives and have had the opportunity to be used by Him in this ministry. I look at my life so far and can't help but say "thank you God for all you have done." Truly it has all been because of Him, He saved me, He pointed me on the path He wanted for me, He brought me an amazing wife, He has grown this church and allowed me to be part of it.
Hope For Harvest
My hope for Harvest and for me is that this doesn't stop. I pray that God would keep me/us, this church humble, dependant on Him, constantly reminded that it is only because of Jesus that we have come this far, and it is only by Him that we will go any further. My hope is for many more years of fruitful ministry ahead with all the praise and glory going to the Lord a head.
 (905) 827-4888 ext. 211
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