Alpha Leadership Tour
Leadership Tour Details
Join together with Canadian Church Leaders on a perspective-shifting trip featuring the Alpha Leadership Conference at the Royal Albert Hall and rare opportunities to connect with and learn from key churches and faith leaders in the beautiful and historic city of London.
Guests & Speakers
Nicky & Pippa Gumbel
Archie & Sam Coates
N.T. Wright
Stephen Foster
Al Gordon
Bishop Ric Thorpe
Pete Hughes
Katherine Chow
Simon Ponsonby
Draft Schedule
Overview
Day 1 | Tuesday, April 28
Canadian Welcome Gathering (afternoon)
Canadian Leaders Dinner
Day 2 | Wednesday, April 29
Leadership sessions with Nicky & Pippa Gumbel, Pete Hughes, Katherine Chow and more
Day 3 | Thursday, April 30
Tour of Oxford, and exclusive leadership sessions with Stephen Foster, N.T Wright, and Simon Ponsonby.
Day 4 | Friday, May 1
Leadership sessions with Sarah Jackson, Wole Agbaje and more. Plus the SAINT story with Al Gordon, followed by the all-night joint prayer gathering with SAINT, Imprint and KXC Church.
Day 5 | Saturday, May 2
Canadian debrief and Leadership sessions and prayer with Sandy & Annette Millar. Free afternoon to tour London.
Day 6 | Sunday, May 3
HTB Church Service followed by an afternoon Canadian Reception
Day 7 | Monday, May 4
Leadership Conference 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall
Day 8 | Tuesday, May 5
Leadership Conference 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall
Meet your hosts
Ryan Moffat
National Director of Strategic Partnerships, Alpha Canada
About Ryan
I’m honoured in my role as the Director of Strategic Partnerships to be able to work closely with some of the brightest and most influential Church leaders across Canada. I also have the privilege of aiding in the leadership development of Alpha International staff and sit on the Executive Team at Alpha Canada.
Pam Aramburu
Associate National Director, Alpha Canada
About Pam
Originally from Mexico, she immigrated to Canada at 14, where she experienced a deep sense of belonging through the local church. She brings a background in broadcast journalism and served in executive pastoral leadership at Centre Street Church, where she led communications, marketing, tech, and building campaigns. She and her husband have two sons, Fernando (10) and Diego (7), and together are committed to living on mission in and for their community.
Ed Zadeiks
National Director of Catholic Church, Alpha Canada
About Ed
As National Director of Alpha in a Catholic Context for the past six years, I’m grateful to serve and equip the Catholic Church across Canada in its mission to evangelize and bring people to Christ. I sit on the Alpha Executive Strategy team. I’m a lifelong practicing and proud Catholic, born and educated in Vancouver, BC. My wife Shawna and I, along with our 3 kids, have been actively involved in our parish, Christ the Redeemer, since 2004. We are leaders in C.C.O’s Faith Studies, and since 2012 have personally led 30+ Alphas in our parish as well as across the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Tim Teakle
National Alpha Youth Director, Alpha Canada
About Tim
Tim has served 20+ years in ministry and is currently the National Alpha Youth Director at Alpha Canada. He was a youth pastor for 10 years and has been with Alpha for another 10, serving in the youth department, overall church experience and strategic development. He and his wife Carolyn have 4 children and a cat named Archie. In his spare time, Tim enjoys custom carpentry and refinishing, movies, and hanging out with his kids.
Jason Persaud
National Director of Church Engagement, Alpha Canada
About Jason
Jason oversees an incredible team responsible for training, equipping, and coaching churches, pastors, and leaders nationwide in the Alpha course. He has been in ministry for over 32 years, serving as a pastor, home missionary, and itinerant speaker.
John Rugosi
Senior Advisor, Alpha Canada
About John
John is passionate about empowering Christians across Canada in their mission to evangelize and bring people to Christ. With 15 years of experience as a missionary, youth pastor, and retreat leader, he fosters the development of Alpha within the Catholic framework. John also collaborates with a variety of churches to build meaningful connections.
Esther Lysakovsky
Strategic Relationships Manager, Alpha Canada
About Esther
As a longtime ministry and nonprofit leader, Esther is a bridge-builder and a champion of the local church. In her role as Strategic Relationships Manager, she has the joy of helping to equip and empower the Church in Canada in its mission of evangelism, while creating spaces where connection and collaboration among leaders can flourish.
Emily Banks
Associate Director of Communications + Marketing, Alpha Canada
About Emily
A lifelong creative and storyteller, Emily leads a multidisciplinary team united by one shared passion: telling the good news of Jesus through the power of story. She’s passionate about helping people find their voice and share it with the world. She calls Ajax, Ontario home, worships at Sanctus Church, and is never far from a good book, a vinyl record, or a flat white.
Jen Brandsma
Manager of Events and Governance Operations, Alpha Canada
About Jen
Jen Brandsma is the Manager of Events and Governance Operations at Alpha Canada. She has been part of the Alpha team for the last four years, bringing a strong background in administration and organizational support. Jen helps lead the coordination of national events and supports the National Director’s office. She is passionate about creating environments where leaders can connect, collaborate, and be equipped for mission.
Attendees
Ziad Ailabouni
About Ziad
Ziad Ailabouni serves as the Directional Lead for Ministry Support at OneChurch.to. He oversees key operational areas, including finance, human resources, IT, and facilities, managing practical needs that lighten the load for ministry teams, allowing staff to focus fully on their ministry work.
Fr. Eran Amarasingha
About Fr. Eran
I’m a Catholic priest ordained in 2025, in Ottawa, Canada. I belong to a religious community called the Companions of the Cross, and our mission is evangelization. I serve as the Associate Pastor at Saint Benedict Parish, in Halifax. I enjoy playing board games, eating fried chicken & rock climbing.
Jason & Shey Balzer
About Jason & Shey
Jason and Shey have been married for almost 5 years and enjoy coffee, chats, and exploring the world together. Jason just started in a new role as Pastor of Student Ministries at Southview Church in Calgary, Alberta, previously in a similar role at Foothills Alliance. Jason has been serving with the 403 youth network for the past 3 years. Shey has just completed her masters in counselling and will be joining a counselling practice in the fall. Shey has served for the past three years at Foothills Alliance in a design and admin role. Shey is a British citizen and excited to be back in the UK.
Greg Barker
About Greg
Greg Barker is a youth pastor at Faith Church in St. Thomas, Ontario. He’s passionate about helping students follow Jesus in everyday life and loves fishing, hockey, coffee, and discovering new adventures with his wife and daughter.
Sandra Bergen
About Sandra
Hi, I’m Sandra Bergen. I desire to disciple women, build biblical community, and help women walk in the freedom of Christ. I love the ministry of hospitality and preparing meals for Alpha, where faith and conversation meet. To relax, you’ll find me walking my dog in the forest, painting, traveling with my husband!
Mark Bergen
About Mark
I serve as Lead Pastor at Prince Albert Alliance. After a few years in business my wife Sandra and I have served as a pastoral couple since 1993. We enjoy road trips and adventures to new places. I enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, walking/jogging and if we have a spotter available, I enjoy “wake-skating” in the lakes north of Prince Albert.
Chris Boyko
About Chris
Chris Boyko is a Pastor at Sonrise Church (Surrey & Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada ), serving as Youth Pastor and Director of Youth Ministry & Community Transformation. Fun fact: he still practices ’90s dance moves in private, so he’s always ready when the song hits.
Mallory Brisson
About Mallory
I am a parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where I happily serve in children’s ministry. I live in a small coastal community with my husband and our four children. I have a heart for faith, family, and enjoy photography!
Ellie Cau
About Ellie
Ellie is a founding and working board member of The Apostles Fund, which focuses on scaling Catholic evangelizing apostolates with spiritual and leadership formation, accompaniment, and funding. She launched this foundation with her husband, Michael, with whom she has five daughters. For fun, she loves lifting weights and can deadlift more than her husband weighs.
Jason Cleugh
About Jason
Jason is the Lead Pastor of North City Church (Vaughan, Ontario, Canada), married, with one daughter. He’s travelled in missions work (El Salvador, Kyrgyzstan, Israel) and is a member of the Canadian Council of Churches. He loves the Church, his city, leadership, reading, sports, big cities & tech.
Jessica Collins
About Jessica
Jessica Collins serves at OneChurch.to in Toronto, ON, Canada, offering directional leadership across ministry and formation. She is driven by a heart for belonging, equity, and social justice. When she’s not teaching or leading, you’ll hopefully find her near the lake or the ocean, with a good novel or snorkel in her hand.
Katelyn Condon
About Katelyn
Jeremy & Heather Cook
About Jeremy & Heather
“Jeremy is the Lead Pastor at Sherwood Park Alliance Church. He has served in that community for over 16 years in a variety of different roles. Before returning as Lead Pastor, he served as an Assistant District Superintendent with the Alliance Canada. Jeremy loves the local church and grew up in it as the Pastor’s kid. In fact, Jeremy is a third generation Alliance Pastor with most of his extended family serving in vocational ministry. While passionate about the local church, Jeremy believes in investing in what God is doing around the world. As such, he has had the privilege of preaching in over a dozen countries and is regularly part of kingdom projects globally. Jeremy is married to Heather, and they have the best 2 kids you could hope for! They have recently added a dog to the mix and somehow it is larger than the kids. Heather works at a website company in Sherwood Park and travels across Canada and the United States talking with local governments. She works with Municipalities on the best way to communicate and serve those in their communities. The Cooks love spending time together and these days it often looks like driving around the Edmonton area for basketball games while grabbing good coffee on the way.”
Fr. Brenton Cordeiro
About Fr. Brenton
Fr. Brenton Cordeiro is pastor of St. Timothy Catholic Church, Toronto. Fr. Brenton loves traveling and has a large collection of shot glasses as travel souvenirs. When he isn’t doing priestly things, Fr. Brenton enjoys watching mindless TV shows and eating junk food.
Dave Costanzo
About Dave
Executive Director, The Apostles Fund. We multiply multipliers by de-risking high-return investments in global Catholic evangelization—partnering with mission-driven leaders for long-term scale. Fun Fact: Enjoys practicing island songs on Caribbean steel pan drum.
Lisa Court
About Lisa
Liam Cowman
About Liam
Liam Cowman is an associate pastor at Prince Albert Alliance Church in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He is a husband and father of one, with another child on the way. Liam is passionate about building and leading community groups rooted in God’s Word and shaped by intentional discipleship. A graduate of Briercrest College, he also contributes to Faith Today magazine. His ministry is focused on spiritual formation, helping people practice their faith in everyday life and live into the fullness found in Jesus. Outside of ministry, Liam enjoys taking his son to the park and walking through the city he loves.
Darryl Dash
About Darryl
I’m lead pastor at Grace Fellowship Church East Toronto. I’m married to Char, and we have two adult children and one grandson. I’ve never had spicy food that I haven’t enjoyed.
Lorraine Diaz
About Lorraine
Ordained in 2005 by the United Church of Canada, Rev. Lorraine (Lori) Diaz has served UCC congregations in Southern Ontario and Nova Scotia, and spent three years in Des Moines, Iowa serving a Spanish-speaking Lutheran congregation. She currently serves Central United Church in Unionville, ON as Senior Minister. Rev. Lori grew up in Elora, ON. She now lives in Markham, ON with her wonderful husband, Chris, who hails from London, England. They love to dote on their 19-year-old cat, Sancho. She loves going to the ballet, running or snowshoeing, practicing yoga, and reading, when she’s not working on her DMin thesis.
Scott Dickie
About Scott
Hi everyone! My name is Scott Dickie. I’ve been married to Tracey (who is also attending this leadership tour) for 31 years, and together we have three young adult children. I love coffee, reading novels, travelling, and watching the NFL and rugby. I also love God, and I tend to connect best with Him during long rides on my road bike. I have served as the Lead Pastor at Peace Portal Church in Surrey, BC, for the past 12 years. We are part of the Alliance Canada denomination. Prior to stepping into the lead role, I served in a few other areas in our church, and this June I’ll be celebrating my 30th anniversary at Peace Portal. Along the way I did some further study, and I just completed a degree in leadership this past Spring—so I am excited to add to my learning in this specific area during the tour. But more than that, I am anticipating some meaningful encounters with God during our time in London. Our church has a long history with Alpha, and we celebrate the life change that has taken place in so many people who have attended over the years. Thank you, Alpha, for resourcing the church! I’m looking forward to meeting you all and experiencing this journey together.
Tracey Dickie
About Tracey
Hi! My name is Tracey Dickie, and I have worked as a Clinical Counsellor at Peace Portal’s Counselling Centre for a little over 25 years. I now serves as a Manager of Clinical Operations at Fraser Health, supporting bed-based substance use treatment. I also enjoy giving presentations related to mental health, leadership, and Wellness practices—both inside and outside of the faith community. I have been married to Scott for 30 years and I am the proud mom of three adult children and a daughter-in-law. I love exercising with friends, biking with my husband, cheering on my kids at Collegiate rugby and volleyball games, spending time with Juno, my golden retriever (who believes he’s human), and listening to books and podcasts wherever I go. I’m looking forward to meeting you all soon!
Dave Dixon
About Cecilia
Lead Pastor at Hillside Wesleyan Church in Dartmouth, NS. Married to Kim for 22 years, proud dad of three (two adopted) and foster parent. Loved my first UK trip last summer—exploring London and Scotland and catching the Oasis reunion!
Jervis Djokoto
About Jervis
Jervis Djokoto is a Canadian Ghana-born, Ontario-based Pastor, leader, Author and musician. He completed his MDiv from Tyndale Seminary as a part of the Church-In-The-City Program and is currently in the final year of a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at Fuller Theological Seminary, focused on the Holy Spirit and Ministry Practice. After founding and leading Worshippers Ministry International (WMI) in Ghana for over a decade, he moved to Canada with his wife, Robin. Jervis served as Young Adults Pastor and later Missions Pastor at Sanctus Church, a large multi-site church on the outskirts of Toronto. During this time, he also founded the Young Adult Renewal Network (YARN) to support renewal among young adults across Canada. YARN has since evolved into The Renewal Movement, which is now focused on renewal for the broader Church. In this capacity, Jervis serves the broader Church through his speaking and music ministry, inspiring and resourcing the Church toward experiencing God’s renewing presence and power. In 2023, Jervis was invited into the role of Senior Director of Church Health for the Free Methodist Church in Canada. In this national leadership role, he assists pastors and boards within the network, fostering healthy churches and developing missional strategies and church-planting initiatives across the country. As a pastor, leader, speaker, author, and musician, Jervis has ministered to thousands through teaching, conferences, retreats, and music in countries including Indonesia, the UK, Uganda, India, South Africa, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Ghana. His passion is to help churches grow in their relationship with the Holy Spirit and experience deep spiritual renewal in Jesus’ name. Jervis lives in Oshawa with his wife, Robin, and their two children, Evangeline and Joseph. In addition to spending time with his family, Jervis enjoys reading, listening to music, and eating good, spicy food.
Will Dmytrow
About Will
William Dmytrow serves as a pastor at Ebenezer Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and as the General Director of the 306 Network, a grassroots movement uniting youth ministries across the region. He is the author of “The Leader After His Own Heart.” As a husband, friend, and follower of the way of Jesus, William’s life centers on one simple goal: gathering people around Jesus and helping them follow Him for life. He loves creating with both hands and mind, whether through pastoring, writing, or speaking. William writes bi-weekly at “Follow Jesus for Life with William Dmytrow” on Substack, exploring what faithful discipleship to Jesus looks like in everyday life. He and his wife Emma live in the heart of Canada, where they pursue life with Jesus in the modern world.
Emma Dmytrow
About Emma
Emma Dmytrow serves both the Youth and Life Group Coordinator at Ebenezer Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan primarily discipling young women and helping equip up the rising generation to follow Jesus for life. Emma has a a deep love and passion for serving Jesus and has been personally transformed in her walk with the Lord at her local church she seeks to give back too. Emma has the honour to serve alongside her husband Will in ministry and lives in Saskatoon, SK where her and her husband are working out helping young people find a deep identity in Christ while they do so themselves.
Kimberline D’Souza
About Kimberline
I’m the Human Resource Lead with the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. I love baking luxury cakes and traveling — I’ve visited 11 countries and made pilgrimages to Medjugorje, Fatima, Lourdes, Santiago & Velankanni. Next: skydiving & bungee jumping!
Jason Elliotson
About Jason
Tiny. Broken. Redeemed. Carried. Working at humility. Growing in Gratitude. Curious about everything. Reflective to a fault. Loves Kellie & Bo, Jesus & people. Likes nature, arts, sciences, thinking, learning. Liverpool FC. 49ers. Canadiens. Jays. | Matthew 10:25 | Psalm 27:4 | Romans 12:9-10
David Enns
About David
Lindsay Fitch
About Lindsay
Lindsay Fitch is the Associate Pastor at North City Church in Vaughan On, where she’s been on staff for 19 years. She’s passionate about developing leaders, team dynamics, community outreach, leading worship and leading herself. She loves travelling, doing anything outside, trying new food, shopping for deals, drinking coffee, and consuming chocolate daily!
Leanne Friesen
About Leanne
Leanne is the Executive Minister of the Canadian Baptists of Ontario Quebec, a family of almost 300 churches. She is also a grief educator and the author of the book Grieving Room and the content creator and facilitator of the Instagram page @grieving.room.
Derik Fuller
About Derik
Hi, I’m Derik Fuller, lead pastor of Forward Church, a 92-year-old multi-site church in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Paris, Ontario. I love cookies. I can say no to most sweets, but cookies are my kryptonite when I’m trying to eat healthy.
Amanda Fuller
About Amanda
Married to the Lead Pastor of Forward Church, Cambridge, Ontario, I serve as a teacher in Women’s and Children’s Ministry. Mom of 3 teenagers, I’m drive-instructor extraordinaire as God develops the fruit of patience and self-control in my life. Professionally, I teach Maths. Yes, I love it!
Tarak George
About Tarak
Tarak is an ordained Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). He serves as an Associate Pastor at Grace Toronto Church, in Toronto, Canada. He oversees Family Ministry, and is passionate about helping families better know, love, and serve Jesus Christ in their respective seasons of life. He is also involved in regular teaching and preaching at the church. When Tarak is not at work, he enjoys cooking, board games, basketball, and listening to 70s rock. He is married to his wife Cathie, and they have two little boys (Gabriel and Aari), and a friendly dog named Goose!
Micah Hale
About Micah
My name is Micah Hale, and I serve at Rock Church as one of our youth directors. Alongside my friend Ty, I help lead and disciple our youth community. Something fun about me is that I enjoy playing basketball.
Jon Hawes
About Jon
I grew up in the South East of England and have been in the Lower Mainland since 2010, when I jumped the pond to pursue Biblical studies in Canada. I have been on staff at Coquitlam Alliance since 2013 and currently serve as the worship pastor. 2026 has already been a big year, thanks to getting married in March to my wife, Karolina! I’m grateful that this leadership tour will bring me closer to Yorkshire puddings and my favourite British candy, Percy Pigs!
Darren Herbold
About Darren
Rev. Darren Herbold has a passion to see The Alliance Canada thrive as a Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, and Mission-focused movement. Darren has served The Alliance Canada for over 15 years. Darren served as pastoral staff for seven years at Beulah Alliance. In 2014, Darren, and his wife, Naomi, were sent as international workers to Thailand where they served for over eight years. In 2015, Darren and Naomi were appointed as Team Leaders, and then in 2019, as Regional Developers, providing leadership and oversight to the region. Darren Herbold also served on the Board of Directors for the past four years. Darren also has significant experience in the area of entrepreneurial business, founding and directing an international charitable organization, For Freedom International, focused on anti-trafficking, community development, and Gospel multiplication efforts in southeast Asia. In July 2022, The Alliance Canada appointed Rev. Darren Herbold to serve as President of The Alliance Canada. Darren graduated from Covenant Bible College in Strathmore, AB (Certificate in Christian Studies), Taylor University College in Edmonton, AB (B.A. in Religion and Theology), and Liberty University in the USA (M.A. [with high distinction] in Global Studies). Darren and Naomi have three children.
Steve Hewko
About Steve
Steve Hewko is the Director of the Canadian Institute for Empirical Church Research at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. He works at the intersection of theology, social science, data science, and institutional practice, helping organizations understand the changing religious landscape in Canada. With backgrounds in the natural sciences and theology, he is particularly interested in how quantitative methods, including machine learning and geospatial analysis, can illuminate the contours and dynamics of religious communities across regions, traditions, and social settings. Steve studies religion in Canada with particular attention to congregations, diaspora movements, and migration. His research and institute work support data informed decision making for denominations, local communities, and partner organizations that are responding to social and demographic change. This includes the use of large administrative and survey datasets, spatial mapping of religious presence and participation, and exploratory statistical and machine learning models to identify patterns over time. He holds a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Alberta, a Master of Theological Studies from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Theology from the University of St. Michaels College.
Coby Hogendoorn
About Coby
Coby Hogendoorn along with her husband Rob, founded Forest City Community Church in London, Ontario. Beginning with a dozen people in the mid 90’s, Coby and Rob have watched Forest City Community Church grow to become a multi-site church that has also helped birth new churches in Ontario and Quebec. Coby’s role includes teaching, mentoring and functioning as the Administrative Director. Coby’s passions include travel, cooking, reading and shamelessly spoiling her 10 grandchildren.
Rob Hogendoorn
About Rob
Rob Hogendoorn is the founding and Lead Pastor of Forest City Community Church in London, Ontario. Beginning with a dozen people in the mid 90’s, Rob and his wife Coby have watched Forest City Community Church grow to become a multi-site church that has also helped birth new churches in Ontario and Quebec. Rob is passionate about helping churches grow in their ability to engage pre-Christian people with the hope of the gospel. Along with his role on the GLN Canada board, partnering with Alpha Canada and advocating for World Vision Canada, Rob is a golfer, hiker, reader, and unfortunately, an incurable life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Rob and Coby have 4 grown children and 10 grandchildren.
Fr. Michael Horianopoulos
About Fr. Michael
Fr. Michael Horianopoulos was born on the west coast of Canada in the small town of Kitimat, British Columbia, but now serves on the east coast in Nova Scotia. He has fond memories of going to mass with his younger sister and brother, mom, and maternal Portuguese grandparents, then having lunch together each Sunday. His dad’s side of the family is Greek Orthodox, so he has a great love for the eastern churches as well (and Greek food of course!). Fr. Michael attended the University of Northern British Columbia for six years, completing undergraduate degrees in both Biology and Elementary Education. After this he taught the second grade at Sacred Heart Elementary School for two years. During the first year of teaching he felt Jesus calling him to the priesthood, and discerned joining the Companions of the Cross after spending a very joyful year with other young adults at St. Therese School of Faith and Mission in Bruno, Saskatchewan. He was ordained to the priesthood in May 2024 and is glad to be working as Associate Pastor under Pastor Fr. Tim at Holy Trinity Parish. Fr. Michael is grateful for the adventure God has led him on so far in becoming a priest, and has expectant hope for a fruitful and exciting years of priesthood ahead! One fun fact about Fr Michael? He often finds four leaf clovers accidentally when he glances at the ground on walks (but only when the ground is not covered in snow).
Justin Hsu
About Justin
My name is Justin and I am the youth and young adults pastor at Unionville Alliance Church. Ive been serving here for nearly three years, and am happy to say it’s been a huge blessing in my life. I am married, with 2 kids (1 and 3) and a third one on the way, and am looking forward to going on paternity leave again to Korea early next year! A few things about me… Once God helped me overcome my issues with addiction, which lasted about 18 years of my life give or take, I now strive to serve the Lord and share my life experiences with those He has placed in my life and ministry areas. I love connecting with people, but am a weird social introvert, meaning usually my battery does drain and by the end of the day I just want to be alone, lol!
Fr. Justin Huang
About Fr. Justin
Born in Richmond, BC, Fr. Justin, the youngest of 3 brothers, felt called to ministry at the age of 16. He studied at the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission, BC, completing a BA in Liberal Arts, and continued his education at St. Joseph’s Seminary in New York, where he earned his Master of Divinity, Bachelor of Sacred Theology (Summa cum laude), and Master’s in Moral Theology. In 2006, Fr. Justin was ordained a priest and served in various parishes in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, before three years of advanced formation in Rome at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy where he obtained his J.C.L. (Licentiate in Canon Law) and learned Italian. Currently, Fr. Justin is pastor at St. Anthony of Padua in Vancouver, focusing the last 12 years of his work on parish renewal. As part of the Divine Renovation Network since 2017, he regularly speaks to priests on the spirit and practicalities of leading parishes from maintenance to mission. Fr. Justin loves prayer, thoughtful conversations and sports, especially tennis, hockey, wushu & volleyball. Above all, he loves God and the Church deeply and desires to share God’s love and truth with others.
Fr. Garrick Huang
About Fr. Garrick
I was ordained in 2010 and am originally from Vancouver, BC but have ministered in Catholic parishes in Ottawa and in numerous dioceses in Quebec. I returned to Montreal in September 2023 and worked under Fr. Mike Leclerc at St. Ignatius of Loyola parish where he introduced me to the Alpha series at St. Willibrord parish. It was definitely a gamechanger to see how the Christian faith could so easily be presented in a very open and yet direct way to believers and non-believers. Since taking over St. Willibrord parish as the pastor, I have continued participating and promoting Alpha not only for those discovering Jesus, but also for believers in the community to learn to have conversations with others and to have culture of inviting new people to discover our community. In my time, we have seen steady growth from 120 people on Sunday to well over 200. People in the neigbourhood have heard that St. Willibrord’s is a welcoming community where Jesus is at the centre of everything. Prior to coming back to Montreal, I had been administering a region of 14 churches spanning over a huge territory. One of my principal tasks was to close down some of these church communities due to lack of resources on many levels. I regret that I hadn’t experienced the Alpha series which would have been a great help to these communities and would have made a difference in their culture and attitude. My newest project is leading an Alpha series in our soup kitchen for our neighbours who come to us weekly so that we can have those discussions on Jesus and his message for them.
Christopher Ivany
About Christopher
I’m Christopher Ivany, a pastor at Rock Church Halifax. I love seeing the Church alive in the Spirit and the Word. I have no hobbies—my five kids took them. I don’t enjoy travel but I love London & Alpha – so there you go. I drink coffee, pray for revival, and I’m excited to partner with Alpha!
Finu & Tresha Iype
About Finu & Tresha
Finu Iype is Co-Senior Pastor of Village Church, leading preaching, mission, and advancement across a growing multi-site movement in Canada. Born & raised in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Finu attended Bible College in Toronto, founded Passion to Reach Ministries as a teen, and has served churches in 18+ nations, with a passion for church planting and evangelism. He lives in Langley, BC, with his wife, Tresha, and their two daughters.
Tresha Iype is Executive Director of Mackie’s Place Youth Social House in Surrey, BC, where she leads work impacting 1,000+ youth each year. She is passionate about helping young people find belonging, hope, and opportunity, and discover and fulfill their God-given purpose.
Ben Karuhije
About Ben
My name is Ben Karuhije and I am the Senior Pastor of Cities Church, with locations in Brandon and Winnipeg, Manitoba, as well as Regina, Saskatchewan. My wife Sarah and I have been married for 13 years, and we have three beautiful children. Fun fact about me is that I’m pretty decent at corn hole!
Justin Kelsey
About Justin
My name is Justin Kelsey, Executive Pastor at Toronto International Celebration Church and Vice-Chair of the Toronto Prayer Breakfast Executive Board. Proud dad to my 19-year-old son JJ and husband of 21 years to Martine Kelsey, award-winning artist. Fun fact: I’m a touring drummer and concert promoter.
Phil Kniesel
About Phil
Phil is Lead Pastor at Hope City Church in Edmonton Alberta. Hope City is a multi site, multi service church that has experienced an amazing move of God over the past few years. They have a vision of reaching one percent of Edmonton and are praying for and believing God for this. He is in his 27th year of marriage to his wife Marla and together they have two young adult daughters. Phil enjoys snowboarding and a good punk rock show from time to time.
Jason Koleba
About Jason
Jason serves as Lead Pastor of Vernon Alliance Church in BC. Husband to Cindy and father to 4 daughters, he is passionate about preaching, engaging the church in mission and helping people grow-up. His love of bicycles has taken him to beautiful places from BC, to Malaysia to the Tibetan Plateau.
Julia Lee
About Julia
Dr. Julia Lee is a physician and adjunct lecturer at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She ponders on aging and death, and how those relate to the Church’s mission. She earned her MD and MPH degrees at the University of Toronto and is currently pursuing her MDiv at Wycliffe College. She has served in various medical capacities in remote areas of Canada, in West Africa, the MENA region, and in the Caribbean. She joyfully lives and serves alongside her beloved husband, Ben, who is also attending the conference.
Fr. Simon Lobo
About Fr. Simon
Leonor Lopes
About Leonor
Pastor of Adult discipleship at Unionville Alliance Church Ontario Canada. I love being part of a very large family with many siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. We number over 100.
Dan MacDonald
About Dan
Dan MacDonald is a native of Montreal, who re-planted Grace Toronto in 2005 and trained up five church planters who went to plant churches in the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa and soon- Windsor. He was the former director of Grace Network Canada, and loves to partner with other organizations for gospel renewal. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor for Grace Toronto Church. Dan has been married to Sue (“the one upon whom the sun rises and sets”) for 29 years, and has a spectacular daughter named Shaila. He enjoys sports, reading, travelling, and learning.
Ty MacLaughlin
About Ty
Ty serves as Co-Youth Director at Rock Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and studies theology at Acadia Divinity College. He’s passionate about investing in and equipping the next generation, telling meaningful stories through video, and making great coffee!
Theresa Manderson
About Theresa
I oversee Family & Children’s Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Dartmouth NS. As a mom of three, I feel passionate about building strong, engaging Family Ministry and community at the parish level.
Daniel Mansvelt
About Daniel
Daniel serves as the Assistant Pastor at Hillside Wesleyan Church in Halifax, NS. He’s passionate about helping everyone find life in Jesus. He, and his wonderful wife Natalie have two sons, Malcolm and Graham. Daniel enjoys exploring the great outdoors, reading with a cup of coffee, and playing ultimate frisbee.
Jon Mason
About Payton
My name is Jon Mason, I’m a youth pastor at Milton Bible Church and I’m also wrapping up my Masters in Biblical Studies at McMaster Divinity College. Even though those two things take up most of my time, I also spend a lot of time running and training for marathons!
Payton McRae
About Payton
I have been the Lead Pastor at Cities Church Brandon, in Brandon, Manitoba, for almost a year. Something fun is the Alpha leadership conference will be my first trip to Europe.
Daniel Mills
About Daniel
Daniel has led churches in the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico and currently is the Lead Pastor at Unionville Alliance Church in Markham, Ontario. He is a huge Ohio State Buckeyes football fan and aspires to lead a church that has the same passion and zeal for Jesus as a college football fan base!
Levi Mohr
About Levi
My name is Levi Mohr, and I currently live in Vernon, British Columbia Canada with my wife, son, and new bun that happens to have 2 months left in the oven! I work as the Youth & Young adults pastor at Vernon Alliance Church and love what God has blessed and equipped me to do. As an avid KitKat collector with over 110 different flavours and varieties from around the world I hope that London has something to offer.
Fr. Sebastian Muggeridge
About Fr. Sebastian
Fr. Sebastian Muggeridge was ordained a Priest in May 2025 with The Companions of the Cross, a community of Catholic priests inviting people to know Jesus and empowering them to share Jesus. He is now serving as Associate Pastor at Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Ottawa, Canada.
Eric Myatt
About Eric
Eric Myatt is the Canadian Director with Divine Renovation. An engineering grad, Eric served with Catholic Christian Outreach for 15 years. He joined DR in 2020, is a leader at Saint Benedict Parish in Halifax and a founder of a Catholic school, Frassati Academy. He loves his wife, 4 kids & sailing.
Nkosinathi Ndhlovu
About Nkosinathi
Hello there! My name is Nkosinathi Ndhlovu, for short I go by Nathi (NA-TEE). I’m very excited to join in on what I think will be a fulfilling experience. I am based in Toronto, Canada, my home church being Alderwood United Church. I’ve been attending the church since 2016, when I moved to Toronto, so it has been a wonderful 9 years. I recently stepped into the role of being a Youth Leader at Alderwood, using my experience as a previous youth group member to guide me. It has been less than a year but I’m enjoying it. Within the church, I’m also a part of the worship team as a singer who occasionally plays piano! I’ve been doing so for 8 of the 9 years. I enjoy participating in all types of art. Besides music, I enjoy taking videos and pictures as well as the process of editing them. I also like creating embroidery bracelets, the designs can sometimes be complex but I find it to be a therapeutic process.
Christina Ng
About Christina
Rev. Dr. Christina Ng is the Leader of Christian Education and Programs at Central United Church in Unionville. She enjoys new adventures, explores different cultures and cuisines, and travels with her spouse and their stuffed animals.
Paul Numrich
About Paul
I serve as the Pastor of Ministry Operations at Coquitlam Alliance Church. I’m married to my wife Robyn and we have a fun and active one year old boy named Max. I enjoy playing golf, travelling and enjoying time with family.
Lawrence Nyarko
About Lawrence
My name is Rev. Lawrence Nyarko, the lead minister of Alderwood Church, Etobicoke ON. Alderwood Church is a congregation of the United Church of Canada. I previously served at Grace United Church, Brampton ON from January 2017 to June 2022. I live in Mississauga ON with my wife, Helen and our two daughters, Geovanna, 15 and Shalom, 12. I enjoy watching movies at home with my family on my free time.
Pierre O’Reilly
About Pierre
My passion for evangelization drew me to NET Canada to serve as Executive Director in 2019. Moving the family to Ottawa from Saskatchewan was a big decision, but being a part of a ministry that reaches young people with the Gospel was too strong a call to resist. My wife Laura and I have been married for 29 years and, with our 6 kids, are avid Saskatchewan Roughrider fans!
Peter Park
About Peter
Peter Park serves as Corps Life Director with The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda, supporting churches across the country with resources for evangelism, discipleship, and all things church life. He and his wife, who serves with YFC, have two children and live in Innisfil, ON. Fun fact: he had 30 different names before choosing his first name.
Fr. Miguel Perez
About Fr. Miguel
My name is Father Miguel Perez and I belong to the community Companions of the Cross. I am parochial vicar at Queen of Peace Parish in Houston, TX. I am 35 years old and was ordained to the priesthood on July 3, 2021 on the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle. I was born in Conroe, TX. I studied engineering at Texas A&M University and became involved at the St. Mary’s Catholic Student Center. It was there that i started discerning my vocation to the priesthood. When i was 22 years old, i sensed in my heart the words “Come, Follow Me” during a night of adoration. My “hobbies” include: traveling & getting to know new cultures, play soccer (football), running, going camping and enjoying nature, & I love a good espresso in the morning.
Brett & Andrea Powell
About Brett & Andrea
Brett Powell is the CEO of Divine Renovation, a global ministry that equips parishes to become missional, so they bring people to Jesus. Andrea is an elementary school teacher, specializing in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Brett and Andrea are high-school sweethearts, and together they have 8 children and 6 grandchildren (and counting).
Lucas Prado
About Lucas
Hey, I’m Lucas Prado, Senior Executive Pastor at Sanctus, a multi-site church in Durham, Ontario. Originally from Brazil, my wife Maria and I came to Canada in 2014. But why, you might ask? All because of GOD and where His finger pointed us to. Crazy story, amazing work of God and what a wild journey it’s been. Since then, our family has doubled with our kiddos Nina (8) and Ben (7). Some quick facts: love God, love worship, love God’s church, love my amazing wife and fam, love food of all kinds and, a weird but formative one, love suffering through endurance sports. Ironman and marathon races have been my gems in the last decade. Excited to get to know others on this trip and keep growing in Him.
Mike Racinsky
About Mike
Mike Racinsky serves as the Next Gen Catalyst with FEB Central (FEB Youth). He loves seeking out, encouraging, and serving youth pastors across Ontario. Fun fact: he’s an avid thrifter who collects jazz records.
Peter Ralph
About Peter
“My name is Peter Ralph. I am the lead pastor at Rosewood Park Alliance Church in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. I have been pastoring at this church for three years, but I have served in other churches throughout my entire professional life. I am the husband of Mandy Ralph and the father of Peter Silas and Esther. I have a deep calling to evangelism, along with a strong passion for preaching. Something you may not know about me is that I am also the announcer at Kings Park Speedway, a local stock car track. I announce races and trust that the Holy Spirit will be evident in me to the families who spend their weekends racing.”
Mandy Ralph
About Mandy
Hello, My name is Mandy Ralph and I’m part of the National Board of Directors for The Alliance Canada. I attend Rosewood Park Alliance Church in Regina, Saskatchewan and serve as the Academic Dean at Eston College. A fun fact about me is that teaching Bible and theology classes to first year college students is one of my favourite things!
Mark Regis
About Mark
Kevin Ricafort
About Kevin
Hi there! My name is Kevin Ricafort. I’ve been following Jesus for the past 15 years, and I’m still learning to surrender everything to him. I’ve been married to my wife, Michaela, for 9 years. We have four kiddos: Trinity (7), Micah (5), Kyrie (3), and, at the time of the Leadership Tour, Lord willing, Silas (4 months). Altogether, we live in a household of nine, with friends in and out of our home daily. I’ve been blessed to meet with three other guys at least once a week for the past three years to talk about our lives in Jesus. Lastly, I’ve been the youth pastor at our local church, West Highland Baptist Church, for the past seven years. I love being part of seeing our families and teenagers encounter Jesus. We endeavour to spend our lives practicing the way of Jesus with others as a bit of resistance to a fragmented society.
Bishop Kevin Robertson
About Bishop Kevin
Sam & Joryli Romijn
About Sam & Joryli
We are Sam and Joryli! We live just outside of Vancouver, BC and pastor at Coquitlam Alliance Church where we serve as Lead Pastor (Sam) and Family Ministries Pastor (Joryli). We have 2 young spunky girls and love all things coffee and exploring our way through cities.
Fr. Bryan Sabourin
About Fr. Bryan
Born in Ottawa, Fr. Bryan came to a personal relationship with Jesus in his final year of high school. This led to discerning a call to the Roman Catholic priesthood with the Companions of the Cross, a religious community with a focus on evangelization. He was ordained in 2014. After serving in parish ministry in Ottawa and Halifax, he was appointed Director of Ongoing Formation for his Community in 2023, a role focussed on growth in priestly leadership and equipping for missional multiplication. In his spare time he likes to read, go birding, play guitar, and have deep conversations.
Fr. Tim Silver
About Fr. Tim
Hey, I’m Fr. Tim Silver, a Catholic priest with the Companions of the Cross! I serve as Associate Pastor at St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Montreal. I’ve only been a priest since May 2025, so I’m learning so much. I participated in my first Alpha this past fall and saw many lives transformed! We are exploring Church Planting in the Catholic context here in Montreal which has been really exciting. Fun fact: I love travelling and exploring— I’ve lived a third of my life outside Canada (Australia, Ireland, USA) and served on many missions worldwide!
Jonathan Smith
About Jonathan
Lead Pastor at OneChurch.to in Toronto – A church for Anyone, Not Everyone. I’m a proud New Brunswicker and lifelong Canadiens and dulse fan.
Matt Smith
About Matt
Matt sits on the leadership team at OneChurch.to, overseeing ministry. He is likely found in the recording studio, podcast booth or a meeting. He has successfully introduced his wife to Star Wars, making a haven for two lego-building boys. He runs a bit more each year and believes cats are evil.
Joanna Smith
About Joanna
Hi! I’m Joanna, Pastor of Worship & Youth at Rosewood Park Alliance Church in Regina, SK. I grew up in the UK, and even attended HTB for a short time when living in London (and I’m so excited to go back!). I don’t drink coffee but I do adore a good London Fog.
Brad Strelau
About Brad
I’ve been married for 29 years to my lovely wife, Lalainia, and I am the father of a 22-year-old son who is getting married in May, a lovely 17-year-old daughter who is a beautiful dancer. I have been a pastor at Coquitlam Alliance Church in BC for the past 19 years. I began as a worship pastor and then moved on to campus pastor in 2013. I currently pastor approximately 150 -180 at our Town Centre Campus. I am currently working on a PhD with Wesley House in Cambridge, UK, studying the benefits of Christian worship on mental health. My heart is for those who feel unseen and unknown in the church. My deep dark secret is that I used to be a part of a Christian boy band named Rhythm and News, travelling Canada and the USA, and recording 3 ……(wait for it) ……CDs
Rev. Brian Suggs
About Rev. Brian
I am the Rector of Christ Church St. James, Toronto. Originally from the U.S. and shaped by the Pentecostal tradition, I have served in Anglican ministry in Canada for nearly 20 years. Husband and father of four. I love London, where my wife and I spent two formative years at a School of Ministry.
Chris Throness
About Chris
Chris Throness is the Director of Leader Formation for The Alliance Canada, helping advance the vision of forming 3,000 new leaders in 10 years. He lives in Calgary with his wife Krista and their three kids: Hannah, Micah, and Mattea.
Nathan Thurber
About Nathan
Nathan Thurber is the Lead Pastor of Toronto International Celebration Church, where he has served since 2013. With a heart for the Gospel and a global vision, Nathan has worked alongside Pastor Peter Youngren since 1999, helping to organize and lead more than 60 international Gospel Campaigns that have impacted countless lives with the love of Jesus Christ. Nathan is a big Montreal Canadiens supporter, being an East Coaster from Prince Edward Island.
Cecilia Tibayan
About Cecilia
Cecilia is a CPA with 25+ years’ experience and Financial Administrator(CFO) of Archdiocese of Halifax–Yarmouth, providing strategic financial leadership. Cecilia loves her dog and enjoys traveling with her husband—together they’ve explored 40+ countries and recently fell in love with cruising.
Ben Tshin
About Chris
Ben is an Associate Priest at St. Paul’s Bloor Street in downtown Toronto, serving since 2022. He coordinates the liturgical life of the church spanning the spectrum of contemporary worship through to classic Anglican worship. Ben also oversees St. Paul’s outreach ministries including local compassion campaigns and ESL programs that weekly host 200+ students. Growing up in a Chinese Baptist church, he discovered the Anglican tradition during studies at Wycliffe College, and is always excited to witness how the Holy Spirit is moving and working among the global church. Prior to church ministry, Ben trained as an engineer and worked 10+ years in international development and humanitarian relief supporting countries like Haiti, South Sudan, Pakistan and Mongolia. Ben enjoys playing guitar, biking (year-round in Toronto!?), all things aviation, beautiful mathematics and yes, Excel spreadsheets! Ben and his wife Julia both grew up in the Toronto area to immigrant families, and although they have both traveled extensively, they deeply love the diversity of Toronto: just ask us about all the different kinds of food on offer in our global city!
Tommy Tsui
About Tommy
I serve as the executive director of the Canadian Chinese Alliance Churches Association. CCACA is a network of over 90 Chinese Alliance churches in Canada, from Nanaimo, BC, to Halifax, NS. We organize activities to promote the two core values of C&MA: deeper life and missions. I was born and raised in Hong Kong, went to study in Singapore for 11 years. I sensed God’s calling to ministry during my undergraduate time. I then equipped myself to become a biologist, hoping to work in a country where missionaries are not welcome. During my scientific training in Canada, God’s calling for me became clearer: to work as a local pastor serving the Mandarin-speaking community cross-culturally. Subsequently, I served in a Mandarin Alliance Church for 14 years. Then the opportunity came up for me to serve at the Central Canadian District office for 2 years. In 2022, I started my current role with CCACA. I live with my wife, Carrie, and my wonderful children, Gabriel and Micaela, in Hamilton, ON. Fun facts: 1) I love playing Judo, but now I can only watch others play as I am getting old. 2) One of my first research projects as a scientist was to study how a fish gets rid of a toxic gas through farting (yes, some fish do that).
Chris Westby
About Chris
Chris Westby serves as the Lead Pastor of Sonrise Church, a multi-site community with two locations and three vibrant congregations. In addition to his pastoral role, Chris is an adjunct professor at two Canadian Bible colleges, a Trustee with the Apostolic Church of Pentecost (ACOP), and an overseer for a few local churches in the region. Chris is passionate about preaching and teaching the Word of God in a way that is both accessible and impactful. He also enjoys leading worship from time to time, but collaborating with teams of volunteers and staff who are committed to sharing the hope and purpose of Jesus through their unique gifts and callings is his sweet spot! The heart of his ministry holds a desire to see individuals and teams step into a greater sense of their God-given potential. Chris loves Canada, is deeply committed to the local church, the authority of Scripture, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, all of which are evident in every interaction with him. A strong advocate for leadership development, Chris loves investing in others, encouraging them to grow in their spiritual gifts and leadership capacity to serve the mission of Jesus. He is a graduate of the Arrow Leadership Program and holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership from Briercrest Seminary. Chris and his wife, Sherri, were married in 2009. They have a wonderful Adult son, Ezekiel, from Chris’s first marriage to Jayda, who passed away in 2007 after a courageous battle with cancer. Together, Chris and Sherri are also the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, Eden, nearly 9, and Esther, nearly 7. Their home is known for its warmth, hospitality, and a standing policy that if the question is ice cream, the answer is always yes!
Matt Wilkinson
About Matt
Matt Wilkinson serves as the Director of Next Gen. Ministries for Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec and the Exec. Director of Camp Kwasind. He is married to Charity with two kids whom together they love to create random adventures often including Slurpees! He loves the Maple Leafs, Tim Hortons and dreaming for what is possible.
Justin Zinck
About Justin
I’m Justin and I serve as Executive Pastor at Rock Church Halifax. I’m celebrating 20 years of marriage to my wife Brittany this May and have two kids – Ellie and Declan. I love to bike, hunt/fish, watch soccer and am a self-proclaimed connoisseur of specialty coffee.
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