Moving Beyond Barriers Workshop Series
In this series, there are 6 one-hour seminar workshops that will focus on (1) Identifying Barriers to fulfilling God’s great commission and living the Godly life, as well as (2) How to move beyond the barriers, in the following areas: Church, Culture, Persecution/Justice, Marketplace Ministry, Global Outreach and Prayer.
Moving Beyond Barriers - Church
with Steve Long
Friday April 13, 4:00pm in Room 8
Steve and his wife Sandra, have been pastors at Catch the Fire Toronto (formerly Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship) since 1994. In January 2006, Sandra and Steve were commissioned by John and Carol Arnott as the Senior Pastors. Steve came to Catch the Fire from the Baptist tradition and pastored in four congregations, including two church plants. Steve graduated from Central Baptist Seminary in 1981.
Steve and Sandra specialize in inner healing, deliverance, and physical healing. Together they have a desire to see people released into ministry and to see the kingdom of God impact the Greater Toronto Area. Steve has written several books that focus on healing, cell ministry and conference planning.
Moving Beyond Barriers - Culture
with Dr.Bill Fietje
Friday April 13, 5:30pm in Room 8
Bill became President of the Associated Gospel Churches in July 2008. Prior to this role, he served for five years as our Canada East Superintendent. Before joining the AGC team, he was the National Director of OMF International-Canada for eleven years. He and his wife Lois also served for two terms with OMF International in Thailand as church planters and developers. Bill also served as pastor of Forward Baptist Church in Cambridge, Ontario. In 1999, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hamilton, Massachusetts. His vision and leadership have helped to birth both MissionFest Toronto and MentorLink Canada.
Moving Beyond Barriers – Persecution/Justice
with Majed El Shafie
Saturday April 14, 10:00am in Room 8
Majed was born in Cairo, Egypt into a prominent Moslem family of lawyers. Through the witness of his friend, he experienced the love of Christ and made the decision to give his life and service to the Lord. Majed started a ministry that in two years grew to 24,000 Christians plus two churches built inside mountains, a bible school and medical clinic. He established a newspaper to request from the Egyptian government the same equal rights to the Christian community, but it was not tolerated and Majed was arrested and taken to the torture section of the Abu Zaabel prison in Cairo.
During his time in the underground prison, Majed underwent severe torture for seven days. He experienced having his head shaved and placed under hot and cold water, being hung upside down, and being burned with cigarettes. Through the intervention of Amnesty International and the United Nations, Majed was released from prison. Since then he has relocated to Toronto, Ontario, where he started his own ministry, One Free World International.
Moving Beyond Barriers – Marketplace Ministry
with Jonathan Wellum
Saturday April 14, 11:30am in Room 8
Prior to founding RockLinc Investment Partners Inc., Jonathan began his investment career with Portland Investment Counsel (formerly AIC Investment Services) in 1990 and served as a member of the firm’s senior management team. In August 2002, he was appointed Chief Investment Officer and subsequently, in October 2006, Jonathan was appointed Chief Executive Officer. He managed the AIC Diversified Canada Fund as well as a number of equity mutual funds. In 1995, Jonathan was named Fund Manager of the Year by the Investment Executive Magazine and in 1997 awarded Fund Manager of the Year at the Canadian Mutual Fund Awards Gala.
Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business Administration degree from McMaster University, and Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo. He completed his formal education with a Master of Arts degree in Theology and Philosophy from Trinity Seminary (Chicago). He also holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Moving Beyond Barriers – Global Outreach
with Ron Pearce
Saturday April 14, 3:00pm in Room 8
“My goal is to arrive in heaven tired.” For Ron Pearce, Executive Director/Founder of Empower Ministries, these are words to live by. Having spent decades working in international missions, he has been privileged to meet some of God’s choicest servants around the world. The passion, enthusiasm and dedication that drives them to live lives of sacrifice, and compells them to expend their time and energy in reaching lost souls for Christ, has left a lasting impact on Ron. Today, he investigates the best ways Empower Ministries can partner with the National Church in the world’s spiritual hotspots in order to strengthen and equip them in their evangelistic efforts. Then he brings their stories back to Canada to encourage believers here. Ron's reports will inspire you and encourage you to impact your area for Christ as well.
Moving Beyond Barriers – Prayer
with Susan Finlay and Kerry Carmichael
Saturday April 14, 4:30pm in Room 8
Susan is the Founder and National Director of Nation At Prayer, a national ministry whose mission is to transform the nation through prayer with and for elected representatives in the name of Jesus Christ. Prior to this, Susan enjoyed a career as a human resources executive providing leadership in the not-for-profit and government sectors and as a senior consultant in an international management consulting and executive recruiting corporation. She serves on the board of Governors of Tyndale University College and Seminary, the corporation of World Vision Canada and the board of Gardens For Life (Afghanistan).
Kerry Carmichael is a wife, mother, grandmother, business executive, board member
and proud Canadian! She is the wife of John Carmichael, automotive business leader
and newly elected Member of Parliament for the riding of Don Valley West in Toronto.
Kerry was born in Edmonton, Alberta into a military family. She was raised in Winnipeg
and Vancouver Island where she grew up, until her marriage to John brought her to
Toronto where she has lived for the past 35 years.
Besides family and business interests, Kerry has enjoyed a life long relationship with
Jesus Christ (except for 6 years as a teenager!) A supernatural transformation at the
age of 20 set the course of her life until today. She is an avid student of the Word of
God as well as a person of prayer, with a special interest in praying for governments
and nations!