Janelle Keller, Foundation for His Ministry
Seminar Title: Pure Religion: What does the Bible say about caring for Orphans and How can we be involved?
Seminar Overview:
James 1:27 tells us that pure religion is caring for orphans and widows but what does that mean for us and our churches in a modern context? This workshop will examine how the gospel calls us to action, providing the practical ways to get involved in orphan care, fostering, and community support. Together, we’ll discuss how to reflect God’s heart through compassion and care in meaningful and sustainable ways.
Janelle Keller is the Executive Director of Foundation For His Ministry (FFHM), that has children’s homes and outreach ministries in Tijuana, Sinaloa, Baja and Oaxaca, Mexico. She is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL and had her first exposure to FFHM on a trip to the Baja Mission. On that trip God got a hold of her heart and a passion for Mexico was kindled in her. In 2007 Janelle went to serve at the Oaxaca Mission where she lived for 4 years before coming to work in the US offices of FFHM in San Clemente, CA. These days she looks for any excuse she can find to travel to Mexico and loves being a part of what God is doing there.
Scott Gillespie, Action International
Title: Being Influencers for the Kingdom
Seminar Overview:
In the modern era of “Influencers” on social media, both positive and negative, it is important to realize that all of us are influencers. What kind of influencer are you? Join the presentation to find out how you can be a positive influencer for God’s Kingdom.
Scott Gillespie is the Director of Promotion and Recruitment for Action International Ministries. He has been involved in full-time ministry for over 40 years, from First Nations outreach in Canada to ministry trips in several countries overseas. He has a passion for using what God has given him, both for hands on ministry and to encourage and motivate others to get involved as well.
John Troyer, Trades 4 Life
Seminar Title and Overview: Stimulating Thirst for Living Water
1. Let fresh water be visible
2. Be a clean cup.
3. Be full and running over.
Examples from over 55 years of sharing Jesus:
Don’t be an empty cup! The empty cup has no attraction to someone thirsty.
John Troyer became involved in mission work in January 1969, just a few months after a life changing encounter with Jesus. He worked with Northern Light Gospel Mission in Red Lake, Ontario for two years. During that time, he lived with a missionary family in Pikangikum, Ontario and discovered the beauty of the Gospel being lived in a completely different culture than his own. His love, and involvement, for evangelism grew and motivated him to go through every door that was opened to him. He has enjoyed the privilege of seeing the life of Jesus lived out in many wonderful people, from the Arctic coast of Canada to the southern parts of South America. He spent over thirty years living in the Yukon serving the Lord as a mechanic, pilot, business manager, and in church leadership, showing Jesus to anyone who was searching.
He and Betsy, his wife, moved to Fort St. John in 2012. For several years he operated a mobile RV repair business. He has been involved with Trades4Life in Belize since it started, with the first graduating class in 2013. He has also written three books, a biography and two devotionals published by Word Alive Press.
He and his wife Betsy will be married fifty-four years in February 2025. They have five children, eighteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Greg Laing, Multiply, MB Mission
Seminar Title: Yearning for More Mission Impact?
Seminar Overview:
This seminar is designed for church leaders and mission committee members who are want to maximize their investment of people and funds for the mission of God. We will explore how to discover and build upon the “philosophy of mission” that is specific to your local church.
Greg serves as Multiply’s Mission Mobilizer for Western Canada, based in Abbotsford, BC. In this role, he is involved in networking with our global workers and local churches to inspire and equip the Body of Christ for mission. Greg is a graduate of Regent College, Vancouver, and has served in Asia as well as in pastoral work before joining the mission agency. He and Andrea have been married 28 years and they have two young adult children.
Jet Takaoka, Canadian Food Grains Bank
Seminar Title: Out of Egypt I Called My Son—Refugees in Scripture and the World Today
Seminar Overview:
Today there are over 122 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes & communities due to conflict, persecution, or climate-related disasters. These people invariably face serious challenges accessing life’s basic necessities. Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a collective of 15 Christian Organizations representing 30 denominations, helps refugees in their time of need. Jet Takaoka, the BC Representative for Foodgrains Bank will share reflections from scripture about how believers are called to care for the strangers and the aliens, and how Foodgrains Bank is responding to the refugee crisis in our world today. Jet Takaoka is Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s recently appointed BC Regional Representative. Born and raised in Halifax, NS, Jet and his wife Joan moved to BC over 30 years ago. He comes to Foodgrains Bank with experience as a church planting pastor and in fundraising and leadership roles at HOPE International Development Agency and MCC BC.
Kathy Walker, Peace Country Renewal Ministries
Seminar Title: Thrive During 2025
Seminar Overview:
Sheri Blanchette and myself will give a brief description of our roles as Prayer Ministers supporting those who are seeking personal and relational help by introducing and practicing relational skills that improve our bonds with God and each other – for example, “how to get my Relational circuits on when I am feeling overwhelmed”, thereby encouraging participants to discover how to make relationships bigger than the problems they may be experiencing with each other.
We will also share about training we have taken with Life Model Works which includes facilitating three Recover Your Life Modules called Restarting, Forming, and Belonging. Each fall, we alternate one of these three modules over a 12 week period, usually one evening a week in one of our local churches. Sheri and I will give a brief description of the benefits of being part of this teaching and training on how God invites us to continue to experience spiritual growth and restoration with Him as He changes us on the inside out with His healing presence, grace, and love.
Sam and Delores Wuermli, Wycliffe Canada
Seminar Title: Your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven
Seminar Overview:
How has prayer affected the work of Bible translation? Taking you back to the late 1990s and hearing about Vision 2025, where we were then and how things have progressed. How has prayer made a difference? We will share some stories about how Bible translation affects the prayer life of God’s people. We hope to encourage those attending the session to consider praying for Bible translation and the people still waiting for God’s Word in a language they understand best. “Bible translation is really about knowing God and making Him known,” says Bryan Harmelink, Director of Collaboration for the Wycliffe Global Alliance.
Sam was born in Switzerland and is the second oldest of four boys. Their parents worked for Gott Hilft (God Helps) as houseparents for a home of about 30 children. There was much activity, work in the garden, farm and home, hiking, playing soccer and enjoying just being kids. On a regular basis, missionaries would come and do VBS weeks to instill world mission and needs around the world in the hearts of the children. Sam immigrated to Canada in 1976 as a young man and worked on a dairy farm in Fort St. John, BC. A few years later he moved to Calgary, AB and worked for Digital Equipment (DEC) in computer hardware.
Dolores was raised in BC and she heard about Wycliffe at Bible school (CLBI). She began working in the finance department at the Calgary office in July 1980 as a short-term assistant. She stayed on for five years working in various roles in the department. During this time she met Sam, and they were married in 1982. The Lord blessed them with two children, Natashia and Josiah. In 1987 they moved back to Fort St. John to the same dairy farm. After eight years working in this amazing community, the Lord began to touch their hearts to consider missions once again. In September 1995 they joined Wycliffe as career members.
Sam and Dolores took assignments with the South Asia Group (an SIL entity) based at the Wycliffe UK centre in Horsleys Green, England in 1996. Over their 15 years in England, they filled support roles in computer and finance, maintenance and as house-parents for volunteers. The Lord guided the Wuermlis to return to Canada, orchestrating the plan and preparing them for roles with Wycliffe Canada in January 2011.
In the Calgary office, the work they do is transforming lives and helping minority language groups to hear about God and His love letter for them. Sam is currently the Director of Physical Environments and Dolores is the Ministry Budget Clerk and Printing Manager.
The Wuermlis’ prayer is that the church will rise up and pray, give and go to serve the Lord where He calls them. They are grateful to be involved in this work, and invite you to partner with them as the Lord leads you.
Their family has grown in the past years. Natashia (their daughter living in Lethbridge, AB) and Josh have a daughter, Adelaide and a son, Oliver. Josiah (their son living in Stanghow Lingdale, North Yorkshire, UK) and Hannah have three children, Emilia, Georgia and Ruari, along with their dog, Pippa, and a few newly hatched baby chicks.
Mel Siggelkow, Executive Director of Rising Above, Grande Prairie
Title of Seminar: If Jesus Says Come and Drink, Why Am I Still So Thirsty? Understanding the Schemes of the Enemy that Leave Us Parched!
Seminar Overview:
In this seminar, we will explore six ways that the enemy loves to attack believers. If we are unaware of his schemes, they will keep us from experiencing the invitation to “come a drink of the water of life”. This presentation will be valuable for seasoned as well as new believers. It will be very helpful for those involved in ministry as well as for personal application
In 2007 Mel began Rising Above as a ministry through the Church he was pastoring in Grande Prairie, AB. This new program grew quickly, and after 20 years of pastoral ministry, Mel realized that his passion for helping people “break cycles of defeat” was pulling him more towards the ministry of Rising Above. Mel transitioned out of the Church leadership role to devote his full energy towards Rising Above. Mel says, “Seeing people break free from destructive patterns is the most rewarding and fulfilling work I have ever been involved with.”
Rising Above operates a residential addiction treatment centers in Grande Prairie, AB, Fort St. John, BC, and Peterborough, ON. As well, they provide services to help people “Break Cycles of Defeat” such as anger, anxiety, past trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, etc.
Mel and his wife, Liz, have been married for 39 years and have three kids, who are now adults, and 5 amazing grandchildren. They are thrilled to see the hearts of compassion in each of their children as they pursue their individual callings.
Mel’s passion is to see people break their cycles of defeat and discover the freedom to live out the purpose they were created for.
Daren George (Rising Above Healing Ministries) and Geoff Clarke (Institute of Counselling International)
Title of Seminar: Healing the Pain of the Heart Workshops: Quenching Thirsty Souls
Seminar Overview:
Pain of the heart is the reason for destructive behaviours such as addictions, rage, anxiety, depression, and suicide. The workshop helps students identify and process personal struggles using a Christian soul care model that exposes and addresses heart issues. Students learn to know God better, leading toward resolution of painful personal issues.
Rising Above, Smithers ministries is in partnership with Institute Biblical Counselling International (IBCI). Together they bring the Healing Pain of the Heart workshop to many communities.
Daren George is with Rising Above Healing Ministries and he works with First Peoples, teaching First People and addressing the Abuse Issue of our First Nation People. He is living in Telkwa, BC. He was a former Executive Director for Rising Above and Event Manager. He is an Associate Pastor at Kyah Bible Fellowship in Witset (Moricetown), BC. He is also Neekupdeh, a Wetsuweten wing Chief (spokesperson) of House on the Flat Rock of the Laksilyu clan.
Geoff Clarke has been a Teacher and counsellor since 2010. He lives in Telkwa, BC and is married to Milja and they have 4 children. He is a graduate of the IBCI Ten Course Program and a full-time missionary with Milja since 1998 in all circumpolar countries and several First Nation locations. Geoff is also a former National Park Warden.
Ben Wall, Fellowship Hall
Seminar Title: Quenching Our Thirst: A Faith-Based Journey of Spiritual Hydration from Infancy to Adolescence
Seminar Overview:
In this seminar, I will share my personal experiences of how children raised in Christian homes experience the transformative power of living water, compared to those in environments lacking this spiritual guidance. Through my own stories and testimonies, I aim to highlight the profound impact faith can have on a child’s development and worldview.
I was born in Mexico, where my early years were filled with the vibrant culture and traditions of my homeland. At 17, moved to Canada. This transition was both exciting and challenging, as I had to adapt to a new culture and environment. Through this experience, I developed resilience and a deeper understanding of my own faith.
At the age of 23, I experienced a profound transformation when I found salvation. This pivotal moment not only deepened my love for the Lord but also provided me with a guiding light for my future. It marked the beginning of a journey toward spiritual growth and a commitment to living a life of purpose.
In 2004, I married my wonderful Wife Lisa. Together, we have been blessed with four amazing boys who bring immense joy and purpose to our lives. Each day is an adventure as we navigate the challenges of parenthood and strive to create a loving home filled with laughter and support.
Now residing in Manitoba, Canada, we felt a calling to share our experiences and insights with others. This led us to start a podcast dedicated to marriage and family. Through this platform, we aim to provide encouragement and practical advice to those facing struggles in their relationships. We believe that by sharing our own journey and the lessons we’ve learned, we can help others find hope and healing.
I am deeply passionate about strengthening marriages and families, recognizing that these relationships are the foundation of our communities. I strive to foster love and connection in every home, encouraging open communication and understanding. It is my heartfelt desire to support others as they navigate the complexities of family life, helping them to build strong, lasting bonds filled with love and faith.
Local Adoption from Haiti: Miracle Story by Helena Peters with Jim Friesen and Tim Braun
Seminar Overview:
This seminar will be a panel discussion on Haiti, what it is like there, and how the people hunger and thirst for something better. We will talk about how very dangerous and difficult life is there, with gangs taking over much of the country. Then we will tell the beautiful story of a little girl being rescued through adoption and how God worked miraculously for her to get out of a gang controlled area to her new home in Fort St. John, BC.
Helena Peters grew up in the small community of Osborn, B.C. She accepted Jesus at a young age and was hungry to know more about God. At age 14 she felt called to work in an orphanage. In 1993, after 13 years of much waiting and praying, God led her to an orphanage in Haiti. She lived there for about 9 years and has continued ministry to the Haitian people ever since. Now that it’s too dangerous to be there, she supports different Haitians from home.
Jim Friesen grew up in the Fairview, Alberta area in a strong Christian home. He worked with his Dad and brothers for 50 years in the Dunvegan Gardens business, which his Dad started up. He never thought he would be a British Columbian, but he moved to BC. with his wife and family in 1995 to start a branch of Dunvegan Gardens there. He is now the proud Grandpa of Christine, a little adopted girl from Haiti.
Tim Braun grew up in Prespatou, BC. in a Christian home. He moved into town and later married Jim’s daughter, Melissa. Over the years they had four children by birth. After visiting Haiti, Tim and Melissa saw the great need there and felt God leading them to adopt, and they have now added a beautiful daughter, Christine, to their family. Tim and Melissa currently run Dunvegan Gardens in Fort St. John.