Alison Buchan

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

Alison is a recognized skilled social worker who, for over 15 years, has had the privilege of providing counselling support to clients. She focuses on a wide range of concerns in the areas of mental health, trauma, and addictions.

In the field of social work, Alison has served for 12 years in a hospital addictions & mental health program; participated in community development in partnership with Northern Ontario First Nations communities; and managed research projects with The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto.

Alison earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work at McMaster University and also continues her studies at the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist.

Alyssa Esparaz

Keynote, Panelist

Alyssa Esparaz is a communicator with a passion for inspiring and equipping Christians to live compassionate lifestyles. As a young person in the church, Alyssa loves seeing her generation bring Christ’s hope to this messy and broken world. She serves as a Writer and Communicator at Compassion Canada, one of the world’s leading child development organizations. She also studies International Development at the University of Toronto. She blogs at alyssaesparaz.ca and is a regular contributor to Love Is Moving magazine. When she is not doing any of the above, Alyssa can be found cheering for the Raptors, dreaming about traveling on an airplane, or eating way too much ice cream.

Cheryl Bear

Keynote, Panelist

Cheryl Bear, from Nadleh Whut’en First Nation, is well known as an important and respected voice on behalf of Canada’s Indigenous peoples. As a speaker and teacher, she has traveled to over 600 Indigenous communities in Canada and the United States, sharing her songs and stories. She also visits non-Native communities (schools, government, churches, and businesses) holding workshops to raise awareness and understanding of Indigenous issues.

She has released three albums sharing stories of Indigenous life: Cheryl Bear (self-titled), The Good Road, and A’BA. Cheryl’s albums have received three Indigenous People’s Choice music awards, two Covenant Awards and a Native American Music Award.

Cheryl is a founding board member of NAIITS, an Indigenous learning community. She is also an Associate Professor at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. Cheryl has an earned Doctorate from The King’s University in Los Angeles, and a Master of Divinity degree from Regent College.

She has written two books, Introduction to First Nations Ministry and a children’s book called The Honour Drum.

She is currently serving as a Strategic Associate to the Indigenous Relations Specialist with Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Jen Pollock Michel

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

Jen Pollock Michel is the award-winning author of Teach Us to Want and Keeping Place. Her third book, Surprised by Paradox, released in May 2019. It traces four themes in the Bible—incarnation, kingdom, grace, and lament—as a way of discovering some of the surprise of God’s story. Jen writes widely for print and digital publications and travels to speak at churches, conferences, and retreats. She holds a B.A. in French from Wheaton College and an M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University.

She is an American living in Toronto. Her husband Ryan and five children moved to Canada in 2011, planning on a two- or three-year adventure. They are still here and quite naturally finishing their sentences with “eh?” Their family attends Grace Toronto Church. As part of her volunteer work with her local church, she is the lead editor for Imprint magazine.

You can subscribe to her monthly newsletter at jenpollockmichel.com.

(Pronunciation Guide: Pollock = Paul-luck (like Jackson Pollock, painter) Michel = Michelle (like the woman’s first name).

John Sundara

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

John D. Sundara is a minister in the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Dallas. He currently ministers at Church of the Incarnation through regular preaching and teaching, and is in charge of discipleship and formation. He is also part of the Racial Reconciliation Commission in his diocese. Originally from India, John immigrated to Vancouver when he was 13, and got involved with P2C at UBC as a student. He later served on staff with P2C for 9 years in Vancouver and Toronto, was involved with our global partnerships to North Africa and South Asia, and trained new staff.

John loves to read the Bible and contemplate theology, desires for skeptics and the curious to engage with Christ, and often wonders about the intersection of faith, politics, and justice. John’s passion is for Christians to echo Peter’s words, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

He has a degree in Biology from UBC, and an M.Div from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto. He is married to Naomi, and they have a son, Daniel and a daughter, Emma.

John Van Sloten

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

John Van Sloten is a pastor, teacher, and writer who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His passion is to know God more (and to read everything he’s written). For the past 20 years, John has been exploring a worldview that seeks to discern God’s voice in all things: the Bible, the arts, sport, science, film, music, literature, history, mathematics, nature, and human nature. His first book, The Day Metallica Came to Church: Searching for the Everywhere God in Everything, listened for God’s whispers in pop culture. John’s second book, Every Job a Parable; What Walmart Greeters, Nurses, and Astronauts Tell Us about God, listens for God’s words at work. John has taken part in three John Templeton Foundation sub-grants to explore the intersection of faith and science in the context of preaching, and just finished draft one of his third book, God Speaks Science.

Jon Corbin

Keynote, Panelist

Jon Corbin is a Canadian hip-hop artist, spoken word poet, speaker, band leader, writer, and DJ based in Milton, Ontario. Since 2001, first under the name The Runaway, Jon has blessed stages big and small with lyrical themes of faith, love, family, social justice, and personal growth.

Corbin is a veteran artist who has quietly carved a niche in Canada’s hip-hop community, collaborating with multiple Polaris Music Prize nominee Shad, Juno Award winner Caroline Brooks of The Good Lovelies, and many other revered emcees on both sides of the border.

As a speaker, Corbin speaks passionately on topics of identity, race and racism, mental health, and community connections.

Jon is signed to LSTNFND music. You can find links to his work on the LSTNFND site.

Jon Tyson

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

Jon Tyson is a widely respected church planter and pastor in New York City. He is the author of Sacred Roots, A Creative Minority, and The Burden is Light.

Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the United States two decades ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. His preaching is known for the rare fusion of passion and depth. He regularly speaks at large events around the world including Q Conference and Catalyst.

Jon lives in the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of Manhattan with his wife and two children. Visit him at churchofthecitynyc.com.

Katharine Hayhoe

Keynote, Workshop

Katharine Hayhoe is an accomplished atmospheric scientist who studies climate change and why it matters to us here and now. She is also a remarkable communicator who has received the American Geophysical Union’s Climate Communication Prize and the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication She has been named to a number of lists including Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Foreign Policy’s 100 Leading Thinkers, and FORTUNE Magazine’s World’s Greatest Leaders.

Katharine writes and produces the PBS Digital Studios series, Global Weirding, and serves on advisory committees for a broad range of organizations including the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the Earth Science Women’s Network, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is currently a professor and directs the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. She has a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Toronto, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois.

Mike Mileski

Keynote, Workshop

Mike Mileski is a husband, dad, pastor, musician, and lover of most things Star Wars. He joined Power to Change as a student at the University of Guelph where he met his wife Heather. A retired school teacher, Mike’s focus these days is on making disciples through Benediction Church, which he and his team planted in early 2017, in downtown Hamilton.

Tim Gonsalves

Keynote, Panelist

Tim works as the National Youth Director for Alpha Canada and is passionate about empowering youth workers and students to share the good news of Jesus everywhere they go. He also pastors at Southgate, serving through youth ministry, media, and worship. Tim lives in Langley, BC with his incredible wife Chanel and their daughter Ellie Elizabeth (and with another one on the way)!

AC

Panelist, Workshop

AC was born in Canada but at the age of 4 moved to California where he grew up as a die-hard 49ers and Golden State Warriors fan. After graduating from university, he worked for several years in Silicon Valley as a software engineer before pursuing a cross-cultural ministry calling to love and serve Muslims in least-reached areas of the world. He met his wife Michele while in seminary. He loves his three kids and enjoys spending time explaining the finer points of strategy for Plants vs Zombies. In addition to his kids, he also loves ice cream, bubble tea, Apple Arcade, and playing sports (probably in that order).

Alison Buchan

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

Alison is a recognized skilled social worker who, for over 15 years, has had the privilege of providing counselling support to clients. She focuses on a wide range of concerns in the areas of mental health, trauma, and addictions.

In the field of social work, Alison has served for 12 years in a hospital addictions & mental health program; participated in community development in partnership with Northern Ontario First Nations communities; and managed research projects with The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto.

Alison earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work at McMaster University and also continues her studies at the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist.

Alyssa Esparaz

Keynote, Panelist

Alyssa Esparaz is a communicator with a passion for inspiring and equipping Christians to live compassionate lifestyles. As a young person in the church, Alyssa loves seeing her generation bring Christ’s hope to this messy and broken world. She serves as a Writer and Communicator at Compassion Canada, one of the world’s leading child development organizations. She also studies International Development at the University of Toronto. She blogs at alyssaesparaz.ca and is a regular contributor to Love Is Moving magazine. When she is not doing any of the above, Alyssa can be found cheering for the Raptors, dreaming about traveling on an airplane, or eating way too much ice cream.

Andy Smits

Panelist, Workshop

Andy grew up in Ottawa, and married his high school sweetheart, Loni, while they were college students in Ottawa. They volunteered with Power to Change in Ottawa, before joining staff with P2C in 2003. In 2004, they moved to Montreal, where they have worked on a team launching student ministries in the city. Andy spent 9 years as the Quebec Director for Power to Change before stepping into the role of National Director this summer. Andy & Loni have 4 kids, ranging from 7 years to 14 years old, and love being part of the vibrant city of Montreal. Andy is a passionate volleyball player and coach, is proud of being able to speak both of Canada’s official languages, and loves helping people discover the relevance of faith to all of life!

Carmen Man

Panelist, Workshop

Carmen is the National Field Ministry Director for P2C-Students. She also coaches staff that care for our students on campuses where we don’t have a full-time staff team. Carmen currently lives in Winnipeg with her husband Josh, and has previously been based with P2C-S in Hamilton and Montreal. Traveling to new places and trying new things are some of her favourite experiences.

Cheryl Bear

Keynote, Panelist

Cheryl Bear, from Nadleh Whut’en First Nation, is well known as an important and respected voice on behalf of Canada’s Indigenous peoples. As a speaker and teacher, she has traveled to over 600 Indigenous communities in Canada and the United States, sharing her songs and stories. She also visits non-Native communities (schools, government, churches, and businesses) holding workshops to raise awareness and understanding of Indigenous issues.

She has released three albums sharing stories of Indigenous life: Cheryl Bear (self-titled), The Good Road, and A’BA. Cheryl’s albums have received three Indigenous People’s Choice music awards, two Covenant Awards and a Native American Music Award.

Cheryl is a founding board member of NAIITS, an Indigenous learning community. She is also an Associate Professor at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. Cheryl has an earned Doctorate from The King’s University in Los Angeles, and a Master of Divinity degree from Regent College.

She has written two books, Introduction to First Nations Ministry and a children’s book called The Honour Drum.

She is currently serving as a Strategic Associate to the Indigenous Relations Specialist with Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Darren Lung

Panelist, Workshop

Darren graduated from Carleton University studying Public Affairs and Policy Management, and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Arts in Global Leadership at Fuller Seminary. As the National Director of P2C Global Missions, Darren desires to see a generation of young people raised up who embody the Great Commandments of loving God and loving neighbour.

Eric Humphrey

Panelist

Eric is married to Dawn, and they have 2 wonderful children, Bryce and Ella. Over the past 16 years they have together built a ministry to students through discipleship, media development, and communications work. You can find him in a movie theatre watching awesome movies, listening to amazing podcasts or having real conversations with people. Eric loves sharing stories with others about all aspects of life.

Gabe Salazar

Panelist, Workshop

Motivational youth speaker Gabe Salazar overcame poverty, gang influence, and homelessness to become a successful entrepreneur. He’s a highly sought-after keynote speaker who has been inspiring teens, families, teachers, and school administrators with a message of hope and dreaming big for more than 15 years. Popular Hispanics Magazine recognizes him as America’s #1 Latino Youth Speaker. Gabe lives in Dallas, TX with his wife, Nancy, and four children.

House of Worship

Artist, Panelist

House of Worship is a ministry with a vision to see people live a life of worship in every community. The movement started in 2015 in Montreal with students gathering in homes to worship together. Over the following years it grew with a deep love for Jesus, His presence, and the city. House of Worship now has ministries in 5 Canadian cities and is celebrating its second year of partnership with Power to Change – Students. House of Worship’s mission today is to invite people to encounter, dwell in, and be changed by the presence of God together through musical worship and the arts.

Jen Pollock Michel

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

Jen Pollock Michel is the award-winning author of Teach Us to Want and Keeping Place. Her third book, Surprised by Paradox, released in May 2019. It traces four themes in the Bible—incarnation, kingdom, grace, and lament—as a way of discovering some of the surprise of God’s story. Jen writes widely for print and digital publications and travels to speak at churches, conferences, and retreats. She holds a B.A. in French from Wheaton College and an M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University.

She is an American living in Toronto. Her husband Ryan and five children moved to Canada in 2011, planning on a two- or three-year adventure. They are still here and quite naturally finishing their sentences with “eh?” Their family attends Grace Toronto Church. As part of her volunteer work with her local church, she is the lead editor for Imprint magazine.

You can subscribe to her monthly newsletter at jenpollockmichel.com.

(Pronunciation Guide: Pollock = Paul-luck (like Jackson Pollock, painter) Michel = Michelle (like the woman’s first name).

Johanna Kelly

Panelist

Johanna is on staff at Lakeside Church in Guelph, helping to oversee the program Celebrate Recovery. She first attended Celebrate Recovery in 2006 seeking personal healing and restoration from a past of abuse, family dysfunction, and addiction. Johanna has been married for 11 years and has two beautiful and gifted daughters! Her desire is to see all people find the abundant life God promises.

John Sundara

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

John D. Sundara is a minister in the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Dallas. He currently ministers at Church of the Incarnation through regular preaching and teaching, and is in charge of discipleship and formation. He is also part of the Racial Reconciliation Commission in his diocese. Originally from India, John immigrated to Vancouver when he was 13, and got involved with P2C at UBC as a student. He later served on staff with P2C for 9 years in Vancouver and Toronto, was involved with our global partnerships to North Africa and South Asia, and trained new staff.

John loves to read the Bible and contemplate theology, desires for skeptics and the curious to engage with Christ, and often wonders about the intersection of faith, politics, and justice. John’s passion is for Christians to echo Peter’s words, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

He has a degree in Biology from UBC, and an M.Div from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto. He is married to Naomi, and they have a son, Daniel and a daughter, Emma.

John Van Sloten

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

John Van Sloten is a pastor, teacher, and writer who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His passion is to know God more (and to read everything he’s written). For the past 20 years, John has been exploring a worldview that seeks to discern God’s voice in all things: the Bible, the arts, sport, science, film, music, literature, history, mathematics, nature, and human nature. His first book, The Day Metallica Came to Church: Searching for the Everywhere God in Everything, listened for God’s whispers in pop culture. John’s second book, Every Job a Parable; What Walmart Greeters, Nurses, and Astronauts Tell Us about God, listens for God’s words at work. John has taken part in three John Templeton Foundation sub-grants to explore the intersection of faith and science in the context of preaching, and just finished draft one of his third book, God Speaks Science.

Jon Corbin

Keynote, Panelist

Jon Corbin is a Canadian hip-hop artist, spoken word poet, speaker, band leader, writer, and DJ based in Milton, Ontario. Since 2001, first under the name The Runaway, Jon has blessed stages big and small with lyrical themes of faith, love, family, social justice, and personal growth.

Corbin is a veteran artist who has quietly carved a niche in Canada’s hip-hop community, collaborating with multiple Polaris Music Prize nominee Shad, Juno Award winner Caroline Brooks of The Good Lovelies, and many other revered emcees on both sides of the border.

As a speaker, Corbin speaks passionately on topics of identity, race and racism, mental health, and community connections.

Jon is signed to LSTNFND music. You can find links to his work on the LSTNFND site.

Jon Tyson

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

Jon Tyson is a widely respected church planter and pastor in New York City. He is the author of Sacred Roots, A Creative Minority, and The Burden is Light.

Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the United States two decades ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. His preaching is known for the rare fusion of passion and depth. He regularly speaks at large events around the world including Q Conference and Catalyst.

Jon lives in the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of Manhattan with his wife and two children. Visit him at churchofthecitynyc.com.

Shelly Spithoff

Panelist

Shelly Spithoff is a wedding photographer and former P2C staff. She learned about the importance of rest the hard way by burning out in her first semester on staff. She lives with her husband and two kids in Hamilton, ON. They own a fish, a cat, and a dog; named Chicken, Tikka, and Masala respectively.

Shireen Spencer

Panelist

Rev. Shireen Spencer is a Church of the Nazarene credentialed minister who has served since 2005, working to connect people to God through the Word, worship, and working relationships. Shireen has pastored in two different churches working with youth, families, and couples; leading worship and choirs; and preaching. She is expanding her ministry to work with churches and Christian organizations in the areas of speaking, worship leading, and working with couples. She currently serves on staff with FamilyLife, a ministry of Power to Change.

Sue Carr

Panelist

Sue Carr is the Director of 541 Eatery and Exchange, a not-for-profit cafe in Hamilton; and pastor of The Meeting Place. Originally from the UK, Sue and her husband have lived in Canada for the past 33 years.

Tiffany Lou-Hing

Panelist, Workshop

Tiffany Lou-Hing was born and raised in Hong Kong and now lives in the bumping metropolis that is Guelph with her husband Tyler and her super cute cat, 芝麻 (“Jima” or sesame in Cantonese). She enjoys passionately engaging in discussions about race, sexuality, Indigenous issues, Asian culture, and identity. She works with Power to Change – Students as a Marketing and Brand Manager for Global Missions. She loves that this role combines her creative and strategic planning skills with her passion for global missions, even though it is not related to her BA(Hons) in English and Drama, nor to her BEd from Queen’s University. In her free time, Tiffany loves trying new restaurants, traveling, cooking without a recipe, experimenting with makeup and fashion, and collecting cute toys for her desk.

Tim Gonsalves

Keynote, Panelist

Tim works as the National Youth Director for Alpha Canada and is passionate about empowering youth workers and students to share the good news of Jesus everywhere they go. He also pastors at Southgate, serving through youth ministry, media, and worship. Tim lives in Langley, BC with his incredible wife Chanel and their daughter Ellie Elizabeth (and with another one on the way)!

Wendy Stringer

Panelist, Workshop

Wendy Stringer lives in Toronto with her husband, Kiernan, their seven kids and a big black dog named Seamus. She loves growing food, bird watching, drinking strong coffee and waking up while the house is still quiet. She and her family worship at Grace West. She works for Grace Toronto Church as director of discipleship; shaping, leading, and teaching in discipleship ministry.

House of Worship

Artist, Panelist

House of Worship is a ministry with a vision to see people live a life of worship in every community. The movement started in 2015 in Montreal with students gathering in homes to worship together. Over the following years it grew with a deep love for Jesus, His presence, and the city. House of Worship now has ministries in 5 Canadian cities and is celebrating its second year of partnership with Power to Change – Students. House of Worship’s mission today is to invite people to encounter, dwell in, and be changed by the presence of God together through musical worship and the arts.

Sana’ Watts

Artist

Sana’ Watts is a staff member with Power to Change at York University. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University in Psychology and Chemistry. She has the privilege of coming alongside students in knowing, loving, and following Jesus; and experiencing the abundant life in him. She is passionate about how faith and mental health intersect, and that comes out in her poetry. Sana’ is learning what it means to be fragile and yet still loved and valued. She is happily married to Desmond Watts and they are members of Hope Church Mississauga.

The Color

Artist

2018 Juno award winners, The Color are a Christian Pop band from Southern Manitoba. Bona fide road warriors, the band has toured Canada extensively for the past 8 years and have garnered great success across North America with their singles ‘Surprise’ and ‘The Kind Of Man’, which both charted in the Top 50 on Billboard’s CCM Audience Airplay (Surprise at #27 & The Kind Of Man at #42). Boasting an energetic live show and songs that emanate hope, The Color’s mission is to share the love of Jesus through every song and connection.

AC

Panelist, Workshop

AC was born in Canada but at the age of 4 moved to California where he grew up as a die-hard 49ers and Golden State Warriors fan. After graduating from university, he worked for several years in Silicon Valley as a software engineer before pursuing a cross-cultural ministry calling to love and serve Muslims in least-reached areas of the world. He met his wife Michele while in seminary. He loves his three kids and enjoys spending time explaining the finer points of strategy for Plants vs Zombies. In addition to his kids, he also loves ice cream, bubble tea, Apple Arcade, and playing sports (probably in that order).

Alison Buchan

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

Alison is a recognized skilled social worker who, for over 15 years, has had the privilege of providing counselling support to clients. She focuses on a wide range of concerns in the areas of mental health, trauma, and addictions.

In the field of social work, Alison has served for 12 years in a hospital addictions & mental health program; participated in community development in partnership with Northern Ontario First Nations communities; and managed research projects with The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto.

Alison earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work at McMaster University and also continues her studies at the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist.

Andy Smits

Panelist, Workshop

Andy grew up in Ottawa, and married his high school sweetheart, Loni, while they were college students in Ottawa. They volunteered with Power to Change in Ottawa, before joining staff with P2C in 2003. In 2004, they moved to Montreal, where they have worked on a team launching student ministries in the city. Andy spent 9 years as the Quebec Director for Power to Change before stepping into the role of National Director this summer. Andy & Loni have 4 kids, ranging from 7 years to 14 years old, and love being part of the vibrant city of Montreal. Andy is a passionate volleyball player and coach, is proud of being able to speak both of Canada’s official languages, and loves helping people discover the relevance of faith to all of life!

Anton Lim

Workshop

Anton has been working with Power to Change – Students for 11 years in addition to the 4 years he was a student leader at McMaster University. Anton and his wife Roslyn (whom he met on his first day at McMaster) live in Barrie with their two boys Phinehas and Degory. Anton is currently the leader of the NEXT Program, helping high school graduates transition well into their post-secondary career.

Carmen Man

Panelist, Workshop

Carmen is the National Field Ministry Director for P2C-Students. She also coaches staff that care for our students on campuses where we don’t have a full-time staff team. Carmen currently lives in Winnipeg with her husband Josh, and has previously been based with P2C-S in Hamilton and Montreal. Traveling to new places and trying new things are some of her favourite experiences.

Charlotte Martin

Workshop

Charlotte has served as managing editor of P2C-Students’ small group resources. She now works with the Global Missions team, mobilizing students to missions. She is a recent graduate from the Arrow Leadership Program. Charlotte lives in Elmira ON. She enjoys listening to CBC radio, hanging out with her family, and serving in her local church through a care ministry.

Darren Lung

Panelist, Workshop

Darren graduated from Carleton University studying Public Affairs and Policy Management, and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Arts in Global Leadership at Fuller Seminary. As the National Director of P2C Global Missions, Darren desires to see a generation of young people raised up who embody the Great Commandments of loving God and loving neighbour.

Desmond Watts

Workshop

Desmond is a Guyana-born, Toronto-raised twentysomething. He first got involved with P2C while studying at the UofT. Desmond joined staff with P2C to travel across Canada and pioneer new campus ministries. He now serves at York University. Desmond loves his beautiful wife (Sana’), listening to podcasts (Popcorn Theology), writing poetry, watching sports (especially cricket!), and having deep life chats.

Dr. Steve West

Workshop

Dr. Steve West is a professor at Heritage College & Seminary and Toronto Baptist Seminary, as well as the lead pastor at Crestwicke Baptist Church in Guelph, ON. He has taught courses and lectured on five continents on topics related to biblical studies, theology, ethics, and apologetics. Steve has written several books, most recently co-authoring The Righteous Will Flourish: Living Christian Ethics with Danielle Gignac.

Erin Ford

Workshop

Erin Ford serves as the Editorial Manager for P2C-Students. Her days are filled with coaching students, leading a team, editing, creating content for Instagram, and publishing. Her white girl status was recently upgraded when she married a Hong Konger in October 2019, who also serves on staff with P2C. She calls the most wonderful city in the world, Guelph, home.

Esther Wong

Workshop

Esther serves as the National Staff and Development Director with P2C. Esther connected with P2C as a first year student at the UofC. It was in university that she started to follow God around the globe and see Him do great things! Esther has served with P2C for the last 18 years, first in Vancouver, then in East Asia, and now in Guelph, where she lives with her husband, Silas.

Gabe Salazar

Panelist, Workshop

Motivational youth speaker Gabe Salazar overcame poverty, gang influence, and homelessness to become a successful entrepreneur. He’s a highly sought-after keynote speaker who has been inspiring teens, families, teachers, and school administrators with a message of hope and dreaming big for more than 15 years. Popular Hispanics Magazine recognizes him as America’s #1 Latino Youth Speaker. Gabe lives in Dallas, TX with his wife, Nancy, and four children.

George Simopoulos

Workshop

George works with Ultimate Questions, a ministry of P2C helping people wrestle with life’s biggest questions. Having become a Christian through self-study and curiosity, George loves engaging different perspectives in respectful dialogue. He works on campus at the U of T, either working towards his Master of Divinity at Wycliffe College or sparking conversations with students about the meaning of life.

James Kelly

Workshop

Jen Pollock Michel

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

Jen Pollock Michel is the award-winning author of Teach Us to Want and Keeping Place. Her third book, Surprised by Paradox, released in May 2019. It traces four themes in the Bible—incarnation, kingdom, grace, and lament—as a way of discovering some of the surprise of God’s story. Jen writes widely for print and digital publications and travels to speak at churches, conferences, and retreats. She holds a B.A. in French from Wheaton College and an M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University.

She is an American living in Toronto. Her husband Ryan and five children moved to Canada in 2011, planning on a two- or three-year adventure. They are still here and quite naturally finishing their sentences with “eh?” Their family attends Grace Toronto Church. As part of her volunteer work with her local church, she is the lead editor for Imprint magazine.

You can subscribe to her monthly newsletter at jenpollockmichel.com.

(Pronunciation Guide: Pollock = Paul-luck (like Jackson Pollock, painter) Michel = Michelle (like the woman’s first name).

Jerusha Ricketts

Workshop

Jerusha Ricketts is from Mississauga and is a newly appointed Fellowship International missionary, serving in Medellín Colombia. She tenaciously holds to her personal mission statement: ‘Live to know and love God and people, and connect those whom I love.’ This concise, clear, and focused purpose leads Jerusha into mission wherever God takes her.

Jessica Chan

Workshop

Jessica lives with her husband Felix and two daughters. She’s an artist and an art teacher. For the past 10 years she’s been working with P2C at the University of British Columbia, and she spent a year with P2C at the Universidad de Panamá. In her spare time she can be found chipping away at a novel she’s writing about her family history during the Russian Revolution.

Jill Manubay

Workshop

Jill works with P2C at York University in Toronto, where she loves helping students learn how the gospel intersects with and informs the realities of life. Jill grew up in British Columbia and likes to recharge by going for a walk; reading good writing; or cheering for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Toronto Raptors, Vancouver Canucks, and Toronto Blue Jays. She blogs intermittently at everseriousjill.com.

John Sundara

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

John D. Sundara is a minister in the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Dallas. He currently ministers at Church of the Incarnation through regular preaching and teaching, and is in charge of discipleship and formation. He is also part of the Racial Reconciliation Commission in his diocese. Originally from India, John immigrated to Vancouver when he was 13, and got involved with P2C at UBC as a student. He later served on staff with P2C for 9 years in Vancouver and Toronto, was involved with our global partnerships to North Africa and South Asia, and trained new staff.

John loves to read the Bible and contemplate theology, desires for skeptics and the curious to engage with Christ, and often wonders about the intersection of faith, politics, and justice. John’s passion is for Christians to echo Peter’s words, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

He has a degree in Biology from UBC, and an M.Div from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto. He is married to Naomi, and they have a son, Daniel and a daughter, Emma.

John Van Sloten

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

John Van Sloten is a pastor, teacher, and writer who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His passion is to know God more (and to read everything he’s written). For the past 20 years, John has been exploring a worldview that seeks to discern God’s voice in all things: the Bible, the arts, sport, science, film, music, literature, history, mathematics, nature, and human nature. His first book, The Day Metallica Came to Church: Searching for the Everywhere God in Everything, listened for God’s whispers in pop culture. John’s second book, Every Job a Parable; What Walmart Greeters, Nurses, and Astronauts Tell Us about God, listens for God’s words at work. John has taken part in three John Templeton Foundation sub-grants to explore the intersection of faith and science in the context of preaching, and just finished draft one of his third book, God Speaks Science.

Jon Fuller

Workshop

Jon grew up in a tribal village as a Third Culture Kid. He and his wife returned to missions, serving as church planters in the Muslim context of the southern Philippines from 1988 to 2000. They went on to join the OMF Canada team in the Personnel and Mobilization Department. In mid-2005 the Fuller family returned to Asia where Jon served as the International Director for Mobilization (IDM) at the OMF International Centre in Singapore. As IDM, Jon worked with OMF’s mobilization teams in eighteen different countries, and with potential partners globally, helping them understand and get involved with the needs and opportunities amongst East Asia’s peoples. Jon is currently on OMF’s International Leadership Team, responsible for OMF’s involvement in North and South America, and enjoys helping OMF explore global partnerships.

Jon Tyson

Keynote, Panelist, Workshop

Jon Tyson is a widely respected church planter and pastor in New York City. He is the author of Sacred Roots, A Creative Minority, and The Burden is Light.

Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the United States two decades ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. His preaching is known for the rare fusion of passion and depth. He regularly speaks at large events around the world including Q Conference and Catalyst.

Jon lives in the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of Manhattan with his wife and two children. Visit him at churchofthecitynyc.com.

Justin Chan

Workshop

Justin’s family of five lives in Victoria, BC and have served as Canadian missionaries with P2C-S for the past 14 years. Justin gives leadership to PRAXIS, an initiative of P2C-S which grows whole people. PRAXIS facilitates the process of integration for one’s spiritual formation and missional engagement. Justin is a horology enthusiast and once led an Air Canada pilot to faith, not while flying.

Katharine Hayhoe

Keynote, Workshop

Katharine Hayhoe is an accomplished atmospheric scientist who studies climate change and why it matters to us here and now. She is also a remarkable communicator who has received the American Geophysical Union’s Climate Communication Prize and the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication She has been named to a number of lists including Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Foreign Policy’s 100 Leading Thinkers, and FORTUNE Magazine’s World’s Greatest Leaders.

Katharine writes and produces the PBS Digital Studios series, Global Weirding, and serves on advisory committees for a broad range of organizations including the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the Earth Science Women’s Network, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is currently a professor and directs the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. She has a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Toronto, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois.

Khevna Dave

Workshop

Khevna Dave lives in a MoveIn patch in Scarborough with her husband, foster teens, and two kittens named Mango and Sticky Rice. She loves meeting people over coffee or bubble tea, discovering new foods in the city, and planning events. She is an outgoing individual who has high energy levels for getting multiple tasks done, and cares deeply about learning and engaging in different cultures. Khevna worships at Grace Fellowship Church East and is currently working as a Mobilization Coordinator at the Missions Hub, located inside Knox Church. She spends most of her time interacting with students at the University of Toronto and, as a past Campus for Christ/Power to Change alumna, loves seeing the way God is at work in campus ministries. Khevna also graduated from the University of Toronto, where she studied Global Health, Bioethics, and Christianity & Culture. Fun fact: she’s spent time in 28 different countries, starting with being born in Kenya!

Mandy

Workshop

Mandy is the owner of a calligraphy and design studio, Mandy Calligraphy & Design. Her passion for the arts and love for people have led her to working with many wedding couples and international brands/events such as MaxMara and the Toronto International Film Festival. She has been interviewed by Manuscript Pen Company from London, UK; and her work has been featured on Global News, WedLuxe Magazine, and many more. As a way of giving back, Mandy teaches calligraphy to students at her studio. On International Women’s Day, Mandy partnered with Partners International Canada where the proceeds from the workshop went to buying sewing machines for women in Nepal. This gift helped women to build sustainable businesses for themselves and their families. Mandy lives in Toronto with her husband, Andy. Together, they enjoy bouldering, exploring new hiking trails, and building up a church plant in the Scarborough area.

Mike Mileski

Keynote, Workshop

Mike Mileski is a husband, dad, pastor, musician, and lover of most things Star Wars. He joined Power to Change as a student at the University of Guelph where he met his wife Heather. A retired school teacher, Mike’s focus these days is on making disciples through Benediction Church, which he and his team planted in early 2017, in downtown Hamilton.

Nadine Watson

Workshop

Nadine Watson is a lawyer at a community legal clinic in Ontario. She serves low income clients experiencing mental health and addiction issues. Nadine holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from York University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa. She is happily married to Tristan and they are members of Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto.

Susanna Muntz

Workshop

Susanna is passionate about mobilizing the Canadian Church for God’s global mission. She has enjoyed equipping people to read and teach the Scriptures in Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Canada, and carries with her stories of God’s work around the world. Her best day includes a sunny lake and a red kayak.

Tiffany Lou-Hing

Panelist, Workshop

Tiffany Lou-Hing was born and raised in Hong Kong and now lives in the bumping metropolis that is Guelph with her husband Tyler and her super cute cat, 芝麻 (“Jima” or sesame in Cantonese). She enjoys passionately engaging in discussions about race, sexuality, Indigenous issues, Asian culture, and identity. She works with Power to Change – Students as a Marketing and Brand Manager for Global Missions. She loves that this role combines her creative and strategic planning skills with her passion for global missions, even though it is not related to her BA(Hons) in English and Drama, nor to her BEd from Queen’s University. In her free time, Tiffany loves trying new restaurants, traveling, cooking without a recipe, experimenting with makeup and fashion, and collecting cute toys for her desk.

Vince Olfert

Workshop

Vince specializes in helping business owners and their employees build and protect their wealth. With his years of experience, he understands the financial and emotional issues that come with managing wealth. He was highlighted in Advisor’s Edge magazine for his work with pensions and group retirement services. Vince continually strives to find new ways to communicate complex financial concepts so they are easy to understand for his clients. He spends his spare time with his wife and kids, coaching community sports, and volunteering with local youth programs.

Wendy Stringer

Panelist, Workshop

Wendy Stringer lives in Toronto with her husband, Kiernan, their seven kids and a big black dog named Seamus. She loves growing food, bird watching, drinking strong coffee and waking up while the house is still quiet. She and her family worship at Grace West. She works for Grace Toronto Church as director of discipleship; shaping, leading, and teaching in discipleship ministry.

Wesley Huff

Workshop

Wesley Huff was born in Pakistan and spent his childhood in the Middle East. He has a BA in Sociology, an MTS in Christian foundations, and is currently a PhD student in New Testament at the UofT. His areas of interest include inter-faith dialogue between Islam and Christianity, primarily in the textual histories of the Bible and Qur’an. Wes lives in Toronto with his wife Melissa.