Scott Gillespie, Action International
Title: Best Practices and Benefits in Short Term Ministry
Seminar Overview:
Short term ministry can be very beneficial for everyone if it is done well. This presentation seeks to outline best practices in planning and executing short term ministry trips and the benefits derived from such trips.
Bio:
Scott has been involved in full-time ministry for over 40 years. He spent 20 years serving First Nations and Metis communities in southern Manitoba, followed by over 20 years serving in various capacities in overseas ministry. He is presently the Director of Promotion and Recruitment for Action International Ministries in Canada. He is well-experienced in short term ministry, having taken part in 20 short term ministry trips to various countries over the past 25 years, on his own and as part of a team.
Terry Banman, Ethnos
Title: Intentional Discipleship = A Thriving Church
Seminar Overview:
In the context of Reaching the Unreached of the World discipleship is key. I will be talking about when it starts and the follow through of it on a daily basis to see a thriving church established. Living and doing life side by side means we need to be intentionally engaged.
Bio:
Terry, saved at a young age, desired to see others come to know God and to have a deep relationship with Him. He and his family joined Ethnos Canada and went to the other side of the world to live among a people group tucked away in the contours of a rugged mountainous terrain, Helping establish a thriving church in the Wusuraambya language group of Papua New Guinea during those first 11 years. Then he and his family moved into a support role helping new missionaries to serve well in their ministry. Now Terry and Rosie both travel throughout western Canada, sharing about ministry needs and encouraging the body of Christ in being involved in the goal of seeing the unreached reached for Christ.
Walter Selke, Northern Evangelical Mission
Title: Dependency Issues In Ministry
Seminar 1 Overview:
Ever meet someone and soon have really deep bonds with them? Have them make bold and affirming statements like, You the best helper, pastor, missionary or friend? Have you had this relationship soon consuming much of your time and energy as you help them navigate crisis after crisis? After investing time, energy and often money you wake up one day to discover that they are nowhere to be found. They no longer answer texts or calls. And soon you hear that they are upset with you and have blocked you from all contact. You are not alone and this seminar will explore this relational pattern and give a biblical response.
Title: Cultural Understanding 101
Seminar 2 Overview:
This seminar will give a very basic understanding of different cultures and the unique challenge each culture poses when sharing the Gospel. We will do some critical analysis of our home culture and start to understand the cultural baggage we bring into every conversation, business meeting and outreach event that we do.
Bio:
Walter together with his wife Cindy have been in ministry since 1989. They both felt a call to First Nations people while in Bible School and been fulltime missionaries for more than 35 years. More than 25 years were spent in inner-city ministry where they established Healing Hearts ministry and saw many reached with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many also found healing and wholeness from trauma that so many have experienced. Walter has helped equip many to become more effective at reaching First Nations people.
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Title: There’s No Word For That?!
Seminar Overview:
When God confused the world’s languages at Babel, he did a good job. Languages are so different that translating between them can be a serious challenge! How can you translate from one language into another when there are such differences in vocabulary and grammar and colliding worldviews? Come and experience the challenges and joys of working with a little-known language found halfway around the world.
Jet Takaoka, Canadian Food Grains Bank
Title: Defending the Needy: What Scripture Teaches Us About Global Aid
Seminar Overview:
Some 720,000,000 people around the world face severe hunger. Christian organizations have worked for years to alleviate that hunger and poverty in general. Until very recently governments from many countries have also contributed significantly to reduce hunger and poverty around the world. But now many are cutting back significantly. How can believers respond? What does Scripture have to say?
Geoff Clarke and Daren George, IBC and Rising Above
Title: Only Jesus Heals Soul Wounds
Seminar Overview:
Through Biblically based counselling and ministry training courses, only Jesus heals soul wounds through His truth, love and Word. This seminar will explain course options and the healing process. IBCI ministers together with Rising Above First Nation Ministries and has been active throughout all Circumpolar nations.
Geoff Clarke is a Teacher and counsellor since 2010. He lives in Telkwa, BC and is married to Milja. They have four 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.
Bios:
Geoff Clarke is a Teacher and counsellor since 2010. He lives in Telkwa, BC and is married to Milja. They have four 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.
Daren George works for Rising Above Healing Ministries. He lives in Telkwa, BC where he is a respected leader in Kyah Bible Fellowship and community. Prior to coming on staff, he served on the board of Rising Above for many years. He is also Board of Director of UIM International, Streetcorners and is also in partnership with IBCI. Daren is passionate about helping First Nation people.
John Troyer, Trades4Life
Seminar: Looking Unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Seminar Overview:
In our religious world it’s very easy to study the Bible and gather facts so can have accurate information about Jesus, but totally miss out on a relationship with Him. It will take a living relationship with the One who is the “Way, Truth, and Life” to get us back to God. His presence is what brings the touch of His hand, motivating us to serve Him instead of ourselves. I must look for Jesus Himself, not just information about Him.
Bio:
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 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 have been married fifty-five years in February 2026. They have five children, eighteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Kathy Walker & Sheri Blanchette, Peace Country Renewal Ministries
Seminar: Listening Prayer With Jesus
Seminar Overview:
1. A safe place for Prayer Participants to share their personal, relational, and daily struggles which may also lead into going deeper into their trauma/pain from hurtful relationships in their past.
2. These sessions often include, but are not limited to, experiencing “Listening Prayer with Jesus”, including spiritual guidance and divine intervention from Him as He ministers His loving comfort and truth in places of pain which sets participants free from faulty beliefs about themselves, their value, and their future lives and purpose here on earth.
3. Listening Prayer is a gift that Sheri and I have been given and trained in to support this healing process to those in our community seeking this kind of support. Sheri and I take our roles as Prayer Ministers as an incredible privilege and are very grateful for the opportunities that we have to support each of our Prayer Participants during their session by inviting Jesus into their sessions. Building trust in an atmosphere of safety and care with our participants is vital.
4. Prayer Ministry also plays a vital role in nurturing faith and building relationship with Jesus, Father God, and Holy Spirit. This also gives opportunity for deeper healing as well as encouraging personal spiritual growth; we sometimes hear confessions of sin from our Prayer Participants, so we encourage confessions of sins which results in receiving His forgiveness and healing through his shed blood on the Cross. We also encourage forgiving those who have sinned against them.
5. We hope to do a live short demonstration with one of our Prayer Ministry Prayer Participants, who will share how Jesus, our “Wonderful Counsellor”, has met them in their place of struggle, revealing His truth and comfort.
Russell Stendahl
Title: Unprecedented Opportunity for the Gospel in Venezuela and Cuba
Seminar Overview:
I spent December 31 and January 1 in Cuba relating to the dire situation of the people there. On the positive side, however, the Gospel is spreading as never before and there are many ways in which we can help.
From January 12 to 22 we conducted two back to back Venezuelan leadership conferences with hundreds of pastors attending from all across Venezuela including from tribal groups experiencing tremendous revival. In this seminar I will be sharing a compelling update on the dynamics of what God is doing and about how recent events are dramatically changing the outlook for effective missionary activity.
Bio:
Russell M. Stendal is an author, missionary, and editor of the Jubilee Bible. Raised in a missionary family, he moved to Colombia at a young age. At 27, he was kidnapped by Marxist guerrillas and held for 142 days, a story he shares in his book Rescue the Captors. That experience inspired a life of outreach to both sides of Colombia’s armed conflict. Russell established a radio ministry that broadcasts messages of peace and hope deep into conflict zones. He has written more than 50 books in English and Spanish, many transcribed from his Spanish radio sermons. In 2017, he received the Shahbaz Bhatti Freedom Award for promoting peace and religious freedom in Colombia. His books and the Jubilee Bible, which he edited, have been widely distributed throughout Latin America, especially in areas with little access to Scripture. Russell and his wife, Marina, have four children and nine grandchildren.
Ben Wall
Seminars
In the first seminar, we will share how God brought Lisa and me together, how the enemy worked to introduce sin into our lives, and how he tried to prevent us from getting married. We will testify to how only Jesus, through His divine intervention, carried us through those trials—how He saved us, led us to baptism, and ultimately brought us together in marriage.
In the second seminar, we will share how the enemy worked tirelessly to destroy our marriage, how he targeted our oldest son, and how he tried to prevent us from stepping into the ministry and the calling God placed on our hearts. We will also testify to how only Jesus, through His divine intervention, led us through these challenges—restoring our marriage, calling our son to salvation, and opening doors for us to reach thousands of people through the ministry God placed on our hearts, including the Voice of Hope podcast that Lisa and I host together.
Bio
I was born in Mexico, where my early years were filled with the vibrant culture and traditions of my homeland. At 17, I 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.