THE MINISTRY TEAM

Tom is a child of God, called by God to be a preacher and teacher. During more than 30 years of ministry he has served in three churches, Acton Baptist Church, Markham Baptist church and Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church.

 

He is married to a wonderful woman named Janet. They have been married for over 35 years and have three great children.

 

Tom cites his parents as having the largest influence on him in his relationship with Christ. They mentored him through their Christian example so that at the age of 14 Tom said “I want Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord.”

 

As a young man Tom wrestled with his call into the ministry. The family business was always beckoning him but in the end God’s call to pastoral ministry won out. Tom has studied at the University of Western Ontario, McMaster Divinity College, and most recently he received his Doctor of Ministry from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

To be able to work with the team on Hope Today has been a long-time dream for Tom. God has been gracious and all praise is due to Him as He has enabled this ministry to happen.

 

Tom enjoys gardening, meeting neighbours over the fence, and woodworking.

A teacher by profession and a DJ by choice. Life that began in southwestern Ontario has worked through its various stages in French Canada, West and Central Africa and then back to Quebec, adding missionary experience along the way and finally the title of translator/reviser to the list of roles he has played over the years.

 

Mac Wigfield came to know and enjoy the church early in life, but coming to know Christ was not real until somewhere in his late teens. It would be nice to think that smooth sailing was the result, but such is not the way in which God makes us into the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus.

 

Now after meeting and marrying Marlise more than a few years back, having three wonderful children and then watching one of them leave this world in his very young years, Mac is learning, he hopes, that discipleship comes with its varied challenges even when life is entrusted to a faithful God.

 

Christian radio, a boyhood dream, became a reality when, in 2012, Mac joined CFOI-FM, a French-language station in Quebec City and became the host of Joy for the Journey, a 2-hour weekly broadcast of Southern Gospel music in the Quebec City area and on Foi-FM.com via the Internet.

 

More recently, he has brought a few grains of salt and, hopefully, a ray or two of light to the airwaves on Hope Today. And guess what… God is still faithful.

Mark spent much of his early life immersed in music from which he took solace. He remembers, “Music was a refuge and a comfort through some trying times.” His dream of a career in music did not materialize initially and his life veered off on a very different path. He is a self-taught piano player and drummer and always had an ear for how music productions would sound best. He left his stable job to pursue a music production program at Fanshawe College; where he obtained his diploma in Recorded Music Production.

 

Some years later, Mark experienced the reality of his dream when he was able to establish and operate Straight Path Studio. He does credit this in part to the ‘harmony’ with his newly found faith in Jesus Christ. The Studio provides the opportunity for him to encourage young and seasoned musicians and help them achieve success in their music objectives.

 

Mark says, “There is not much that is important in life except to live in a way that brings glory to God, our Creator. God provides joy and peace through His grace that is sufficient for a fulfilled life. Music is a special part of the human experience, not only as entertainment or a form of art but even more so as an expression of worship of our Creator and a ministry of spiritual encouragement and comfort to others.”

 

Mark and his family provide a wonderful and God honouring music ministry as one of the involvements in their church.

Joan and her husband Dwight reside in Durham Region and are actively involved in their community and church. Music has played a significant part in her life. From Joan’s early days she learned piano and sang with family and other gospel music groups. She graduated with a Bachelor of Sacred Music, Piano Major, Voice Minor and Organ Minor from Ontario Bible College (now Tyndale) and Honours Music courses at Waterloo University, Conrad Grebel.

 

Joan has directed the music programs at several churches. Continuing today in Worship Team leadership she and Dwight also guide the music presentations for Freedom Bound, a men’s gospel group who have ministered throughout Ontario for almost 20 years.

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Joan is the Vice-President of Corporate Services for The Lenbrook Group of Companies, a business based in Pickering, Ontario and with distribution operations in Canada, the USA, the UK and Singapore. With a heart for community, Joan continues to use her God-given skills on Boards and organizations including the Board of Trade, Boards for various health care organizations, community events and advocacy groups.

Brian Evans has been a business owner in his community for some 35 years now. With his wife and family, they are active members of their local church and support their community and community of faith. He helps on several industry and para-church boards and committees. 

 

Brian is part of a men’s singing group called Reflections Trio who minister to churches, faith events and care facilities throughout their local area. Being a part of Light & Life Programming from the beginning is a specific blessing for Brian and he is involved in providing some of the announcing and research for the programs.  He is also charged with the responsibilities of administration and business development.

Originally from B.C., God brought Tamara to Ontario where she met her loving husband Brett and is now raising two wonderful teen sons.

 

Tamara received an MFA in Visual Art from the University of Waterloo. Her work is shown under her maiden name of Tamara Izsak. Through the ups and downs of the creative process God has taught her to aways come to Him first for inspiration.  In painting and in sculpture, her most meaningful and successful pieces are always the ones that originated in worship and meditation on the greatest Creator of all.

 

She plays an active role at the Baptist Church and enjoys being the voice of Hope Today’s Hymn Stories segments.  In addition, Tamara is a Director and assists the Board and Production Team with administration and program distribution.