OUR TEAM
Dr. Narry Santos – President (2022)
Narry is Associate Professor of Christian Ministry and Intercultural Leadership at the seminary of Tyndale University and Vice President of the Evangelical Missiological Society Canada. He is also on the Board of Global Gates Canada and has been on the Board of Equip Leadership Canada since 2022.
Dr. Narry has served as part-time Senior Pastor of Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) York (in Vaughan) and GCF Peel (in Mississauga) since 2017, after having planted Saddleback South Manila for three years.
Before Saddleback Church, he ministered at GCF in different pastoral responsibilities for 20 years, including helping plant six churches in Canada and four in the Philippines. Dr. Narry has been married to Hazel for 35 years and has two grown daughters (Eirene and Kaira) and two grandchildren (Ethan and Sophia).
In his personal time, Narry loves to play with his two grandchildren, read a good book, and walk with his wife and their two dogs.
Dr. Paul Pascoal – Executive Director (2019)
Paul has served as ELC’s Global Program Director since 2019. A native of Portugal and a Canadian citizen, Paul is passionate about empowering and equipping Gospel-based leaders. As Global Program Director, he has promoted ELC’s global strategy and developed relationships with Christian partners from around the world.
Paul is a global thinker and networker. His ministry has been shaped by his international experience and the education and training he received in Portugal, Brazil and Canada. Paul holds a Doctoral Ministry degree in Leadership from Tyndale University, with a focus on Missional Leadership and Spiritual Formation. Paul has served in pastoral, teaching, and global advocacy ministries for more than three decades. Paul has been a mission agency co-founder, the past President of the Portuguese Theological Baptist Seminar, and former National Co-Ordinator of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Portugal.
His extensive network of global connections keeps him in demand and is a big asset as he introduces ELC to potential global partnerships. Paul and his wife, Rute, have been married for 35 years, have three grown daughters (Rebeca, Sally and Priscila) and four—very soon to be five—grandchildren (Ezra, Selah, Zoe Joy and Bella Grace).
When Paul is not travelling the globe and teaching he enjoys walks by the lake, watching sporting events and reading books on theology.
Wes Boldt – Author of “Authentic Leadership- Living in Newness of Life” & ELC Global Lead Trainer (2012)
Wes Boldt grew up in a legalistic Christian home in central Canada. After he married his high school sweetheart Mary, he became a successful businessman as well as a leader in his church. In 1997 his business interests were purchased and he was unemployed for the first time in his life. That began a journey of discovery that God took him on. Much of the journey was unlearning what “religion” had taught him and replacing it with the truth of who God is, who he is in Christ and the implications of intimacy with God on how a person leads. The profound changes in his life led to writing the Authentic Leadership curriculum that God is using through ELC to change lives around the world. Wes and Mary have been married for 55 years and together they have 2 sons, and 4 grand children.
Ana Simões – Finance & Administration (2022)
Ana Paula (Ana) Simões, born and raised in Portugal, immigrated to Canada with her husband, Artur, in 1990. Her graduate degree in translation (verbal and written) and administration, with “an intense focus on English and French”–she is fluent in Portuguese, English, and conversational French–her significant administrative, finance, and communications career experience in both ministry and the professions, and her passion for God and a life of global significance and purpose makes her ideal for her ELC responsibilities. She is a consummate team player with a desire for excellence in all that she does.
Outside of her work environment, Ana enjoys time with her family, reading historical novels and Jane Austen, and watching tennis and soccer.
REPRESENTATIVES
Each Representative works in a volunteer capacity to represent, promote and act on behalf of EQUIP Leadership Canada. Each Representative has been approved by the Board of Directors and acts under the direction of the Executive Director. The Representatives are invaluable as they serve as ambassadors, reaching their sphere of influence, to introduce EQUIP Leadership Canada and its mission to many.
Al J. Donald (Winnipeg MB, Canada)
Al is the President of C.T.S. Group Benefits Inc. and Board member (Treasurer) for Meadowood Manor Foundation, a faith-based Seniors Independent Living complex based in Winnipeg, MB.
Al is a gifted networker and enjoys connecting resources to needs. Al is one who lives with and in God’s gifts to help and serve others. He finds rest and relaxation playing golf and travelling.
Sandy Graham (Abbotsford, BC, Canada)
Sandy’s career background in corporate and educational environments, and her passion for global ministry, have created the perfect foundation for her ELC responsibilities. She grew up in a Christian home which prioritized active volunteer involvement in local and international Christian work. She embraced the same principles as an adult, utilizing her free time for many years to introduce “The Jesus Film” and lead ministry teams in Central and Latin America.
Sandy joined ELC in 2012 and her current volunteer work raises awareness of ELC’s goals and strategies with primarily North American Christians with global hearts. Her extensive international ministry travel makes her the ideal guide for donors visiting AL seminars with global ministry partners. In her free time, Sandy enjoys investing time in her family and friendships, seeing the world and experiencing other cultures (travel, cuisine, staying active outdoors, golfing, gardening) and purposeful learning from others and literature.
Jim Thiessen (Edmonton AB, Canada)
Jim holds post graduate degrees in education and curriculum development. He has been a teacher, professor, education policy analyst, an executive pastor and church director of development. Jim is the Board Chair of the International School of Theology and Leadership in Tirana, Albania. Life outside of work for Jim revolves around people and good food. He is said to enjoy going to meetings because he views them as social events.
Len and Betty-Ann Bushman (Waldheim, SK, Canada)
Semi-retired, Len is a former small business owner involved in the agricultural sector. Betty-Ann works part-time as a care-aide.
GOVERNANCE OF EQUIP LEADERSHIP CANADA
The EQUIP Leadership Canada Board of Directors bears the civil and moral responsibility for the governance of ELC’s policies, principles and practices. It is the final authority for the charity in the governance of its donated funds, in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), to fulfill the charity’s mission.
EQUIP Leadership Canada Board of Directors is comprised of six members (3 temporarily vacant positions):
Sharlene Brooks, Board Chair: Retired, former Staff Sergeant, Delta Police Dept., Mission, BC
David Pauls, Vice-Chair: President, Sanibel Landscaping, Cochrane, AB
Lara Boghos: Manager, The Peoples Church House (transitioning refugees), Toronto, ON
The Board of Directors responsibilities include:
- Adherence to the mission of the charity
- The approval of the charity’s programs
- The charity’s policies, principles and practices
- The financial stability of the charity
- Evaluating the charity’s performance
- Participate in charity promotion
- The hiring and/or dismissal and ongoing evaluation of the Executive Director
In order to meet the necessary CRA requirements and maintain continuity of ongoing efforts, the board meets a minimum of two times per year (in-person) and remains in contact via virtual and electronic means to address any matters that arise between formal meetings.
Each member of the board strives to serve the ELC organization with utmost integrity and humility in order to best carry out the responsibilities placed on them to meet the God given purpose and mission of EQUIP Leadership Canada.
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
Appointed by the ELC Board, the following groups of volunteers assist the staff in the fulfilment of ELC’s Global mandate.
GLOBAL ADVISORY GROUP
A team of influential Christian leaders who have served on ELC’s Board of Directors, and who understand ELC’s global strategy and curriculum. They are willing to lend their names as a reference for ELC.
Members: Mark Middleton, Sam Chan, Brian Relph, Reg Andrews, Bern Gerber
GLOBAL AMBASSADORS GROUP
A team of influential, and volunteer Christian leaders from ELC’s partner regions, authorized to represent ELC.
Members: Oswaldo Prado (Brazil), Sérgio Mota (Portugal)
GLOBAL EMERGENT GROUP
A team of Emergent (Millennials, Gen Z) Christian leaders from ELC’s partner regions, authorized to represent ELC to the global emergent generation.
Members: Enxhis Tashi (Albania), André Prim (Portugal), Carlos D. Gomez (Mexico), Samuel Sumaoang (Philippines), Andreia Barreiro (Canada).
GLOBAL PRAYER GROUP
A team of ELC prayer supporters whose passion is to see a sustaining advance of ELC’s ministry as a global and Spirit-led movement.
Members: Pia Kaufmann (Mexico) Candy Middleton (ON), Betty-Ann Bushman (SK), Rute Pascoal (AB), Artur Simões (NS)
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