Paul has served as ELC’s Global Program Director since 2019 and was appointed Executive Director in September 2024. A native of Portugal and a Canadian citizen, he is deeply committed to empowering and equipping Gospel-centered leaders around the world. Paul is passionate to advance ELC’s global strategy and cultivate meaningful partnerships with Christian leaders and organizations internationally.

A global thinker and natural networker, Paul’s ministry has been shaped by extensive international experience, along with education and training in Portugal, Brazil, and Canada. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership from Tyndale University, with a focus on Missional Leadership and Spiritual Formation. Over more than three decades, Paul has served in pastoral ministry, theological education, and global advocacy.

His leadership experience includes co-founding a mission agency, serving as President of the Portuguese Baptist Theological Seminary, and acting as National Coordinator for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Portugal.

Paul’s broad global network and relational leadership make him a valuable ambassador for ELC, helping to foster strategic partnerships worldwide.

He and his wife, Rute, have been married for over 35 years. They have three adult daughters—Rebeca, Salomé, and Priscila—and five grandchildren: Ezra, Selah, Zoe Joy, Bella Grace, and Boaz Jack.

When not traveling or teaching, Paul enjoys walking by the lake, watching sports, and reading theology.

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.

Pia grew up in Germany on a small sheep farm alongside her four younger siblings. There, she developed a deep appreciation for family, the beauty of creation, and the value of hard work. Although she loved Jesus from a young age, her early faith was shaped by a legalistic environment that emphasized rules over relationship. It was only after stepping away from that setting that Pia experienced true freedom—learning to focus on Christ rather than on sin.

After completing her nursing training, Pia sensed God’s call to attend Bible school. She embraced the opportunity to immerse herself in Scripture and to build a strong foundation in the truths of the Christian faith. Over the years, God has prepared her for international ministry through six years of service in Pohnpei, Micronesia, and twelve years in Chiapas, Mexico.

As ELC’s Global Partnerships Director, Pia nurtures relationships within a growing global network of partners and authorized facilitators, while helping to open new opportunities for leadership development as modeled by Jesus. Her love for Christ, combined with her creativity, administrative strength, and servant-hearted leadership, enables her to support the planning, implementation, evaluation, and ongoing refinement of ELC’s global strategies.

Pia currently lives and serves in Mexico, where she is actively involved in training Sunday school teachers.

Born and raised in the U.S., Becky immigrated to Canada in 2009 and has since built over 20 years of experience in bookkeeping, payroll, and financial administration. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Corban University (1999), as well as a Professional Bookkeeping Certificate (Red Deer College, 2015) and a Payroll Compliance Professional designation (National Payroll Institute, 2019).

Her background includes serving as Business Administrator for Koinonia Christian Schools and, most recently, Accounts Manager at CrossRoads Church in Red Deer, Alberta. She has a passion for accuracy and organization, finding joy in spreadsheets and financial systems that support ministry.

Becky loves Jesus and delights in helping others. Outside of work, she enjoys urban homesteading with her husband, two dogs, and backyard chickens, spending time with family in both the U.S. and Canada, and studying Korean and Japanese.

As Global Training Director, Tom is responsible for seeing that Equip’s growing group of international Authorized Facilitators are equipped and ready to effectively facilitate the Authentic Leadership training in their local context. 

He comes to this role with about 35 years of experience, having served in Portugal in theological education in both residential and online environments. Presently, he lives in the U.S. and helps Christian organizations develop unique training opportunities. Equip is one of those organizations!

Tom and Vicky have six married kids and nine grandkids. Besides playing with the grandkids, Tom enjoys pickleball and walking/hiking.

Amanda is the newest addition to the ELC team and serves as our Media & Office Coordinator. In this role, she supports ELC’s administration, communications, and donor relations. Born and raised in Central Alberta, Amanda has a deep passion for Jesus and for our identity in Christ—shaped by the reality that He lives in those who call Him Abba Father. She has been happily married to her husband, Jordan, and is the proud mother of two wonderful children, Asher and Anna. Amanda also serves as the Facilities Team Assistant at CrossRoads Church in Red Deer, AB, where she and her family live.

Her background includes serving in both church and administrative roles, where she has developed strong organizational skills and a heart for supporting ministry behind the scenes. She is passionate about helping things run smoothly, caring for people, and contributing to work that has eternal impact—finding joy in serving others and seeing lives transformed through the Gospel.

Amanda loves Jesus and delights in being part of what He is doing both locally and globally. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, being involved in her church community, and making meaningful memories together.

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 seven members:

Wes Boldt: Board Chair – Retired Business Owner, Author of “Authentic Leadership”, from Sherwood Park, AB

David Sissons: Vice-Chair – Retired BC Crown Counsel, from North Saanich, BC

Marcelo Matos: Treasurer – Civil Engineer, Bi-Vocational Pastor, from Cambridge, ON

Stacie Mohandas: Board Member – Program Officer, Canadian Baptist Ministries, from North York, ON

Andreia Barreiro: Board Member – Registered Psychotherapist, Business Owner, from Missisauga, ON

Abraham Faliao: Board Member – Civil Engineer, Business Owner, from Vancouver, BC

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: Brian Relph, Reg Andrews, Bernd Gerber

GLOBAL AMBASSADORS GROUP

A team of influential, and volunteer Christian leaders from ELC’s partner regions, authorized to represent ELC.

Members: Gil Dukeman (USA & Caribbean), Sérgio Mota (Western Europe)

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), Mary Boldt (AB), Betty-Ann Bushman (SK), Len Bushman (SK), Rute Pascoal (AB), Esther Balzer (AB), Marilyn Nasman (Friday Harbor, WA, USA), Sylvia Sullard (Friday Harbor, WA, USA), Anabelle Mountford (Friday Harbor, WA, USA), Cynthia Nelson (Friday Harbor, WA, USA), Lynn Fish (Phoenix, AZ, USA)