Mark Middleton – Executive Director (2012)

Mark’s cross cultural heritage and international influences, having been born to missionary parents and raised on the ‘mission field’ in Ethiopia East Africa, afforded him a unique perspective and opportunity to see and understand the need for a global approach to ministry.

His career spans local, national and international boundaries having served in a number of different capacities in Christian Leadership including: General Director, Emmanuel International; Founder and President, Global Talk; Executive Director, Canadian Centre for World Mission; and, Executive Director, Haggai Institute Canada. Mark’s career has been global in focus and strategy.

Gifted in relationship building, Mark has been a conduit bringing together a diverse network of global Christians to partner, learn and build community. As the Executive Director of EQUIP Leadership Canada, he has merged his experience with his strong, credible reputation to influence and guide the organization from inception through a staged-growth process. Mark believes the greatest challenge of this Christian generation is to work effectively together as the global family of God, both within and outside our national boundaries.

In his personal time, Mark loves being in God’s creation and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Paul Pascoal – Global Program Director (2019)

Paul, a native of Portugal and now a Canadian citizen, is passionate about Christian leadership. He is responsible for responding to the invitations of international partners to share EQUIP Leadership Canada’s innovative leadership curriculum and strategy. His desire is to train and empower local Christian leaders to have increased local, regional and international influence and impact.

Paul is a global thinker and networker. His ministry has been shaped by his international experience and theological training in Europe (Portugal), Latin America (Brazil) and North America (Canada). Paul, and his wife Rute, have served in pastoral, teaching, and global advocacy ministries for more than 30 years in Portugal and Canada. As a pastor, educator and global missions advocate, Paul has been a mission agency co-founder, the past president of the Portuguese Theological Baptist Seminary, and former National Coordinator of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Portugal. Paul’s Christian leadership passion and extensive network of global connections keeps him in demand as an international speaker and helps introduce EQUIP Leadership Canada’s acclaimed Authentic Leadership Seminars to Christians around the world.

When Paul is not travelling the globe and teaching he enjoys walks by the lake, watching sporting events and reading books on theology.

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. 

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:

Mark Voth, Chair: Director of REV Investments, BC
Sharlene Brooks, Vice-Chair: Retired, former Staff Sergeant, Delta Police Dept., Mission, BC
Donna Milligan: Retired, former Vice President and Managing Director, BMO Nesbitt Burns, ON
David Pauls: President, Sanibel Landscaping, Cochrane, AB                                                                                                                  Narry Santos: Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry and Intercultural Leadership, Tyndale University, ON                                 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: 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 (México) Candy Middleton (ON), Jana Voth (BC), Rute Pascoal (AB), Artur Simões (NS)

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