Pastors
Here's your opportunity to take a look at the staff at Peace Portal Alliance. The necessary contact information is listed on the staff directory page.
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Paul Wartman
Senior Pastor
After 30 years of leadership and experiencing many turns and shifts in the journey, my wife Ruthanne and I are privileged to be part of a great leadership team here at Peace Portal. My role is to guide the staff and elders through a season of transition - clarifying vision and direction - setting the stage for the next season of life as Peace Portal embraces changes and engages the community. When not around the campus, you can find Paul either on the golf course or on his motorcycle ... when it's not raining!
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Dean Cooper
Administration Pastor
Maureen and I have been married 34 years. We have 5 daughters; Denise – who is married to Matt Smith, Melanie – who is married to Peter Kopic and has two boys Kyle and Caleb, Courtney – who is married to Justin Greenway, Stephanie (recent high school grad) and Karen (grade 11). I am a soccer coach for a U-18 girls team and the Treasurer for the Canadian Pacific District of the Alliance and on the Alliance District Executive Committee.
We moved to the lower mainland 7years ago from Kelowna to launch NOW-TV which I managed at the time. I have been in the broadcast business, owning and operating radio and television stations for 30 years before going into ministry as the Director of Development at the Leadership Centre/Willow Creek Canada and more recently as the Executive Pastor at Pacific Community Church in Cloverdale. My wife Maureen has been heavily involved in Women's Ministry in our past two churches.
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Phil Vanderveen
Worship and the Arts Pastor
For over 11 years I have been privileged to serve at Peace Portal - and it has been a delight to see the many ways in which God works in and through this community. My primary role on staff is to lead weekly worship services for the church (mostly concerning music and other artsy things), and one of my greatest delights is to facilitate situations where people will authentically encounter the living God and be changed by it. My wife Karen and I have four amazing little blonde kids aged 6 and under: Evan, Danae, Riley, and Olivia - a rare boy/girl/boy/girl combo of craziness! We're pretty busy - but it's a blast. Karen is a nurse, which comes in handy when wrestling times with daddy get a little too wild. When I'm not occupied with the stuff you've just read about, I really love a good laugh, love to read, and spend time riding my mountain bike.
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Scott Dickie
Outreach Pastor
Tracey and I joined Peace Portal in 1996. Since then, I have been involved in several different ministry areas including Jr. High, the development of our "Glimpse" Services, Young Adults, and now my present role that seeks to help the church get out into the community where God has placed us. In regards to my work, I am most passionate about seeing the Western Church take seriously its responsibility to care for the poor and the needy--to translate 'love' into 'action'. Tracey works part-time in the Counselling Centre and full-time as a mom to our three kids: Owen (99), Beckham (03), and Paisley (06). I get pumped when I can play with my boys and cuddle my girl. I also love the odd occasions when Tracey and I can get out for a date...we like to go to Chapters and look at books together. Following the NFL, rugby, and extreme sports is pretty natural for me…I think I will become a professional extreme athlete after my kids graduate.
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Jim Postlewaite
Adult Education Pastor
Merle and I began attending PPAC mostly because of the positive spirit we sensed in the worship services. About a year later, April 2003, I was asked to join the staff in the area of adult ministries. I have been involved in helping facilitate many current ministries while aiding in the creation of some new learning endeavors and assisting in the leadership of the pastoral team. I have a strong passion for people in the church community to be unleashed to use their gifts and abilities in serving others, both in and outside of the church. I enjoy photography and reading when I have the time. Merle and I have two daughters, Jeanine and Stephanie.
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Catlin Allen
Youth Intern
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Vicki Bowker
Children’s Ministries/Pre-Teen Pastor
It never ceases to amaze me how perfectly and uniquely God weaves the threads of our lives. After thirty years of marriage to my wonderful husband, Holden (one of the talented Bowker Brothers) … raising three beautiful, gifted daughters (Shanna, Sharalee and Sharisse) … caring for aging, sick parents … and ministry for me with children and women and Holden in music and worship … we find ourselves here at Peace Portal. What an object lesson of trust and growing confidence in God’s supreme wisdom this journey has been! Now my passion to see children spiritually nurtured and grounded in God’s truth is finding expression here with this remarkable staff. And what of my life outside of Peace Portal? It’s filled with my growing family – (Brad and Shanna were married July ‘05 and Aaron and Sharisse in December ‘05) – time with old friends and writing, writing, writing. How full and blessed my life is!
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Terry Bradley
Congregational Care Pastor
My wife, Lois, and I have 3 wonderful daughters, Nicole, Andrea and Erin (married to Ryan and one sweet granddaughter Myah). I’ve been on the pastoral team since July, 1991. Being a part of a church community that ministers to both individuals and families is one of my passions - spurred on by the church’s mission “to pursue intimacy with God and to facilitate impact for God” Whether serving together with a team of gifted and committed volunteers in the Shepherding Groups and/or the Pastoral Care ministry opportunities, it is my desire to connect and encourage others in celebrating life together.
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Malcolm Cameron
Counselling Centre Director
As the Director of Peace Portal Counseling Centre, I value the opportunity to create a professional, yet welcoming and safe place for people wanting and/or needing to talk openly about their lives; where they've been, where they're at, and where they want to be. I am often times fulfilled in the knowledge that the Counseling Centre is a source of deep encouragement for people who, with integrity, are trying to make sense of the journey. I am also very grateful to the counselors and front line staff who give of themselves immeasurably in order to help others work through complex and challenging circumstances. They do so with grace and with ease, putting others at rest amid the uncertainties of their lives. I am blessed to work with such a team!
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Sandy Colero
Young Adults Pastor
Jesus has a funny way of working in my life. He often calls me to the very things I thought I would never do — like pastoring, for example! But a deep fervor to live out devotion to God and to see Christ increase in the lives of young adults has led my wife, Brita, and I to Peace Portal as of June 2005. After several years in the Education field, Brita is pursuing further study in Health Education. We both love singing together, playing sports, and goofing around.
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Joel Defries
Congregational Groups Pastor
Jody and I along with our three amazing, rambunctious boys (Malachi born in 2000, Judah born in 2002 and Elijah born in 2005) joined the Peace Portal team in April of 2006 to provide overall leadership and vision for the youth ministry. Recently my responsibilities have moved to the area of care groups and house church oversight.
I resonate deeply with the mission of PPAC - intimacy with God that we might have impact for God in our community and beyond. I am passionate about people meeting, knowing and living with Jesus and feel that this works best in a small group setting.
As a family we love to be outside – skiing and beaches are the favorite spots right now. I am slowly training my sons to love one of my other hobbies – bonsai – but this is still a work in progress – a three year old with bonsai shears is a scary thing indeed;-)
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Farrah Gregory
Children's Ministries/Pre-School Pastor
It is such a joy to be on staff here at Peace Portal Alliance Church, home to some of the most incredible preschoolers on this planet! And it’s my honour to be working along side our parents and volunteers as we serve the children of this church and community. My desire is to invest in these young children and families who, because of their love and passion for God, will choose to serve others. I love the colour yellow, being with family and friends, reading, shopping and listening to music (singing is not one of my gifts, though I try to stay blissfully unaware of this fact!). I try to laugh daily and enjoy a killer cup of coffee...
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Don Kinnie
Pastor of Community Relations
God has used Peace Portal to cause Vel and I to experience wonderful, ongoing spiritual growth since we made this our church home in 1992. In April, 2008, the Lord allowed me to serve the congregation in a part time pastoral role. What a great privilege to serve the Lord in this wonderful church. A big highlight for us is to regularly get together with our two married children and five grandchildren who all live nearby. Cooking is a hobby we very much enjoy. We also love to listen to classical and jazz music, the musical experience we enjoy most is worshipping God each week with our church family. My greatest passion is to listen to God, to be careful to see how He works and to take what I learn so He can use me to strengthen my brothers and sisters in the faith so our church impacts our surrounding communities with the astonishing love God has for people.
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Patti Larsen
Women’s Ministries Director
David and I have been married for 17 years and have 2 awesome (most days) kids Cassie 13 and Sam 11. Humour is a big part of our family...and you need a sense of humour just to live in the same house with me. We have loved being a part of the Peace Portal family for the past 3 years. I’ve been involved in Women’s Ministries for the past 14 years and still get ‘fired up’ when I think about it. I love to see the beautiful growth that happens when women touch each others’ lives for Christ. My most memorable moments are photographed in my mind when I see women accept Christ for the first time, when they surround each other with hugs and prayers in times of need, and when they love each other for who God made them.
