Speaker Bios

Urban Missionary

Ejay Tupe (Plenary 1)

Ejay is an Urban Missionary to Downtown Toronto through Mission Canada, the local missions agency for the PAOC. He has been an Urban Ministry practitioner for over 17 years.  He has been living and ministering in the downtown core of Toronto since January of 2007.  He is a proud eastender currently living in Leslieville where he serves both his marginalized friends and affluent neighbours. Ejay, and his wife Cheryl, serve to be a bridge to their neighbours both rich and poor, building community amongst them and practicing radical hospitality.  They do this deeply believing that in doing so, we get a glimpse into the kingdom of God.

Director of Dale Ministries

Erinn Oxford (Plenary 2)

Erinn Oxford was born and raised in Toronto, a city that she loves. She has been working in Parkdale, a neighbourhood in the city’s west end since 2007. In 2012 she was invited into her current role as Executive Director and Pastor. Tasked with re-visioning the work, Erinn sought the feedback of the community and proposed a full reboot, one that would include giving up a building, spilling into the streets, creating a nomadic routine, and becoming The Dale Ministries. She longs for and pursues the building of community in which all people are welcome and those who experience poverty are placed at the core, seeking to nurture relationships where we can understand and learn from one another’s histories, experiences and hopes. Erinn is a Christ-follower, caregiver and advocate, mother to Cate, partner to Dion, a musician and lover of the arts, a self-confessed klutz, and an aspiring friend to many.

Founder and National Director Leading with Influence

Tim Schindell (Plenary 3)

Tim Schindel is a determined and proven leader who lives life as an adventure! He loves to cast vision, build teams, set goals and reach them while having a lot of fun. If you’re viewing the world through Tim’s eyes, you’ll see opportunities, possibilities and experience the magnetic pull that a fresh challenge brings.

Seeing the need and an opportunity to serve, Tim founded Leading Influence in 2006 to fulfill the vision of providing excellence in pastoral care to politicians across Canada. Under his leadership, Leading Influence has grown to a National ministry with a team of Spiritual Care providers that stretches from Victoria, BC, to Quebec City. Tim is the National Director for Leading Influence and as Spiritual Care Provider on Parliament Hill.

While his primary career focus has been in faith-based ministry, his experience includes community leadership, life and business coaching and sales. In the summer of 2020, ‘just for fun,’ he envisioned and led ‘The Big Spend’ campaign to support locally owned businesses seeking to recover after the initial COVID lockdown. The project generated nearly $90 Million in economic activity across Canada and attracted national news attention.

He is happily married to Barb and proud dad to Brittany, Zack and Tyler. He is part owner of Maverick, who knows how to ‘play dead’ when he wants to. Tim and Barb live in Victoria, BC.

Tim loves to cycle and enjoy ‘road therapy’ on his Harley in his free time.

Specialties:

Leadership Development and Coaching

Motivational Speaking, Conference Speaker

Entrepreneurial Leadership

Solution Finding

TIM Centre Associate

Brian Yu (Workshop: Intercultural Competency for Ministry)

Brian has been with the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre for over 5 years, where he serves as a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI®). He coaches and facilitates intercultural learning for individuals, teams, and organizations. Brian has been serving as a pastor for over 14 years and is currently one of the lead pastors of a church plant in Toronto. He's also the Executive Director of a faith-based charitable organization serving a subsidized community housing neighborhood in York Region.

Urban Ministry Sage

Bill Ryan (Workshop Speaker: Urban Ministry is a marathon)

Bill Ryan started his ministry in the city after graduating from Ontario Bible College in 1982. This led to his work at Yonge Street Mission where he served for over 25 years in numerous roles first serving as Program Co-ordinator at Evergreen, Pastor of Church on the Street, Director of the Christian Community Centre, Director of Staff care and Interim Program Officer. He later served as Director of Men’s Ministry with Scott Mission until 2021. He is a seasoned Urban Ministry practitioner for the past 30 years and teaches from his vast experience in ministry. He is a spiritual director and passionate Social Justice advocate. Bill's ministry life has been grounded by being a husband to Lillian and father to Jordan and Caitlin.

Global Strategist for Finishing the Task

LIsa Pak (Emcee)

Reverend Dr. Lisa Pak currently serves as the Global Strategist for Finishing The Task (FTT). Her previous experience includes serving as the Regional Director for Ontario and Nunavut at the Canadian Bible Society in addition to 14 years of pastoral ministry and church experience in the United States, South Korea, Singapore and Canada with a particular focus amongst the Korean Diaspora community. She is a second-generation Korean Canadian and Toronto native, ordained by the Korean Association of Independent Churches and Missions (KAICAM). She holds a MDiv and a MABL from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and has earned her Doctor of Ministry in Leadership at Tyndale Seminary. Lisa has travelled globally and is passionate about diaspora communities and mobilizing the young generation for the Gospel.

Executive Director Converge Canada

Cheryl Walsh (Workshop Speaker: Better Together, Partnerships for Transformation

Cheryl is a passionate follower of Jesus – serving Him in all that she does, believing that Jesus has called her to live out her passion and calling in her everyday life. In the past, God has called her to serve internationally – living in and visiting over 30 countries; however, her heart for the world and passion is to serve is in Canada. Having worked for 14 years with Canadian Not-for-Profit organizations, Cheryl now serves as the Executive Director of Converge Canada since September 2020.

Cheryl lives in downtown Toronto with her missionary husband and daughter where they serve together and minister to their marginalized friends and those in need. Her hobbies include baking, biking, the love of the outdoors, and keeping an open door for family and friends to sit around the table.

Customer Support Lead TIM Centre

Andrea Chang (Workshop Speaker: Grant writing 101)

Andrea works part-time for the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre (TIM Centre) as an Assistant Leadership Consultant where her role includes research, grant writing and an intercultural development facilitator. Andrea also works for Anchor and Serenity where she is a Spiritual Director and consultant. 

Site of

Future workshop speaker

Another awesome one! or two, or three!!!

Vir Mateo (Lead Pastor of Christ for Life Ministries) and Rhema Annett (Co-ordinator Good Measure Food Bank)

Workshop Speaker: Food as Ministry

Virginio Mateo

Vir is the lead Pastor of Christ for Life Ministries, a church he planted 28 years ago. He has a desire for the church to be the hands and feet of Christ and to spread His Gospel and make disciples. In collaboration with his daughter, Rhema, they started Good Measure Food Bank as the need in their community became apparent. 

His mission can be defined simply: Operation Agape Love. Love God and Love People.

Rhema Annett

Rhema felt called by the Lord to start Good Measure Food Bank in 2016. Her expectation? Small Closet Food Pantry. The reality? A full fledged operation that she had no idea how to operate. Through mistakes and continuous learning she realized that her community didn't need another food bank based on efficiency, but a place where people could go for not only their physical hunger, but spiritual. It would soon become not only a space for those in need to know their value and be loved, but for Christians to be equipped to share the gospel. Since the start of the food bank they have seen salvations from both people who receive food and volunteer.