People of the Network — New Leaf Network

Posts in Writing Collective Author

Katelyn Siggelkow

Katelyn Siggelkow

Katelyn Siggelkow is a full-time lover of neighbours, who settled into Saskatoon’s Westside five years ago to begin a Servant Partners site in this low-income neighbourhood. She is currently on a sabbatical and is enjoying a new routine of enjoying slow coffees, writing, practicing Spanish, and getting super fit as she prepares for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. She has enjoyed the tangible parallels between Lent and sabbatical this month, as she practices hallowing out and letting go in the hopes of finding God deep within.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostMarch 21, 2023Katelyn Siggelkow

Matte Downey

Martha (Matte) Elias Downey is a writer, theologian, educator, chai-drinker, and life-long learner living in Montreal. She holds a PhD in dramatic theology and seeks to combine her love of a good story with all things theological. She has taught theology in university and ministry settings and also served on the pastoral team of an urban church for nearly 20 years. You can find her various projects and latest musings at www.mattedowney.wordpress.com.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostMarch 17, 2023Matte Downey

Lea Wilkening

Lea Wilkening

Lea Wilkening is the pastor of The Cottage, a church plant in Oakville, Ontario. Some of her "sacred side hustles" involve performing and teaching improv, serving on charity boards, and parenting her two teens with her husband, John. Mutli-vocational ministry is a great fit for her and she loves supporting and learning from other multi-vocational leaders.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostFebruary 28, 2023Lea Wilkening

Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene

Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene

Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene is Interim Pastor at Hebron Church in Whitby, Ontario. She is a Spiritual Director and is working toward becoming a Specialized Transitional Pastor. Elizabeth lives in Bowmanville with her husband, three boys and various pets. She finds joy in journeying with others to bring about reconciliation and right relationships with God, people and the land.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostAugust 25, 2022Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene

Angela Reitsma Bick

Angela Reitsma Bick

Angela Reitsma Bick is a writer from Newcastle, Ontario, where she lives with her husband and three kids. She’s Editor-in-Chief of Christian Courier, an independent Canadian news publication, and co-author with Peter Schuurman of a forthcoming book on faith deconstruction. Find her on Instagram at rogue_librarian.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostApril 15, 2022Angela Reitsma Bick

Susie Colby

Susie Colby

Susie Colby currently serves as a Ministries Specialist for InterVarsity Canada. Steve and Susie worked together in student ministry for over 30 years. At the time of Steve’s death Susie was Vice President for Campus and Steve was Director of Missions. They have three adult children who have accompanied them around the world, to places like Bulgaria, Sierra Leone, East Asia, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostApril 14, 2022Susie Colby

scraps and wine

scraps and wine

The poetry duo, scraps and wine, is comprised of two individuals whose friendship grew out of their love for literature, the scriptures, and yearning to live in Jesus’ abundance.

Alan Thorimbert is a poet and writer currently living in Victoria, British Columbia. He has been published within a few smaller magazines in the past and is currently working on several large collections of poetry. Alan works with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship where he enjoys helping students see their lives and the world around them through the lenses of parables and stories.

Xenia Chan is pastor of Selah Community Church, a FMCiC church plant that came together at the start of the pandemic lockdown. She is also a doctoral student at Wycliffe College (Toronto School of Theology), working on Jeremiah’s Confessions from a Pacific Rim perspective, which takes up most of her writing energy. Xenia is also one of four co-hosts of the Canadian Asian Missional Podcast.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostMarch 21, 2022scraps and wine

Rochelle Vander Munnik

Rochelle Vander Munnik

Rochelle Vander Munnik is the CEO/Founder of Seize Your Development Inc. that specializes in creating uplifting and psychologically safe environments for both individuals and organizations through optimizing people engagement and process efficiency. She also has recently started a YouTube page named RochelleCamile where she encourages people and reminds them that they are loved by God. Rochelle lives in Hamilton, Ontario with her husband Thomas and dog Izik.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostMarch 10, 2022Rochelle Vander Munnik

Randy Hein

Randy Hein

For nearly 30 years, Randy has been planting churches and engaging with grassroots initiatives in Victoria, BC. He has also worked at the local street church/food bank, taught as a sessional instructor, and has recently taken on a regional position with Vision Ministries Canada. Randy is passionate about revitalizing communities around restorative justice, the local Victoria arts scene, and has a longsuffering relationship with his beloved Canucks.

Advent Author, Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostDecember 16, 2021Randy Hein

Beth Anne Fisher

Beth Anne Fisher supports ministry leaders and students through her work at Emmanuel College (U of T) and with New Leaf Network. She is also a PhD candidate at Emmanuel College. You can follow Beth on Instagram @beth.anne.f.

Advent Author, Learning Centre, Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostDecember 2, 2021Beth Anne Fisher

Dawn Chow

Dawn Chow

Dawn Chow is a lighter and dustier blue than she was a few years ago, which she takes as a sign of peculiar growth and becoming. A diaspora settler from hong kong, she is currently living in North York, Ontario, the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, the Haudenosaunee and the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Dawn is sustained by bread, tea and coffee, and the silence that comes after the words. She labours as an M.Div student at Tyndale Seminary, an editor at inheritance magazine, and a routesetter at two rock climbing gyms in Toronto.

Advent Author, Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostNovember 29, 2021Dawn Chow

Brigette VanHuisstede

Brigette VanHuisstede

Brigette VanHuisstede is passionate about using her words to encourage others and point people to Jesus. She is wife to Paul, mom to four energetic kids, a home educator, and a cancer-survivor who loves hiking, reading, writing, and sipping Bengal Spice tea. Brigette has her honours degree in English Literature and is actively involved with the Mercy Christian Church plant in downtown Hamilton, ON.

Writing Collective Author, Advent AuthorGuest PostApril 28, 2021Brigette VanHuisstede

Randy Klassen

Randy Klassen

Randy and his wife Darlene are active at Lakeview Church, in Saskatoon, SK. They have four adult children and four grandchildren. Randy works as national Restorative Justice coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee Canada. He will happily chat about the stars, classical music, family history, or the Inklings with anyone who dares to join him.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostApril 27, 2021Randy Klassen

Christa Hesselink

Christa Hesselink

Christa Hesselink has been guiding individuals and groups as they dig deeper into their spiritual life for her entire twenty-five-year career, working in higher education, non-profit development, and church ministry. She is the founder of SoulPlay, and is a well-respected keynote speaker, workshop facilitator and retreat leader. Her focus content includes: transformation & vulnerability, the inner-life of an effective leader, contemplative spirituality, grief & loss, and soul care. Christa is known for her strategic and collaborative approach to working with individuals and teams and her greatest satisfaction comes when designing compelling experiences for people to slow down so they can wake up to their own soul. She holds a Master’s of Leadership and a Master’s of Theology degree and has been named a “Hero of Children” from World Vision Canada. She is the Canadian best-selling author of Life’s Great Dare and the founder of the Love2Love Project which supports vulnerable children in multiple countries around the world. Christa is a certified coach and certified spiritual director with the Haden Institute. She has also completed the intensive Enneagram coach training program with the Narrative Tradition. Rooted in the Christian tradition, Christa has found deep meaning and hope, and enjoys companioning others who endeavour to deepen their connection to God – to Spirit, Source and Soul.

Learning Centre, Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostMarch 31, 2021Christa Hesselink

Deb Judas

Deb Judas

Deb Judas is a pastor, leadership and wellness coach, retreat facilitator, lover of nachos, nature, cycling, tennis and spontaneous anything. Her great passion is helping others discover what it means to live wholeheartedly and experience the fullness of life. She longs for the day when her dining room table is filled again with people, good food and drink, and wonderful conversation. She loves Jesus, her husband, her 3 grown children and their spouses, and is enamoured with her 2 grandchildren. She lives in a suburb of Vancouver BC.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostMarch 2, 2021Deb Judas

Jeff Steckley

Jeff Steckley

Jeff Steckley, OCT
Jeff is an educator, transformational coach and well-known community initiatives facilitator who has embraced his calling to design and facilitate change-inspiring conversations, develop and equip leaders, and curate transformational space which deeply honours diverse journeys and life experiences. Jeff has an insatiable curiosity and desire to help others learn and grow in ways that lead to whole-hearted engagement.

Together with his wife, Jan Steckley, they have recently launched Threshold Commons, offering coaching and companioning spaces where individuals and groups can discover the transformative power of the “in between” spaces of life. Jeff and Jan are the lead developers and facilitators of New Leaf’s Discernment Pathway.

Writing Collective Author, Learning Centre, DiscernmentGuest PostFebruary 20, 2021Jeff Steckley

Tim Bratton

Tim Bratton

Tim Bratton lives in Saskatoon, SK, along with his wife Amy and their two young sons. With a long habit of getting involved in church plants & startups, Tim currently helps with the teaching and worship at a Free Methodist church plant, Riversdale Neighbours church. Tim is an actor and playwright and serves as the Artistic Associate with Burnt Thicket Theatre. He’s also a care-worker, musician, vinyl record collector and dilettante with a special interest in deconstructing and redeeming the stories of recent church history and Evangelical pop culture.

Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostJanuary 21, 2021Tim Bratton

Kenda Reimer

Kenda Reimer

Kenda Reimer lives in Squamish, BC with her husband and 4 teen/adult children. She is a Spiritual Director, Clinical Counsellor and co-pastors The River Church with her husband, Darcy.

Writing Collective Author, Advent AuthorGuest PostDecember 10, 2020Kenda Reimer

Cathleen Getchell

Cathleen Getchell

Cathleen Getchell resides in Kitchener-Waterloo on the Haldimand Tract, within the territory of Neutral, Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Grounded in the belief that every person is created in God's image, Cathleen seeks to contribute to a world where justice, mercy, and humility form the foundation for inclusive and compassionate communities that contribute to the blessing and flourishing of all people.

She finds balance by going on boondocking and hiking adventures, capturing the beauty of creation with her camera, dancing like nobody's watching, cooking meals for friends, and pursuing artistic endeavours.

Through all her work and hobbies, Cathleen is driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to bring blessing and flourishing to all people.

Writing Collective Author, Advent AuthorGuest PostDecember 9, 2020Cathleen Getchell

Marilyn Draper

Marilyn Draper

Dr. Marilyn Draper is Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Tyndale Seminary. She and her husband Noel have four children. They have planted churches, run businesses, and are currently working on home projects (as time and access to stores allows).

Writing Collective Author, Advent AuthorGuest PostDecember 8, 2020Marilyn Draper