Majed El Shafie
One Free World Intl
Majed was born in Cairo, Egypt into a prominent Moslem family of lawyers. Through the witness of his friend, he experienced the love of Christ and made the decision to give his life and service to the Lord. Majed started a ministry that in two years grew to 24,000 Christians plus two churches built inside mountains, a bible school and medical clinic. He established a newspaper to request from the Egyptian government the same equal rights to the Christian community, but it was not tolerated and Majed was arrested and taken to the torture section of the Abu Zaabel prison in Cairo.
During his time in the underground prison, Majed underwent severe torture for seven days. He experienced having his head shaved and placed under hot and cold water, being hung upside down, and being burned with cigarettes. Through the intervention of Amnesty International and the United Nations, Majed was released from prison. Since then he has relocated to Toronto, Ontario, where he started his own ministry, One Free World International.
Dave Toycen
World Vision
As president and chief executive officer of World Vision Canada, Dave Toycen heads Canada’s largest humanitarian relief, development and advocacy agency. In his 15 years as president, he has guided the organization into dramatic growth in its efforts to serve the world’s poor.
In addition, he has led World Vision Canada into significant justice and advocacy work, in areas such as child and maternal health, the rights of girls, and the protection of children in armed conflict. He has spoken before the World Bank and has met with heads of state, key global executives and development leaders to discuss the well-being of the world’s children. His unique position as head of a faith-based agency has given him opportunities to encourage church leaders and congregations to serve and advocate for the poorest of the poor. Toycen’s book, The Power of Generosity (Harper Collins, 2004), draws from his wide experience and calls readers to become more engaged in the world and to develop a more generous way of life.
Toycen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lawrence University in Wisconsin, a master of divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in California, and honorary doctorates from Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California and Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. He is a member of the Order of Ontario.
Nigel Paul
MoveIn
Nigel Paul is the founder and director of MoveIn, a movement of teams of Christians who bring transformation to high-needs neighbourhoods through prayer, presence and action. He lives in a high-needs East Toronto neighbourhood with his wife Jessica.
Nigel grew up in Zambia, Pakistan, Kenya and came to Canada to attend the University of Waterloo. He graduated with a degree in Internet Business.
In 2006, Nigel served as the travelling assistant to the Founder of Operation Mobilization, George Verwer. Upon his return to Canada, Nigel joined another ministry in an unreached neighbourhood where God gave him the vision for MoveIn.
An entrepreneur at heart, Nigel runs a small online book distribution and publishing business while leading MoveIn. He uses his passion for the Kingdom of God, prayer and discipleship to encourage regular Christians with jobs to move into the least-reached communities of Canada and beyond to bring transformation.
Susan Finlay
Nation At Prayer
Susan is the Founder and National Director of Nation At Prayer, a national ministry whose mission is to transform the nation through prayer with and for elected representatives in the name of Jesus Christ. Prior to this, Susan enjoyed a career as a human resources executive providing leadership in the not-for-profit and government sectors and as a senior consultant in an international management consulting and executive recruiting corporation. She serves on the board of Governors of Tyndale University College and Seminary, the corporation of World Vision Canada and the board of Gardens For Life (Afghanistan).
Bettina Vasquez
Into All The World
Bettina is a missions worker with an organization called “Into All the World”, which focuses on enabling and mobilizing people around the world to carry out the Great Commission. Bettina enjoys ministering to girls in everyway that she can, helping them through difficult situations that so many are facing. She loves to give hope to girls and understanding on how much God loves them. Everyday she gets more passion to help those who feel alone and who are really hurting deep inside. Bettina is also a youth leader at Mapleview Community Church in Barrie. She also coordinates the Young Adult ministry at MCC, alongside her husband Travis.
"I believe that God can use me to make a difference in this city and I am open and willing for Him to use me in whatever way He would like to. I want to reach those who are hurting and broken. I want to help them realize that there is someone who they can bring their brokenness to and there is someone who can heal them. I want to share with them the Jesus that I know and love.I want all of Barrie to know Jesus is 'the way, the truth, and the life.'"
Peter Yi
Young Nak Presbyterian Church
Peter is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School earning an MDiv ('95) and a ThM ('03). He was also a member of the 24th graduating class ('09) of the Arrow Leadership program. He has had the great privilege of serving at Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Toronto since 1995, first as youth and education director and then beginning in 2003 as the lead English Adult Ministry pastor. He is a native of Chicago and is a citizen of both the USA and Canada. He and Linda have been married since 1994 and are the parents of a daughter and two boys, ages 16, 14 and 11.
