CANADA
ÉGLISE DU NAZARÉEN
OUR LEADERSHIP
REV. MARK COLLINS (RUTH)
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Rev. J Mark Collins was elected to the office of National Director of the Church of the Nazarene in Canada in November of 2023. He officially took office May 1, 2024. Previous to this he served as District Superintendent of the Canada Atlantic District Church of the Nazarene for 6 years, 2018 - 2024. Before being elected District Superintendent he served the Church of the Nazarene in various pastoral and leadership roles across Canada including Nazarene Youth International, Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International, and Camping Ministries. Rev. Collins provided pastoral leadership in the Church of the Nazarene for 30 years prior to being elected to the District Leadership role with the last eight years of local church ministry being spent as Senior Pastor of the oldest Church of the Nazarene in Canada, located in Oxford, Nova Scotia.
Mark was born in Hamilton, Ontario Canada, however lived most of his early years in Nova Scotia.
He received his call to preach at a very young age while growing up in a Nazarene parsonage. He accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour, on February 22, 1979. Although, been influenced by a number of mentors, he attributes his greatest influence in ministry to be his father, who was also his pastor.
He earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from Canadian Nazarene College, graduating in 1984. Mark received his credential orders in 1986
Among his many outstanding contributions to the life and work of the Church, Rev. Collins has demonstrated an ability to build resources to creatively fund the mission and work of the Church at large. Rev. Collins has a deep passion for missions and cross-cultural ministry, reaching the lost.
From 2012 to 2018, he was involved in working with church planters in Cuba, helping with a number of new churches and developing strong relationships among pastors and leaders. As part of the Cuba initiative, he has led evangelistic teams to Cuba for almost ten years. His work in Cuba has resulted in strong ties not only with the church but with various organizations in business and trade as well.
He and his wife Ruth reside in Oxford, Nova Scotia. They are the proud parents of three children, Jeffery, Cameron (Meghan) and Sarah (Davis), and two very beautiful grandsons.
The guiding passage of scripture for his life in this time is:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
REV. ALAN CRISTALES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES CANADA
Rev. Alan Cristales was born and raised in Toronto’s west-end in Ontario, Canada. His family immigrated to Canada in the 1980’s during the civil wars of El Salvador, in Central America.
Since 2006, Alan has worked in the non-profit, charitable sector in Toronto. He has served marginalized communities in a variety of contexts, including Housing and Homelessness and Social Services. From front line worker to senior management, Alan’s work in serving those considered to be “the least of these” has enabled him to gain valuable knowledge and experience, which he continues to apply in the nonprofit sector as a volunteer Board member.
Alan joined Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Canada (NCM Canada) in 2017 as a volunteer committee member. In 2019, he was invited to join NCM Canada as an International Project Manager, overseeing compassionate ministry work in Africa and in the Middle East. As of January 2024, he is serving in the role of Executive Director of NCM Canada. In this role, he oversees the global ministry of NCM Canada.
Alan completed his Theological studies with Nazarene Bible College in 2024 and was subsequently ordained as an Elder with the Church of the Nazarene Canada.
DR. RILEY COULTER
DIRECTOR, STEWARDSHIP MINISTRIES
Dr. Riley Coulter serves as Director of Planned Giving for the Church of the Nazarene Canada. As an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, Dr. Coulter pastored for fifteen years in Chilliwack, BC; Regina, SK; and Victoria, BC, prior to assuming the presidency of Canadian Nazarene College in Winnipeg in 1990 and as Chancellor at Ambrose University.
Dr. Coulter earned a Bachelor of Sacred Literature Degree (B.S.L.) from Canadian Nazarene College in 1970; Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degrees from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 1975; and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1987, with emphasis on Organizational Management and Church Renewal.
REV. SHERI LYNNE MARTIN
Canada's Educational Field Coordinator for the Global NDI
Rev. Sheri Lynne Martin serves as Canada's Educational Field Coordinator for the Global NDI Office. Previous to this she served as Children's Ministry Director for the Canada West District for 6 years and a Family Life Pastor for 8 years. Sheri Lynne brings a wealth of insight and experience in bringing the Good News to children and families in local church and District contexts. She also has facilitated children's ministry leader and Nazarene Safe trainings in 4 World Regions and played an integral part in the General Assembly Kids Leadership Team. Sheri Lynne served on the Global Strategy Committee that created the changes to what we now know as NDI. She has held positions on the NDI, NMI and BOM District Boards.
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PENNY URE
Canadian Representitive
for the Global NMI Council
Penny is Canada’s representative for the Global NMI Council. She loves the church and is the NMI president at Red Deer First Church of the Nazarene, Vice President on the District NMI Council and also serves on the District Advisory Board.
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Penny and her husband Scott are passionate about missions; they became foster parents and have cared for Canada’s First Nations children since 1999.
HELEN THIESSEN
Canada Field Youth Coordinator for the USA/Canada NYI Regional Council
Helen is the Executive Director, Enrolment Management & Registrar at Ambrose University and the Field Youth Coordinator for the USA/Canada region of the Church of the Nazarene. Helen holds a BA in Behavioural Science and an MA in Professional Communications and with her husband, Joel, are actively involved in their local church (Skyview) and District.
As a graduate of Ambrose (NUC) and a former youth pastor from Canada Central district, Helen is passionate about seeing young people grow into their potential for Christ’s call in their lives; as well as supporting our youth workers across Canada. Basically passionate about Ambrose, our youth and our youth workers.
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