Facilitating

Pastor Robert Parmenter (Jackie)

Robert has been a resident of Fort McMurray since December 1983 and since then, has been involved in MGA church work.  He has served in many different roles, including Custodian, Maintenance man, Musician, Worship leader, Children’s leader, Youth leader, Men’s Ministry leader, Deacon, Elder, and Pastor.

Robert has always felt the call of God on his life and has a desire to see people come to know Christ. He is passionate about building relationships and seeing people connect, not only with God, but with each other. He is a servant to all.

Robert believes in being involved in the community and is currently working as a volunteer with Keyano College Theatre, Special Olympics, and as a Chaplain with the RCMP. Robert has been married to his wife Jackie for 25 years, and has two daughters and three grandchildren. (Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, Peterborough, Ont.)

A couple of his favorite verses in the Bible are:

Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Psalm 84: 10, 11: For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Equipping

 Pastor Phil Sovdi (Linda)

Phil’s desire is to see growth and maturity in all facets of people’s lives. He is passionate about encouraging and equipping people to be fruitful in their abilities and relationships, and about seeing deep connection and kingdom-mindedness at work in the church body as a result (Ephesians 4:16).

Phil has always felt strongly about the priesthood of the believer, the work of the Holy Spirit in each life, and the everyday, non-vocational ministry that results (Hebrews 8:10-12); as such, he has spent over 25 years ministering in conjunction with alternate employment in various professions spanning 3 cities and 2 provinces.

In addition to this, Phil is a husband of 28 years and has 5 children with his wife Linda. Both musical talents and particular interest in Emergency Services are attributed to Phil and his family members, including 2 adult children already in emergency professions. Both Phil and his wife volunteer locally as worship leaders and with Emergency Services (Phil as Chaplain to the RCMP “K” Division). (Pacific Bible College-Surrey, BC).

Children’s Ministries

Pastor Staci Gill (Les)

Staci was born and raised in Edmonton, AB but in 1977 the City of Calgary called her away where she attended Immanuel Bible College.  While there, she met and married her Missions teacher, Les Gill!  In their 30 years of marriage, they have served and ministered in overseas missions in Taiwan, Philippines, Mexico and did humanitarian work and a church plant in Croatia.  They have also pastored several churches in Central Alberta.

They have 2 wonderful children and “in-loves” and 3 terrific grandkids!

Staci desires to see Psalm 145 become a reality, “…that each generation will tell its children of God’s mighty acts!”

Worship & Christian Arts

Pastor Gordon Ponak (Lisa)

Gordon and Lisa Ponak came to MGA from the Fraser Valley, BC in September 2005. Gordon’s journey to this place and this position started long before this, when at the age of 9 he gave his heart to the Lord at his mother’s invitation, and at age 10 he began playing guitar (whenever his older brother, who had bought the guitar, would let him play it). His path would lead him through the backstage of many Christian bands, volunteering as a young roadie, and eventually as a lighting and guitar tech on a Steven Curtis Chapman tour.  The passion of playing guitar increased and through being faithful in playing for the smaller opportunities, God allowed Gordon to play on the larger stages of GM Place (Promise Keepers), Canada Place (Missionsfest), Riverside Coliseum (Historymaker), and others.

In the summer of 1988, while walking on Blundell Road in Richmond, BC, God put a passion in Gordon’s heart for preaching and teaching and studying and demonstrating everything to do with the Gospel. It was a very vivid call to ministry. So the journey would continue onto Bible College, both in Abbotsford, BC (WPBC, now Summit Pacific College) and Barrington, Rhode Island (Zion Bible Institute).

As the Worship and Christian Arts Pastor, Gordon’s vision is for freedom in the expression of worship. “We serve an amazing and creative God! Let’s worship Him with the fullness of our being!” He also writes & produces an annual Easter production with the intent of showing the gospel’s relevance to the community.

Today Gordon still marvels at this journey; that God has blessed him with a ministry that encompasses both his passion for the Lord and for music. And even more so, he is amazed at the beautiful family he has been entrusted with. Lisa is not only a fabulous wife and mother, but an anointed Worship Leader at MGA. They have two awfully fun and cute kids, Ashley and Tyler.

Liz Cheetham - Personal Assistant to Pastor Glen Forsberg & Pastor Robert Parmenter

Michele Young - Administrative Assistant to Pastor Phil Sovdi & Pastor Staci Gill

Juanita Heath - Bookkeeper

Eva Esteban - Custodial

Karen Boldt - Lay Ministry Coordinator

Many of the ministries contained on this site are lead by volunteers. For more information, or to be involved in any way, please contact the office to be put in contact with the appropriate coordinator

Trustees

Murray Phillips

Gary Cheetham

Elders

Peter Green

Dave (& Lois) Trotter

Edward (& Lindiwe) Denga

Beverly (& Derek) Fawcett

Todd (& Paula) Fleming