Welcome New Members
(R-L: Mitch, Hazel, Nkechi, Doug, Evan, Jude, Sanjana)
We were grateful to receive these new members on June 9. Read a bit more about the them here and hear some on their testimonies in our June worship services at youtube.com/knoxtoronto.
Doug was born in Owen Sound in 1959. He came to Knox in 1980 through the preaching of Dr. Owen; it was his home and family. Knox helped me to go to Haiti in 1983 for a year. Knox means the world to him and coming back home in 2013 has changed his life and made him a better man.
Evan was raised in a very loving Christian family. He has been going to church his whole life and God has always been a large factor in his life, although he didn't fully realize what it meant to be a Christian until around grade 10. One thing that really helped his faith life was attending Bible camp. Evan has now been going to Knox for almost 6 years, he is currently a grade 12 student, and plans to study at Redeemer University next year.
Hazel grew up in a nominally Catholic home. She believed in the existence of God but not much else. Her home life caused Hazel to grow into a resilient young adult but also left her feeling hopeless and purposeless. In college, her best friend had a radical encounter with Jesus. After witnessing her best friend’s life transform Hazel grew curious and eager to know more about God. Through the wisdom and discernment of the Young Adults Pastor of a local church, Hazel was welcomed to join a missions trip, though she wasn’t sure she was a Christian yet. On that missions trip Hazel encountered Jesus for herself, witnessed the Church be the hands and feet of God, and gave her life to Jesus. Hazel has served as missionary with Youth With A Mission in England, Turkey, and Albania. She and her husband, Mitch, now own a coffee shop: LION COFFEE located in Toronto, where they hope to build community, love people, and share the Gospel in their day to day life. Hazel and Mitch came to Knox after sensing God call them to “commit to the city” and find a home church that was closer to their home and business.
Jude aka “the pastor’s wife” recently moved back to Toronto with her husband Alex and their three adult children after more than a decade in Guelph. She is a teacher with the TDSB and works with students with special needs and multilingual learners. Some of her favourite roles in life are as mum, wife, daughter, sister, and great aunt. She encounters God in gardens and flowers, early morning walks and coffees, holy habits, prayer and journaling. She’s enjoying connecting with past friends and new community at Knox and seeing how God is moving in Knox’s commitment to biblical teaching, discipleship and missions.
Mitchell (Mitch) grew up in a Roman Catholic home. After a series of tragic events and circumstances in his parents’ life, they decided to make Jesus their Lord and Saviour, ensuing a change in the outworking of the Christian Faith in their home. Watching his parents live out the faith, Mitch also decided to make Jesus his personal Lord and Saviour. In High School, Mitch was convicted by the Holy Spirit for living a double life: Church Youth Leadership and Worship Ministry by day, porn addict by night. By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, Mitch has been set free from porn addiction for over 7 years. Mitch graduated from Hillsong College in 2016 and worked as a Music Director in his previous church for 6 years. Mitch is married to Hazel, together they have a 3 year old daughter, Mila. Together they own and operate LION COFFEE, a coffee shop in Toronto, where they choose to live out and share their faith in Jesus with those who come through the doors. Mitch and Hazel have committed to Knox church after feeling “called to the city” to centralize their life and ministry.
Nkechi was born in Nigeria in a dedicated Christian family. Her father was an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria and her mother was the president of the local women’s fellowship. At the tender age of 6, through prayer and bible study with her family, she decided to give her life to Christ. Nkechi had the opportunity to come to Canada to study Christian Studies and Counseling at Ewart College (now part of Knox College, U of T). While at the college, Nkechi started attending Knox. She married and had 3 children: twin boys and a girl (James, John and Joanna). Her experience raising twins, overcoming multiple trials, indescribable tribulations, near death experiences, and witnessing miraculous signs and wonders, inspired Nkechi to start a charitable non-profit organization called Twins, Triplets and Families Club. After being a visitor to Knox for many years, she decided to become a member. She has encountered the Spirit of God during worship services and Knox’s mission statement aligns with her beliefs, life’s calling, and mission.
Sanjana was born in India to a Christian family, however attending church was just a routine until she came to faith at the age of 22, through a friend. While contemplating her purpose in life and trying to understand its meaning during a difficult time of depression and anxiety, her friend introduced her to Christianity through a very different lens. Sanjana recognized that God loves her despite who she was. She had spent most of her life trying to live up to people's expectations and could never live up to them until she found that God was the only focus point she needed in life. Sanjana continues to grow in faith, inspired by Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Sanjana came to Knox through a Google search after she moved to Toronto for work a year ago.
