HRAC Board of Elders:

Kelly Thomas (Board Secretary)

kellyt@highriverchurch.com

Kelly and Brenda Thomas have been members of HRAC since 2000. Kelly is an employee of the RCMP, and his wife Brenda is our Church sanitation engineer (ministry of cleanliness- see below). Kelly is active in our Men’s ministry (and has been involved in our youth ministry), and Brenda is a longtime volunteer in both Kidventure and Ladies ministry. Both engage in the community life of our church where Kelly leads a Men’s Life Group, and Brenda leads two. They have two adult children that are currently attending university.

Rick Stephens

ricks@highriverchurch.com

Rick is a Sales Representative for Pepsi Cola and is married to Shirley for 28 years. They have two adult children and one grand daughter. Rick is active in our Production Ministry and our men’s ministry, and Shirley is active in our Ladies ministry and our Prayer ministry. Rick enjoys both watching and participating in sports (particularly hockey and golf). Both Rick and Shirley are active in a Mens or Ladies Life Group (respectively).

Kyle Jantzen (Board Chair)

kylej@highriverchurch.com

Kyle Jantzen is Associate Professor of History at Ambrose University College in Calgary. He teaches and writes about various topics in European and Church history, including Christians in Nazi Germany and the Holocaust and other genocides. He and his wife Colleen have been active members of High River Alliance Church since they moved to the community in 2003. Kyle is our Life Group Coach and serves as the Chairman of the Board of Elders, while Colleen serves in the church library, Worship Ministry, and leads our Women’s Ministry. They are passionate about healthy marriages and families. They are both involved in Mens and Ladies Life Groups (respectively).  They have four teenage and adult children, who are active in Christian ministry.

Rob Whitfield (Board Treasurer)

robw@highriverchurch.com

Although Rob owns a business in Calgary, he and his wife Julie choose to live in High River where they enjoy the fellowship of the High River Alliance Church.  Both Rob and Julie are long time participants in their Life Group. They have four adult children and nine grandchildren ranging in ages from 24 to 4. Each one is a blessing from the Lord. They are the current leaders of our Hospitality Ministry.

HRAC Staff Team:

Chris Hewko – Lead Pastor

chrish@highriverchurch.com

Chris and Shellie and been married for 14 years, and have two school aged children. Chris has previously pastored in Cranbrook, B.C. and in Morinville, A.B.. Chris is most passionate about living the life of Christ daily, and about releasing the body to do Christ’s ministry. He also shares with Pastor Owen the glorious heritage of growing up in Dawson Creek, B.C. Chris loves rennovating and building, being a dad, and volunteering as a kids soccer coach. Shellie is a kindergarten teacher with the Foothills School Division and loves reading and scrapbooking. She currently volunteers in our Kidventure program as well as the Ladies Ministry.

Owen Scott – Pastor of Youth

and Children’s Ministries

owens@highriverchurch.com

Owen and Amanda have been married two years and have an accident prone dog named Sadie. Along with Pastor Chris he shares a common heritage growing up in Dawson Creek, B.C. They are also new to the community but are loving the people and community of High River. They both actively serve in our Good Food Box ministry through their Life Group. Owen is an avid longboarder and Amanda is pursuing a degree in Social Work and is active as a volunteer in our Youth Ministry.

Al Walters – Pastor of Shepherding Care

awalters@highriverchurch.com

Pastor Al has served as a volunteer member of our pastoral team since 2002 and finds it both thrilling and a privilege to teach, counsel, and encourage people. Prior to retirement in High River, He and his wife Anne served in many different Alliance Churches across western Canada. When not ministering as a pastor, he enjoys fishing and camping with his wife Anne, golfing, reading good books, and being involved with different types of ministries such as Samaritan’s Purse and the Gleaners. Al and Anne both lead a Life Group from their home.

Laura Rempel – Office Administrator

info@highriverchurch.com

Laura comes from a rural logging and farming community in northwestern Ontario. Laura is involved in multiple ministries within the church including  women’s ministry, and worship. As our office administrator, when you call the office, it is likely her cheerful voice you will hear greeting you.  Laura leads a Life Group of young women from her home.

Brenda Thomas - Janitor

Brenda is our fearless and dedicated “Minister of Cleanliness” (as she refers to herself). She has been faithfully keeping our facility spotless for many years. She is also involved in several ministries at the church, including leading 2 women’s groups, as well as volunteering in Kidventure.  She serves in a variety of ways within the church and is usually seen volunteering at church events. She is married to Kelly (one of our elders) and they have two adult children.