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Tom Lavigne, Director of Church Planting

Phone: 604.420.7646 or 1 (800) 596-7772
Cell: (604) 219-6769
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Tom has a proven track record of planting churches. His background as a businessman, in the military, as church planter in Taylor BC, and most recently as pastor of First Baptist Church in Prince George lead him to take an entrepreneurial approach to church planting. He has a passion for developing new churches and mentoring church planters in the service of the Kingdom of God.

Joell Haugen, Team Leader

Phone: 306.773.1568
Cell: 306.741.5286
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Joell's passion is backwards. He sees the need for church/small group planting in the smaller communities where established churches are disappearing at an alarming rate. He is pastor at Swift Current Community Baptist Church having served previously in Kitimat, BC for eleven years.

Cailey Bennett, Team Member

Phone: 604.420.7646
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As Assistant to the Director of Church Planting, Cailey does demographic research and facilitates communications for the church planting team. In this role, she can be reached at the BCY Regional Office on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Kevin Green, Team Member

Phone: 780.479.4348
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Kevin has been involved in a number of church plants in BC and Alberta. Currently, Kevin is a Pastor at the Neighbourhood Church in Edmonton. Kevin’s passion is to see churches grow into authentic expressions of God’s Kingdom with a deep investment in context. Kevin is married to Cindy and has three children.

John Huh, Team Member

Phone: 403.277.8733
Cell: 403.585.6254
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Having pastored second generation Koreans for over fifteen years, John was recently involved in planting a new church in Calgary where he is currently lead pastor. He has a keen ability to develop leadership within his young congregation, and his vision for ministry is leading to many opportunities and exciting changes.

Dawn Johannesson, Team Member

Phone: 604.420.7646
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In addition to her work as Administrative Assistant to the Regional Minister, Dawn provides administrative support to the church planting team.

Matt Kitchener, Team Member

Phone: 604.228.9747
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Matt is the Lead Pastor at West Point Grey Baptist Church in Vancouver. Matt has a B.A. in Biblical studies in Alberta and a Master's of Divinity from Regent College in Vancouver. He served as a minister for seven years in Red Deer, Alberta and Residential Dean for three years at the Carey Hall dorm at UBC, and loves spending time with his wife and two children.

Dan Rutherford, Team Member

Phone: 250.658.5121
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Dan is Lead Pastor of Gateway Baptist Church in Victoria, BC. Dan and his wife Bev have two daughters, Celeste and Karissa. He has a passion for church planting and believes in leading a church that has passion for Jesus and compassion for those who need Him.

Dale Smart, Team Member

Phone: 306.435.7589
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Dale has been involved in an advisory capacity in church planting in the Heartland Region. Dale's background is in the area of finance and credit granting. Currently, Dale is on the board and part of the executive team at Moosomin Baptist Church. MBC is striving to be missional in its approach to ministry in the Rural area of the prairies. Dale is married to Lynn and has four adult children.

Michael Thom, Team Member

Phone: 204.256.2923
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Mike works as a youth pastor at Willowlake Baptist in Winnipeg and morning show host at a local radio station. Mike's story is one of overcoming personal tragedy and addiction through the healing power of Christ, and he has committed his life to ministering to others. Married to Katie, Mike is currently completing his M. Div. at Carey Theological College.