The Heartland Pastor & Spouse Retreat 2026
By Mark Doerksen
The Heartland Pastor and Spouse Retreat marked its 27th year at the Russell Inn from January 19-22. We like to meet when it’s cold outside, and this year was no different—as you can see by the door working hard to keep the cold out. We made a few changes to the retreat this year; based on recurring feedback and after further consultation, we went from a three–day to a four–day retreat. That turned out to be a successful change. We also changed the schedule somewhat; the Russell Inn has always been very generous with meals, and so we decided to eliminate one meal, much like we have done at the Banff Pastor’s Conference. This meant a later start to the day as we started with brunch, and as you might imagine, this change also met with success.
Julia and Nate Wall-Bowering were invited to be our speakers this year. Julia works for Canadian Baptist Ministries and Nate is a professor of Old Testament at Providence Theological College. The theme was “Hallowed Be: The Ear, Hand and Foot of a Pastor,” and Julia and Nate took turns speaking about the theme of ordination from the Old Testament. The Scripture touchpoints for this theme were from Exodus, Haggai, and the Song of Songs. An especially helpful image from their sessions was that of always having an ear inclined toward God, as if our heads are tilted and we are concentrating so as not miss the communication. These folks were very well received, and we enjoyed getting to know their young son a bit as well.
We were pleased to have Rob Ogilvie join us, as well as Bruce Martin, who now works for Canadian Baptist Ministries as the Western Canada Regional Representative. It was good to worship together, to connect with each other, and pray together. The Russell Inn staff is always very hospitable to us, and it’s good see them every year. This was the second year that they organized a car rally for us, and the first year that they had us meet business owners in town as part of that rally. By all accounts, the retreat went well, and we are grateful for that and for the churches that send their pastors to this event. It truly is great to see the relationships developing among these attendees.
From the Mosque to the Mission Field
My Journey of Faith, Loss, and God’s Amazing Grace
By Pastor Ahmed A. Jibo (D Min.)
I was born on February 15, 1973, in Moyale Kenya, a small border town between Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia. I did not know then that my life would one day cross not only borders between nations, but borders between faiths, cultures, and continents.
I was born into a deeply devoted Muslim Garre family. Faith was not just part of our life—it was our life. My grandfather built the mosque in our village. My father was a respected and committed Muslim leader who faithfully practiced daily prayers, fasting, and religious instruction. From the time I was a small boy, I attended Islamic school and memorized the Quran. My family believed I would grow up to become an Imam and carry on our religious heritage.
But at the age of seven, my story began to quietly change. I enrolled in a Lutheran church school that was well known in our region. There, for the first time, I heard the Bible read aloud. I heard about Jesus—not just as a prophet, but as Saviour. I did not understand everything, but something stirred inside my heart.
For years, I lived between two worlds. On Sunday, I attended church services. On other days, I prayed at the mosque and continued my Islamic training. Outwardly, I was a good Muslim boy. Inwardly, I was searching. I carried questions in my heart that I could not silence.
When I was thirteen years old, a Baptist missionary came to our town. I was curious and hungry for answers. I approached him and asked, “Will you teach me about the Christian faith?” He agreed. For three years, he patiently taught me the Bible. I discovered who Jesus truly is. I encountered not just religion, but relationship. Not just tradition, but truth.
At sixteen years old, I made the most important decision of my life. I publicly declared my faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized.
That moment brought both joy and pain. My decision shocked my family and community. Rejection came quickly. Hostility followed. My life was threatened. I realized that following Christ would cost me everything familiar: my home, my security, even my family’s acceptance.
For my safety, I had to leave my city. I left behind the streets of my childhood and the family I loved. I entered a season of loneliness, fear, and uncertainty. There was no large church waiting for me—only three believing families and eleven young people. But in that small and fragile beginning, God began building something powerful.
In the quiet moments of isolation, my faith became real. I learned to depend on God, not people. I discovered that when everything else is taken away, Christ is enough.
In 1990, God connected us with a Baptist missionary from California supported by SIM Mission. Together, we planted a church. What began as a small gathering grew beyond anything we imagined. I served in many roles—Youth Leader, Church Secretary, Chairman of the Board of Deacons—and in 1997, I was ordained as Pastor and Mission Coordinator.
We faced resistance, lack of resources, and spiritual opposition. But we also witnessed miracles of growth. That small church became one of the largest in the city. By God’s grace, it has now planted more than 100 churches across Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. What the enemy meant for destruction, God turned into multiplication.
As the ministry expanded, I felt the need for deeper biblical training. I pursued a Bible Diploma and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies at Pan Africa Christian University. During that time, I planted a church in Nairobi, Kenya, which today has grown to more than 1,000 members.
God was not finished writing my story. He led me to the United States, where I studied at Conservative Theological University in Jacksonville, Florida, earning my Master’s and Doctor of Ministry degrees. After completing my studies, I planted another church in Houston, Texas.
In 2019, God called my family and me to Canada. Today, I serve as Senior Pastor at Pilgrim Baptist Church. Each step of this journey, from Africa to America to Canada, has been guided by God’s unseen hand.
Through it all, one of God’s greatest gifts in my life has been my wife, Tuna Bilo Galla. We have been married for 30 years, celebrating our anniversary on September 25, 2025. She has stood beside me through persecution, relocation, church planting, and ministry challenges. Together, God has blessed us with five wonderful children—Betel, Hannah, Rebecca, Samuel, and Emmanuel. Seeing them follow Christ and serve in His church is one of my greatest joys.
When I look back at my life, I see a young Muslim boy expected to become an Imam. I have seen rejection and displacement. I have seen loneliness and risk. But above all, I have seen the faithfulness of God.
My life is living proof that no background is too strong for God’s grace, no opposition too powerful for His calling, and no sacrifice too great for His glory.
From the mosque to the mission field, from persecution to pastoral ministry, my story is not about what I have done—it is about what God can do with a surrendered heart.
This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections.