Bold Venture: Righteous Pursuit

Meet our speakers:

Mike Switzer is the Lead Pastor at Royal View Church in London, Ontario. With over 20 years of experience leading worship and more than a decade in pastoral ministry, Mike carries a deep passion for the presence of God and a heart to see people encounter Jesus in a life-changing way. His leadership is marked by spiritual depth, authenticity, and a desire to see the Church equipped and empowered to live on mission.

J. Lee Grady is an author, award-winning journalist and ordained minister. For 18 years he worked for Charisma magazine, one of America ’s most widely distributed evangelical Christian publications, and he served as editor for 11 of those years.

Lee is the author of six books, including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, and he focuses much of his ministry on releasing women in ministry. Lee has taken his message to 30 countries. Lee and his wife, Deborah, have four grown daughters and two grandsons. They live in LaGrange, Georgia.

Kevin Shepherd has almost 30 years of pastoral experience, including twelve years as Lead Pastor of Glad Tidings Church in Burlington, Ontario. Under his leadership, the church experienced significant growth, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and leadership development.
He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Crossroads Christian Communications and YES TV, leading with a vision to leverage media as a powerful tool for spiritual transformation, cultural impact, and global outreach. Under his leadership, Crossroads continues to pioneer faith-based storytelling, equipping future generations to carry the
message of Jesus into a rapidly changing world. Through YES TV, Kevin champions values driven entertainment, ensuring a platform that uplifts and inspires audiences across Canada.
Recognizing the importance of unity, Kevin continues to be actively involved in interdenominational dialogues and conferences, fostering understanding and respect among diverse groups across Canada. Kevin has served in district and national leadership within the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) for many years, including as a General
Executive Member (2020-Present) and as the Assistant Superintendent for the Western Ontario District (2017–Present).
Kevin is married to his best friend, Sherri, and together, they cherish their role as parents to their amazing children, Caleb (married to Lauren) and Sadie.

Hi, I’m Tim Woodcock and I’m the Lead Pastor at Glad Tidings. I grew up in a pastor’s home and have had the privilege of living and ministering both in Canada and the US. I was kind of thrown into ministry at a very young age but have now been ministering for over 23 years in many different positions and contexts of ministry. I still feel humbled and honoured that God would allow me these incredible opportunities to be a pastor and leader in His church. My greatest calling and privilege though is that I am the husband of Jennifer Woodcock and the father of three incredible girls. I love sports (Especially Basketball - Go Hoosiers!!), the outdoors, and reading. It is my heart to pastor the incredible people that call GT home with conviction and care. I have a strong desire to see the church equipped with a deep understanding of God’s Word and their identity as Sons and Daughters in the Kingdom rule and reign of Jesus. I still believe that the church universal is God’s plan in accomplishing His mission in the world. I look forward to connecting with you soon and journeying together to see God's purposes accomplished in our generation - In our time!

Pastor Jon Manna is a graduate of Northpoint Bible College (USA) and has been in full-time ministry since 2005. He came to Weston in 2012 as our worship and young adults pastor. In 2016, he transitioned into the role of Lead Pastor and ever since then, we have seen God's favor resting upon his leadership within our church. He loves enjoying life with his wife Priscilla, and their three children. Fun Fact: Pastor Jon is a passionate worship drummer.