AVAILABLE SPEAKERS
We have a number of passionate speakers who can present at your church, conference or retreat. We also have a large resource base of materials to help you in the process of awareness and education.
Ed Sider / Chief Executive Officer
Michael Alemu / Vice President, CH Global
Neil Cudney / Director, Pastoral Ministries
Peter Wyngaarden / Director of Clinical Services
Eugene Versteeg / Director of Human Resources
Ron Hallman / Director of Development
Amie Sider / Director, NationWares
Steve Snider / Manager of Educational Services
Mark Wallace / Manager of Pastoral Ministries
Ed Sider / Chief Executive Officer
Ed has served with Christian Horizons for 31 years and currently serves as CEO. He joined the ministry in 1978 and has served in several different capacities during his 31 year tenure.
Prior to joining Christian Horizons, Ed and his wife, Nancy, served through the Brethren in Christ Church Missions in Pennsylvania, USA and Zimbabwe, Africa from 1972-1977. Their focus was on the most vulnerable of society: children and adults with disabilities. Ed’s passion is to make a practical and spiritual difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities. He in energized by how spiritual change in one individual’s life will impact thousands of individuals for God through the generations.
In addition to serving with Christian Horizons, Ed has 16 years of volunteer experience with CH Global, formerly Children’s Homes International, a ministry that focuses primarily on orphaned children in Central America, Africa and Asia.
Ed is able to speak to a wide variety of topics including Leading a Non-Profit Organization or Ministry, Board Relations, Succession Planning, Developing Vision for Growth and Mission. A graduate in Social Services from Niagara College, Ed is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
Michael Alemu / Vice President, CH Global
Michael was born and spent his early life in Ethiopia and fled as a refugee to Kenya in 1981. He immigrated to Canada in 1984 where he attended the University of Waterloo and earned a B.A. He later earned a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Michael joined Christian Horizons as a part-time staff member in 1985 and has worked in a variety of roles since then.
Currently, Michael serves as Vice-President of CH Global and leads its international initiatives. His primary role is to develop partnerships to help improve the lives of disadvantaged people to make a positive and lasting impact. With a focus on children’s services, education and poverty reduction programs, Michael works on groundbreaking projects that leverage the entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit of program participants.
Michael serves on a variety of Boards and he is CH Global’s lead contact for more than forty global partner organizations. He is an inspirational speaker who is able to relate to his audience on many levels. Whether he is recounting his personal story of growing up in Ethiopia, his life as a refugee, or telling stories of families struggling to break the cycle of poverty in various parts of the world, he is sure to engage his audience and help them understand the need to take action and help create a healthier, more inclusive world.
Michael is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers as well the North American Association of Christians in Social Work. He lives with his wife and children in Kitchener, Ontario.
Neil Cudney / Director, Pastoral Ministries
Neil has served with Christian Horizons for 15 years and currently serves as Director of Pastoral Ministries. Throughout his tenure, he has held several positions ranging from front-line staff to his present-day position.
Prior to joining Christian Horizons, Neil worked with a variety of social service organizations. He has also served as a Senior Pastor and Church Planter. As such, he brings a unique perspective that is representative of both the church and para-church organizations.
Neil is passionate about spiritual formation and Christian leadership, both individually and corporately. He is an effective communicator who is able to inspire enthusiasm for mission and a desire for change.
In his role as Director of Pastoral Ministries, Neil travels throughout the province speaking, teaching and working with staff teams. He speaks on topics such as Ministries and Supports Related to Disabilities, Implementing Vision/Mission Statements, Understanding and Guiding Organizational and Team Culture, Leadership, and Relationship-Building within the Church and Community.
Neil holds a B.A. and Master of Theological Studies degree. He is currently a Doctor of Ministries candidate at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, MA.
Peter Wyngaarden / Director of Clinical Services
Peter has served with Christian Horizons for almost two decades and currently serves as Director of Clinical Services. As a therapist, Peter has worked with children, adolescents and adults who have a dual diagnosis (i.e., intellectual disabilities and mental illness).
In his personal life, Peter has a family member who has a disability. Therefore, he has combined his personal experiences with his professional background in direct support, research and clinical support. Peter has also conducted support groups for siblings of individuals with an intellectual disability.
It is Peter’s vision that individuals with exceptional needs become fully participating community members. As such, his presentations focus is on providing faith communities with tools and strategies that support full inclusion.
As a speaker, Peter has presented courses and workshops in academic, professional and church settings on topics such as: person-centred supports, team work, consent issues, working with persons who have come into contact with the criminal justice system, dealing with challenging behaviours, ethical issues, autism, abuse issues, and aspects of human development. Peter holds a B.A. and a Master of Science degree in Psychology.
Eugene Versteeg / Director of Human Resources
Eugene has served with Christian Horizons for more than 13 years and currently serves as Director of Human Resources. Eugene has more than19 years experience in Developmental Services within a variety of positions from residential support worker through management to his present role.
Eugene directs the Human Resource needs of Christian Horizons which currently employs approximately 3,400 staff. Eugene’s passion is to equip leaders and managers with a practical understanding of employment law to enhance relationships and maintain positive employee relations.
As a speaker and facilitator, Eugene has led discussions about standards and laws relating to employment as well as team dynamics. Eugene holds a B.A. in Therapeutic Recreation and is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario.
Ron Hallman / Director of Development
Ron’s passion is to minister to people assisting them to be all they can in Christ. His background includes delivering seminars to workplaces, operating a successful counselling career, and fundraising.
Ron graduated from Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Ont. with a Bachelor of Theology degree and earned an M.A. in Counselling/Psychology at Trinity University in Chicago, Illinois.
Ron’s ability to preach the gospel into our culture has been appreciated by many. His practical approach to life and understanding of humanity mixed with a balanced sense of humour makes him an excellent speaker.
Ron is a licensed pastor with the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada. He loves the Lord and tries to encourage people to embrace the love of God in their lives and relationships.
Amie Sider / Director, NationWares
Amie Sider is the founder and director of NationWares – a non-profit international business division of Christian Horizons that provides hope, opportunity, and sustainable employment to society’s most vulnerable, with an emphasis on serving children and adults with disabilities.
Born into poverty in a remote area of Guatemala, Amie’s adoption story became the foundation for her faith in Christ and her love of humanity. Her passion for helping those marginalized and disadvantaged has become the cornerstone of her ministry. By sharing her testimony and the stories of people around the world whose lives have been transformed by hope and opportunity, Amie’s goal is to overcome international boundaries to connect people at the most powerful level, the heart. Because sometimes it’s okay to wear your heart on your sleeve.
Amie is currently completing an Honours B.A. in Sociology and Global Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont. and is able to speak to a wide range of audiences on the issues of sustainable development, social justice, global poverty and inequality, international business development, micro-enterprise, social enterprise, fair trade, and social action through praxis.
Steve Snider / Manager of Educational Services
Steve joined Christian Horizons in 1988 and has served in a variety of roles including Residential Support Worker, Day Program Vocational Instructor, Behavioural Therapist, Training Co-ordinator and now as the Manager of Educational Services. In this capacity, Steve develops most of the core courses Christian Horizons offers to our staff and managers. Additionally, he supports and equips more than 70 Christian Horizons instructors and seven Educational Services representatives across the province.
Steve first became involved with the developmental service sector in high school when he started as an “Integration Worker” through the Brockville and District Association for Community Living.
Every year, Steve receives numerous requests from developmental service organizations to deliver Christian Horizons courses such as Reducing the Risk, Documentation and others. He has also delivered sessions at church conferences and Bible Colleges.
Steve is an active member of his local church (creeksidechurch.ca). Steve and his wife, Deborah, have been married since 1989 and have one daughter.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the Ryerson School of Social Work and is a Masters-level instructor with the Crisis Prevention Institute.
Mark Wallace / Manager of Pastoral Ministries
Mark has been providing pastoral care and teaching individuals serving in ministry for more than10 years. His passion is to re-energize and re-focus the "hands and feet" of the church.
Mark has a pastoral focus and wishes to see every worker ministering out of a fullness of the "abundant life" and to fight against spiritual and physical burnout. He has a love for narrative scripture and the Old Testament. Mark holds a Masters of Theology degree from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, Ont. and is a licensed minister with United Brethren in Christ.
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