Our Leadership
Dale Dawson – Lead Pastor
I was raised in a loving Christian home in southwestern Ontario, where church was central to our lives. From a young age, I learned about the love and forgiveness of Jesus and committed my life to Him. I was baptized at twelve and began my journey of discipleship, though it was often challenging. In a small church with few Christian peers, I sometimes felt isolated in my faith, striving to live it out while wrestling with insecurity and a sense of being unprepared.
A turning point came near the end of high school when a group of vibrant Christian students from a Toronto Bible college visited my church. Their example and invitation led me to spend a year studying the Bible, an experience that deeply shaped my faith. There, I discovered a love for Scripture and the richness of Christian community, and I first sensed God’s call to ministry. Though I initially resisted, my university years further tested and strengthened my faith, deepening my conviction in the truth of God’s Word and the uniqueness of Christ. During this time, I also met my future wife, Linda, and gradually embraced a call to pastoral ministry.
Linda and I married and soon began life together in ministry. God has blessed us with four children, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren, and we have served in Baptist churches for over 35 years. Since 2007, I have had the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor at Uxbridge Baptist Church. Our years here have been marked by deep friendships, faithful, Bible-centered ministry, and a shared journey of seeking the Lord. Through it all, we give thanks to God for His enduring goodness and faithfulness in our lives.
Meet our Staff
Darren Kendall
I grew up in a small town outside of Ottawa, attending church with my family from an early age. While I believed in God, I struggled to understand what a real relationship with Him looked like. My life began to split in two—on Sundays I played the part of a good Christian, but during the week I followed my friends and their influence. By high school, things felt out of control. After breaking my femur playing hockey, I fell into a deep depression. Yet in that season, despite my anger, I encountered God in a new way. In my weakness, I began to depend on His strength and came to know Him not just as someone I learned about, but as a loving Father who desired a relationship with me.
Around the same time, I attended Medeba’s Summer Leadership in Training program, where I was surrounded by a vibrant Christian community. There, I realized that God wanted my whole life, not just a part of it. At sixteen, I was baptized, committing everything to Him. The following summer, while serving as an assistant cabin leader, I met my future wife, Carina. We both continued serving at Medeba for five summers while I studied Biblical Studies and Theology at Tyndale University, focusing on Youth Ministry. We were married in 2014 and soon after moved to Welland, Ontario, where I began serving as a Youth and Young Adult Pastor.
Later, we moved to Michigan where I served as Summer Camp General Director at Michindoh Conference Center. Even through the challenges of COVID, we saw God at work as many young people gave their lives to Christ. During that time, I completed a Master’s degree in Leadership and Communication from Spring Arbor University. In 2023, Carina and I came to Uxbridge Baptist Church after our work visa ended, and we quickly felt at home in the community and its ministry. Today, we are grateful to serve together and are blessed with four children—Ryder, Lexi, Willa, and Braeya.
Darren Kendall
Community Pastor
Phil
Pharoah
I was born and raised in a Christian family in Guelph, my family was very involved in the local church, and it has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. Around the age of 5 my parents and I were discussing what it means to have a relationship with Jesus, and the value that comes from knowing him. I accepted Jesus into my life, and was baptized a few years later.
My family was involved in many ministries at the Church, and I slowly fell instep with them volunteering and trying to find the ministry I’d like to serve with. From tech to kids, I would use my gits to the best of my abilities, but always felt there was more I could do, and while these ministries were vital, and important I didn’t feel God was calling me to stay with them.
After finishing high school and taking a gap year, I felt a clear sense that God was leading me into ministry. I went on to attend Bible college, where my passion for serving and discipling others continued to grow, and I graduated in 2024. Now, I am incredibly thankful and excited to be serving as the Kids Ministry Director here at UBC. It is such a joy to invest in the next generation, helping children come to know and follow Jesus, just as others once did for me.
Phil Pharoah
Youth Pastor
Brooke
Weir
I grew up in Uxbridge and was raised in a Christian household where I was introduced to Jesus from a young age. As I entered my early teenage years, my faith began to take on a more personal meaning, and I made the decision to follow Jesus more seriously. Through both the highs and the struggles of life, I have seen His faithfulness time and time again, using those seasons to draw me closer to Him and shape my heart and character.
In high school, a friend invited me to UBC’s youth group, and that simple invitation became a turning point in my life. Through the relationships I built and the teaching I received, my faith deepened in meaningful ways. I began serving by co-leading Kids Dance, and over time my whole family became part of the UBC community. This church has truly become like a second family to me, and I am so grateful for the love, encouragement, and support I have experienced here.
After finishing high school and taking a gap year, I felt a clear sense that God was leading me into ministry. I went on to attend Bible college, where my passion for serving and discipling others continued to grow, and I graduated in 2024. Now, I am incredibly thankful and excited to be serving as the Kids Ministry Director here at UBC. It is such a joy to invest in the next generation, helping children come to know and follow Jesus, just as others once did for me.
Brooke Weir
Children’s Director
Darren Kendall
I grew up in a small town outside of Ottawa, attending church with my family from an early age. While I believed in God, I struggled to understand what a real relationship with Him looked like. My life began to split in two—on Sundays I played the part of a good Christian, but during the week I followed my friends and their influence. By high school, things felt out of control. After breaking my femur playing hockey, I fell into a deep depression. Yet in that season, despite my anger, I encountered God in a new way. In my weakness, I began to depend on His strength and came to know Him not just as someone I learned about, but as a loving Father who desired a relationship with me.
Around the same time, I attended Medeba’s Summer Leadership in Training program, where I was surrounded by a vibrant Christian community. There, I realized that God wanted my whole life, not just a part of it. At sixteen, I was baptized, committing everything to Him. The following summer, while serving as an assistant cabin leader, I met my future wife, Carina. We both continued serving at Medeba for five summers while I studied Biblical Studies and Theology at Tyndale University, focusing on Youth Ministry. We were married in 2014 and soon after moved to Welland, Ontario, where I began serving as a Youth and Young Adult Pastor.
Later, we moved to Michigan where I served as Summer Camp General Director at Michindoh Conference Center. Even through the challenges of COVID, we saw God at work as many young people gave their lives to Christ. During that time, I completed a Master’s degree in Leadership and Communication from Spring Arbor University. In 2023, Carina and I came to Uxbridge Baptist Church after our work visa ended, and we quickly felt at home in the community and its ministry. Today, we are grateful to serve together and are blessed with four children—Ryder, Lexi, Willa, and Braeya.
Adelle Lauchlan
Church Administrator
Meet our Elders
Keith
I was raised in a strict Irish Catholic home as the third of seven children, immersed in Catholic life through church and school. By my early teens, I found myself searching for an “off ramp.” At twenty-three, I emigrated to Canada, and a year later I was married. My wife came from an Anglican background, and after attending both traditions for a time, we settled in an Anglican church in Agincourt. There, I became involved in youth ministry and Sunday school teaching—roles I had little personal experience in at the time.
Everything changed at a youth retreat when a speaker asked a question I had never heard before: “Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?” In that moment, I recognized what had been missing in my faith. After more than three decades in church, I responded personally to Christ, and that became the turning point of my salvation. From there, my faith grew rapidly as I immersed myself in Scripture and Christian teaching, and my approach to ministry was transformed by a deep conviction in the authority of God’s Word.
As I began teaching directly from Scripture, I found myself increasingly at odds with Anglican perspectives, and once again sensed the need for an “off ramp.” In August 1995, our family came to Uxbridge Baptist Church, where we were immediately shaped by strong, biblical preaching. UBC became our spiritual home, and it was from there that I was called into pastoral ministry, serving in Newmarket for ten years before returning to UBC in 2019. Today, I serve on the Elders Board, grateful for God’s leading and faithfulness throughout the journey.
Keith
Elder (Chair)
Tim
Elder
Dale
Elder
Tim
I grew up in Ethiopia, where my parents served as missionaries for about 15 years. I attended a mission boarding school throughout my elementary years and into grade nine. It was during grades five and six that I first professed faith in Jesus, though like many, I wrestled with doubts and recommitted my life several times. In high school, I came to more fully understand that my faith was not about my efforts, but about what Christ had done for me—a truth I continue to grow into.
After finishing high school in California, I volunteered at a refugee and famine relief camp in Somalia. It was there that the Lord brought Dale, my now wife, into my life. Following that season, I moved to Canada, and we were married soon after. In our early years together, we were involved in various short-term mission opportunities, continuing to serve where God led.
Eventually, we settled in the Uxbridge area, where we have lived for over 40 years and raised our two children, who are now married with families of their own. We have been part of Uxbridge Baptist Church for the past 35 years and are grateful to belong to a Bible-believing, gospel-centered community.
Tim
Elder
Brett
Bill
Ron
I was born and raised in a loving Christian home in a small town in southwestern Ontario. Church has always been a large part of my life. My family attended multiple times a week. It was at my mother’s knee that I learned about the love and forgiveness of Jesus and committed my life to him. At the age of twelve I was baptized in my local church and embarked on a life of discipleship.
After finishing High School I attended the Lay Leadership Training Course at the Baptist Training Institute in Brantford, where I met my wife, who was already a Registered Nurse. We married the following September, and I spent 3 years at Ryerson Polytechnical in the Architectural Technology Course. During those years we were members at Temple Baptist Church in Toronto and gave leadership to the Youth Group and Sunday School. Next came a move to the Uxbridge Area and ministry opportunities at UBC – Sunday School Teacher for Teens, Sunday School Superintendent, Adult leadership for the Youth Group, Deacons Board, and Building Committees for two additions to the UBC facility.
I thank God for a wonderful wife, who has used her gifting and commitment to Christ to walk with me in this journey of faith and service to Christ. In my bedroom, as a child, there was an old calendar hanging on the wall with the words “Only one life, Twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” I have experienced that and pray that I will seize the opportunities that He continues to give me during my lifetime.
Ron
Elder
Meet our Council
Brad
I grew up in the beautiful landscapes of Northern Ontario, raised by loving Christian parents who both modeled faith, service with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. The lessons learned from my early experiences formed my outlook and perception of the world while igniting my sense of curiosity. Involvement in our local church was always modeled and encouraged throughout the year. Many memorable summer sessions at Bible camp added vibrant chapters to my early life, and through Vacation Bible School, I made a confession of faith and embraced salvation at a young age.
I can trace God’s hand in my life as I met my eventual wife as a teen and later attended university, majoring in Computer and Mathematical Sciences. After graduating and marrying Maxine, we headed south after gaining employment in southern Ontario. Launching my career in IT, I quickly immersed myself in a rapidly evolving field. Over the years, I started and managed several IT companies, gaining not only hands-on technical experience but also honing my skills as an entrepreneur and business leader. Each challenge along the way expanded my understanding of how technology can be a tool for change.
My commitment to service extended beyond the world of business. I actively joined and served various local churches—first taking on service and leadership roles and later rising to the responsibilities of board member and board chair. Additionally, I contributed to the broader community by advising a camping missions organization during those formative years, merging my passion for technology, business and faith with a steadfast desire to enable Kingdom outreach. Throughout this journey, I have been privileged to share life with my wonderful wife, Maxine, as we raised our four children. Now rooted in the Uxbridge area, my family and I continue to serve at Uxbridge Baptist Church, witnessing the beautiful cycle of our children maturing into adults and the natural transition of our roles as we embrace the blessing of grandparenthood. Together, our story is one of constant growth and a continuing desire to serve and grow in God’s kingdom.
Brad
Council (Chair)
Jon
I have lived in Uxbridge for most of my life and have been attending UBC for over 30 years. I was involved in the youth group here and was baptized in 1997, and through those early years this church became a place where my faith was both formed and strengthened. UBC has had a lasting impact on my life, providing teaching, community, and examples of faithful service that have helped shape who I am today.
landscapes of Northern Ontario, raised by loving Christian parents who both modeled faith, service with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. The lessons learned from my early experiences formed my outlook and perception of the world while igniting my sense of curiosity. Involvement in our local church was always modeled and encouraged throughout the year. Many memorable summer sessions at Bible camp added vibrant chapters to my early life, and through Vacation Bible School, I made a confession of faith and embraced salvation at a young age.
Now, as I serve in a leadership role, I see it as both a privilege and a responsibility to give back to the church that has invested so much in me. I want to be an encouragement to others, to lead with humility and integrity, and to glorify God in all that I do. My desire is to honor Him through faithful service, helping others grow in their faith, and to be part of spreading the name of Jesus as we live out the truth of the gospel together.
Jon
Council (Vice-Chair)
Adrian
Council
Heather
I grew up in Goodwood. In my younger years my mom would gather up my brother, sister, and me on Sundays and head off to her family’s church about an hour away. Not having a local christian community, it became very easy to live a ‘church life’ on Sundays and not give Christianity much thought during the week. Eventually I stopped going to church. However, God had not let go of the youngster who had asked Jesus into her heart. In high school I met my future husband Dale who was not ashamed of his faith. Eventually I returned to attending church regularly with him at Goodwood Baptist Church. We married young and were blessed with a daughter and son. Our young family settled into faithful church attendance and serving in various ministries.
landscapes of Northern Ontario, raised by loving Christian parents who both modeled faith, service with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. The lessons learned from my early experiences formed my outlook and perception of the world while igniting my sense of curiosity. Involvement in our local church was always modeled and encouraged throughout the year. Many memorable summer sessions at Bible camp added vibrant chapters to my early life, and through Vacation Bible School, I made a confession of faith and embraced salvation at a young age.
It was at Goodwood Baptist that I found myself one Sunday sitting front and centre during a sermon on baptism (very unusual for a tradition back-seat Baptist!). I could not ignore God asking how I could call myself a Christian but not take the next step and be baptized. And so I finally made my public declaration that Jesus had died but rose from the dead triumphant over my sin.
Over 20 years ago, we began attending Uxbridge Baptist because we believed it was important that our (then) teenage kids were a part of a church youth program with their high school peers. I am now in the grandparent years and with age comes the blessing of having lots of life to look back upon and acknowledge God’s presence, provision and protection. God’s not done working on me yet! I am still growing and maturing.
Heather
Council
Sydney
My testimony is a story of how the Lord has worked in my life through athletics and the church. I was raised in a family that loves Jesus, His people, and sports. Playing competitive hockey shaped much of my childhood and often kept me from regular church programs, but my family helped me prioritize my relationship with Christ. I accepted Jesus as my Saviour at a summer sports camp, though it wasn’t until high school that my faith truly became my own. A pivotal moment came during my junior hockey years when I was unexpectedly cut from a team I had been invited to captain. Though difficult, the Lord used that experience to deepen my trust in Him and strengthen my desire to boldly live out my faith. I was baptized the following summer before attending Liberty University, where I played varsity hockey and earned a degree in Exercise Science.
After graduating, I was accepted into a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program in New York but felt led to decline the offer. Returning home, I worked as a sport ministry intern with Scripture Union Canada and later as a physiotherapy assistant. During that season, I wrestled with a lack of peace and sensed God redirecting my path away from physiotherapy. In time, He made His calling clear, leading me back to Scripture Union, where I now serve full-time as a Sports Ministry Coordinator, helping connect children, youth, and families across Canada with Jesus through sport and the local church.
Throughout this journey, the Lord repeatedly brought Uxbridge Baptist Church into my life—first through sports camp ministry and later through the Haven Young Adults group. As I became more involved in the community and began serving in youth ministry, UBC increasingly felt like home. When the opportunity arose to move to Uxbridge in 2023, it was a natural step to fully plant myself in this church family, where I continue to grow, serve, and follow where God leads.
Sydney
Council
Rhonda
Hi – I’ve been attending UBC with my parents since the early 1970’s. I have lived in Uxbridge all my life. I currently live with my family just outside of town, where my husband and family own and operate a small business. I have 3 adult children who have all attended school in Uxbridge and each one of then has been involved in many church programs at Uxbridge Baptist Church and various community programs and events.
I was baptized when I was 14, and became a church member then as well. I attended youth group here, was in leadership for that ministry, and made many lifetime friends! My leadership training has involved a year at Baptist Leadership Education Centre, and a 2 month overseas mission trip for light construction work and counselling.
I love to meet ad serve people in many various ways, and UBC is a great place to do that! I am involved in a mid- week small group, which I love because it allows a deeper connection with people and a more in-depth look into God’s word and His promises. My faith and has grown because of the biblical teaching, love and support I have received from the collective church family at UBC, and I would love to pass that encouragement and friendship on to others
Rhonda
Council
Dave
Council
Brad
Council
Marcia
Council
Meet our Deacons
Don
Hi, my name is Don Kennedy, and I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ. I grew up on a small dairy farm north of Leaskdale, Ontario, the youngest of four siblings. While we attended church regularly, our home didn’t fully reflect a Christian life early on. Over time, however, each member of my family came to faith—my mom when I was ten, my siblings through various influences, and my dad shortly before his passing in 1993. Despite being surrounded by believers and faithful prayers from my family, I spent my teenage years and early adulthood keeping God at a distance and living life on my own terms.
That path eventually led me into brokenness. At 23, after a broken engagement that made me realize I was heading in the wrong direction, God intervened in my life. In May of 1988, I committed my life to Jesus Christ—though in many ways, it felt like He rescued me from the life I was living. Just weeks later, I met my wife, Kathleen. We built a friendship over the next couple of years, and as God continued to shape my life and heart, we began dating and were married in 1992.
Since then, I have experienced the ongoing faithfulness of God in every season. He has lifted me up time and again, and I am deeply thankful for Kathleen and the blessing of raising our three children together. Over the years, I’ve worked as a firefighter, fire training officer, and school bus driver, while also staying involved in volunteer work. Today, I serve in worship leadership and as Chair of the Deacons Board at Uxbridge Baptist Church. I am grateful to be part of a church family committed to knowing God, loving others, and making Jesus known.
Don
Deacon (Chair)
Kevin
I began my journey with Uxbridge Baptist Church in 1979, when a friend invited me to join their family’s congregation. Even after that friend left due to the loss of both their parents, I continued to attend, finding solace and community within the church. It was during this time that I was encouraged by the Adult Leader to participate in the Young People’s group, which became a pivotal part of my spiritual growth. In July of 1980, I accepted Christ and was baptized, marking a significant transformation in my life. Over the years, I met my wife, Lisa, at the church, and we began dating in May 1989, eventually getting married at UBC on October 3, 1992. Together, we have raised two wonderful grown children. Throughout my time at UBC, I have served as a deacon for several years and have recently re-engaged with a small group, continuing to deepen my faith and connection with this cherished community.
Kevin
Deacon (Vice-Chair)
Simon
I’ve been on team Jesus since the age of five, but like many, the distractions of the world began to pull me away during my high school years. What started as small compromises gradually turned into a season where I drifted from the faith I once held so closely. In my mid-twenties, I reached a point where I felt empty and unsettled, realizing that something essential was missing. I knew deep down that I needed to get right with God again, and by His grace, I turned back to Him and rededicated my life to Jesus.
That decision has shaped everything since. It hasn’t meant a perfect life, but it has meant a different direction and a deeper awareness of God’s presence. Even now, when I begin to stray or lose focus, I sense His relentless pursuit drawing me back. There’s a comfort and conviction in knowing that He doesn’t give up on me, but continues to call me back into relationship with Him, again and again.
I’ve experienced both sides—the pull of the world and the peace of walking with Christ—and I can say without hesitation that surrendering my life to Jesus is far more fulfilling than anything I’ve found apart from Him. He is my God, my Saviour, and my risen King. My desire is to lay my life at His feet, to serve Him faithfully, and to live in a way that reflects His grace, His truth, and His love.
Simon
Deacon (BF Manger)
Lisa
I started attending UBC at the age of 12yrs through a friend bringing me to Pioneer Girls and youth group. The ministries I have been involved in are Pioneer Club, youth, young adults, and have led in Nursery, Junior church and kids connect.
I met my husband Kevin at church in May 1989 and we were married On October 3, 1992. We have been blessed with two children Brittany (Nate) and Trevor
We love being involved in small group. We enjoy encouraging, praying for and loving people and Serving as a deacon for a couple years. A favourite Bible verse of mine is Proverbs 3 verses 5&6
Lisa
Council
Roberto
I grew up in a traditional Mexican Catholic family where church was mostly part of special occasions like Christmas or family baptisms. Faith was present in our culture, but it was not something I had personally wrestled with or made my own.
That changed when my neighbours invited me to watch a movie about Heaven and Hell, and afterward encouraged me to pray a prayer of salvation. I repeated it, though at the time I didn’t fully understand what I was doing or what it meant. Shortly after, my family also began attending church more regularly, and I started learning more about the Bible. I was thankful for the idea of salvation, but for many years my understanding remained shallow and unexamined
Later in life, I went through significant personal challenges, including divorce and difficulties at work, which led me into a deeper crisis of faith. I never stopped believing in God, but I began questioning how I understood Scripture and my relationship with Him. In 2014, while attending Bayfair Baptist Church, teaching on repentance and grace helped reshape my understanding of the gospel. I came to see more clearly that salvation is not something we contribute to, but something God freely gives through Christ alone. That realization led me to understand my complete need for Jesus—that I am fully dependent on His grace, and that good works flow from gratitude, not as a means of earning salvation.
A favourite Bible verse of mine is Proverbs 3 verses 5&6
Roberto
Deacon
Linda
I was born and raised in a Christian family, and loved the Lord for as long as I can remember. I wanted to please Him, but it wasn’t until my early teen years that I realized I could not use the faith of my parents as that basis of my relationship with Jesus. I needed to acknowledge Jesus as Lord of my own life and decided to profess my personal faith in Him by being baptised. Since that time God has been faithful in guiding and directing my path to serve Him. My husband Dale and I have been serving here in Uxbridge since 2007, and it is a privilege to continue to walk with our church family.
Linda
Deacon
Tamara
I was born in B.C. and raised in a small coal mining town of just 2500 people. I grew up attending church and had a growing faith in Jesus but struggled with the fact that there very few Christians my age and often felt alone and at odds with the culture of my peers.
I attended university in Lethbridge, Alberta for a number of years. During these years my faith had its ups and downs but God never gave up on me! In 2000 I moved to Waterloo, Ontario to pursue a Master’s of Fine Art (painting and sculpture). After graduation in 2002 I moved to Newmarket where I met my husband, Brett McKenney. That brought me to Brett’s home town of Uxbridge and to his church, Uxbridge Baptist. As a mother of two boys, Uxbridge Baptist Church has been a welcoming and wonderful place for our family to find fellowship, friends and a place for all of us to deepen our relationship with Jesus. It’s been wonderful to watch my two sons find their place here too, in the Youth Ministry team.
Currently I work locally as a part-time administrative assistant, occasionally paint in my home studio and contribute to the local Christian radio program Hope Today as the voice of its Hymn Stories segment. A favourite Bible verse of mine is Proverbs 3 verses 5&6
Tamara
Deacon
Bev
My faith journey began as a young girl growing up in Highland Creek–West Hill, where I was raised in a home shaped by my mother’s deep love for the Lord. Sundays were centered around church, and I clearly remember hearing the gospel in Sunday school and seeing a portrait of Jesus that made me certain, even then, that He was my Saviour. As I grew, I became actively involved in church life through youth group, choir, and ministry opportunities, but in my late teens, I began to drift. Drawn by curiosity and a desire for independence, I stepped away from my faith and followed my own path, eventually building a career in the travel industry that took me around the world. Though I never stopped believing in God, I left Him behind, and over time that path became difficult, lonely, and marked by both joys and deep losses.
After many years of trying to do life on my own, I faced a serious medical challenge that changed everything. In that moment of need, I cried out to God, and He answered with mercy, grace, and love. It was the beginning of both physical and spiritual healing, and a renewed journey of faith. During this season, I married, had a son and daughter, and moved to Uxbridge in 2002. Through the kindness of neighbors, my husband and I were invited to attend an Alpha course. There, I found a welcoming community where I could ask questions and be cared for without judgment. It was through Alpha that the Holy Spirit stirred my heart, and I recommitted my life to Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
Since then, my life has been one of ongoing transformation and restoration in Christ. I have come to deep faith in the power of prayer and God’s faithful presence in every season. Today, I am grateful to be part of the leadership team at Uxbridge Baptist Church, where I have the privilege of serving others and pointing people to Jesus. My desire is to live for His glory, sharing the love and grace that He so freely gave to me.A favourite Bible verse of mine is Proverbs 3 verses 5&6
Bev
Deacon
Bonita
Deacon
Our Leadership
Dale Dawson – Lead Pastor
Dale’s Story
I was raised in a loving Christian home in southwestern Ontario, where church was central to our lives. From a young age, I learned about the love and forgiveness of Jesus and committed my life to Him. I was baptized at twelve and began my journey of discipleship, though it was often challenging. In a small church with few Christian peers, I sometimes felt isolated in my faith, striving to live it out while wrestling with insecurity and a sense of being unprepared.
A turning point came near the end of high school when a group of vibrant Christian students from a Toronto Bible college visited my church. Their example and invitation led me to spend a year studying the Bible, an experience that deeply shaped my faith. There, I discovered a love for Scripture and the richness of Christian community, and I first sensed God’s call to ministry. Though I initially resisted, my university years further tested and strengthened my faith, deepening my conviction in the truth of God’s Word and the uniqueness of Christ. During this time, I also met my future wife, Linda, and gradually embraced a call to pastoral ministry.
Linda and I married and soon began life together in ministry. God has blessed us with four children, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren, and we have served in Baptist churches for over 35 years. Since 2007, I have had the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor at Uxbridge Baptist Church. Our years here have been marked by deep friendships, faithful, Bible-centered ministry, and a shared journey of seeking the Lord. Through it all, we give thanks to God for His enduring goodness and faithfulness in our lives.
Darren Kendall – Community Pastor
Darren’s Story
I grew up in a small town outside of Ottawa, attending church with my family from an early age. While I believed in God, I struggled to understand what a real relationship with Him looked like. My life began to split in two—on Sundays I played the part of a good Christian, but during the week I followed my friends and their influence. By high school, things felt out of control. After breaking my femur playing hockey, I fell into a deep depression. Yet in that season, despite my anger, I encountered God in a new way. In my weakness, I began to depend on His strength and came to know Him not just as someone I learned about, but as a loving Father who desired a relationship with me.
Around the same time, I attended Medeba’s Summer Leadership in Training program, where I was surrounded by a vibrant Christian community. There, I realized that God wanted my whole life, not just a part of it. At sixteen, I was baptized, committing everything to Him. The following summer, while serving as an assistant cabin leader, I met my future wife, Carina. We both continued serving at Medeba for five summers while I studied Biblical Studies and Theology at Tyndale University, focusing on Youth Ministry. We were married in 2014 and soon after moved to Welland, Ontario, where I began serving as a Youth and Young Adult Pastor.
Later, we moved to Michigan where I served as Summer Camp General Director at Michindoh Conference Center. Even through the challenges of COVID, we saw God at work as many young people gave their lives to Christ. During that time, I completed a Master’s degree in Leadership and Communication from Spring Arbor University. In 2023, Carina and I came to Uxbridge Baptist Church after our work visa ended, and we quickly felt at home in the community and its ministry. Today, we are grateful to serve together and are blessed with four children—Ryder, Lexi, Willa, and Braeya.
Phil Pharoah – Youth Pastor
Phil’s Story
I was born and raised in a Christian family in Guelph, my family was very involved in the local church, and it has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. Around the age of 5 my parents and I were discussing what it means to have a relationship with Jesus, and the value that comes from knowing him. I accepted Jesus into my life, and was baptized a few years later.
My family was involved in many ministries at the Church, and I slowly fell instep with them volunteering and trying to find the ministry I’d like to serve with. From tech to kids, I would use my gits to the best of my abilities, but always felt there was more I could do, and while these ministries were vital, and important I didn’t feel God was calling me to stay with them.
It wasn’t till grade 11 that my Youth Pastor asked if I’d work with him, and see how youth Ministry runs that I really hit my stride. Grades 6-8 became a place I could invest, and share all that God was doing in my life, I felt this was the place for me, and where I could serve God to the best of my abilities. I graduated Bible College, and am blessed to call UBC my Church to serve.
Brooke Weir – Children’s Director
Brooke’s Story
I grew up in Uxbridge all my life and was raised in a Christian household. As a young teenager I began to follow Jesus seriously with my life and continued to grow in my faith. Through the low moments and struggles that life brings I saw him drawing me closer to him and shaping my heart. In high school a friend invited me to UBC’s youth group. That invitation led to countless things that impacted my life substantially. I began to co-lead Kids dance and my family started attending UBC. I’m so grateful for the amazing family that we have at this church! Finishing highschool and taking a gap year, I felt God leading me into ministry. I graduated Bible college in 2024 and am so excited to be serving as the Kids Ministry Director here at UBC!
Adelle Lauchlan – Church Administrator
Meet Our
Keith’s Story
I was raised in a strict Irish Catholic home as the third of seven children, immersed in Catholic life through church and school. By my early teens, I found myself searching for an “off ramp.” At twenty-three, I emigrated to Canada, and a year later I was married. My wife came from an Anglican background, and after attending both traditions for a time, we settled in an Anglican church in Agincourt. There, I became involved in youth ministry and Sunday school teaching—roles I had little personal experience in at the time.
Everything changed at a youth retreat when a speaker asked a question I had never heard before: “Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?” In that moment, I recognized what had been missing in my faith. After more than three decades in church, I responded personally to Christ, and that became the turning point of my salvation. From there, my faith grew rapidly as I immersed myself in Scripture and Christian teaching, and my approach to ministry was transformed by a deep conviction in the authority of God’s Word.
As I began teaching directly from Scripture, I found myself increasingly at odds with Anglican perspectives, and once again sensed the need for an “off ramp.” In August 1995, our family came to Uxbridge Baptist Church, where we were immediately shaped by strong, biblical preaching. UBC became our spiritual home, and it was from there that I was called into pastoral ministry, serving in Newmarket for ten years before returning to UBC in 2019. Today, I serve on the Elders Board, grateful for God’s leading and faithfulness throughout the journey.
Keith
Ron’s Story
I was born and raised in a loving Christian home in a small town in southwestern Ontario. Church has always been a large part of my life. My family attended multiple times a week. It was at my mother’s knee that I learned about the love and forgiveness of Jesus and committed my life to him. At the age of twelve I was baptized in my local church and embarked on a life of discipleship.
After finishing High School I attended the Lay Leadership Training Course at the Baptist Training Institute in Brantford, where I met my wife, who was already a Registered Nurse. We married the following September, and I spent 3 years at Ryerson Polytechnical in the Architectural Technology Course. During those years we were members at Temple Baptist Church in Toronto and gave leadership to the Youth Group and Sunday School. Next came a move to the Uxbridge Area and ministry opportunities at UBC – Sunday School Teacher for Teens, Sunday School Superintendent, Adult leadership for the Youth Group, Deacons Board, and Building Committees for two additions to the UBC facility.
I thank God for a wonderful wife, who has used her gifting and commitment to Christ to walk with me in this journey of faith and service to Christ. In my bedroom, as a child, there was an old calendar hanging on the wall with the words “Only one life, Twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” I have experienced that and pray that I will seize the opportunities that He continues to give me during my lifetime.
Ron
Tim
Tim’s Story
I grew up in Ethiopia, East Africa. My parents were missionaries there for 15 (+/-) years. I went to a mission boarding school in Ethiopia for all my elementary school years plus 9th grade. It was in my 5-6th grade that I first professed to be a believer in Jesus, like many young people I would doubt my sincerity and recommit my life to the Lord several times after that.
It was in my High school years that I more fully understood that it was not about me but about what Jesus had done for me. Having said that my sense of resting in His work rather than my actions and words is something that I still continue to realize more and more. The rest of my high school years were in California in public and Christian schools.
Immediately after high school I volunteered to work in a refugee/ famine relief camp in Somalia, East Africa where the Lord also brought Dale, my now wife into my life. When I finished my time in Somalia I came up to Canada and Dale and I were married shortly after. We spent our first few years of Marriage doing various short term mission assignments.
Tim
Dale
Bill
Brett
Heather’s Story
I grew up in Goodwood. In my younger years my mom would gather up my brother, sister, and me on Sundays and head off to her family’s church about an hour away. Not having a local christian community, it became very easy to live a ‘church life’ on Sundays and not give Christianity much thought during the week. Eventually I stopped going to church. However, God had not let go of the youngster who had asked Jesus into her heart. In high school I met my future husband Dale who was not ashamed of his faith. Eventually I returned to attending church regularly with him at Goodwood Baptist Church. We married young and were blessed with a daughter and son. Our young family settled into faithful church attendance and serving in various ministries.
It was at Goodwood Baptist that I found myself one Sunday sitting front and centre during a sermon on baptism (very unusual for a tradition back-seat Baptist!). I could not ignore God asking how I could call myself a Christian but not take the next step and be baptized. And so I finally made my public declaration that Jesus had died but rose from the dead triumphant over my sin.
Over 20 years ago, we began attending Uxbridge Baptist because we believed it was important that our (then) teenage kids were a part of a church youth program with their high school peers. I am now in the grandparent years and with age comes the blessing of having lots of life to look back upon and acknowledge God’s presence, provision and protection. God’s not done working on me yet! I am still growing and maturing.
Heather
Jon’s Story
I have lived in Uxbridge for most of my life and have been attending UBC for over 30 years. I was involved in the youth group here and was baptized in 1997, and through those early years this church became a place where my faith was both formed and strengthened. UBC has had a lasting impact on my life, providing teaching, community, and examples of faithful service that have helped shape who I am today.
Now, as I serve in a leadership role, I see it as both a privilege and a responsibility to give back to the church that has invested so much in me. I want to be an encouragement to others, to lead with humility and integrity, and to glorify God in all that I do. My desire is to honor Him through faithful service, helping others grow in their faith, and to be part of spreading the name of Jesus as we live out the truth of the gospel together.
Jon
Adrian
Sydney’s Story
My testimony is a story of how the Lord has worked in my life through athletics and the church. I was raised in a family that loves Jesus, His people, and sports. Playing competitive hockey shaped much of my childhood and often kept me from regular church programs, but my family helped me prioritize my relationship with Christ. I accepted Jesus as my Saviour at a summer sports camp, though it wasn’t until high school that my faith truly became my own. A pivotal moment came during my junior hockey years when I was unexpectedly cut from a team I had been invited to captain. Though difficult, the Lord used that experience to deepen my trust in Him and strengthen my desire to boldly live out my faith. I was baptized the following summer before attending Liberty University, where I played varsity hockey and earned a degree in Exercise Science.
After graduating, I was accepted into a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program in New York but felt led to decline the offer. Returning home, I worked as a sport ministry intern with Scripture Union Canada and later as a physiotherapy assistant. During that season, I wrestled with a lack of peace and sensed God redirecting my path away from physiotherapy. In time, He made His calling clear, leading me back to Scripture Union, where I now serve full-time as a Sports Ministry Coordinator, helping connect children, youth, and families across Canada with Jesus through sport and the local church.
Throughout this journey, the Lord repeatedly brought Uxbridge Baptist Church into my life—first through sports camp ministry and later through the Haven Young Adults group. As I became more involved in the community and began serving in youth ministry, UBC increasingly felt like home. When the opportunity arose to move to Uxbridge in 2023, it was a natural step to fully plant myself in this church family, where I continue to grow, serve, and follow where God leads.
Sydney
Rhonda’s Story
Hi – I’ve been attending UBC with my parents since the early 1970’s. I have lived in Uxbridge all my life. I currently live with my family just outside of town, where my husband and family own and operate a small business. I have 3 adult children who have all attended school in Uxbridge and each one of then has been involved in many church programs at Uxbridge Baptist Church and various community programs and events.
I was baptized when I was 14, and became a church member then as well. I attended youth group here, was in leadership for that ministry, and made many lifetime friends! My leadership training has involved a year at Baptist Leadership Education Centre, and a 2 month overseas mission trip for light construction work and counselling.
I love to meet and serve people in many various ways, and UBC is a great place to do that! I am involved in a mid- week small group, which I love because it allows a deeper connection with people and a more in-depth look into God’s word and His promises. My faith and has grown because of the biblical teaching, love and support I have received from the collective church family at UBC, and I would love to pass that encouragement and friendship on to others
Rhonda
Brad’s Story
I grew up in the beautiful landscapes of Northern Ontario, raised by loving Christian parents who both modeled faith, service with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. The lessons learned from my early experiences formed my outlook and perception of the world while igniting my sense of curiosity. Involvement in our local church was always modeled and encouraged throughout the year. Many memorable summer sessions at Bible camp added vibrant chapters to my early life, and through Vacation Bible School, I made a confession of faith and embraced salvation at a young age.
I can trace God’s hand in my life as I met my eventual wife as a teen and later attended university, majoring in Computer and Mathematical Sciences. After graduating and marrying Maxine, we headed south after gaining employment in southern Ontario. Launching my career in IT, I quickly immersed myself in a rapidly evolving field. Over the years, I started and managed several IT companies, gaining not only hands-on technical experience but also honing my skills as an entrepreneur and business leader. Each challenge along the way expanded my understanding of how technology can be a tool for change.
My commitment to service extended beyond the world of business. I actively joined and served various local churches—first taking on service and leadership roles and later rising to the responsibilities of board member and board chair. Additionally, I contributed to the broader community by advising a camping missions organization during those formative years, merging my passion for technology, business and faith with a steadfast desire to enable Kingdom outreach. Throughout this journey, I have been privileged to share life with my wonderful wife, Maxine, as we raised our four children. Now rooted in the Uxbridge area, my family and I continue to serve at Uxbridge Baptist Church, witnessing the beautiful cycle of our children maturing into adults and the natural transition of our roles as we embrace the blessing of grandparenthood. Together, our story is one of constant growth and a continuing desire to serve and grow in God’s kingdom.
Brad
Brad
Marcia
Dave
Don’s Story
Hi, my name is Don Kennedy, and I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ. I grew up on a small dairy farm north of Leaskdale, Ontario, the youngest of four siblings. While we attended church regularly, our home didn’t fully reflect a Christian life early on. Over time, however, each member of my family came to faith—my mom when I was ten, my siblings through various influences, and my dad shortly before his passing in 1993. Despite being surrounded by believers and faithful prayers from my family, I spent my teenage years and early adulthood keeping God at a distance and living life on my own terms.
That path eventually led me into brokenness. At 23, after a broken engagement that made me realize I was heading in the wrong direction, God intervened in my life. In May of 1988, I committed my life to Jesus Christ—though in many ways, it felt like He rescued me from the life I was living. Just weeks later, I met my wife, Kathleen. We built a friendship over the next couple of years, and as God continued to shape my life and heart, we began dating and were married in 1992.
Since then, I have experienced the ongoing faithfulness of God in every season. He has lifted me up time and again, and I am deeply thankful for Kathleen and the blessing of raising our three children together. Over the years, I’ve worked as a firefighter, fire training officer, and school bus driver, while also staying involved in volunteer work. Today, I serve in worship leadership and as Chair of the Deacons Board at Uxbridge Baptist Church. I am grateful to be part of a church family committed to knowing God, loving others, and making Jesus known.
Don
Kevin’s Story
I began my journey with Uxbridge Baptist Church in 1979, when a friend invited me to join their family’s congregation. Even after that friend left due to the loss of both their parents, I continued to attend, finding solace and community within the church. It was during this time that I was encouraged by the Adult Leader to participate in the Young People’s group, which became a pivotal part of my spiritual growth. In July of 1980, I accepted Christ and was baptized, marking a significant transformation in my life. Over the years, I met my wife, Lisa, at the church, and we began dating in May 1989, eventually getting married at UBC on October 3, 1992. Together, we have raised two wonderful grown children. Throughout my time at UBC, I have served as a deacon for several years and have recently re-engaged with a small group, continuing to deepen my faith and connection with this cherished community.
Kevin
Lisa’s Story
I started attending UBC at the age of 12yrs through a friend bringing me to Pioneer Girls and youth group. The ministries I have been involved in are Pioneer Club, youth, young adults, and have led in Nursery, Junior church and kids connect.
I met my husband Kevin at church in May 1989 and we were married On October 3, 1992. We have been blessed with two children Brittany (Nate) and Trevor
We love being involved in small group. We enjoy encouraging, praying for and loving people and Serving as a deacon for a couple years.
A favourite Bible verse of mine is Proverbs 3 verses 5&6
Lisa
Bev’s Story
My faith journey began as a young girl growing up in Highland Creek–West Hill, where I was raised in a home shaped by my mother’s deep love for the Lord. Sundays were centered around church, and I clearly remember hearing the gospel in Sunday school and seeing a portrait of Jesus that made me certain, even then, that He was my Saviour. As I grew, I became actively involved in church life through youth group, choir, and ministry opportunities, but in my late teens, I began to drift. Drawn by curiosity and a desire for independence, I stepped away from my faith and followed my own path, eventually building a career in the travel industry that took me around the world. Though I never stopped believing in God, I left Him behind, and over time that path became difficult, lonely, and marked by both joys and deep losses.
After many years of trying to do life on my own, I faced a serious medical challenge that changed everything. In that moment of need, I cried out to God, and He answered with mercy, grace, and love. It was the beginning of both physical and spiritual healing, and a renewed journey of faith. During this season, I married, had a son and daughter, and moved to Uxbridge in 2002. Through the kindness of neighbors, my husband and I were invited to attend an Alpha course. There, I found a welcoming community where I could ask questions and be cared for without judgment. It was through Alpha that the Holy Spirit stirred my heart, and I recommitted my life to Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
Since then, my life has been one of ongoing transformation and restoration in Christ. I have come to deep faith in the power of prayer and God’s faithful presence in every season. Today, I am grateful to be part of the leadership team at Uxbridge Baptist Church, where I have the privilege of serving others and pointing people to Jesus. My desire is to live for His glory, sharing the love and grace that He so freely gave to me.
Bev
Tamara’s Story
I was born in B.C. and raised in a small coal mining town of just 2500 people. I grew up attending church and had a growing faith in Jesus but struggled with the fact that there very few Christians my age and often felt alone and at odds with the culture of my peers.
I attended university in Lethbridge, Alberta for a number of years. During these years my faith had its ups and downs but God never gave up on me! In 2000 I moved to Waterloo, Ontario to pursue a Master’s of Fine Art (painting and sculpture). After graduation in 2002 I moved to Newmarket where I met my husband, Brett McKenney. That brought me to Brett’s home town of Uxbridge and to his church, Uxbridge Baptist. As a mother of two boys, Uxbridge Baptist Church has been a welcoming and wonderful place for our family to find fellowship, friends and a place for all of us to deepen our relationship with Jesus. It’s been wonderful to watch my two sons find their place here too, in the Youth Ministry team.
Currently I work locally as a part-time administrative assistant, occasionally paint in my home studio and contribute to the local Christian radio program Hope Today as the voice of its Hymn Stories segment.
Tamara
Simon’s Story
I’ve been on team Jesus since the age of five, but like many, the distractions of the world began to pull me away during my high school years. What started as small compromises gradually turned into a season where I drifted from the faith I once held so closely. In my mid-twenties, I reached a point where I felt empty and unsettled, realizing that something essential was missing. I knew deep down that I needed to get right with God again, and by His grace, I turned back to Him and rededicated my life to Jesus.
That decision has shaped everything since. It hasn’t meant a perfect life, but it has meant a different direction and a deeper awareness of God’s presence. Even now, when I begin to stray or lose focus, I sense His relentless pursuit drawing me back. There’s a comfort and conviction in knowing that He doesn’t give up on me, but continues to call me back into relationship with Him, again and again.
I’ve experienced both sides—the pull of the world and the peace of walking with Christ—and I can say without hesitation that surrendering my life to Jesus is far more fulfilling than anything I’ve found apart from Him. He is my God, my Saviour, and my risen King. My desire is to lay my life at His feet, to serve Him faithfully, and to live in a way that reflects His grace, His truth, and His love.
Simon
Linda’s Story
I was born and raised in a Christian family, and loved the Lord for as long as I can remember. I wanted to please Him, but it wasn’t until my early teen years that I realized I could not use the faith of my parents as that basis of my relationship with Jesus. I needed to acknowledge Jesus as Lord of my own life and decided to profess my personal faith in Him by being baptised. Since that time God has been faithful in guiding and directing my path to serve Him. My husband Dale and I have been serving here in Uxbridge since 2007, and it is a privilege to continue to walk with our church family.
Linda
Roberto’s Story
I grew up in a traditional Mexican Catholic family where church was mostly part of special occasions like Christmas or family baptisms. Faith was present in our culture, but it was not something I had personally wrestled with or made my own.
That changed when my neighbours invited me to watch a movie about Heaven and Hell, and afterward encouraged me to pray a prayer of salvation. I repeated it, though at the time I didn’t fully understand what I was doing or what it meant. Shortly after, my family also began attending church more regularly, and I started learning more about the Bible. I was thankful for the idea of salvation, but for many years my understanding remained shallow and unexamined.
Later in life, I went through significant personal challenges, including divorce and difficulties at work, which led me into a deeper crisis of faith. I never stopped believing in God, but I began questioning how I understood Scripture and my relationship with Him. In 2014, while attending Bayfair Baptist Church, teaching on repentance and grace helped reshape my understanding of the gospel. I came to see more clearly that salvation is not something we contribute to, but something God freely gives through Christ alone. That realization led me to understand my complete need for Jesus—that I am fully dependent on His grace, and that good works flow from gratitude, not as a means of earning salvation.
Roberto