Guelph Bible Chapel is ultimately led by Jesus Christ, the great Head of The Church, through submission to His Word and through His working and guidance via His Holy Spirit. Under Christ, God gifts local churches with qualified men to lead and build them up (Eph. 4:11-12). GBC is led by a plurality of elders.
Our Pastor
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Dan serves as lead pastor of Guelph Bible Chapel. He was born in a former Portuguese colony in India, and moved to Brazil at three where he spent much of his childhood. He first heard the gospel at twelve, and was overwhelmed by God’s goodness and grace. He embarked then on the journey of following Jesus, and was formed in churches that instilled in him a deep love and trust for Scripture. Dan moved to Canada in his late teens.
In his mid-20’s the Lord used the writings of John Piper to call Dan to labour among the unreached in Africa. It was there he met his bride, Lindsay, who served under the same calling. Dan and Lindsay and their four children served in East and North Africa until 2018, when the Lord brought them back to Canada through a family medical crisis. |
In the Lord’s Providence, the season that followed was one of healing and equipping through Heritage Seminary, from where Dan received a Master of Divinity degree. He was called to serve Guelph Bible Chapel as its pastor in 2023, as well as a member of the elder's board. Dan is passionate about God’s Word, discipleship, prayer, and the gospel's spread among the nations. He's eager to see Christ's church grow into faithful and fruitful maturity through the empowering of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God. A particularly meaningful verse in Dan’s journey of discipleship is John 6:37: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (ESV)
Our Elders
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Dan Chapman
Dan has been attending GBC for his entire life and currently serves as the chairman of our elder team. He came to faith in Christ at a young age through the Godly influence of his parents and is grateful for the many people at GBC who have taught, mentored and invested in him over the years. He is gifted at administration and cares deeply about the members and ministries of GBC. He serves with the music teams and leads the OASIS day camp in addition to his other responsibilities. He enjoys walking and talking with friends and family, and cheers for the Guelph Storm and Guelph Royals in his spare time. One of his favourite Bible passages is, "be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong; let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). |
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Ken Tamminga
Ken serves as an elder at GBC as well as ministry leader over the tech teams and the missions committee. Ken has a passion for serving the church of today while staying true to the doctrines of Scripture. He is husband to Rebekah and together they have two young children with two more on the way. A meaningful verse for Ken has been Hebrews 12:1-3, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a could of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." |
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Patrick Thornton
Patrick has been attending GBC since 2006. He came to faith in Christ earlier in his life in Gatineau, Québec. He loves teaching from the Bible and connecting with other guys at GBC to pray and journey together. He tries to keep in shape through swimming, running, going to the gym, and playing the occasional soccer game. He feels incredibly blessed to be married to Andrea and they have an energetic boy named Caleb. A passage that has great significance to him is 1 Peter 1:3-5, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." |
Our Staff
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Jamie Iles, Worship Director
Jamie has been serving as part-time music director at GBC since summer 2023. He has a passion for leading the fellowship of God's people in joyful singing and proclamation of God's praise with all their hearts and minds. He is husband to Emily Iles and together they have two beautiful daughters, with another child on the way. Jamie completed the Bachelor of Church Music program at Heritage College and has been active in teaching in the music program ever since. When not practicing piano or wrestling with his kids, Jamie enjoys keeping active whether going for a run, working in the yard, or working on house projects. |
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Andrea Thornton, Administrative Coordinator
Andrea has been attending Guelph Bible Chapel since 2017 and joined the staff in August 2023. She and her husband Patrick have a son and enjoy hosting gatherings at their home over dinner and BBQs. Her desire is to share the love of Jesus with our community - particularly in the Junction Neighbourhood, where GBC is blessed to be located in. |
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Sharon Schneider, Custodian
Sharon has been attending Guelph Bible Chapel since summer 1994. She has been on staff since 2006 after being trained by the former custodian Ellie Bowman (Sherman-Hess). Sharon also has a professional cleaning service in which she travels to client's homes. She has a passion for children's ministry and was involved in the Awana program as cubbies and sparks leader in the past at GBC. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys singing many styles of music including worship songs from the previous Sunday service. She loves to see a space that was once dusty and neglected become tidy and clean, this is her way of serving the Lord using her skills and her eye for detail. |