Jackson moved to Hamilton 7 years ago to pursue a PhD in New Testament studies at McMaster Divinity College and has been in love with the city ever since! He is currently serving as the Interim Lead Pastor at Philpott Church. Most days Jackson can be found hanging out in the downtown core, working on his dissertation or next sermon at the library, or hiking on the Bruce Trail with his wife Erin and dog Ziggy.

Jess chose Hamilton as home in 2003 — having grown up on the West Mountain and gradually moving East and then down to the Crown Point neighbourhood that’s been home for just over 20 years.  Jess indwells the New Hope Church community and also works as the Regional Director for Indwell’s Hamilton and Peel regions. Along with her partner Tim and teens Caleb, Nella and Aleah, Jess enjoys long walks — up and down the escarpment along the Bruce Trail, or on a portage while canoeing, or maybe out to visit her beehives. 

Anne teGrotenhuis is a born and raised Hamiltonian who has been the worship and music coordinator at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church on Mohawk Road since 2004 (with a maternity leave thrown in there).  She has been teaching piano lessons since 1997 and loves to bring people together to make music, especially with brothers and sisters in Christ in TrueCity.  She and her amazing husband Ken are parents to two wonderful teenagers, who enjoy camping and gardening.

Leo Bogle is a creative communicator, musician, and faith-driven speaker who is passionate about personal growth, reflection, and purposeful living. His message centers on aligning one’s gifts with faith, embracing the journey of self-development, and walking boldly in God-given potential. A devoted husband and father, Leo believes that faith and family are the foundation of a meaningful life. He brings a thoughtful, introspective perspective that encourages others to slow down, reflect, and move forward with intention rather than fear.

A graduate of Wycliffe College and the Toronto School of Theology, Dr. Michael Knowles was Assistant Director of the Wycliffe College Institute of Evangelism between 1991 and 1997, then until retirement in 2024 held the George Franklin Hurlburt Chair of Preaching at McMaster Divinity College. His research and teaching interests include homiletics, worship, and biblical interpretation, focussing in particular on the theological foundations of the church’s mission and ministry. He lives in Ancaster, has two adult children, and is ordained in the Anglican Church of Canada. In retirement, his goal is to explore the world by bicycle (preferably in warmer climates).

Maggie John is currently the Executive Director of The Baby Depot, a charity that each year provides hundreds of babies with a year’s worth of free clothing and baby essentials to Hamilton’s most vulnerable children. Most recently, Maggie was the host of the radio show Toronto This Weekend and has previously worked as a TV host and producer for the past 21 years. She is currently the host of the podcast HERE with Maggie John, a show about life stories and lessons learned, and Promise Me One Thing- a daily podcast reminder of God’s promises. Maggie lives in Hamilton and is the proud mother of two boys.

Diane and her family moved to Hamilton in 2011. She later joined the Greater Ontario House of Prayer where she served on their leadership team. She is a Spiritual Director and also serves on 24-7 Prayer Canada team as the OMS regional co-ordinator. Diane is married to Widmark Albert and together they have two adult children and four grandchildren. She is an avid gardener.

Miki moved from Toronto with her husband Don in 1979 and joined St. Cuthbert's.  In 1988, they took a sabbatical and attended Heritage Baptist, Chedoke Presbyterian, and Little Bethel, until they felt called to return to St. C's during Lent in 1995.  Miki has been a psychotherapist/social worker for close to 50 years. She has 2 grown children and 1 delightful grandson, Saul.  She enjoys her work, writing liturgy, singing in the choir, dancing when no one is looking, and doing a horrible job at learning to play the ukelele.

Michael grew up among the rolling agricultural hills of Brant County. He was ordained as a minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church in 1993, serving congregations in the small towns of Blenheim and Frankford, before moving to Hamilton to serve Immanuel in 2019. He ministered as a solo pastor most of his ministry years, except the six delightful years as a co-pastor alongside Anthony Elenbaas. Having parented four children into adulthood, he and Helena now enjoy a slightly more relaxed life in the Buchanan neighbourhood on the Hamilton mountain.

Adrian is Ganosono (Deer Lodge), Turtle Clan, Cayuga Nation, Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Grand River Country in Southern Ontario, Turtle Island. He founded an Indigenous church on his home reserve.  For 47 years he has trained Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in spiritual and social service in various venues throughout the United States and Canada. He serves as Elder Liaison for the NAIITS Elders Circle and is Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation for the Christian Reformed Church in North America in Canada. Adrian is a single father of five and grandfather of four. A storyteller and artist at heart he writes poetry and poetic prose about passionate matters of Indigenous justice and the vicissitudes of life. Public speaking has taken him to collaborations with Indigenous and decolonizing communities in Canada, the United States and globally.

Originally from Northern Nigeria in West Africa, Esther moved to Hamilton from Vancouver in 2022. She attends St. Patrick’s Catholic Church downtown Hamilton. She volunteers at De Mazenod Door Outreach to the marginalized in the community. She is a proud mother to her only son, Jedidiah. She has a background in Counselling Psychology, with a specialty in Marriage and Family Counselling from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa. She works with Open Homes as a Kinship Circle Leader. Hospitality is her passion. She loves to cook, make new friends and welcome newcomers to the Open Homes community.

Gloria moved to Hamilton just over two years ago having felt called - no, magnetically pulled - here by God. Her goal is to practice intentional neighbouring and community living, something she's learning a lot about at New Hope Church where she attends. She enjoys the privilege of practicing hospitality - making people feel welcome and seen - at her job as cashier at Denningers downtown. Elsewise, she enjoys words - reading them, writing them, compiling lists of unusual ones, and day-dreaming about making art with them.

Curtis was born and raised in Hamilton and has been attending little Bethel Community Church since he was 3 years old. Now he is Chair Deacon at Little Bethel and he used to volunteer as the youth pastor for 10 years. He also volunteers at Oneida Baptist Camp and started a new Family Camp for families with complex needs. In his spare time he enjoys traveling to Vancouver to go whale watching and watching movies or TV shows with friends and family.