About Us
OUR MISSION
Connecting Streams equips and mobilizes the Church to help society’s vulnerable populations know Jesus and experience His power to change the world. Through partnerships and teams, we build trusting relationships that foster faith and hope.
OUR VISION
The Church and society’s vulnerable populations transformed together by Jesus.
A Brief History of Connecting Streams
In October 2006, under the leadership of then National Director Donna Mitchell, Connecting Streams joined the Power to Change family of ministries. Since its inception, God's call on Connecting Streams has been to connect the Church with people in the vulnerable populations of our society for life transformation through the work of Jesus. We have witnessed that God uses the outreach experience to revive and transform the lives of both our volunteers and those they reach out to. Connecting Streams' first outreach ministry began in an Alberta prison, and we have since fostered partnerships across Canada with communities, churches, institutions, and other agencies to provide volunteer outreach opportunities.
Donna Mitchell
Our Core Values
LOVE
Love is patient and kind. Love is not envious, boastful, proud, rude, and irritable or demands its own way. Love keeps no record of wrongs; it mourns injustice and rejoices in truth. Love never gives up or loses faith; it is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13 | Matthew 22:36-40 | Luke 10:25-37
PRAYER
We will consistently, faithfully and fervently pray about all things lifting up all our praises and petitions to our Almighty Father seeking His will, guidance and direction.
Luke 18:1 | 1 Thessalonians 5:17
TEAMWORK
We encourage and model open, honest communication confronting incongruent matters in truth and love. We strive for shared leadership and cohesive, rewarding teamwork. We will respect confidentiality and deter gossip.
2 Timothy 2:23-25 | Proverbs 25:11 | Ephesians 4:29 | Proverbs 11:13
EMPOWERMENT
We will empower men and women to thrive in their own walk and ministry, giving them the guidance and tools they need to reach their sphere of influence.
Ephesians 4:11-16
SERVANTS
We come with a servant heart, to faithfully and consistently serve everyone we connect with for God’s ultimate glory. Our hearts are surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:5-7 | John 13:12-17
HONESTY & RESPECT
In all our dealings we will be truthful and follow through with what we say we will do. We consistently strive to be above reproach. We follow the example of Jesus Christ to treat everyone with dignity, compassion and respect. We believe all people are valued and loved. We maintain a non-judgmental attitude.
Philippians 4:8 | Luke 8:15 | Romans 12:17 | Proverbs 11:1&3 | Matthew 15:32 | Luke 7:13 | Matthew 7:1-5
FAITH
Under the guidance, direction, and power of the Holy Spirit we desire to be bold risk takers in order to share Jesus Christ with people. We step out in faith believing God’s word and that He will equip us with courage and everything we need to accomplish this.
Acts 1:8 | 2 Timothy 1:6-8
Our Staff
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Theresa Quann
National Director
Don Heron
National Addiction Recovery Stream Leader & National Prison Stream Leader
Daniel Byrne
Ottawa City Leader
Linda Rochow
Staff Engagement Coordinator
Kathy Morales
National Widow to Widow (W2W) Stream Leader
Jolene Wiens
National Intercultural Stream Leader
Ian Habinski
National Long-Term Care & Seniors Stream Leader
Richard Ojala
National Stream Leader - Prison, Addiction Recovery, Inner City
MINISTRY SERVICES TEAM:OPERATIONS & PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Darlene Rowlandson
Executive Assistant to the National Director
Linda Rochow
Staff Engagement Coordinator
Steph Mayhew
Social Media & Website Coordinator
Chris Logan
Operations Project Manager
Hobbe Smit
National Volunteer Coordinator
Elizabeth Hoffmann
National Church Onboarding Coach
NATIONAL STREAM LEADERS
Don Heron
National Addiction Recovery Stream Leader & National Prison Stream Leader
Richard Ojala
National Stream Leader - Prison, Addiction Recovery, Inner City
Kathy Morales
National Widow to Widow (W2W) Stream Leader
Jolene Wiens
National Intercultural Stream Leader
Ian Habinski
National Long-Term Care & Seniors Stream Leader
OTTAWA CITY TEAM
Daniel Byrne
City Leader
Kevin Schafer
National Capital Region Inner City Leader
Rebecca Longman
City Admin & Volunteer Coordinator
Anne McGregor
Long-Term Care & Seniors City Stream Leader
Howard Ngan
City Prayer Igniter
EDMONTON CITY TEAM
Terri Jeske
Prison & Addiction Recovery City Stream Leader
Margaret Johnston
Prison City Stream Leader
Orlow & Carrielynn Lund
Long-Term Care & Seniors City Stream Leaders
Jolene Wiens
Intercultural City Stream Leader
Clinton Bezan
Edmonton Stream Assistant Leader for Long-Term Care & Seniors
ADDICTION RECOVERY (ARM) TEAM
Don Heron
National Addiction Recovery Stream Leader & National Prison Stream Leader
Richard Ojala
National Stream Leader - Prison, Addiction Recovery, Inner City
Linda Driediger
Lower Mainland Addiction Recovery Stream Coordinator
Shelly Griffiths
Lower Mainland Addiction Recovery Stream Leader
Terri Jeske
Prison & Addiction Recovery City Stream Leader
INNER CITY STREAM TEAM
Don Heron
National Addiction Recovery Stream Leader & National Prison Stream Leader
Richard Ojala
National Stream Leader - Prison, Addiction Recovery, Inner City
Kevin Schafer
National Capital Region Inner City Leader
INTERCULTURAL STREAM TEAM
Jolene Wiens
National Intercultural Stream Leader
Sharon Pachal
Intercultural Stream Resources Coordinator
Monica Williams
National Intercultural Stream Groups Coordinator
Jeneanne Ohlhauser
Atlantic Regional Intercultural Ministry Leader
Marcia Pong
Intercultural Chinese Church Liaison
Hanna Lee
IC Resource Developer - Pilot Lead
LONG-TERM CARE & SENIORS TEAM
Hobbe Smit
Hamilton Long-Term Care & Inner City Team Leader
Clinton Bezan
Edmonton Stream Assistant Leader for Long-Term Care & Seniors
Ian Habinski
National Long-Term Care & Seniors Stream Leader
Ping Chee
Toronto & Area Long-Term Care & Seniors Stream Leader
Guenter Kastler
National Long-Term Care & Seniors - Operations Team Leader
Orlow & Carrielynn Lund
Long-Term Care & Seniors City Stream Leaders
Anne McGregor
Long-Term Care & Seniors City Stream Leader
PRISON TEAM
Don Heron
National Addiction Recovery Stream Leader & National Prison Stream Leader
Richard Ojala
National Stream Leader - Prison, Addiction Recovery, Inner City
Terri Jeske
Prison & Addiction Recovery City Stream Leader
Margaret Johnston
Prison City Stream Leader
WIDOW TO WIDOW (W2W) TEAM
Kathy Morales
National Widow to Widow(W2W) Stream Leader
Mary Lou Ng
National Widow to Widow - Mission & Ministry Coordinator
Healing Hearts, Building Bridges: Our Ministry
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
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