ELDERS & MINISTRY STAFF











Staff Elders

  • James Seward  

    Senior Pastor


    James Seward came to Maple Avenue in 2013 with a heart to allow God’s Word to transform the church and the community.


    James completed his undergraduate education at the University of Chicago, where he was also part of the founding core – and later a pastoral intern – at Holy Trinity Church. He went on to complete a master’s degree in Biblical Exegesis at Wheaton College where he also served on the pastoral staff at College Church under Kent Hughes. Prior to coming to Maple Avenue, James served for five years as the Associate Pastor of Education and Discipleship at First Baptist Church of Lindale, Texas. He has traveled to Vietnam to train pastors through Leadership Resources and also is a speaker at various Simeon Trust Workshops on Biblical Exposition

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    While James enjoys hearty competition, watching any sport but golf, and singing (which, he reminds people, isn’t dependent on skill); he most enjoys spending time with his wife, Karen and their five children: Charlie, Ann, Jonathan, Eva and Mercy. James and Karen share a heart for adoption, reaching at risk children, and exposing people to the life-changing power of God’s Word.


    CONTACT JAMES



  • Terry Laidlaw

    Associate Pastor


    Terry has always been in love with church. Being fourth generation on a family dairy farm, church was a constant in their lives. Three of those generations are still working together on their Brampton area farm and still very active in church life.


    It wasn’t until he was 28 years old though, that Terry fell in love with Jesus Christ. He is his Shepherd and Lord. He has cleansed him from much sin, guilt and shame. He, being the Word made flesh is my life, my all.


    Terry met an amazing young gal, beautifully named Barbara Grace Church who was on a similar spiritual journey. Married in 1985, they were baptized at MABC in the spring of 1986, alongside his father Gord, mother Rosemarie and brother Wayne. Terry immersed himself into the Christian teaching and culture at Maple Ave.


    In 2006 Terry accepted a call into pastoral ministry focusing on youth and seniors ministries. He enjoys contributing to the unity of our pastoral team and the oversight of our church family. His interests are reading, music and the movie classics.


    Terry & Barb have four sons ~ Tim, Matt, Peter and Seth ~ that continue to challenge their family spiritually and are also being blessed spiritually through the life of the church.


    CONTACT TERRY



  • yuta seki

    Associate Pastor of Youth


    Yuta Seki moved to Georgetown at the beginning of 2017 to serve on staff at Maple Avenue Baptist Church. In his role, Yuta primarily oversees and leads the junior and senior high ministries and is also involved in other pastoral work at the church. His passion is for students to understand and see the wonders of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the significance of God’s Word for their lives.

     

    Having been born into and raised in a non-Christian home, Yuta did not grow up attending church or hearing the gospel. While in his final year of high school, some friends invited Yuta out to their youth group, and it was through that ministry that Yuta encountered both the loving warmth of the Christians there and the saving message of Christ. Within a few months of attending that youth group, Yuta was radically saved, and his life has never been the same since.

     

    Yuta completed his undergraduate studies at Canadian Baptist College in Cochrane, Alberta, and received further training at the Master’s Seminary in Los Angeles, California. During that time, he served in various capacities, with youth ministry being a particular focus.

     

    Yuta is happily married to Alyssa, and they together have three wonderful sons, Noah, Luke, and Mark. He enjoys coffee, rugby, and books, in no particular order. 


    CONTACT YUTA

ministry staff

  • JENNA IBRAHIM

    Children's Ministry Director


    Jenna was born and raised in Georgetown, attending Maple Avenue for most of her life. Through serving at the church, she felt God leading her into children’s ministry. With a passion for the next generation, Jenna’s prayer is to see children grow to love Jesus and live for Him. She has a Bachelors degree in Child, Youth and Family Studies and a diploma in Early Childhood Education from the University of Guelph. Furthering her love of children and teaching, she graduated with a Bachelors degree in Education from Wilfrid Laurier University.  


    She is married to her wonderful husband, Benjamin, and together they have a daughter, Maya.  She enjoys learning, being outside in God’s creation, playing sports and tinkling the ivories every once in a while. Jenna is grateful to be a part of the MABC team and thoroughly enjoys working alongside people to serve the church and Halton Hills community.


    CONTACT JENNA



lay elders

Don Astill

Dave Chandu-Lall

Rick Dors

Stephen Jones

Jim McDonald (chair)

Tim Racinsky