Robert Cousins

Robert is presently Director of Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre. He is a graduate of Ontario Bible College (BTh) and Wheaton Graduate School (MA in Intercultural Studies). For 12 years, Robert and his wife Sheila served in theological education and leadership development with Africa lnland Mission (AIM) in Kenya and Tanzania. Robert served as personnel director of AIM (Canada) for 5 years and was seconded from AIM to MissionPrep, an inter-mission cross-cultural training partnership, where he served as Director for 8 years. Robert is presently Director of Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre (TIM Centre) seeking to engage and encourage multicultural leaders in global missions. Robert is adjunct professor at Tyndale Seminary, a facilitator for MissionPREP, Perspectives and The School for Urban Biblical Studies (SUBS).

Dr. Ruth Cassidy

Ruth Cassidy is coordinator of the refugee focus for Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre’s Diaspora Initiative. Born in Toronto, she spent her early years in Jamaica with pioneering missionary parents Don and Dorothy Bainard. Returning home, she attended elementary and high school in Toronto and studied at Ontario Bible College (now Tyndale University College and Seminary) and York University. After a career of banking, she settled down as a full-time mother and support to her husband Brian in his banking career. During this time, the family made several moves living in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Washington, DC. Ruth has served in church and mission organizations as a teacher, circuit speaker, leader, worker and host. Returning to Tyndale Seminary, she graduated in 2003 with a Master of Theological Studies. She served on the board of Matthew House Refugee Reception Services Toronto for six years and helped found Micah House in Hamilton—a shelter for refugee claimants based on the Matthew House model. She began studies at Fuller School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary in 2004 and graduated in 2009 with a Doctor of Intercultural Studies. Her dissertation entitled Refugee Stories: Seeing God in the Journey, Identity and Mission, researches Christian refugees living in Canada who are missional.

Dr. Mark Chapman

Mark Chapman, PhD is Assistant Professor of Research Methods in the Doctor of Ministry Program ant Tyndale University College and Seminary. Mark has wide experience in social science research and teaching at the graduate level. He has worked as Director of Extension Education and Assistant Professor of Christianity & Culture at Ambrose University College and sessional lecturer at Wilfrid Laurier University, McMaster University and the University of Toronto. His current research examines networks among Canadians who are trying to start new churches, the relationship between evangelical churches and visual art and artists and interaction between Christian churches. His other involvements include, serving as membership secretary for the Canadian Society for the Study of Religion (2003-2009), project management for the Christian and Missionary Alliance and an active role as lay leader at Hazelglen Alliance Church in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Emily Fish

Emily Fish is the Administrative Assistant at the TIM Centre. Emily did her undergraduate degree at Brock University in Communications: Media & Culture with a minor in Professional Writing. Emily is currently studying at Tyndale University, College & Seminary where she is in her third year of the Master of Divinity program with a focus on Clinical Counselling. Emily is also the President of the Seminary Student Council and a teaching assistant at Tyndale.



 

Ivana Piscione

Ivana Piscione was born in Caracas, Venezuela. An immigrant to Canada she attended Humber College and York University. Ivana pursued a career in Information Technology until she married and started a family.  She has served with the Salvation Army helping newcomers to Canada settle and integrate into the Canadian culture and community, as part of the Community Council member for the Peel Shelters and as Director of Outreach and Multiculturalism at her local church.  For three years Ivana acted as Chair of the Salvation Army Ontario-East Central Division Intercultural Peer Gathering Network. In all her work she has been mentoring newcomers and walking with them through the challenges of adapting to a new country (e.g., language difficulties, family dynamics, job search, spiritual growth, discipleship). Ivana is Coordinator of Intercultural Ministries at the TIM center.

Dr. Wafik Wahba

Dr. Wafik Wahba [ThM, Princeton; PhD, Northwestern University] is Associate Professor of Global Christianity at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Wahba taught Theology, Global Christianity, Cultural Contextualization and Islam in the USA, Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and South America. An ordained minister of word and sacraments in the Presbyterian Church USA, Dr. Wahba pastored Churches in Chicago, IL and Toronto, Canada. Dr. Wahba wrote several books and articles including his contributions to The Future of Reformed Theology [Eerdmans, 1999], Repentance in Christian Theology, [Liturgical Press, 2006]. He is currently writing a book under the title, “Christianity and Islam: Global Perspectives.” Dr. Wahba co-led the unit on “Theological Education for Mission” at the 2004 Forum of Lausanne Committee in Pattaya, Thailand and he is one of the authors of “Effective Theological Education for World Evangelization”, Lausanne Occasional Paper No. 57, (May 2005). He is also an active participate in the Evangelical-Muslim dialogue. Dr. Wahba serves on the Board of Directors for several International Christian Organizations. Dr. Wahba presents on Christian TV programs: “Light for all Nations”, and “Let there be Light” Broadcast weekly in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East on LIFE satellite channel with over 250,000 weekly viewers.