Charles Hermelink

Charles Hermelink serves as the Onboarding and Development Specialist for Mission Canada's new and current worker base. He also serves as Coordinator for both the Mission Canada Cultural Language Group (the domestic cross-cultural ministries network for the PAOC) and the Neighbours & Newcomers Network (NNNetwork). The focus of the PAOC's NNNetwork is to mobilize new workers and strategically see them positioned to reach newcomers to Canada, refugees, and those with various cultural backgrounds and worldviews. With more than 401,000 new permanent residents welcomed in Canada in 2021 (surpassing all years since 1913), Charles is about helping identify and equip new workers who will reach those far from Christ and seeing local churches strengthened in their cross-cultural ministries.

"I love seeing new workers both humbled and excited as God provides and builds their support teams, as much as I love seeing people of other worldviews in the moment the Spirit opens their eyes to the truth of Jesus and His love. There is nothing else like these joys!"

Charles' ministry years have taken him and his family to Asia, including having served as a global worker with the PAOC with the CMO from 2007 to 2009 and in Southeast Asia from 2009 to 2012. His most recent pastoral role was serving as Lead Pastor of Danforth Community Church in the very multicultural setting of East Toronto.

Presently, Charles and his wife Conny, live in the lovely Niagara region of Southern Ontario. They've resided in three countries, two continents and both hemispheres selectively amidst fourteen mailing address and residences. They've travelled to dozens and dozens of countries on all but to of the world's continents, enjoying the world's cuisines, languages, customs, arts, and artifacts. Now in Niagara, they are enjoying reading, gardening, renovating, dog walking, hiking, motorcycling, neighbouring, and - in their newest adventure - grandparenting. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Three Fun Things Charles Likes About Canada: 

• God’s beautiful creation spread from sea to sea to sea, and the diversity of God's creation of peoples, who've come to make their homes, too, in Canada.
• Cultures and cuisines from around the world available in Canada. After living in Southeast Asia, he's happy that bugs and dog meat are not delicacies in Canada.
• The freedom of liberty, thought, expression and belief, and the responsibility to defend those freedoms for all, now and for future generations, while sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.