Glad Tidings has a great history of wonderful Pastors who have guided this assembly through many years of care and spiritual enrichment.  At this present time we are in a period of transition.  Our Pulpit Search Committee is in the process of looking for a new Pastor.  Meanwhile, however, very little at Glad Tidings has slowed down as ministry continues -- and even thrives.

Pastor Craig Pitts is serving as our “Transition Pastor”.   This may continue for many months, but whenever our new leader is finally in place we know we'll have to bid farewell to Pastor Craig & his wife Dorothy. 

CRAIG was raised in a Christian home of 6 children who were all led to the Lord very early in life by their Mother.  Craig was called to the ministry when he was only four years old, and can still recall vividly the details of that remarkable day of decision.

DOROTHY’s mother died giving birth to her, and a saintly aunt and uncle took her into their humble country home and raised her as their only child.

Craig & Dorothy met while they were attending Eastern Pentecostal Bible College and were married after graduating in 1970.  Since then their ministry together has been a story of God’s incredible faithfulness and guidance.  Besides speaking at camps and conferences throughout the years, Craig has pastored in both the east and west of Canada as well as the Northwest Territories.

Within months after the collapse of the Soviet Union, while pastoring in Chatham, Ontario, Craig had the joy of traveling to the “iron curtain” countries to teach pastors and church leaders who were hungry to understand the Bible more fully.  For sixteen years Craig and Dorothy ministered in various countries of Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia opening Bible Training Centers and mentoring young men and women who have since become key church leaders.

For five of those years Craig and Dorothy left Canada to live in Eastern Europe where Craig served as the Eurasia Regional Director of Missions for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.  When they returned to Canada they spent the next six years on the pastoral staff of Mapleview Community Church in Barrie, Ontario.

Craig is a pastor at heart, and Dorothy readily admits that she is called as a pastor’s wife.  Their love for people, sense of humour, musical ability, cross-cultural world view, and open heart and home have led them through years of joyful ministry.  They continue to connect with many groups and leaders at home and around the world as Bible teachers and mentors. 

Craig has no doubt that his main calling in life is to be a pastor-teacher, opening the Bible and helping people to take joy in gaining fresh insights into the Word of God.  He has written countless notes and study guides and has taken a special interest in end-time prophecy.  Craig has also published a small book “Eternal Ink” which is a poetic account of an actual dream he had.

Although dealing with Parkinson's disease, Dorothy has a positive, motherly outlook on life and takes untold delight in letting people know that Jesus loves them.  She is a giver with a heart of compassion and mercy, especially for seniors.

In the mid 1990’s while living and working in the former Soviet Union, Dorothy was saddened and deeply moved with great compassion for the many elderly people that were lonely, neglected and often begging on the streets.  She began from her own pocket to do what she could to help, often stuffing some money into her “mercy glove” to give to these precious seniors she met along the way.

As others heard of what Dorothy was doing they began to rally behind her, and to this day her Mercy Ministry continues to reach needy seniors overseas.  Dorothy’s theme is found in Proverbs 19:17 “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.”

After being in the full time ministry for over four decades, it is a great joy for Craig & Dorothy to come to a stage in their lives where they can offer themselves to be a blessing to the family of God wherever there is a need or an opening to be of short term service in churches that are in transition, looking for their next Pastor.

Their continued heart’s desire is to serve, to be a blessing, to mentor, to encourage and to inspire others to love Jesus even more.

Kevin and Linda Joy bring a varied and diverse background of experiences, life skills, and giftings to their role as pastors at Glad Tidings.

They have a similar story in that…although they both…

• were raised in a godly, Christian home;
• invited Jesus into their heart at an early age; and
• were actively involved in their church;

they came to a place where they became intentional disciples of Jesus Christ.

Kevin’s Testimony:

Kevin served for over 20 years on The City of Greater Sudbury Police Service and has also worked as an Instructor at Ontario Police College and a Safety Supervisor for a major construction company. 

During his tenure as a Police Officer, Kevin served as one of the founding members of the Elgin Street Mission and the Sudbury Pregnancy Care Centre.  In addition, Kevin completed the required amount of Bible College Courses that enabled him to enter ministry for the first time in 1999.

One of Kevin’s favorite verses... Ephesians 4:11-13... And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 

Linda Joy’s Testimony: 

Linda Joy has ministered in a variety of positions which includes; Administrative Assistant in three churches, as well as a Bible College, and serving on the Board of Directors of an International Ministry.

She will quickly direct you to stand on Scripture, and in faith, totally believe God for the impossible, during each season of your life.  You will find a listening ear and a compassionate and non-judgmental heart as she has “painfully” earned her “credentials” to minister to those who are;

• walking through the grieving process… as she has experienced the death of a son, parents, and a brother diagnosed with a debilitating illness;
• making their way back to God, with a truly repentant heart, after failing miserably;
• adjusting to a sudden decrease in finances due to an unforeseen job loss; and
• suffering from “fear and anxiety” due to generational and past life traumas.

A passage of Scripture which has brought comfort to Linda Joy’s heart is… Jeremiah 29:11-14a… “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart, I will be found by you,” declares the LORD,”

Kevin and Linda Joy will both attest to the fact that although the enemy has meant to bring them harm and destruction, they have watched as God has miraculously turned devastating situations around and brought renewed hope and healing to their lives, and honor and glory to the LORD.

They have a testimony only because of the faithfulness of God!  They encourage you to place your life in God’s hands, in total trust that... Philippians 1:6... being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  

Kevin and Linda Joy share a common passion to see the lost saved and to assist people in discovering their identity in Christ, and achieve their God-given destiny through relational discipling.  They strongly believe through building relationships, mentoring, and teaching, this will provide people with belonging, hope, healing, purpose, and freedom.   

They have four adult children and truly thank God for each of their lives.

Andrea joined the staff of Glad Tidings Tabernacle in February 2008, after moving back to Canada from living in the United States for 14 years. Born and raised in Canada, Andrea was called to full-time music ministry and moved to pursue the calling on her life when she was 18 years old. Prior to moving to Sudbury, Andrea taught high school music and psychology in Springfield, Missouri and Memphis, Tennessee. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from Evangel University, and her Masters in Guidance and Counseling from Missouri State University.

Here at Glad, Andrea serves as the Worship and Student Ministries Pastor, which includes: Fusion 6.8 (Jr.High), Fusion 9.12 (Sr.High), "The Gathering" (Young Adults), and Sunday Worship Service. Andrea desires to see students reach their full potential as followers of Christ. She is passionate about the next generation and training them to be "Intentional Worshippers".

 Inspirational Quotes:

• Every good leader on a successful team is made to look better than we really are.  Good to remember before you go it alone! - Brian Houston
• When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree.  "I'll turn things around for you.  I'll bring you back from all the countries which I drove you".  God's Decree.  "Bring you come to the place from which I sent you off into exile.  You can count on it." - Jeremiah 29:13 (Message)

Music Playlist:

• I will exalt You by: Brooke Ligertwood
• Dance with me by: Chris DuPre (recorded by Jesus Culture)
• Yaweh by: Reuben Morgan
• You Won't Relent by: Misty Edwards

 Currently Reading:

• Extravagant Worship by: Darlene Zschech
• Isolating Insecurity by: Paul deJong
• Do Hard Things by: Alex and Brett Harris 

 Hello! Welcome to Glad Tidings.  My name is Janice Scruton and I am currently the Family Ministry's Director.  I over see the Children's Ministries, Sunday Electives for adults, Sunday cafe, BG club, Day camp and provide leadership to SonRise Preschool as well as Sudbury Christian Academy.   I have been a staff member at Glad for 8 years.  It is a priviledge to work with such a wonderful team of people who love and serve God with all their hearts!! 

Our church feels it is a priority to reach out and come along side of families and that is why Glad Tidings has ministries for every member of your family.  On Sundays our nursery provides care for infants 2 and under, we have a wonderful class for 3 year olds and a preschool class designed for those who are 4 and 5.  Kids Church is held in our chapel for children ages 6 through 12 and our "servants in training" program is for students in Junior High and teaches them to serve in whatever giftings God has given them. 

Check out the powerful and Christ centered Adult Educational Electives, which are available for adults on Sundays from 11:30 am to 12:15pm.  These classes are held in a small group setting and will enable you to develop and strengthen your walk with Christ.

We offer BG club on Tuesday evenings, Divorce Care for Kids on Thursday evenings, and run a fun and exciting Day Camp during March break and a 6 week period in the summer. 

My favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." 

Hi there, my name is Sherri Glass. I have been on staff  part time at Glad Tidings since September of 2007. I have been blessed with a husband who has not only been my partner in life but also my partner in ministry. We have been married 17 years and are raising three great kids of our own.In our 17 years together we have been called to serve with children in many different capacities including BG Clubs, Sunday School, Bus Ministry, Kids Church and reaching out to our community. Prior to God calling me to work here at Glad Tidings I worked for 20 years at the St. Joseph Health Care Center as an RPN on the 3rd floor. For the last five years my postition was doing Hearing Screening testing on newborns. As much as I really loved my job at the hospital, God had other plans.

Both Stuart and I have been raised in Christian homes and have a strong desire to pass our faith down to our own children. We understand the difficulties in raising our children in a world that is ever changing. We feel blessed to be a part of this wonderful congregation that values children and the family as a unit. At Glad Tidings there is something for every member of the family. We are here to partner with you as the parent. My primary areas of responsibility are Sunday morning Kid's Church, Christian Education for children, and the nursery. I also enjoy the opportunity to plan some familiy events such as our Fall Kick Off and Super Sunday.

 My favourite scripture has always been Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, thou knowest not.

God has been so faithful to Stuart and myself through many different situations. He has certainly shown Himself great and mighty. We know God's power of physical healing, his provision of jobs, and his hand of protection. We know God has a wonderful plan for you and your children. Whatever your situation there is a place for you and your family here at Glad Tidings. He is waiting for you to ask for His help. He has great things to show you!! 

From the time I was young, I knew that God was calling me to work for Him.  I have been serving in the area of Children's Ministries here at Glad since my family started attending 15 years ago.  What began as nursery ministry developed into working as a leader in the BG Club, Kids Church, and youth.  After highschool I went to university.  In my third year I spent a year in Spain on an exchange program.  I have a BA in Psychology and Spanish from Laurentian University and I am currently working on my BTh.  In August 2008, an opportunity to work part-time on staff opened up.

As Children's Program Director, I work closely with Janice Scruton and Sherri Glass to ensure that your children have a sound foundation for their faith.  While Sherri leads Kids Church for the morning service, I ensure that there is a program geared towards kids for the evening service.  I am also the director for our BG (Boys and Girls) Club that runs during Family Night on Tuesdays.  Another resposiblitly that I have is to oversee the Plan to Protect Policies.  These are all our policies on how Children's Ministry leaders interact with your kids.

One other area that I look after is the March Break and Summer Daycamp.  This is such a wonderful opportunity to reach the children of Sudbury with the Gospel.  We usually have around 50-70 children from all over the community here.  It is a wonderful experience to see these children respond as they hear that God loves them and has a plan for thier lives.

As you can probably gather, I am passionate about children and seeing them have a deep faith even when they are young.  I believe that you are never too young for God to teach you His truths or to know the forgiveness Jesus offers.  It is my prayer that God use me to help them see Him.  I would love one day to work as a missionary for Him telling children from other parts of the world about Jesus.

• Favourite Song: "I Will Wait For You There" Phil Wickham
• Favourite Verse: Habakkuk 3:17-19 

Hi there! My name is Norma Lilly, the mother of Chuck (Jr.) and his wife Cloe, and the proud Nana (grandmother) of Evan and Kendra.

Eric Liddell, who was the olympic runner in "Chariots of Fire", once said, "When I run I feel God's pleasure". As the Lord Jesus enables me to minister in Pastoral Care Ministry at Glad Tidings Tabernacle, I too feel His pleasure!

Together, with my late husband Chuck, starting in 2005, we began to serve in this capacity. In January 2006, Chuck went home to be with the Lord. By the wonderful grace of God, I have continued to minister in homes and hospital visitations, as well as serving in most of the nursing homes within the Sudbury area. 

My ministry of Pastoral Care is both a teaching and caring ministry. I bring care and compassion to those who are in medical need, or are unable to attend church. This ministry of encouragement includes communion, sharing, prayer and the company of Christian fellowship.

Teaching the Word of God is the true passion of my heart. I lead workshops, speak at retreats, lead prayer groups, mentor the young, preach, and lead home bible studies. My greatest desire is to exhort Christians to understand and believe in their heart, that through prayer inspired by God's word, the Bible, they can hear from God and personally experience His love and guidance in all areas of their life.  

I teach "Going to the Next Level" because I want to see Christians grow into mature, spiritually aware, and fully formed people!

May the following scriptures be life to you today:

2 Peter 3:18; Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory now and forever.

Psalm 37:4; Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 119:11; Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee

If I can assist you in any of these areas, feel free to contact me.

In His service, Norma