Mike Stone
Executive Director
519-725-1212 x21 | Email Mike
Having pastored in three congregations, Mike joined VMC as Executive Director in 2016 with a deep passion for the local church. Convinced that the Church is still at the centre of God’s redemptive purposes in the world, he’s eager to help congregations discern the fresh ways in which God is inviting His people to ‘be Church’ for a given context. Mike is energized by theological reflection, catalyzing mission, biblical communication and helping followers of Jesus to respond to the active and formative presence of God’s Spirit. Mike and Sharon have been happily married for over 3 decades and continue to give thanks for the gift of three children, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Personal passions include fishing, travel, culinary exploration, spurts of fitness, and exegeting film.
T. Jay Gurnett
Associate Director
519-725-1212 x26 | Email Jay
Jay loves people and connecting. He’s honed his relational skills in a wide ranging career that included stints as a performing arts producer, college faculty member, newspaper editor and as President of Mount Carmel Bible School. Now he spends his time coming alongside church-planting entrepreneurs, leaning on his experiences in planting and nurturing young leaders. Jay and his spouse Margie are nomads, living with one or another of their 5 adult children and many grandkids (who are spread throughout North America and beyond).
Henrietta Koenig
Administrative Assistant
519-725-1212 x24 | Email Henrietta
Henrietta is our Administrative Assistant and has served with VMC since its beginnings. She provides support services to our Executive Director as well as all of our staff, plans events and assists with almost every project. She and her husband Al live in Waterloo and attend Lincoln Road Chapel. They have three adult children and a growing number of grandchildren.
“Don’t ditch in the darkness what you learned in the light!”
Elizabeth Millar
VMC Storyteller
Elizabeth joined VMC as storyteller in 2020. As an educator for 20 years, she values the power of story as a way of learning and knowing. As a lay leader in the church, she is intrigued with how our personal narratives intersect with the Divine. Having recently completed her Doctor of Practical Theology, she has learned lots about sacred storytelling and the generous grace of God. Elizabeth lives on Prince Edward Island with her family.
Doug Pippus
Church Catalyst (Alberta)
587-837-3484 | Email Doug
Doug joined VMC as a part-time staff member in 2022 after volunteering in a similar role for several years. He is married to Sharon for over 40 years, is the proud father of a daughter, two sons and two daughters-in-law, as well as seven grandchildren. He continues to work part-time for the church he helped to plant more than thirty years ago. He deeply enjoys mentoring, serving church leaders and churches, and anything that focuses on the manifestation of God’s kingdom among God’s people. His other pursuits include an active interest in sports, physical fitness and the outdoors. In addition, Doug still owns and operates a fly fishing guide business on the world famous Bow River. He has also had the privilege of participating in many cross-cultural mission/teaching trips in Ukraine, Ghana, Colombia and Peru.
Gord Martin
VMC Founder & Mentor
Gord has a passion for evangelism, equipping and church-planting. His experiences include: Missions in Ecuador and Colombia, evangelism pastoring and planting in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, the formation of an inter-denominational mission to reach the disadvantaged of the K-W community and he is the founder of Vision Ministries Canada which began in 1992. He and his wife Heather, live in Waterloo and attend Lincoln Road Chapel.
“Our burden for ministry should never be greater than our joy in the Lord.” – Dave Toycen (World Vision)
Gord officially retired from VMC in 2022 but continues as a mentor to pastors, church network leaders, and to planters.
Read Gord’s book Doing It Afraid: Not Afraid To Be Afraid – Available on Amazon and Kindle