Greg's Story I grew up attending church with my family from an early age. In the sixth grade I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and went on to serve in church and school ministries in a variety of capacities. My first short-term mission experience was as a Mission Builder with Youth With A Mission. When I pursued graduate studies in architecture I prayed that one day I would be able to combine my professional skills with ministry, but had no idea what form that might take. Soon after graduation I looked for ministry outlets in architecture but realized that I needed to build up a body of professional experience. After ten years in the profession, I went on my first eMi trip in the fall of 2001 to Belize. After two more trips as a volunteer, my wife and I made the decision for me to join the staff of eMi Canada. Over the years, God has faithfully opened and closed doors in leading me to a place in life today where I feel I am exactly where I need to be.
Family
My wife Julie and I have been married since 1994. We have three children, Caitlin, Cameron and Connor. In 2005 we moved from Vancouver to Calgary to join the staff of eMi Canada.
Professional Training and Experience
B.A. (Urban Geography) – University of British Columbia, 1988
Master of Architecture – University of Oregon, 1991
Member - Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (MRAIC)
In fourteen years of practice in Vancouver, BC, my experience ranged from schematic design through contract administration and included community planning. The building types I worked on ranged from schools, churches and commercial/office buildings to hotels and single and multi-family housing projects. These projects have been situated in urban settings as well as rural and mountain settings in ski and golf resorts.
Overseas Ministry Experience
In 1986 I spent a summer in construction with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Kona, Hawaii. As a volunteer architect with eMi teams from 2001 to 2004 I travelled to Belize (school), the Dominican Republic (ministry centre) and Honduras (pastor training centre). Since coming on staff I have led project teams to various parts of South America, Africa and Central Asia.
Verses to Live By
But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:4-10
