OUR DIRECTORS
Chris Hermann
Chris Hermann brings many years of leadership experience in business, community and ministry to the boardroom table. He strives for excellence, creativity and collaboration in leadership, organizational management and administration while promoting continuous learning and development growth for himself, leadership teams and organizations.
No stranger to personal crisis and spiritual brokenness, Chris’s search for meaning, wholeness and healing through a real relationship with God began at age seven. That search has continued through to the present day with significant personal God encounters that have developed into a real and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ his Saviour, Friend and Healer.
“I’ve never regretted following God. I have however regretted running away from Him. I’m still baffled by how many times I’ve done that. What’s so amazing is that He has chased me down because of His outrageous love for me. Not just once or twice! He’s never given up on me. I know Jesus Christ as the God of the second, third and fourth chance. He has shown me that His faithfulness and loving kindness are far beyond even the best the world has to offer. I love His love for the broken, marginalized and oppressed. It’s because of this that my heart beats in concert with His for the mission of Hope Awaits Ministries in our community.”
“Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them … and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” Isaiah 58:7p&10p NLT*
*Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Patricia Attwood
I first heard about Hope Awaits about ten years ago when Nicole visited our church. Our hearts were immediately stirred by what God had shown Nicole and so, my husband and I became monthly partners. My interest and passion have grown as I have seen this effective ministry make eternal impact in our community. Now, my participation in Hope Awaits has grown to include becoming a board member.
My greatest blessings after knowing Jesus as my Lord and Saviour are my husband, Todd, and our children.
For much of my life I have focused on teaching - as an elementary teacher in the public school system, as a homeschooling parent and as a children’s ministry leader at Callander Bay Church where I have been a member since 2001. As well, God has given me a heart for intercessory prayer and I love praying with others in the body of Christ.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
My prayer is that I live in step with these bible verses. I long to be someone who is growing ever closer to Jesus, that He might pour out more of His love through me.
Jedediah Gorham
TREASURER
I grew up knowing the pain of a parent with a substance abuse problem, but God interrupted our family’s life and we charted a different path with Jesus. Along my journey with Jesus I met my beautiful wife, Sjana, while attending World Impact Bible Institute in St. Catharines Ontario. I was influenced heavily by a 6-week cultural exchange with Impacting Asia Bible Institute close to that time and truly value the global church and making disciples.
In 2002 I decided to go for a career in hospitality and we moved to North Bay where I finished the Culinary Management and Food Nutrition Management programs at Canadore College. At the same time, we fell in love with the people and lifestyle that goes with living in the Near North. We have five children, all of whom have been raised in such a beautiful area.
In 2013 we felt God calling us into a leadership role with the church, and I switched careers to become the Pastor of Eau Claire EMC, not far from Mattawa. I am passionate about Jesus, and sharing the hope found within the story and text of Scripture. I am especially fond of helping others see the benefit of reading the Bible in context, as opposed to picking out individual verses to base one’s life on. I prefer a holistic approach to life, where Jesus is to be included in every part of life by the indwelling Holy Spirit as opposed to simply going to church on Sundays.
One of my favorite passages that shows my passion in life comes from 2 Timothy 2:1,2 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (Though I would strongly encourage reading all of 2 Timothy to see a better picture of who I am, and who I want to be.)
Craig Dellandrea
BOARD MEMBER
craigd@hopeawaitsministries.com
I was born, raised and continue to live in the city of North Bay. Blessed to be born into a believing family and an attendee at Bethel Gospel Chapel all my life, my personal coming to Christ happened as a young child. I am frequently amazed to see God work in the world around me and in my own life. It is so wonderful to be able to trust Him through the difficulties and through times of blessing. His promises to us are fulfilled every day and we will see them if we are watching.
My wife and I have supported Hope Awaits since it's founding and are convinced that the only way to effect real, lasting and dramatic change in the lives of people isn't through politics, nor through social programs, or even through meeting the urgent physical, material or medical needs of a person in crisis. The Gospel holds the key to life transformation both in this present age and for eternity. That is the wonderful difference of Hope Awaits: it considers the whole man - physical and spiritual, and that is why I am pleased to be able to be a part of this ministry as a board member.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13
It is my hope and prayer that we work in such a way that the ministry of Hope Awaits fulfills the purposes God has for it in reaching the lost and hurting in North Bay.
Shannon Avery
BOARD MEMBER
shannona@hopeawaitsministries.com
My name is Shannon Avery, and I was born in Chatham Ontario. I fell into a life of drugs and ended up incarcerated. I moved to North Bay in 2008 and had some gentleman help show me Jesus and guide me to make better decisions, and show how to be a godly man. Jesus saved me and put these guys in my life. God has blessed me, allowing me to go back to school and get a degree. I then started my own company and run a business and share Christ with others. My passion is to help fellow men get off the street to start life over again, just as I was able to receive help. Hope Awaits offers that opportunity and I believe in the ministry.
“Jesus said ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”
John 11:25-26
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”
Philippians 2:5
“He said: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.’”
Jonah 2:2